Autism In Real Life

Sam Warner is a Communication Specialist and works with leaders across multiple industries to help Neurodivergent people at work to achieve recognition, respect and understanding.  Working predominantly with the IT industry, Sam works with the whole team to enable them to become self-aware, better communicators and gel as a cohesive team.  The benefits include increased profit and productivity, decreased absenteeism and an empowered high-performing team.Sam is a TEDx Speaker, the licensee and director of TEDxTelford and coaches TEDx Speakers, speakers for formal events and small businesses wishing to refine their messaging. Sam undertakes individual coaching for Neurodivergent adults and their friends, family and co-workers. She also helps trainers to design for neurodivergent audience members and trains organisations to improve their team culture and HR processes to be more inclusive. You can connect with her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwarner/Sam's Website is here: Get Your Message Across

Dan McManmon grew up in western Massachusetts with four sisters, six foster brothers, and an adopted brother. Dan's father, Michael McManmon, founded the College Internship Program (CIP) in 1984 and was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in his late 50's. The experience and relationship growing up with his father have had a profound effect on his understanding and compassion of Autism, ADHD and related learning differences.Dan studied multimedia and marketing at Champlain College and Autism Spectrum Disorders at Elms College. He began working at CIP a residential instructor and National Marketing Coordinator in 2005 teaching independent living skills and person-centered planning at the CIP Berkshire Center in Lee, Massachusetts. In 2007, Dan assisted with the opening of CIP's fourth program site in Berkeley, California. In 2010 he relocated back to Western Massachusetts and served as CIP's Director of Admissions and Marketing.Dan is a member of the Autism Asperger's Network (AANE), Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), Autism Society of America (ASA), and the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). His co-authored work on Reframing was published in the Autism File Magazine and he is a contributor to Autism & Learning Differences: An Active Learning Teaching Toolkit released by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in 2015.As President, Dan strives to achieve long-term vision and alignment with CIP's core values and founding principles by ensuring operations, marketing, strategy, and programming are effectively implemented across the organization. He enjoys producing music, photography, hiking, biking, and spending time with his wife Nicole, son Marlow, and daughters Arbor and Juniper.https://cipworldwide.org/

View the trailer here.Movie Description:When fifteen-year-old Tyson attends public school for the first time, his life is changed forever. While helping his father clean up after the football team, Tyson befriends champion marathon runner Aklilu. Never letting his autism hold him back, Tyson becomes determined to run his first marathon in hopes of winning his father's approval. With the help of an unlikely friend and his parents, Tyson learns that with faith in yourself and the courage to take the first step, anything is possible.Guest Bios:Bass is an Emmy®-nominated screenplay and teleplay writer best known for his work on “In Living Color,” “Sister, Sister” and the Nickelodeon sitcom “Kenan & Kel.” During his over twenty-five year career, Bass has worked as a writer for almost all of the major Hollywood studios and television networks as well as many prominent and independent film and television production companies including: Warner Brothers Studios; Twentieth Century Fox Studios; Disney Studios; Sony Pictures Studios and others. Currently, Bass is in post-production on his latest film, HeadShop, and pre-production on a faith-based Christmas film, Mother Johnson's Miracle Christmas, scheduled to begin principal photography in the spring of 2022. In addition, Bass' film, Tyson's Run is scheduled to open theatrically, nationwide on March 4th.Major Dodson is best known for his role of Sam Anderson on AMC's International smash hit series “The Walking Dead.” Other projects include LEFT BEHIND, “American Horror Story,” and “Revolution.” Dodson is currently featured in the inspirational drama TYSON'S RUN in theaters Spring 2022. Dodson currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif.Film Website: https://www.tysonsrun.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TysonsRunMovie https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMajorDodsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tysonsrunmovie/https://www.instagram.com/major_dodson/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tysonsrun https://twitter.com/Major_Dodson

Jenna and I have a great conversation about getting diagnosed when you are an adult who also is the parent of a child on spectrum. 

