Autism Knows No Borders

Discover what’s possible when a great day starts at bedtime.

Have you ever struggled with poor sleep? Or do you know of anyone who does? Whether you’re autistic or not, this episode with sleep specialist Emily Varon can help you sleep better, starting tonight.

Emily Varon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from California who focuses on sleep-related behavior. With more than 20 years in the field, Emily offers families and clinicians a broader, long-view perspective of sleep, which can produce more sustainable results over time. 

Today’s conversation was originally released on June 9, 2022. We discuss:

• The link between autism and poor sleep
• Common sleep-related behaviors
• Myths about poor sleep
• How a sleep-deprived child can affect your family as a whole
• How sleep contributes to learning and memory consolidation
• Why you shouldn’t set an alarm clock to wake up
• The importance of consistent bedtime routines
• Tips to avoid screen dependency
• The benefits of day-time napping
• Recovering from sleep-debt

To learn more about Emily and her work, please visit our show notes at autismknowsnoborders.com.

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you had to learn to accept your child’s autism? What was that journey like for you?

Bobby Rubio talks about how accepting his son’s autism led to the inspiration for his award-winning Pixar SparkShort film, Float. 

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Bobby Rubio was originally released on February 10, 2022.

Would you like to hear more about how Bobby’s journey of accepting his son’s autism inspired him to produce an award-winning film? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

The Inspiration for Pixar’s SparkShort ”Float,” with Bobby Rubio

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Discover what’s possible when communication is properly aided.

Are you the parent of an autistic child with an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device? Or maybe you’re just curious about how AAC devices can help? If either applies to you, you’ll want to listen to this conversation with Vidya Banerjee, an autism mother and the creator of the Autism Family Story blog and podcast.

Today’s conversation was originally released on August 4, 2022. We discuss:

• Do’s, don’ts, and common misconceptions about AAC devices
• The Landau Kleffner syndrome, a rare childhood neurological disorder affecting Vidya’s son which causes loss of speech
• Vidya’s mission as a blogger and podcaster
• What she hopes for her son’s future
• Tips for parents of non-speaking autistic children

To learn more about Vidya, please visit our show notes at autismknowsnoborders.com.

Read the rest of this entry »

How can children on the spectrum benefit from practicing yoga?

Cheryl Albright, an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling, shares how she uses yoga to help her autistic clients learn new skills. 

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Cheryl Albright was originally released on September 24, 2020.

Would you like to learn how to self-regulate and balance your nervous system? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Occupational Therapy and Yoga for the Special Child, with Cheryl Albright

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

What are some autistic traits that can be underlying causes of crime among people on the spectrum?

Tom Oliver, an autism self-advocate, TEDx Speaker, and aspiring lawyer from Australia, shares his ideas on this topic. Tom has dedicated his career to helping autistic individuals who got caught up in the justice system.

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Tom Oliver was originally released on October 14, 2021.

Would you like to hear more about the struggle for authenticity directly from autistic voices?  Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Autistic Traits vs. Criminal Law, with Tom Oliver

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Do you struggle with managing your finances?

Listen to how Andrew Komarow helps his autistic clients with budgeting, encouraging them to acknowledge their present financial capabilities and maintain a positive attitude. 

Andrew Komarow is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Neurodiversity Professional. He’s also the Founder of Planning Across the Spectrum, a company that specializes in helping individuals, families, and employers of people with autism and other disabilities to pursue financial independence. 

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Andrew Komarow was originally released on May 6, 2021.

Would you like to hear more tips on how to manage your finances? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Financial Planning Across the Spectrum, with Andrew Komarow

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Discover what’s possible when a fresh start brings a new perspective.

This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2025 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 230-240. 

As we were reflecting on these past episodes from 2025, we were overcome with immense gratitude for our community. A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to you, our listeners, for your continued support, and to our team for all the work behind the scenes. 

If you didn’t listen to part 1 of this year’s highlights, or are curious about what we were up to in previous years, you can find links to all of our highlight series below. 

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones. 

Related episodes: 

194. Highlights of 2024 Part 2, with the Global Autism Community
195. Highlights of 2024 Part 1, with the Global Autism Community
196. Highlights of 2023: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community
197. Highlights of 2023: Part One, with the Global Autism Community
198. Highlights of 2022: Part One, with the Global Autism Community
199. Highlights of 2022: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community
200. Highlights of 2021: Part One, with the Global Autism Community
201. Highlights of 2021: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community
202. Highlights of 2020, with the Global Autism Community

Read the rest of this entry »

What strategies do you have in place to deal with stressful situations? 

The late David Sharif talks about managing conflicts and how he found a group of friends who supported him through tough times.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where Autistic self-advocates shared how they cope with stress and sensory overload.

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on November 18, 2021.

Would you like to hear more tips on how to manage stress? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Coping with Stress and Sensory Overload, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Discover what’s possible when a fresh start brings new perspectives.

We’ve reached the end of 2025! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of our favorite moments from this year. Part 1 will highlight episodes 216 through 228, and Part 2, episodes 230 through 240. 

We want to thank you for your support and patience during the first half of the year, when we released throwbacks due to my maternity leave. This pause allowed me to both spend quality time with my family and plan ahead for the podcast. I was eager to jump back in last summer with our new Autism Tips and Tools segment, hoping that these bite-size episodes would bring you helpful strategies that you could implement right away.

In September, we re-launched Autism Knows No Borders with our regular weekly schedule of brand new episodes – and with them, new perspectives on more important topics related to autism.

If you’ve been with us for a while, this 2025 recap will bring you back to each of our guests’ heartfelt stories. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This should give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.

Read the rest of this entry »

Why are autistic people given a censored version of sex education? 

Michael John Carley shares his thoughts on this topic as well as the influence that culture has over attitudes towards sexuality. Michael John Carley is an Autistic Self-Advocate, author, and consultant. He was the Founder of GRASP — the largest organization in the world comprised of adults on the autism spectrum — and the Founding Executive Director of ASTEP, now called Integrate, whose mission is to help organizations identify, recruit, and retain professionals on the autism spectrum. 

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Michael John Carley was originally released on August 6, 2020.

Would you like to hear more about the struggle for authenticity directly from autistic voices?  Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

Rethinking Unemployment and Sex Education, with Michael John Carley

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »