Autism Labs

In this podcast, Mike Carr shares five key lessons he’s learned raising a child with complex special needs. He emphasizes the importance of humility, encouraging parents to ask for help rather than guessing or improvising, and warns against feigning ignorance, which can lead to disconnection from daily therapy and routines. Consistency is highlighted as critical, with parents advised to mirror the...

Mike Carr and Joel Wood discuss building residential and support options for adults with profound autism, saying staffing - motivated, caring people over credentials- is the biggest challenge. They recommend partnering with universities, using visual communication and careful observation (behavior is communication), starting small with day programs or informal gatherings, and having clear plans fo...

Joel and Martha are planning a meaningful future for their 20-year-old son William, nonverbal but highly intelligent (spells to communicate), with autism and apraxia, body-control issues, and elopement—because typical programs don’t engage people like him. They want purposeful work, social connection, graduated independence, community engagement, and flexible days mixing vocational, recreational,...

In this episode of Autism Labs discussion between Mike Carr, Allie Langan, and Sharon Holloway regarding respite care programs for parents of severely autistic adults.  The key points from the transcript include: - Getting individuals with autism and other disabilities out into the community is important, as it helps educate the community and can lead to community members becoming supporters of th...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr, Sharon Holloway, and Allie Langan discuss the importance of respite care and life skills programs for autistic and neurodivergent young adults, emphasizing early, consistent, and individualized support to bridge gaps between home, school, and community settings. They highlight how tailored programs, physical activity, and structured social interactions he...

Dr. Dilip Karnik, a pioneering pediatric neurologist with over four decades of experience, joined Autism Labs to introduce POD Health , a free, AI-powered digital platform designed to revolutionize autism care for families worldwide. Standing for Parent of Determination , POD Health centralizes medical, therapy, and educational records into a single smartphone app, making it easier for parents to...

Mike Carr and Ann Hart discuss housing and independence for adults with autism, stressing that options depend on each person’s support needs. They note SSLCs have improved, recommend visiting programs and evaluating staff, and suggest starting early (short stays, camps, new caregivers) to build independence. They also mention that some states have more flexible waivers or housing models (relocatio...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr and guest Ann Hart explore the complex landscape of housing options for adults with autism and other significant support needs. They emphasize the importance of preparing early—especially getting on Medicaid waiver waiting lists that can stretch up to 20 years—and developing daily living and communication skills to increase future independence and placemen...

In this episode, Mike Carr discusses how the right technology—paired with strong support—can transform life for families of children with special needs. He highlights tools like the Kindle Scribe for caregiver productivity, and AI home assistants like Alexa Plus and Google Gemini, which offer safety through smart cameras and real-time alerts. Amazon’s upcoming “Search Party” feature may even help...

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that ranges from full independence to requiring 24/7 care, as with Mike and Kay’s son Michael. Research has disproven the myth that vaccines cause autism; while acetaminophen use in pregnancy has shown weak associations, experts point to underlying illness as the real risk, and it remains medically recommended. Treatments like leucovorin help only...

Adding structure to daily routines helps reduce stress, build independence, and prepare individuals with autism for respite or residential care. Unstructured time can lead to boredom and problem behaviors, but visual supports like Picto Selector , TouchChat , and apps such as ChoiceWorks , First Then Visual Schedule HD , Visual Schedule Planner by Good Karma or Lil Planner: Visual Schedule create...

Mike Carr shares his family’s experience raising their 35-year-old son, Michael, who is profoundly autistic, mostly nonverbal, and lives with seizures and pica. He asks the urgent question of who will care for children like Michael when parents can’t, and outlines essentials for a true residential “forever home”: near one-to-one staffing, awake overnight staff, communication-first over restraint,...

Respite care often fails adults with profound autism or multiple IDDs, who need 1:1 support, medical readiness, and structure. At J13 Community in Austin, respite looks different: no one is expelled for behavior, belonging is guaranteed, and programs build on each person’s strengths with dignity and safety. Starting with day programs—climbing gyms, parks, equine therapy—participants gradually tran...