Sarah Appleman MS, OTR/L is a published Author, Speaker and Pediatric Occupational Therapist for therapist 20 years. Sarah Co-Owned Paws 4 Peds in Long Beach New York. A unique facility that combined Occupational, Physical and Speech therapy while incorporating  2 dogs, 2 Herman's Tortoises and a Malo Uromastyx lizard for animal assisted therapy. This facility inspired her to write “Paw Prints Learning”, a 3-part Handwriting Curriculum utilizing a multi-sensory approach to handwriting. In her newly released book, “Play with your Food”, Sarah combines her passions of working with the special need's population and baking. Through fun therapeutic interventions, activities, and tips, she guides caretakers and children to enjoy the participation in the food preparation with fun games, while improving food repertoire of picky eaters. Sarah holds a master's degree from Touro College in Occupational Therapy. She specializes in early intervention in children diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorders. Sarah has worked as a Senior Therapist & Supervisor for school districts, home care agencies and sensory gyms. She has also been published in Spectrum Magazine, Long Island Herald, and recently appeared on KUSI for Autism Awareness month.

Karen Miscall-Bannon is a senior hatha Yoga teacher. She is Yoga Alliance-certified at the 200-and 500-hour levels in Embodyoga® and at the E-RYT 500-hour level by Yoga Alliance since 2003.  She began leading trainings at Newington Yoga Center in CT in 2009. She is also an IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist and has worked on their exam-writing committee. Karen is currently  program director at Mindful Yoga Therapy, a non-profit dedicated to bringing trauma-sensitive yoga to veterans and other populations suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress. MYT offers trainings for teachers as well as resources for students.Karen is currently located in Northern CA, where she teaches classes, workshops, and leads 100- 200- and 300-hour Yoga Alliance-certified Hatha Yoga teacher training programs in the greater Sacramento area. She leads workshops and trainings around the world, including Thailand, Europe, and India.Karen has extensive knowledge of anatomy, with a passion for yoga therapeutics, stemming from her bodywork practice of over 20 years.  Karen brings a deep love of yoga and yoga philosophy to her teaching, and she is known for being able to make abstract concepts accessible to her students.  She gratefully brings what she has learned from her teachers and her own practice to her students, to assist them in deepening their awareness of body and mind through the practices of yoga.

Dr Isabelle Hénault, is the Director of the Autism & Asperger's Clinic at Montreal. She is a sexologist and psychologist from the University of Québec at Montréal, Canada. Her practice and studies have focused on providing diagnosis, education and support to children,adolescents, adults and couples living with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. Hénault has developed a relationship and sex education program and works with individuals and groups to increase their understanding of sexuality and conducts relationship counseling. Asperger Syndrome and Sexuality was her first publication (with Jessica Kingsley Publisher in 2005). She is presently collaborating on numerous international research initiatives involving socio-sexual education, interpersonal relationships and gender identity. Dr. Hénault is the co-author of The Autism Spectrum, Sexuality and the Law (Attwood, Hénault &Dubin) published by Jessica Kingsley Publisher, London (2014). In 2020 she published a bookthat was co-authored on the Female profile of Asperger syndrome (Hénault & Martin) atChenelière Education.Contact Information:Clinique Autisme et Asperger de Montréalhttp://www.clinique-autisme-asperger-mtl.ca/514 990-3373Here are links to resources that Isabelle mentions during this episode:Initial Clinical Guidelines for Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gender Dysphoria or Incongruence in Adolescents“I Don't Feel Like a Gender, I Feel Like Myself”: Autistic Individuals Raised as Girls Exploring Gender Identity

Russell Lehmann: Speaker, Poet, AdvocateRussell Lehmann is an award-winning and internationally recognized motivational speaker and poet contextualizing autism, mental illness, and cannabis use. His words have been featured in the USA Today, LA Times, NPR, Yahoo! News, Success Magazine and archived in the Library of Congress.A graduate of MIT's “Leadership in the Digital Age” course, Russell sits on the national Board of Directors for The Arc and is a council member for the Autism Society of America. Russell has also been the Youth Ambassador for the mayor of Reno, Nevada, and a member of the Nevada Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities as well as the Nevada Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders.Russell showed signs of autism as a newborn, however, he was not formally diagnosed until the age of 12 after suffering through 5 weeks in a lockdown psychiatric facility.His new book, “On the Outside Looking In” recently hit bookstores nationwide.In 2018, Russell was named as Reno-Tahoe's “Most Outstanding Young Professional Under 40”.In 2019 & 2020, Russell lectured for the prestigious King's College of London and the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education in Abu Dhabi, respectively. Russell currently travels the world spreading hope, awareness, and compassion in a raw and dynamic fashion, while also setting his sights on erasing the stigma and stereotypes that come with having a disability. Russell's passion is to be a voice for the unheard, for he knows how difficult and frustrating it is to go unnoticed.Website and TestimonialsInstagramLinkedInFacebookYouTube

In this episode Tas and I discuss the intricacies of complex trauma and it's impact day-to-day specifically in the workplace.  Please listen in for this informative discussion. Tas is autistic and part of the disability community with developmental, mental health, and physical disabilities. They are the trifecta or triad of disabilities. They are a person of color and nonbinary. They are proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a neurodiverse DID system! Since they have a unique combination of diversity, they advocate for inclusion. Equal access to education, healthcare, and innate human rights motivate them to move past challenges in the effort to make the world accessible, inclusive, and fair for the next generation. For more information: https://linktr.ee/tasthoughtsTas Kronby(they/them/we/our)Autistic Mental Health AdvocateMindful Life Coach Practitionerwww.tasthoughts.com

In this episode I have a great conversation with Eileen Lamb, A Blogger and Creator of The Autism Cafe.  We talked about her experience being an autistic parent of a child with autism as well as autism  advocacy. Eileen Lamb, author of "All Across The Spectrum" and “Be The One,” is the founder of The Autism Cafe. She's also a writer, photographer, and podcast host. Born in France, Eileen now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two sons, Charlie (8) and Jude (6). On her blog, she shares the ups and downs of raising a severely autistic child while being on the autism spectrum herself. In her free time, Eileen enjoys daydreaming and road trips.https://theautismcafe.com/@theautismcafe

In this episode Marcelle and I have a very exciting and inspiring conversation about inclusion, diversity and universal design in the workplace. Marcelle Ciampi M.Ed. (aka Samantha Craft), a respected Autistic author and international ambassador, has been featured at over 100 events around the world. Ciampi is best known for her writings found in the well-received book Everyday Aspergers, endorsed by best-selling author Steve Silberman. She is the Senior Manager of DEI at Ultranauts Inc., an engineering firm with an autism hiring initiative (featured in the New York Times), where Ciampi is credited for largely-architecting an innovative universal design approach to workplace inclusion. Some of her works, especially the Autistic Traits List, have been translated into multiple languages and widely-shared in counseling offices, globally. A former school teacher, Ciampi has corresponded directly with over 10,000 individuals on the autism spectrum and been featured in various literature, including citations in articles, books, and research papers. A selection of her writings can be found in ND GiFTS, ICare4 Autism, Exceptional Needs Today, Autism Parenting Magazine, ERE, and Different Brains. Considered an expert in the field of neurodiversity in the workplace, by key thought leaders such as Judy Singer, her knowledge is shared through consultancy work at quality enterprises like Uptimize. She serves as the founder of Spectrum Suite LLC, the Co-founder of the Spectrum Lights Inclusion Summit, Co-executive of LifeGuides for Autistics, and a contributor, advisor, and board member to autism organizations and conferences, including the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit. Her upcoming book, Autism in a Briefcase: Straight talk about belonging in a neurodiverse world, is based on 3000 hours of study. Ciampi also contributed to the book Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism and was recently accepted as a doctoral student in the field of organizational leadership and social justice. Recent appearances include AstraZeneca, Deloitte, Accenture, and Bank of New York Mellon. Marcelle is Autistic (Aspergers) with gifted-intellect, and dyslexic, dyspraxic, and hyperlexic, what she calls a ‘blended-neurodivergent.' Two of her adult sons are also neurodivergent, as is her life partner.You can find out more about Marcelle and her work at http://www.myspectrumsuite.com/ and https://ultranauts.co/ 

