Autism Resource Podcast

David Wildkress was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 6. He is a learning specialist who is passionate about supporting neurodivergent people and has developed expertise in supporting folks with complex profiles. David holds a master's degree in education and a certificate in educational therapy, and has helped countless students and adults improve their executive function and metacognitive skills.

Christian Vinceneux has been in the neurodivergent space his entire life. He grew up as an anxious and shy kid with ADHD in a neurodiverse family. Professionally, he worked as an occupational therapist for over 30 years with neurodiverse families and has now transitioned as a parent coach. Christian has developed a unique approach to help parents navigate neurodivergence and identify practical sol...

Wendy Jones is the founder of Be Better Life and Media, a transformational life coach, and the mother of four kids, both neurodivergent and neurotypical. Through her coaching at Be Better Life and productions at Be Better Media, she helps people unlock their potential and grow through greater self-awareness that helps them create more flow in their lives.

Anne Ryan is the Online Program Director for STRIVE Worldwide, an online program designed to teach independent living skills to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. STRIVE offers a variety of classes and students can learn at their own pace. Students are supported during the learning programs, and Anne shares course details and success stories from their enrollees.

Ben Drew has worked in the field of intellectual disabilities for over 25 years. He grew up in the UK and qualified as a learning disability nurse. In 2003 Ben founded Options in Bristol to help people with intellectual disabilities buy or rent their own homes and manage their own support. In 2008 Ben moved to New York and founded Open Future Learning, an organization that helps support staff assi...

Megan Smith is the founder of Harmony Restored, a company focused on helping individuals heal from the stress that is at the root of their physical and emotional pain.  She is also President of Guiding Arrow Nature Camp, a non-profit regenerative farm and healing retreat center specializing in providing transformative outdoor experiences in a safe and nurturing community for neurodivergent childre...

Antoinette Banks is an accomplished author, researcher, and CEO of Expert IEP , an EdTech company that supports students who learn differently and their parents. The platform helps to navigate the often confusing and daunting IEP process and system. Her book, " Better than A Diagnosis: A Single Parents Guide to Autism ," draws on her experiences as a mother of an autistic teenager to offer practic...

Nicole Homerin is an Inclusion Communities Manager at Partners for Youth with Disabilities and has over a decade of experience working with disabled children and youth. She has a background as a special education teacher and adaptive performance arts instructor, and joins us to discuss the training provided by her organization to support neurodivergent and disabled individuals and the community th...

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL Coaching, a specialized tutoring program that offers individualized one-on-one home, virtual, and on-site instruction.  Her program uses research-based, multi-sensory techniques that have proven successful in helping students who are struggling with their studies. We discuss academic challenges often faced by neurodivergent students and the best wa...

Ben VanHook is a young, neurodivergent person whose goal is to reform employment and education policy to make both domains more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. He is a speaker and writer and has been featured in the media from PBS programs to the New York Times. In this second episode of a two-part appearance, he shares his own experience of being employed and neurodivergent, as well as...

Ben VanHook is a young, neurodivergent person whose goal is to reform employment and education policy to make both domains more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. He is a speaker and writer and has been featured in the media from PBS programs to the New York Times. In this first episode of a two-part appearance, he shares his own experience of being adopted and neurodivergent, as well as va...

Professor Andrew Whitehouse helped to create the first national guidelines in Australia for diagnosing autism and supporting autistic children. He is the Director of Clinikids based in Perth, where they are breaking ground in terms of combining research and support for neurodivergent children and their families. Andrew also discusses the importance of early intervention and guiding parents through...

Devon MacNerland is a neurodivergent advocate and documentarian. He has been working in this realm for several years and is spending his time and resources on bringing his cause to the media realm. He discusses his latest project, a documentary about restraints and restrictions for neurodiverse students in schools. He highlights relevant issues and shares his thoughts on needed change and system r...

Zhara Astra is a writer, producer, and television executive. She is also a professor at Arizona State University where she developed the first course in the world on understanding neurodivergent women. After discovering as an adult that she was on the autism spectrum and had ADHD, she set out on a mission to help other women better understand themselves and their potential neurodivergences, while...

Eddie Tuduri is a career musician who has worked with many of the world’s great entertainers. He has also received many awards for his work with neurodiverse and disabled communities all over the world. After a near-death and disabling experience, Eddie founded The Rhythmic Arts Project, known as TRAP, which he created to help neurodiverse and disabled individuals overcome learning issues and addr...

Ashley Keller, Founder of Empower Self-Care and Consulting joins us to discuss helping families cope with the challenges they face when the system has failed them and they lack the support and resources they need. She talks about the “old vs. the new” ABA model. She believes in building proper communication on a foundation of mutual respect and trust between parent and child. Her goal is to mainta...

Jay Baldwin, Program Navigator at the Help Group’s Kaleidoscope organization for LGBTQIA+ youth, joins us to discuss the intersection of autism and LGBTQIA+ identities. They share the importance of creating a safe place for these young people to explore and grow. Jay also offers advice for the families of these individuals to support them in their journeys, as well as to facilitate communication i...

Dr. Nora Baladerian joins us to discuss the prevalence of abuse among the neurodiverse and disabled communities. Statistics show the rate is much higher than in the general population and the abuse is not limited to a particular type. She also shares the approach and treatments she uses to deal with the associated trauma and reduce the risk of the abuse happening in the first place. Dr. Baladerian...

Walt Karniski, MD, author of the book “ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe?” joins us to share his expertise. We discuss diagnosis, presentation in males versus females, the various medications and their side effects. We also talk about transitioning to adulthood with ADHD, and the results of research and certain studies that have been done. Dr. Karniski’s background as a developmental pe...

California State Senator Anthony Portantino joins us to discuss how he supports the neurodiverse community. He stresses the importance of advocacy and shares his plans for legislation that will make important changes for the benefit of this population. He also shares his thoughts on social justice and access to services. He believes that addressing mental health is just as important as physical he...

Ernie Merlan is the Founder of Muralism, an organization dedicated to connecting people with special needs to their community through art. They create large-scale murals wherever they are commissioned, from city streets to museums, to government offices. It is a group effort, and everyone from the public to politicians works side by side with the artists. The organization is heading towards its go...

Chris Latham, CFP, gives us an overview of financial planning for those with special needs. He shares his insights on what it takes to properly plan for the future. He offers information on special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, using life insurance as a tool, and more. He stresses that financial wellness and physical/mental health go hand in hand.

Dr. Temple Grandin, a renowned authority on autism and animal behavior, shares her insights and perspectives on raising a child with autism. She discusses various do’s and don’ts and offers some sage advice about early intervention, developing personal strengths, dealing with sensory issues, and preparing for the workforce. She also mentions a few of the many books she has written on the subject.

Andrew Arboe, Founder of Driving with Autism, specializes in helping neurodiverse individuals pursue driving as a transportation option. He was inspired to start the organization by his own experiences and discusses things to be aware of when considering driving. He offers online workshops and consultations and plans to make his solutions available across the United States.

Vijay Ravindran, Founder and CEO of Floreo, shares the amazing technology of virtual reality learning he has helped develop to aid neurodiverse learners to succeed in school and in life. It is a tool for therapists, schools, and parents alike. It teaches a wide variety of skills from socialization, to coping with bullying, to navigating your neighborhood. It is a fun and accessible device that is...