This episode examines housing options for adults with autism and IDD, noting that 86% still live at home or in group settings, raising concerns about long-term care. Drawing on his family’s experience with a profoundly autistic 35-year-old son, the host reviews five East Coast facilities—Thrive Red Bank (NJ), Melmark Community (MA), Oak Tree Farms (SC), Haven Jakes Place (FL), and Patuxent Commons...

Transitioning to adulthood for people with profound autism often feels like falling off a cliff once school services end. In this episode, Mike Carr shares his wake-up call and the need for early planning, especially with Texas’ 20-year Medicaid waiver waitlist. He stresses teaching daily living skills—like hygiene, dressing, and laundry—and calls for day programs that offer real community integra...

This third episode in the series on transitioning to adulthood explores the role of a “fail safe” culture in autism transition programs—creating psychological safety by normalizing small, low-risk failures as learning opportunities. Mike recounts a bowling outing where a participant became aggressive, prompting a blame-free review that revealed environmental triggers and delayed return of the part...

When profoundly autistic individuals age out of the school system at 22, many families are left without support or options. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares how he and his wife faced this challenge with their nonverbal son, who has seizures and aggressive behaviors. After being told their son was "unemployable" and turned away by programs, they created J13—a program for a...

In this episode of Autism Labs , Mike Carr begins a series on transitioning to adulthood for those with profound autism, sharing research-based strategies and personal stories from raising his 35-year-old son, Michael. He stresses early planning—starting at age 14 with the IEP—and teaches independent living skills like hygiene, dressing, and communication using tools like visual aids, adaptive clo...

In this episode of Autism Labs , Mike Carr highlights the vital role of fun for those with profound autism. Sharing his son Michael’s love for boating, he shows how joyful, sensory-rich activities can foster deep connection—even for nonverbal individuals. Despite challenges, Mike stresses the value of creating joyful moments. Through his nonprofit John 13 and the R2R program, he champions experien...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a milestone: he and his wife are traveling to Italy while their profoundly autistic adult son stays at Denmar House for the first time. Mike reflects on the years of preparation that made this possible and the value of introducing variety into his son's life. From boat rides and movies with peers to theme park struggles and family gatherings, h...

In this episode of the Autism Labs podcast, Mike Carr shares his journey with his 35-year-old nonverbal, profoundly autistic son, Michael. He discusses how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), when used with empathy and consistency, has helped manage aggressive behavior. Mike explains core ABA principles—like antecedents, behaviors, and consequences—and stresses the importance of not reinforcing negat...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares insights on the challenges and lessons learned from decades of hiring staff to support adults with profound autism. He emphasizes the importance of finding team members who are not only reliable and coachable but who also have a genuine calling to serve this community. Beyond experience, traits like optimism, trustworthiness, and a strong spiritual...

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares his journey raising a profoundly autistic, nonverbal son with complex needs. Lacking support, he and his wife founded John13.org, a nonprofit in Austin offering inclusive programs for adults with severe autism. Their summer program and respite care focus on joy, structure, and community integration, showing how thoughtful planning and support can he...

Mike Carr shares seven practical autism parenting hacks focused on supporting severely or profoundly autistic individuals. He emphasizes the power of frequently expressing genuine thanks to caregivers and staff, reducing anxiety through improved communication like visual schedules and observing nonverbal cues, and promoting positive behavior with enthusiastic praise. He advises ignoring negative b...

This Autism Labs episode highlights how real-world, community-based experiences can drive meaningful progress for individuals with autism. Mike Carr previews the J13 summer camp, reflecting on last year’s success with activities like rock climbing, horse therapy, and visits to inclusive places like Morgan’s Wonderland. These engaging, social, and novel environments fostered growth, joy, and resili...