Autism Labs

Planning and paying for residential care for a profoundly autistic adult is one of the hardest jobs parents face. In Part 2, host Mike Carr speaks with Debra Caudy, founder of 29 Acres in Denton, Texas, about setting realistic expectations, tracking behavior data, what high-support residential care may cost, the long HCS (Home and Community-based Services, a Texas Medicaid waiver) wait list, and c...

Where will my profoundly autistic adult child live when school ends and nothing nearby fits? Host Mike Carr speaks with Debra Caudy, founder of 29 Acres, an intentional community just north of Dallas-Fort Worth where about a third of clients have high support needs. They talk about mixing support levels, Texas waiver funding, staffing and training, and giving a nonverbal adult real choices. Questi...

What does real independence look like for adults with autism? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Emily Ricketson, Executive Director of AIM (Adults Independent and Motivated), a program in Austin, Texas that is redefining autism adult services. Unlike traditional residential models, AIM focuses on independent living in the community, where adults with IDD live in apartments, hol...

Most families don’t go straight from home to residential care and they shouldn’t. In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr sits down with Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of High Point Village, to break down one of the most important (and often misunderstood) steps in autism planning: the transition from home to independent living. The key insight? Respite is not just support for families, it’s...

What happens after age 22 for individuals with autism? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas. Nathan shares his unique journey from law school to ministry to leading a nonprofit serving adults with autism and how his personal experience as a father shaped his approach to care. Together, they explore what effe...

Sudden Autism Behavior Changes? It Might Be Catatonia What happens when your child, teen or adult suddenly changes? Increased aggression, freezing, loss of communication or unusual behaviors can feel like regression or “behavior issues.” But in some cases, it may be something far less recognized: catatonia in autism. In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr shares a deeply personal perspecti...

Sleep challenges in autism aren’t just difficult, they can be life-altering. In Part 2 of this Autism Labs conversation, Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a neuroradiologist and father of a profoundly autistic son, shares the real-world impact of severe sleep disruption on behavior, caregiving, and overall quality of life. From melatonin and pharmacological interventions to the emotional toll of chronic sleep d...

In this powerful episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr speaks with Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a board-certified radiologist and neuroradiologist and a father of a profoundly autistic son. Dr. Shafi shares both his medical expertise and lived experience navigating autism diagnosis, sudden developmental regression and the long-term realities of caregiving for a nonverbal child. The conversation explores e...

What actually happens when your autistic child turns 18? For many families, this transition brings overwhelming questions about guardianship, SSI, financial planning and long-term independence. But what most parents don’t realize is that guardianship is not always required and in some cases, it may not be the best option. In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr speaks with special needs planning...

What happens when your autistic child turns 18? For many families, this transition brings unexpected legal and financial challenges and without the right plan, it can put your child’s care and benefits at risk. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with certified elder law attorney Melissa Donovan to break down the essential steps parents need to take before their child reaches adult...

What happens after individuals with profound autism age out of the school system? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with Jon Hockenyos, a father and advocate navigating life with a profoundly autistic adult son. Together, they explore what truly drives growth, independence and quality of life in adulthood and why many traditional programs fall short. Drawing from real-world exper...

What happens after autism services end? In this powerful Autism Labs episode, Mike Carr sits down with Jon Hockenyos economist, policy expert and father of a 23-year-old son with profound autism for a candid, dad-to-dad conversation about life after the school system. Together, they explore the reality families face when structured support disappears. From early experiences of being removed from p...

Finding the Right Residential Program for Profound Autism: What Really Matters After more than two decades of searching for the right residential environment for his profoundly autistic son, Mike Carr shares a deeply honest look at what families must consider when evaluating long-term care options. In this episode, Mike explores the limits of AI-driven research after testing multiple platforms and...

Some mornings feel impossible but years later, they're the stories that keep us going. In this deeply personal solo episode, Mike Carr steps away from the topic of guardianship to share an unfiltered look at one unforgettable morning caring for his 36-year-old son, Michael, who is profoundly autistic and nonverbal. From soaked bedding and piles of laundry to broken technology, sensory-seeking...

What happens to your child with autism when you’re no longer there to care for them? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a deeply personal and practical guide to future planning for children with autism especially those with higher support needs. After a moment that exposed how unprepared systems can be, Mike walks through a 9-step planning checklist designed to reduce fear, uncertain...

What happens to your child with autism when you’re no longer there to care for them? It’s one of the most difficult and most important questions parents face. In this episode, Mike Carr shares his personal journey as the father of a 36-year-old son with profound autism. From early fears to real-world planning, this episode lays the foundation for what families need to know about lifelong care. You...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with BCBA Mailande Vise, who shares practical, experience-driven strategies for supporting individuals with high support needs especially in the home environment. Mailande breaks down how parents can better understand and respond to challenging behaviors by identifying their underlying function. From sensory needs to attention-se...

What happens when autistic children grow into autistic adults? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with Mailande Vise, M.Ed., BCBA, an experienced behavior analyst with more than a decade of experience supporting autistic individuals across a wide range of ages and support needs. Together they discuss one of the most pressing issues facing families today: the shortage of specialize...

Autism support should focus not just on behavior, but on the child’s overall health, as underlying issues like gut imbalances, poor nutrition, and unmet medical needs can significantly impact learning, behavior, and communication. While traditional education approaches like ABA can help, children often learn best when their intrinsic interests and curiosity are engaged. A personalized, science-bas...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr and Dr. Theresa Lyons discuss how many families lack access to clear, science-based guidance despite growing research in autism, leaving parents overwhelmed and searching for answers. Dr. Lyons highlights that meaningful improvement is possible for some children, but requires a more informed, proactive approach built around seven key areas: personalized di...

Keeping great caregivers for individuals with profound autism requires more than just hiring the right person- it demands building a sustainable, supportive system rooted in respect, structure, and consistency. Caregivers should be treated as skilled partners, not babysitters, with clear expectations, proper training, and protection from burnout. Providing a predictable daily schedule and a simple...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares personal lessons learned from more than 30 years of raising his profoundly autistic, nonverbal son Michael and discusses one of the greatest challenges families face: finding reliable caregivers for individuals with high support needs autism. He explains that while family members often help early on, trained and dependable support becomes essential...

This episode explores how practical, accessible technology can transform the home environment for individuals with special needs by improving safety, increasing independence, and enriching daily life. Mike Courtney outlines a simple but powerful framework, evaluating each room for safety risks, everyday challenges, and opportunities for enrichment, while leveraging a growing database of thousands...

In this episode of Autism Labs , Mike Carr speaks with futurist and researcher Mike Courtney about how AI and emerging technologies can be applied in practical, meaningful ways to support individuals with complex special needs. The discussion centers on redefining technology as the application of knowledge to solve everyday human challenges, not just advanced digital tools, and introduces the conc...

This episode focuses on lessons learned from building and running a special needs program, emphasizing that strong outcomes depend less on daily tasks and more on culture, trust, and communication. Mike Carr and Johnna Oppermann discuss how fear often drives parenting decisions and can unintentionally lead to over-control, enabling behaviors, or breakdowns in communication between parents and staf...