Autism Knows No Borders

Discover what’s possible when you share the end goal.  Harald Neerland is the President of Autism Europe, an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of autistic people and their families and help them improve their quality of life. Originally from Norway, Harald is also a father of a young autistic woman.  In today’s conversation, we discuss:  Harald’s daughter’s st...

Discover what’s possible when sustainability is made essential.  Today we’re bringing back our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and our first Global Autism Project partner, Pooja Panesar from Kaizora in Nairobi, Kenya.  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. Our SkillCo...

Discover what’s possible when peers connect.  Originally from France, Stephane Guidon is an Autistic Self-Advocate currently living in the UK. He works for the National Autistic Society as a Senior Branch Engagement officer and Project Lead. The National Autistic Society is the largest autism charity in the UK, dedicated to creating a society that works for autistic people.  In today’s conversatio...

Discover what’s possible when you start to examine your own biases.  Maria Davis-Pierre is a mother to an 8-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and the Founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc., an organization dedicated to raising autism awareness and reducing the stigma within the Black community. Maria is also a coach, speaker, advocate, and author. She has b...

Discover what’s possible when you move towards independence.  This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!  The topic of this roundtable discussion was Transitioning into College, and it was hosted by community moderator Liz Castillo. Liz began her involvement with the Global Autism Project in 2017 as a SkillCorps volunteer in Kenya, followed by trips...

Discover what’s possible when you trust the process.  In today’s episode, we’re continuing to share our recent SkillCorps trip to ASHA, our Global Autism Project partners in Bangalore, India. In our previous episode, I spoke with the staff at the school, and this week you’ll hear from our SkillCorps volunteers.  Our team had a virtual reunion three weeks after returning from our trip. We reviewed...

Discover what’s possible when every child becomes your own.  These next two episodes will highlight our Global Autism Project partner site ASHA, from Bangalore, India. ASHA means “hope” in their local language, and it also stands for Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism. The Global Autism Project has been partners with ASHA since 2018.  For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been pr...

Discover what’s possible when love transforms grief into acceptance.  Jamiel Owens is the host and creator of The Ausome Show, a co-host of The Ben & Jay Show, and an all-around public server. As the father of a 12-year-old boy with autism, Jamiel encourages other fathers to open up about their feelings regarding their children’s diagnoses.  In today’s conversation, discuss: What it was like f...

Discover what’s possible when social barriers are removed.  Kaelynn Partlow is an Autistic Self-Advocate and a Registered Behavior Technician, or RBT for short. She recently appeared on the second season of the Netflix reality series, Love on the Spectrum.  In this conversation, we discuss:  How autism affects Kaelynn’s everyday life Kaelynn’s thoughts on how autism was represented on Love on the...

Discover what’s possible when connections go deeper.  This week’s episode features our recent cohort of Global Autism Community moderators: Self-Advocates Michelle Vinokurov, Corben Havener, and Mary Johnston.  In June 2022, Michelle, Corben, and Mary joined our team of moderators, which also included Liz Castillo, who was unable to join this recording. The team usually meets to discuss the commun...

Discover what’s possible when we grow stronger together.  This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2022 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 110 to 126.  A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to our listeners for your continued support, and to our team for all the work behind the scenes.  Special thanks...

Discover what’s possible when we grow stronger together.  We reached the end of 2022! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of my favorite moments from this year’s episodes – there were so many that this will have to be a two-parter! Part 1 will highlight episodes 92 through 109, and next week 110 through 126.  Since we started working on this podcast almost three years ago, we’ve brought on a wid...

Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use.  Today we’re bringing back a special guest, Dr. Temple Grandin. My first interview with Dr. Grandin was almost two years ago. She has since released a new book, Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions .  Dr. Grandin is well known for both her pioneering autism advocacy and her lifelong ded...

Discover what’s possible when you balance your body and stretch your mind.  Cheryl Albright is an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling. She is the owner of Soul to Soul Yoga, a studio offering yoga therapy for adults and children of all abilities.  In today’s conversation, we discuss: What occupational therapy is How Cheryl became involved in the field Why she appl...

Discover what’s possible when you relentlessly shoot for your goals.  Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a former basketball star.  As the NCAA’s first Division 1 college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University, Anthony surpassed all limitations that doctors had predicted for his life. He currently works for the Michiga...

Discover what’s possible when you count your blessings.  This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.  Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude. The more you can bring your attention to things you feel grateful for, the more you’ll notice other things to feel grateful for.  According to research conducted at the Greater Good Science Center in Berk...

Discover what’s possible when health extends beyond the body.  This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!  The topic of this roundtable discussion was Health and Wellness. It was hosted by community moderator Mary Johnston. A 21-year-old Autistic Self-Advocate from New Hampshire, Mary hosts a blog called Autistic Rainbow 15 where she shares LGBTQ+ an...

Discover what’s possible when art is in the eye of the beholder… and a few other senses.  Austin Lubetkin is an Autistic artist, aerospace-software engineer, and inventor. Austin has synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimuli that would typically stimulate one sense can activate other senses at the same time. This has allowed him to create unique and accessible art experiences, some eve...

Discover what’s possible when you step into who you can be.  This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! The topic of this roundtable discussion was Self-Development and Accountability. It was hosted by community moderator Michelle Vinokurov. Based in Florida, Michelle is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a paraprofessional and a Registered Behavior Technici...

Discover what’s possible when team members effectively collaborate to transform people’s lives. Pooja Panesar is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the first professional to practice Applied Behavior Analysis in East Africa. Brooke Jedidah is a Speech and Language Pathologist, Psychologist and Clinical Child Neuropsychologist. Both of these phenomenal leaders are Co-Directors of Kaizora Cente...

Discover what’s possible when parents mobilize to build a community of ambassadors.  Mafer Chang is the founder of Centro Enigma, an autism center in Ecuador.  The Global Autism Project has been partnered with Centro Enigma since 2018. We have since sent 4 SkillCorps teams to collaborate with their teachers and provide training in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA.  Since opening her first center...

Discover what’s possible when capabilities are more than meets the eye.  Tiffany Joseph is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a single mother of three, and the digital creator behind the IG account Nigh Functioning Autism. She uses her platform to promote the changes she wants to see in the world regarding disability and intersectionality. Tiffany sometimes uses an Alternative Augmentative Communication d...

Discover what’s possible when you turn your vision into reality.  Today we’re bringing back the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project , Molly Ola Pinney.  For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable training, coaching, and community for center directors, therapists, and caregivers around the world.  As we enter our second decade, our organization is opening...

Discover what’s possible when difference becomes an asset.  Haley Moss is an attorney, author, artist, speaker, and autism self-advocate. At only 30 years old, she has already published four books. The first is titled Middle School: The Stuff Nobody Tells you About , the second is A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells you About , the...

Discover what’s possible when conversations move forward.  This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events.  The theme of this roundtable discussion was Controversial Topics. It was hosted live at The 1 in 44 Tour virtual summit, organized by Sara Bradford of The SJ Childs Show .  Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Stephanie De Kremer...