Temple and I have a very interesting conversation about the challenges of employment while being on the autism spectrum as well as some strategies we can all use to help. Dr. Temple Grandin is well known to many for her trailblazing work as a spokesperson for people with autism and her lifelong work with animal behavior. Dr. Grandin has been with Colorado State University (CSU) for over 25 years. Grandin has been referred to as the "most famous person working at CSU" by her peers.Her life's work has been to understand her own autistic mind, and to share that knowledge with the world, aiding in the treatment of individuals with the condition. Her understanding of the human mind has aided her in her work with animal behavior, and she is one of the most respected experts in both autism and animal behavior in the world. Dr. Grandin is also a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Facilities she has designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. You can learn more about Dr. Temple Grandin's work in autism at templegrandin.com and for her work in animal behavior you can go to grandin.com.

Welcome to Season 2!!  I have lots of great interviews and content coming this season.  Looking forward to sharing with you! I have also started adding transcripts for this season.  Let me know what you think!

Carol, Matthew and I talk about tools and educational materials that they have created to help individuals learn about their brain, how it works and how to implement strategies that may help individuals create space for learning and healing.  I found their perspective and approach very interesting and wanted to share their information for those of you that might want to investigate further.  They have lots of free resources on their site and  other social media. Would love to hear your thoughts as well! About the book:In Healing Your Child’s Brain, child development experts Matthew and Carol Newellequip parents with the knowledge, confidence, and tools they need to help their special-needs child flourish. The Newells taught more than 20,000 parents and were the parentsof two children with special needs. They know firsthand, as both parents and practitioners,what works—and what doesn’t.Most treatments focus on managing symptoms but don’t address underlyingneurological issues. This book guides readers through the stages of brain development andhow they affect functioning, showing what wellness looks like at each level and how toidentify—and address at the root—these challenges.In these pages, parents will learn:• The seven key developmental areas that contribute to how well your childfunctions in daily life.• How to understand and evaluate your child’s capabilities and challenges.• How to create a neuro environment tailored to your unique child. Guiding you tomeet them where they are, rather than where they are “supposed” to be.With insight into how your child’s unique brain functions, you can move beyondmanaging symptoms to establishing a home regimen that fosters neurological growth. It ispossible to transform the structure of your child’s brain—from the cells themselves to theconnections between them. By harnessing the brain’s ability to grow and change slowly and steadily over time, your child can and will make progress.Matthew and Carol Newell have dedicated their lives to helping children with specialneeds and brain injuries. As founder of The Family Hope Center in Greater Philadelphia,they have assembled a dedicated team of doctors and therapists and developedneurologically based therapy programs for thousands of families. Over nearly 40 years,Matthew and Carol have lectured and initiated child development programs which havehelped families from more than 35 countries.Website: www.familyhopecenter.comFacebook: @thefamilyhopecenterLinked In: @TheFamilyHopeCenterInstagram: @thefamilyhopecenterVimeo: www.vimeo.com/familyhopecenter

Eva Mendes, LMHC, NCC, is a widely recognized couples’ counselor who excels at working with couples where one or both partners have Asperger syndrome and are on the autism spectrum (diagnosed or undiagnosed). She specializes in working with adults with Asperger syndrome (an autism spectrum disorder), high-functioning autism, ADHD, non-verbal learning disability, PDD-NOS, social (pragmatic) communication disorder, and gifted individuals. Eva’s work also focuses particularly on women with Asperger syndrome.Originally from Mumbai, India, Eva is inspired to work with individuals and couples from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.Eva offers creative, practical solutions to life challenges, tailored to each client’s needs, neurology, and personality. She artfully integrates evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology, and mindfulness practices to help couples and individuals reach their goals. Clients who work with her report feeling motivated and empowered to change their lives. They are strengthened to overcome obstacles and energized to create happier relationships.Eva leverages both the latest research and her broad experience with numerous neurodiverse adults and couples in order to help her clients. When necessary, she collaborates with psychiatrists, organizational skills coaches, family members, and community resources to help clients create lasting change and wellness.An expert on the topic of Asperger syndrome and social-communication challenges, Eva has spoken at conferences, colleges, and medical centers. She also leads the popular Spouse and Partners’ and the Couples’ support groups at the Asperger/Autism Network. She has written several papers on this subject, including Marriage with Asperger Syndrome: 14 Practical Strategiesand a thesis Bridging Parallel Play in AS Marriage.You can learn more about Eva at https://eva-mendes.com/

How are you navigating the transition to full time face-to-face instruction? This is an especially challenging time for anyone in education whether an educator, a parent and especially a student.  Lots of changes from how teaching is being done, ever changing social rules, strategies and goals being a moving target, to transition challenges for everyone.  

In this episode Elise and I talk about creating a comprehensive team to help get the best services for your child as well as lots of tip and strategies for communication, what the school is responsible for and what options families may have. This is a great addition to the Special Education Mini Course! Elise Wulff, MEdProgram Manager, Child Services and Aspire WorksElise Wulff has been working with the neurodiverse population in both the public and private sectors for over 15 years. With Aspire since 2008, Elise oversees Child programming, Aspire Works, and related services where participants engage in multi-disciplinary, strengths-based learning. Elise feels strongly that there is a mutual accountability of neurodiverse individuals and their environments (schools, communities, workplaces) to create safe, inclusive spaces that enhance the potential for success for all involved.Prior to joining Aspire, Elise worked as an Inclusion Facilitator for a therapeutic intervention program for students with Asperger’s, NVLD, ADHD, and similar profiles. In collaboration with Aspire, Elise co-wrote a multi-year tiered self-awareness curriculum based on Aspire’s model ‘The Science of Me,’ as well as curricula to address enhancing Executive Functioning skills and supporting resistant writers.In addition to managing Child Programming and Aspire Works, Elise provides parent coaching, school-based consultation, and professional development services. She is recognized for her work supporting school districts and other community organizations to enhance their inclusion practices and foster healthy social-emotional development and self-awareness. She has specific expertise in inclusive practices, program design, social-emotional curriculum, tools to build independence, and strategies for building Executive Functioning. Elise received her undergraduate degree in psychology and theater arts from Emory University and her master’s degree in special education from Lesley University.

I had a great conversation with Daman about their experiences with gender identity, gender expression, learning about their neurodivergency and so much more.  Listen in on this very open and heartfelt discussion.  To learn more about Daman, go to their Blog at : https://nativeofnowhere.blog 

Simon and I have a great conversation about his most recent book which has us look at the human mind, its development, how we all process information differently and how the autistic brain could be tied to the greatest developments and inventions of our time thus far.  Simon Baron-Cohen is the Director of the Autism Research Centre and a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is Director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge. He is author of Mindblindness, The Essential Difference, Prenatal Testosterone in Mind, and Zero Degrees of Empathy. He has edited scholarly anthologies including Understanding Other Minds. He has written books for parents and teachers including Autism and Asperger Syndrome: The Facts. He is author of Mind Reading and The Transporters, digital educational resources to help children with autism learn emotion recognition, and both nominated for BAFTA awards.He has published over 600 peer reviewed scientific articles, which have made contributions to many aspects of autism research, to typical cognitive sex differences, and synaesthesia research. Three influential theories he formulated were the ‘mindblindness’ theory of autism (1985), the ‘prenatal sex steroid’ theory of autism (1997), and the ‘empathizing-systemizing’ theory of typical sex differences (2002).He created the first UK clinic for adults with suspected Asperger Syndrome (1999) that has helped over 1,000 patients to have their disability recognized. He gave a keynote address to the United Nations in New York on Autism Awareness Day 2017 on the topic of Autism and Human Rights. See http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/toward-autonomy-and-self-determination-world-autism-awareness-day-2017/5380816054001He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, the British Academy, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the American Psychological Association. He is Vice-President of the National Autistic Society, and was President of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR, 2017-19). He was Chair of the NICE Guideline Development Group for Autism (Adults) and was Chair of the Psychology Section of the British Academy. He is co-editor in chief of the journal Molecular Autism and is a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator. He is the Principal Investigator of the Wellcome Trust funded award investigating the genetics of autism, in collaboration with the Sanger Centre.He serves as Scientific Advisor, Trustee or Patron to several autism charities including the Autism Research Trust, the Cambridge Autism Centre of Excellence, and to the company Auticon, which only employs autistic people. He has taken part in many television documentaries, including the BBC’s Horizon, and Employable Me. He received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List 2021.You can learn more at https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/ 

