Discover what’s possible when you shift from blame to resilience. Although many myths about the causes of autism have been thoroughly debunked, misinformation continues to take a toll on mothers. Whether you know from personal experience or through an autism mom in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Lisa Candera.  Lisa Candera is a single mom, attorney, ADHD-er, autism-mom coach, and the host of The Autism Mom Podcast. She helps parents of autistic children regulate themselves first, so they can show up for their kids with compassion, clarity, and strength.  This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss: Lisa’s journey of understanding and accepting her son’s autism and OCD diagnoses What she envisions for her son’s future The importance of shared experiences and support groups Misinformation about autism, including recent unfounded claims that it can be caused by Tylenol The debunked “refrigerator mom” theory Working through blame and guilt after learning that your child is autistic How parents can protect themselves from misinformation fatigue Cultural expectations of motherhood Unspoken pressures placed on autism moms To learn more about Lisa Candera and her work, please visit: The Autism Mom Coach ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

How can autistic individuals cultivate a meaningful life?   Gwen Palafaox, a licensed psychologist, talks about how autistic individuals can find a sense of belonging and cultivate a meaningful life across employment and relationships.   With a focus on helping teens and young adults find their most fulfilled and joyful lives, Gwen has been supporting disabled and neurodivergent individuals for over two decades. She also hosts the podcast Dr. Gwen Empowered. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Gwen Palafox was originally released on June 22, 2023. Would you like to hear Gwen talk about how neurotypicals can interact with autistic people from a trauma-informed perspective? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation. Empowering Autistic Adolescents, with Dr. Gwen Palafox Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you really put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Are you the parent of an autistic child? Or are you in a relationship with an autistic partner? If you’d like to learn about how to better understand and support them, stick around for part two of my conversation with licensed professional counselor Meghan Ashley, where she talks about taking the autistic perspective. Among other things, we discuss: The consequences of disclosing her and her two sons’ autism to their extended family Common struggles parents face when trying to understand their autistic children How to create an autism-friendly home environment The complexity of unmasking in different situations Tips for non-autistics when interacting with autistic individuals To learn more about Meghan Ashley and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @mperfectconsulting. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

What are some action steps towards true inclusion? Sangeeta Jain, an autism mother from India and one of our partners at the Global Autism Project, shares her thoughts on this topic. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community, which also featured Autistic Self-Advocate Anthony Ianni and autism sibling Vanessa Lista. This conversation was originally released on September 30, 2021. Would you like to hear more about how to navigate social situations? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Navigating Social Situations, with Anthony Ianni, Sangeeta Jain, and Vanessa Lista   Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when dialogue opens the door. Unfortunately, cultural stigma around autism still exists. Whether you know from personal experience, or through someone who has been impacted by it, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Meghan Ashley. Meghan is a licensed professional counselor who has her own private practice, MPerfect Consulting, where she provides support to women, people of color, autistic individuals, and clients with intersectional identities.  This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss: The validity of self-diagnosis when you don’t have access to a formal diagnosis How Meghan uses what she describes as “neurodivergent life equations” to make her everyday life easier Parenting autistic children How to break the stigma around autism within the Black community Teaching her Black autistic sons about police interactions How to avoid misinformation when searching for autism resources online To learn more about Meghan Ashley and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @mperfectconsulting.----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey  

What are some changes educators need to make when teaching autistic kids how to read? Reading specialist Lois Letchford talks about her teaching philosophy: MAPS, which stands for Mindset, Active learning, Play, and Student success. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Lois Letchford was originally released on November 11, 2021. Would you like to hear Lois talk more about how to think outside of the box when teaching autistic children how to read? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  How to Teach Autistic Children to Read, with Lois Letchford Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you give room to grow. Can Applied Behavior Analysis ever be done safely? Dr. Shelby Dorsey –a BCBA, late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer and mother of two neurodivergent children– believes so. If you’d like to learn about a safe and personalized approach to autism services, stick around for part two of my conversation with Shelby. Among other things, we discuss: The harm that can arise from traditional ABA practices What it means to be happy, relaxed and engaged when learning How being autistic herself helps Shelby relate to her clients Setting goals for her clients only when they’re an issue for themselves, not just for society How to create safe and effective ABA interventions The importance of welcoming new and diverse ideas Resources for clinicians seeking to improve their practice To learn more about Dr. Shelby Dorsey and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @drshelbydorsey. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Did you go through a process to accept your autism diagnosis? What was it like to understand that autism is a part of who you are? Autistic Self-Advocate Mary Johnston shares a very moving poem she wrote, titled “A Letter to My Autism” that describes her experience. In Autism Tips & Tools, we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Mary Johnston was originally released on August 25, 2022. Would you like to hear Mary talk about derealization and how she processes her feelings? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Derealization and Processing Feelings, with Mary Johnston Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you speak your truth. How do autism and ADHD interact in everyday life? Whether you know from personal experience, or you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live with both diagnoses, you’ll want to listen to this episode with BCBA Dr. Shelby Dorsey, a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer and mother of two neurodivergent children. This episode is part one of our conversation with Shelby Dorsey, and we discuss: What it was like for Shelby to receive her diagnoses later in life How she felt misunderstood growing up Understanding autistic strengths and challenges How society responds differently to people with autism vs ADHD Thriving in social interactions and personal relationships as an autistic individual Why Shelby values authenticity over social pleasantries How her family operates in a flexible, non-traditional way to accommodate their neurodivergent needs  To learn more about Dr. Shelby Dorsey and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @drshelbydorsey. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Are you or anyone you know a woman entrepreneur, or a Black-American business owner? Have you or they ever felt like you’ve had to prove yourself in your field? Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins talk about their experiences as female, Black-American business owners in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins was originally released on May 25, 2023. Would you like to hear Brandy and Crystal discuss the stigma around autism within the Black-American community? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Growth, Diversity, and Cultural Humility, with Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when art becomes your voice. Whether through visual arts, music, dance, or theatre, art can foster community, self-expression, and personal growth. In today’s roundtable discussion, Global Autism Community members share their experiences with art. This roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Adrian Sanchez, and features Autistic Self-Advocates Robert Schmus and Sara van Koningsveld. Among other things, we discuss: Art as a vital outlet for self-expression How creativity can help autistic individuals articulate their feelings Famous autistic artists paving the way for representation in the arts Ways to turn art into a career Imposter syndrome as a common challenge for artists Accessibility in art education Art as a tool for positive change Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.  ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

