Autism Knows No Borders

Discover what’s possible when innovative technology empowers parents to interact with their children in new, creative ways.  Michael Huang is the president and co-founder of UPlus Academy, an autism center in Nanjing, China.  With a background in IT, Michael describes the moment when he discovered he could utilize his multi-media technologies to help children with autism. It was fascinating to lea...

Discover what’s possible when instead of teaching someone to fish, you ask them what they like to eat.  The CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project , Molly Ola Pinney, is back on the show to talk about the motto that drives our work: #DoWithNotFor.  For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers...

Discover what’s possible when taking care of yourself lets you take care of others.  This week's guest is Maggie Nunez. Originally from Dominican Republic and currently living in New Jersey, Maggie is a mother of three, two of whom are autistic. Her sons Dariel and Alvin are 16 and 13 years old. As a cancer survivor, Maggie hopes to encourage other parents to prioritize their own health in order t...

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together.  ----more---- This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2024 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 177 to 192. Related episodes:  Highlights of 2023: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community Highlights of 2023: Part One, with the Global Autism Community Highlights of...

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together.  ----more---- We’ve reached the end of 2024! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of our favorite moments from this year. Part 1 will highlight episodes 161 through 176, and Part 2 highlights episodes 177 through 192.  Since we started working on this podcast almost five years ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominen...

Discover what’s possible when you focus your lens beyond the surface.  Alfie Bowen is an autism self-advocate, wildlife photographer, author, and activist based in Suffolk, England. He uses his art to highlight animal emotion and connect people with the natural world.  At just 23 years old, Alfie was recently signed by the UK’s biggest art gallery network, Castle Fine Art . His debut collection Ca...

Discover what’s possible when you give to transform lives. This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.  ----more---- Each year our team reflects on what we’re grateful for. First of all, we’re grateful for you, our listeners, and your continued support. We’re also grateful for our podcast guests and their willingness to share their story with us. And of cour...

Discover what’s possible when community outreach begins with empowerment.  Our guests today are two members of our Global Autism Project family: Cassie Harden Scott and Russel Hornig-Rohan, or Rusty for short.  Cassie and Rusty have been involved with the Global Autism Project for over 6 years. Both of them began as volunteers on SkillCorps trips to several of our partner sites – including Centro...

Discover what’s possible when music unlocks hidden strengths.  Pamela Fisher is a Registered Music Therapist from Sydney, Australia. She is skilled in voice, guitar, piano, improvisation, and clinical supervision. With over 15 years of experience specializing in groups and individuals with autism, Pam provides music therapy services both in-person and online.  In today’s conversation, Pam gives us...

Discover what’s possible when you embrace your true identity.  Are you a late-diagnosed autistic person, or do you know someone who is? If this resonates with you, you’ll want to listen to today’s conversation, where we touch on how acceptance of one’s autism can change over time.  The following Global Autism Community roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Hattie-Angelys Fox, and it fe...

Discover what’s possible when you engage your inner leader.  Do you want to learn how to communicate and collaborate effectively, identify the root causes of roadblocks in your life, and embrace your role as a leader?  Everyone has the potential to be a leader in their own lives. If you’re interested in personal and professional growth, stick around for this episode with the CEO and Founder of the...

Discover what’s possible when your environment fits your needs.  Do you struggle with organizing your physical space? Or have you found systems that work well for your needs? Organization can be a sensitive topic, especially if you feel any shame for not being as organized as you’d want to be.  If you’re looking for tips on how to design a space that works for you, stick around, because today’s ep...

Discover what’s possible when every child is given a voice.  In many countries around the world, autistic students are effectively excluded from the education system, as schools often lack adequate resources to accommodate their needs.  The work that our Global Autism Project Partners are doing around the world is fundamental to overcoming these challenges. By presuming competence, we can avoid se...

Discover what’s possible when you show up better for the world.  In today’s episode, we’re highlighting our recent SkillCorps® trip to Peru. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities.  T...

Discover what’s possible when you make lifelong connections.  For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. We’ve also hosted global and regional summits over the last several years, but we were forced to pause these projects during the pandemic.  Last July, we wer...

Discover what’s possible when behavioral science is creatively broadcasted. Have you ever heard of Applied Behavior Analysis? Have you ever wondered how it came to be used in autism services? If you’re curious about the true story behind the origins of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA for short, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Ryan O’Donnell, where he shares his passion for disseminati...

Discover what’s possible when you’re prepared for the environment.  Are you or anyone you know either over-sensitive or under-sensitive to specific sights, sounds, smells, or textures? While this can sometimes be an asset, it can also cause distress or discomfort.  If you’re familiar with difficulties in processing everyday sensory information, stick around, because today’s episode is a roundtable...

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge your needs.  Have you ever needed to ask for help but didn’t know how? Were you afraid of seeming weak or being rejected?  Whether you’re an autistic student or employee, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Thomas Iland and David Sharif, where they encourage autistic people to speak up about their needs, emphasizing there is no shame in asking f...

Discover what’s possible when the student has a seat at the table.  You might have heard the saying, “Nothing about us without us.” This expression has its origins in Central European political traditions and became popular in disability activism during the 1990s. According to the United Nations, it relies on the principle of full participation, and it has been used by disabled people’s organizati...

Discover what’s possible when you approach conversations with an open heart.  Have you ever had to advocate for yourself or an autistic loved one in public? Did you find those conversations difficult to handle?  Whether you’re autistic, a family member, or someone who wants to learn about how to advocate for others, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Shreya Jain, where she describes how sh...

Discover what’s possible when you find your values.  Have you ever struggled to meet a goal? Was it maybe because you weren’t exactly clear on what it was that you wanted in the first place?  If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode, which is part 2 of my conversation with Hattie-Angelys Fox. She talks about how she teaches her clients and families to adopt behaviors that align with their goal...

Discover what’s possible when you can make mistakes safely.  Have you ever wondered what the benefits of homeschooling are? Have you ever thought that children who are homeschooled are missing out on socialization with their peers?  If you’ve ever been curious about homeschooling, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Hattie-Angelys Fox where she talks about why homeschooling was the right ch...

Discover what’s possible when children have a safe place to learn.  In many places around the world where autism services and awareness are limited, center owners have to compete with other businesses who claim to provide certain therapies while, in reality, they’re not qualified. Oftentimes, legitimate autism centers must also deal with increasing turnover rates because they can’t properly compen...

Discover what’s possible when empathy is a two-way street.  Have you ever struggled to empathize with someone who experiences the world very differently from you? Maybe because you don’t share an interest, or even a first language with them?  If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode, which is part 2 of my conversation with Brian Middleton. He talks about how a lack of mutual understanding betw...

Discover what’s possible when disability is viewed as a whole.  Have people ever based their perception of you solely on your deficits? Are your strengths and abilities sometimes overlooked because of your differences?  If so, stay with us for this episode, where Brian Middleton talks about how the biopsychosocial model of disability shifts perspectives from a purely medical approach to a more com...