The only constant in life is change - this is a saying that a great manager I had one told me 25 years ago.  He was so right! In this episode I share some insights I have had managing the every changing (and inconsistent) world that is around all of us right now. 

Morénike and I talk about gender assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression and sexuality. If you are unsure about what all of these terms mean or want to learn more or just want to check out an open and candid conversation, listen now!! Morénike Giwa Onaiwu is an educator, writer, public speaker, parent, and global advocate. A proactive, resourceful professional and disabled woman of color in a multicultural, neurodiverse, serodifferent family, Morénike, who is American-born to immigrant parents, possesses undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Relations and Education. She is passionate about human rights, justice, and inclusion.She is involved in various social justice advocacy endeavors including HIV awareness, learning via technology, research, gender, disability, and racial equity and other issues. A prolific writer, Morénike has written for and/or been featured in numerous blogs, abstracts, magazines, books, and other platforms, often drawing from her personal experiences as a late-diagnosed Autistic adult woman, a person of color, an Autistic parent of Autistic and non-Autistic children, and a survivor of intimate partner violence. She is also involved in several projects in addition to her advocacy and writing; notably, she is one of the editors (along with Lydia X.Z. Brown and E. Ashkenazy) of a groundbreaking anthology on autism and race as well as a co-coordinator of the Fund for Community Reparations for Autistic People of Color’s Interdependence, Survival, and Empowerment.Currently balancing her roles as a faculty member at a state college and as a doctoral student in an educational leadership program, Morénike considers herself a “lifelong learner” who is constantly growing and changing, hopefully for the better! She considers her wonderful children (biological and adopted and all of whom have various disabilities) to be her greatest accomplishment.She can be contacted by making a direct appointment at MorenikeGO.youcanbook.me and/or by emailing her at MGO@morenikego.com(^This is derived from my “real” bio. For a more casual/”fun”/informal version, visit my About page.)

Want to know what to do If things aren’t working out with your IEP? Listening to learn what the best strategies are forgetting the best IEP you can get for your child or student.Meet Peter:Peter A. Hahn, Esq.Nothing is more important than your family. So when your child is denied an education, you get a call from the police, or DCF comes knocking at your door, you need an intelligent, experienced, highly effective lawyer committed to protecting your rights.Attorney Hahn is devoted to successfully representing children and families. He is sensitive and compassionate, clear and direct, efficient and strategic. He knows the law, knows who you are up against, and knows his way around the courtroom.He will fight for what is right for you.EducationBoston University School of Law - J.D., cum laudeHarvard College - B.A., cum laudehttps://peterhahnlaw.com/