What does it mean to do with and not for? The CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, talks about how creating sustainable change begins with listening – from building local capacity of autism services with our international partners to understanding the needs of the Autistic community.  Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Molly Ola Pinney was originally released on April 15, 2021. Would you like to get more practical insights into our framework for decision-making? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project  We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey. 

Discover what’s possible when you flex your mind.  How can we stay in the present moment and open our mind to difficult thoughts and feelings? If you want to know how to enhance your emotional and cognitive flexibility, stay with us for this episode with Dr. Steven C. Hayes. Steven Hayes is a clinical psychologist, a researcher, the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. He has spent the past four decades studying how to ease human suffering and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, having published 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles. This episode is part two of my conversation with Steven Hayes. We discuss: How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help autistic people  Where the concept of “normal” came from and how it’s been harmful to the autistic community Why Steven thinks Behavior Analysts should care about ACT How ACT can help families Tips for clinicians seeking to integrate ACT into their practice To learn more about Dr. Steven Hayes and his work, please visit  advocacy work, please visit stevenchayes.com. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

How might autism change team dynamics in sports? Anthony Ianni talks about how being autistic affected his relationship with his teammates. Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, motivational speaker, and former basketball star. Anthony was the first ever NCAA Division I college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Anthony Ianni was originally released on October 29, 2020. Would you like to hear about how Anthony’s experiences being bullied compelled him to become a motivational speaker? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you flex your mind.  How can we navigate life’s inevitable challenges more effectively? If you’d like to know how to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances, instead of rigidly resisting them, stick around for this episode with Dr. Steven C. Hayes.  Steven Hayes is a clinical psychologist, a researcher, the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. He has spent the past four decades studying how to ease human suffering and empower people towards a life based on their own values. With 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles published, Dr. Hayes is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, and his work has been celebrated with several prestigious awards. This episode is part one of my conversation with Steven Hayes. We discuss: How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works The true meaning of acceptance Psychological flexibility and self-awareness as key to well-being and personal growth The importance of honoring your own personal journey To learn more about Dr. Steven Hayes and his work, please visit  advocacy work, please visit stevenchayes.com. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Our Global Autism Community members talk about what affirming means to them, and how masking affects autistic individuals. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This roundtable discussion was originally released on October 5, 2023. Would you like to hear about best practices, client dignity, and how to create inclusive environments that respect the autonomy and individuality of autistic individuals? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices, with the Global Autism Community Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge those who can’t speak for themselves. Does the social model of disability work for people with profound autism? Stay with us if you’d like to hear Eileen Lamb, an Autistic Self-Advocate and the mother of a boy with profound autism, share her ideas on this topic. This episode is part 2 of my conversation with Eileen, and we also discuss: Her role as the Senior Director of Social Media at Autism Speaks The controversy around Autism Speaks and how this organization has evolved in the last decade Why Eileen thinks it’s important to make a distinction between different degrees of autism Black-and-white thinking Eileen’s tips for other autistic self-advocates To learn more about Eileen Lamb and her advocacy work, please visit The Autism Cafe. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

What’s the level of autism awareness in Ecuador? Our Global Autism Project partner from Ecuador, Mafer Chang, talks about how World Autism Awareness Day events in Ecuador have evolved to include more community participation and how she and her team keep parents engaged in services at Centro Enigma.  Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Mafer Chang was originally released on May 27, 2020. Would you like to hear more about Mafer and the work she does in Ecuador? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Parent Engagement in Ecuador, with Mafer Chang   Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge those who can’t speak for themselves. How does having a son with profound autism shape family dynamics? Eileen Lamb, an Autistic Self-Advocate and the mother of three children including a boy with profound autism, is back on the show to share some updates about her family and advocacy work. Eileen is also a writer, photographer, podcast host, and the founder of The Autism Cafe, a blog with articles and resources for other parents of children on the spectrum.  This episode is part one of our conversation with Eileen. We discuss: Her children’s development, progress and challenges, including her daughter’s selective mutism Eileen’s two most recent books: And Yet - Here You Are and Be the One  Lessons in motherhood Personal growth and self-discovery Advice Eileen would give to her younger self To learn more about Eileen Lamb and her advocacy work, please visit The Autism Cafe. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

How does the experience of Black families with autistic loved ones differ from that of other cultures? Maria Davis-Pierre shares how to develop culturally-responsive treatment plans, as well as how stress and burnout might impact Black families differently. Maria is the mother of an autistic young girl, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and the Founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc., a Florida-based organization dedicated to raising autism awareness and reducing the stigma within the Black community. Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you! This conversation with Maria Davis-Pierre was originally released on September 4, 2021. Would you like to hear about how religion, misunderstanding autism, and distrust of the health care system contribute to misdiagnosis in Black American children? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.  Autism in the Black American Community, with Maria Davis-Pierre | TBT Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey