Discover what’s possible when every change brings a new opportunity.

Do you struggle with social engagements during the holiday season? What boundaries do you set in order to preserve your mental well-being?

If you’d like to learn how to navigate the challenges of seasonal shifts, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable was facilitated by Global Autism Community moderator Hattie Angelys Fox, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates and new community moderators Bob Schmus and Adrian Sanchez.

Among other things, they discuss:

• Transitioning from summer to winter
• The challenges and joys of the holiday period
• How to balance your social interactions
• The importance of identifying and setting personal boundaries
• Sharing food and cultural traditions to enhance community bonds
• Preparing for travel during the busy holiday period
• Strategies to maintain mental well-being throughout seasonal changes

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Are you a self-advocate willing to share your story and educate others? Or a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Or maybe you’re a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one?

Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love to hear your takeaways from this episode in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world come together to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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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

THROWBACK EPISODE*

This episode with David Bodanis was originally released on January 21, 2021. ----more----

Discover what’s possible when everyone has a place they belong.

David Bodanis is a father to three young men, two of which are on the autism spectrum. David and his wife Irene are the founders of Jake’s House, a charitable organization based in Canada whose mission is to support individuals on the spectrum throughout their lifespans. They offer four core initiatives: annual holiday parties, the Legends Mentoring Program, employment mentoring, and inclusive housing solutions.

In this conversation, David talks about the dynamic between his three sons growing up, how the understanding of autism in Canada has changed over the last 20 years, and why he and his wife decided to start Jake’s House.

David also describes a recent, exciting project at Jake’s House in which they formed the band ASD, comprised of young musicians with autism.

For more information about Jake’s House, please visit jakeshouse.ca.

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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. You can also follow us on Instagram @autismpodcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel Global Autism Project.

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We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

*THROWBACK EPISODE*

This episode with Dani Bowman was originally released on July 15, 2021. ----more----

Discover what’s possible when inclusion is animated.

Dani Bowman is an autism self-advocate, animator, illustrator, teacher, and public speaker from California. Dani founded her company, DaniMation Entertainment LLC, at age 11, and has worked professionally in the animation industry since age 14. Her company has produced nine award-winning animated shorts, a PSA for Autism Society of America, and a music video that premiered at San Diego Comic-Con. DaniMation Entertainment has also illustrated six children’s books and numerous commercial works. Dani teaches animation to teens and young adults with autism and other disabilities at summer camps around the world, in-person and online.

As part of her advocacy work, Dani speaks at autism and neurodiversity conferences about inclusion in the workforce. She has been a keynote speaker at events such as OCALICON (by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence) in Columbus, OH, the Oklahoma Statewide Autism Conference, Temple Grandin and Friends in Los Angeles, CA, and the Alaska Autism Resource Center Speaker Series (AARC), among others.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• How autism affects Dani’s everyday life
• What she loves about her autism
• Some of the ways in which she feels misunderstood
• What inspires her as an animator
• DaniAcademy workshops and camps
• The skills needed to succeed as an animator
• Advice for other autistics entering the animation industry

To learn more about Dani Bowman and her work, please visit danibowman.com.

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Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

Sign up 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

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We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.