Building connections with people can be difficult under any circumstances however during a pandemic it can be even more challenging. Listen in as Ali gives us some ideas on how to meet people and learn about ourselves. Perhaps these strategies can lead to those connection that can lead to deeper friendships and romantic relationships. Meet Ali:Hi, I’m Dr. Ali Arena and I’ve dedicated my education and career to finding the best communication patterns and behavior changes required to navigate the ever-changing social world. I am both a Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. I have an Autism, Trauma-Informed Care, Level 1A Social Thinking Practitioner, UCLA PEERs, and Neurodiverse Couples Counseling certifications. Additionally, I provide supervision to SLPS, SLPAS, RBTS, & BCBAS. Lastly, My Doctorate focus was unique to say the least as it addressed the dating intricacies of those on the Autism Spectrum which lead me to develop unique 1:1 couples counseling for neurodiverse partnerships and social skills classes for individuals with social learning differences (including Asperger’s syndrome, high functioning autism, ADD/ADHD, and those without a formal diagnosis but who struggle in the social world).https://aliarenacommunications.com/

I saw a Spectrum News article come across my email on Gender Identity and Autism and I was very interested in finding out more. Having worked as the Director of Adult Services at AANE, there were many people I worked with who were exploring their gender and/or their gender expression. I also worked with many parents and families who were looking to find resources and understand what their child was experiences so they could better support them. I think this is such an important conversation and was able to get in touch with the lead researcher for this most recent study. Join me for this interesting and informative conversation. Varun Warrier is a postdoctoral researcher at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge. He primarily works on using genetics to understand heterogeneity in mental health conditions, including the intersection between autism and other mental health conditions.Here are links to the study and the Spectrum News article referenced in the podcast:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32770077/https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/gender-and-sexuality-in-autism-explained/

I want to take the black box away from talking about gender, sexuality, and romantic relationships and how they intersect with autism. These are all part of the human experience and for those of us that work with and love those that are neurodiverse we need to create a safe space for these conversations. I hope I can help ease this process for folks even if it is just a little bit.

As I have discussed in passed podcast episodes, there is a striking connection between autism and trauma. On the autism side we may need to consider unrealistic social expectations, social misinterpretations, overload of sensory input and difficulties with executive functioning that can lead to anxiety and stress. Perhaps it is being a caretaker of someone with autism that can lead to overwhelm, anxiety and extreme stress. If we look at post-traumatic stress, also called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it is one of the mental health conditions caused by an external event (trauma). Post-traumatic stress is a natural reaction to unnatural circumstances (even if perceived by the brain). Traumatic events include family instability, accidents, man-made and natural disasters, traumatic loss, or violent events such as childhood abuse or bullying, neighborhood violence or sexual assault. Traumas can shatter a person’s sense of safety and make it difficult to trust others again. Individuals with post-traumatic stress avoid doing things or going places where they are not in control of their surroundings. These effects can greatly disrupt daily living. Sometimes there is also a fear of being overwhelmed by unwanted thoughts or feelings. Does any of this sound familiar to you?If so, this program could be for you. Mindful Yoga Therapy is a collection of simple but effective practices that have been adapted and clinically tested specifically for those recovering from post-traumatic stress. These practices can be used to enhance the health of the body and mind, regardless of physical limitations or psychological distress.In Mindful Yoga Therapy, you will learn many different yoga “practices.” Each practice is a “tool” you can use to cope with post-traumatic stress, extreme stress and/or anxiety. Together, these tools form a comprehensive system—a toolbox—that will carry you into a life of strength and resilience.Many individuals with post-traumatic stress who have learned and now practice these techniques report improved sleep, better focus and concentration, less irritability and anger, and overall more enjoyment in their daily lives. Program Length: 6 weeksDates: Fridays on March 19, 26, April 2. 9. 16, 23 Time: 10am-11am Cost: $110 for all six weeksRegister Here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18945708&appointmentType=20503479Each class will be recorded and a link to the recording will be made available after each session for your review. The entire program will be available to you for 30 days past the last class date.Looking forward to working with you!Check out this Mindful Yoga Therapy meditation right now: https://youtu.be/--vxOKpWZK0

