THROWBACK EPISODE*

This episode with Cassidy Hooper was originally released on May 27, 2021. ----more----

Discover what’s possible when a butterfly spreads her wings.

Cassidy Hooper is a 27-year-old autistic self-advocate from Mississippi who also has a rare genetic condition called Turner Syndrome. As the President of The Arc of Northeast Mississippi Autism Now Division, she mentors other autistic people and connects them with resources in their area. Some of her other advocacy work includes volunteering for Autism Grown Up and the Turner Syndrome Foundation. Cassidy also hosts her own podcast called The Diverse Butterfly, in which she spreads awareness about Turner Syndrome and aims to inspire others to follow their goals.

Sadly, shortly after we recorded this interview, Cassidy’s mother passed away from a sudden heart attack. This episode is in memory of Regina Hooper.

Mrs. Hooper was a strong advocate for Cassidy throughout her life, always fighting for what she thought was best for her family. She was a sweet and caring mother, wife, grandmother, and teacher’s assistant who loved children. Regina Hooper will be missed by Cassidy and so many others whose lives were touched by her kind and tender spirit.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• What Turner Syndrome is and how it affects Cassidy’s life
• Receiving her autism diagnosis at 17
• Her learning style and special interests
• The lack of support for adults with disabilities in rural areas of the US
• Advice for other girls and women with Turner Syndrome

To learn more about Cassidy Hooper and Turner Syndrome, you can listen to her podcast The Diverse Butterfly.

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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.

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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

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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.

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.

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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

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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.

Discover what’s possible when social engagement and self-care are balanced.

Do you find it challenging to be surrounded by too many people? What do you prefer: spending time alone or with others? Or do you just struggle to make deeper connections?

If any of this resonates with you or anyone you know, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable is about Isolation vs Community. It was facilitated by Autistic Self-Advocate and Global Autism Community moderator Hattie-Angelys Fox, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Adrian Sanchez and Eren Niederhoffer. Our Global Autism Community is an online space where anyone connected to autism can share their perspectives on various topics.

Among other things, they discuss:

• Isolation as a restorative choice
• The dual nature of isolation
• How slowing down can help you to understand yourself
• Tools to balance community and self-care
• Navigating social situations and the role of humor in connecting with others
• Public spaces as a neutral ground for social interactions
• Trust as a prerequisite to meaningful relationships
• Cultural sensitivity in communication and humor
• The importance of self-time for mental and emotional well-being
• Observing social dynamics to enhance one’s ability to connect

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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 Michael Huang was originally released on April 28, 2020. ----more----

Discover what’s possible when innovative technology empowers parents to interact with their children in new, creative ways.

Michael Huang is the president and co-founder of UPlus Academy, an autism center in Nanjing, China.

With a background in IT, Michael describes the moment when he discovered he could utilize his multi-media technologies to help children with autism. It was fascinating to learn about the ways he and his staff are using 3-D mapping rooms to teach communication and generalization in the natural environment.

The Global Autism Project partnered with UPlus in January 2019. Since then, we have sent three SkillCorps® volunteer teams to provide sustainable clinical training to their teachers. We have also created an authorized curriculum to administer the six courses required by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

Earlier this year, we learned of the impact the coronavirus was having on our partners in China. We immediately scheduled video calls and closely worked together to create solutions for their students in quarantine.

Now, three months after they were forced to close their centers, Michael shares the current situation in his region, as well as his determination to not lay off any of his staff amidst the crisis. By offering online parent training, the staff at UPlus have motivated parents to transition to home programming. They even created an app for parents to track their children’s progress.

You can learn more about Michael Huang and UPlus Academy here: UPlus.

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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 Molly Ola Pinney was originally released on April 15, 2021. ----more----

Discover what’s possible when instead of teaching someone to fish, you ask them what they like to eat.

The CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, is back on the show to talk about the motto that drives our work: #DoWithNotFor.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers seeking guidance around the world. Our SkillCorps volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local teachers and therapists.

If you’d like to learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to my conversation with Molly in episode 2.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• The meaning of doing with others and not for them
• The "Essential, Preferable, Preferable to Me" framework
• Doing with the Autistic community
• The importance of listening

We also make two big announcements that we think will have a huge impact on the autism community. Stay tuned until the end to hear them!

To learn more about our organization and the work we do, please visit globalautismproject.org.

Watch Molly explain on the TEDx stage why doing things for others doesn't help.

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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

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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 Maggie Nunez was originally released on July 8, 2021. ----more----

Discover what’s possible when taking care of yourself lets you take care of others.

This week's guest is Maggie Nunez. Originally from Dominican Republic and currently living in New Jersey, Maggie is a mother of three, two of whom are autistic. Her sons Dariel and Alvin are 16 and 13 years old. As a cancer survivor, Maggie hopes to encourage other parents to prioritize their own health in order to effectively take care of their children.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• Maggie's two sons’ autistic strengths
• Challenges her son Dariel has overcome
• Thinking about her children’s future
• What motherhood has taught her about herself
• Autism acceptance in Dominican culture
• Her family’s supportive attitude
• How she takes care of herself

If you’re a parent, how do you practice self-care? You can connect with other parents going through experiences similar to yours, as well as find support and self-care resources, in our Global Autism Community.

Just a reminder, our community is open to anyone related to autism. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a professional in the field, you can participate in these important conversations on our platform.

Sign up 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

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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.