In this episode I discuss the transition planning process and review the various parts of the form. I have some examples below that can be referenced for help.Transition Planning FormUnderstood Samplehttps://assets.ctfassets.net/p0qf7j048i0q/5N8GMHhcIxyP053TfULQEi/36a1af20bfeb9eb9edfc33319b8654d7/Sample_IEP_Transition_Plan_Students_Careers_Understood.pdfIllinois Guidelines https://www.isbe.net/Documents/ch8-secondary_transition.pdfNew Hampshire Transition Planning Worksheet and Samples https://nextsteps-nh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ESF-Transition-Planning-Wksheet.dochttps://nextsteps-nh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Sarah-IEP-Transition-Plan-4.16.pdfGeorgia Sample Transition Planhttps://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Documents/Vision/VI%20Consortia%205-5-17/Sample%20Transition%20Plan%20-%20Carly.pdf

In this episode Jacqueline and I talk about her book entitled "The First Gifts of Autism". I was truly moved and inspired by this book as a parent and an educator. Meeting with Jacqueline proved to emphasize how we can all look at autism with a different lens and create a more inclusive and accepting world for all of us with differences. Jacqueline Johnson is a wife and homeschooling mother of three daughters. She has twins, who are both on the Autism Spectrum and she currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri where she is working on The Next Gifts of AutismYou can connect with Jacqueline at privybooks@gmail.com or on social media @TheFirstsGiftsofAutism

In this podcast I discuss the IEP process and form in detail. This can help to create a comprehensive education plan that is truly customized for a child so that they can access the curriculum and make effective progress. IEP Samplehttps://www.livesinthebalance.org/sites/default/files/CPS%20Flavored%20IEP%203_0.pdfhttp://www.ovec.org/docs/building/2/ecs%https://assets.ctfassets.net/p0qf7j048i0q/24s5adt3xYto4Ri8QwBJxo/3121f047b5e8882dd2dc706d40be17b2/Anatomy_of_an_IEP_Understood.pdf/arc%20chair%20resources/arc%20chair%20module%201-8/module%205/robert%20iep%202-26-13.pdfAnatomy of an IEP Guidebookhttps://assets.ctfassets.net/p0qf7j048i0q/24s5adt3xYto4Ri8QwBJxo/3121f047b5e8882dd2dc706d40be17b2/Anatomy_of_an_IEP_Understood.pdf

In this episode Krista and I expand on the conversation of self discovery through using a "Pleasure Mindset". We talk about tools that can help you build a life focused on your joys and honoring your authentic self. As a consciousness guide, Krista supports humans of every stripe in creating fiercely fulfilling embodied lives and relationships. She finds her own edge daily as a passion catalyst and pleasure mystic, an author and sexologist, an artist and poet. She is the author of 39 Revolutions, Unlearn Moderation, Body 2.0, and Ischemia. Living in Maine a few steps from the woods, she is the mama of two sons and partner to her love, Brian.https://kristahaapala.com/@krista.writes

In this episode I explain the Individualized Family Education Plan (IFSP) process and form so that families and those working with children below the age of 3 can have a better foundation of what to expect and what will be required to build a solid plan for those children that are eligible for early intervention services.Please find some helpful resources below:Understood.Orghttps://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/treatments-approaches/early-intervention/ifsp-what-it-is-and-how-it-worksIFSP Webhttps://www.ifspweb.org/ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Educationhttp://www.cms-kids.com/providers/early_steps/training/documents/individual_family.pdfFederal Regulations for Early Intervention, IFSP and transitionhttps://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/Final_Regulations_Part_C_Guidance.pdfSample & Guidebooks for an IFSPsMassachusettshttps://www.mass.gov/doc/ifsp-handbook/downloadNew Mexicohttps://www.cdd.unm.edu/ecln/FIT/pdfs/IFSPTADocJune2016.pdf

To celebrate our 50th episode, I am kicking off a 4 part mini course covering the special education process and forms associated at all levels of student education. I will cover the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, and Transition Plan. We will cover all section of each form and talk about who the best people may be to have on your team.

In this episode I wanted to share my thoughts on how, for me, building connection with others is part of the self discovery and exploration process. I talk about how some of my old "programming" can get triggered by the outside environment especially with social media.