The Autism Hour

Britni has 10+ years of experience in supported employment for adults with disabilities. She holds a degree from the University of Washington in Law, Societies, and Justice with an emphasis in Disability Studies and a minor in Political Science. In Washington, Britni worked at the highest performing state agency and managed supported employment and high school transition services for over 600 adults with disabilities. Last year she relocated from Olympia, Washington to Plano, Texas where she found a home for her talents at My Possibilities, the first college-style continuing education and job placement program for adults with cognitive disabilities in North Texas. At My Possibilities, Britni is the program manager for the LaunchAbility Career Services Program and the Vocational Education department. Britni is 1 of only 2 Certified Employment Support Professionals by the nationally accredited Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) in the state of Texas. She prides herself in being an expert in person-centered employment planning, customized and creative employment opportunities, high school transition, accommodations and adaptive technology supports, and disability hiring advocacy. The following resources were shared in this episode:- The Texas Workforce Commission - Transition Programs - Britni's contact information

Dr. Mallory A. Garrett is a BCBA-D and currently serves as the Regional Clinical Director for ABA of North Texas. Dr. Garrett received her Bachelor's degree is Special Education and her Master's degree is Educational Administration through Freed-Hardeman University. She received her Doctoral degree through the University of Memphis. Dr. Garrett has over 12 years of experience as a special education teacher and a BCBA. Dr. Garrett mentioned the following resources in her episode: - The Eight Plate - Triad with Pablo Juarez

Prior to joining My Possibilities, April served as Chief Program Officer for Ability Connection Texas. She has served individuals with disabilities in various capacities for nearly 20 years. Starting out as a college student working at summer camps and providing respite care, April knew this was the path she would choose, and has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. She served for 9 years at the ARC of North Texas, working closely with advocates and legislators to identify critical gaps in services and creating programs to meet the most immediate needs. April is a dog mom, partner in crime to many, traveler, knowledge seeker, reader, nature lover, introvert, leader, and an advocate for those most in need.April mentioned the following resources in her episode:- ARC of Dallas- Region 10- My Possibilities- Dallas Metrocare- Lifepath Systems- Lakes Regional- Tarrant County MHMR- Denton MHMR

Kelly is the proud mom of two boys, Joey and Bryson, ages 12 and 10. She and the boys live in the mid-cities area where Kelly grew up and went to school. She's worked with children in some capacity for over 20 years and has always had a deep connection with kids. Kelly is at the Helm ABA clinic in Lewisville, where she is now the clinic manager after starting off as an RBT.

Kate Domanski is the Associate Director of Grassroots Advocacy at Autism Speaks. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she studied psychology and political science. She later worked in professional childcare and in a congressional leadership office prior to joining the Autism Speaks team in 2013. She's served with the state and federal policy teams and now leads national grassroots efforts. Resources I mentioned: - Autism Speaks Website- How to get involved with Autism Speaks Advocacy - The Autism Speaks Family Services Team - How to contact the Autism Response Team:Call our toll-free number or send us an email – we're available between 9am and 5pm in all time zones. Your call will be routed to the team member for your region. We also have a dedicated Spanish language toll-free number. 1-888-AUTISM2 (1-888-288-4762) En Español: 1-888-772-9050 familyservices@autismspeaks.orgTo find out more information about my new business, Reveal Consulting LLC, visit my new website Revealconsultingllc.com

Will Barron has five years of experience working as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) in elementary and middle school settings. Progressively gravitating towards autism cases in this position, Will decided to specialize in this area because of high professional interest and fascination. In seeking a higher degree in this field, he is currently a third-year student in the Autism Intervention Ph.D. program at the University of North Texas (UNT). Will mentions these resources in his episode:- Autism Speaks - Intervention Central - Class Dojo

In 2003, Molly moved to Ghana to serve as a therapist for a young man with autism. She had been his therapist in Seattle, WA, and was asked to travel with them on their return home until they could find a local therapist for him. Faced with the reality that there were no local teachers prepared to support him, she envisioned and created an organization that could empower leaders, educate communities, and train local professionals. With a model rooted in sustainable, culturally relevant training, the Global Autism Project now works in ten different countries across four continents. Originally from New Hampshire, Molly has traveled and worked internationally for over 14 years. Her vision of building local capacity and promoting acceptance and understanding of the autistic community has grown into a global movement for change. She has spoken across various esteemed platforms; from the floor of the United Nations to a TEDx stage, advocating for a more collaborative, culturally relevant, sustainable approach to international aid programs.

Shannon Pugh has been leading the Arise Special Needs Ministry at Irving Bible Church for 7years, first as a volunteer and then as a staff member. Before working at IBC, she was a specialeducation teacher for 9 years. She fell in love with this population at a summer camp when shewas a teen and is extremely passionate about connecting families with special needs to resourcesthat will help them find abundant life! She also loves advocating for those with special needs andhelping others to understand their strengths and challenges. She is newly married, has a one-eyeddog, and loves to play videogames to unwind!Shannon mentions the following resources in her episode:-Path Project-ARC of North Texas-Joni and Friends-Arise Special Needs-Bent Tree-Gateway Church-Victory Flows-Sibshops-Life Planning for Families of Special Needs, Inc.

A.D. Thompkins is a writer, producer, and director of stage plays and film. She thoroughly enjoys the performing arts! Maya and Her Behavior Therapist is Ms. Thompkins first children's book. Her second picture book is entitled, Dante's Good Choices and it's also available for purchase Amazon. She will continue publishing several children's books in the future and is gearing up to facilitate workshops/seminars focused on parent training. Ms. Thompkins is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst working primarily with autistic children in Florida. She's also currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. The resources mentioned on this episode include: -@soothingwaterfalls -Autism Speaks -@Adaptivities2 -Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

"Susie" Nichols has over 15 years of experience in the field of autism intervention. She has worked as a self-contained special education teacher and interventionist in local school districts. Susie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has served children with autism in both the home and center-based programs.Here are the resources mentioned in this episode:-National Autism Center (NAC) -National Professional Development Center on Autism -Spectrum Disorders (NPDC) -M-CHAT -Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) -Regional Centers for Public School Districts (check with your school district)There will be an Autism Symposium on Saturday January 26, 2019 at Krum High School Auditorium (700 Bobcat Blvd. Krum, TX). If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, this is a great opportunity to learn more about autism! Admission is free. I hope to see you there!

Meaghan has served as the Pastoral Leader of Special Needs at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas since 2006. She has a passion for servjng families affected by special needs and enjoys helping churches across the country catch the vision of Special Needs Ministry. She has degree in Social Work from Texas Tech University and a Masters in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. Meaghan has one amazing husband (Michael) and two crazy boys (Jackson and Grayson) who are the loves of her life. Meaghan is best described by a sign in her office that reads, “Jesus, Dr. Pepper, and Texas Tech”. Here is the website for Stonebriar Community Church and Meaghan's contact information: https://www.stonebriar.org/ Meaghan Wall meaghanw@stonebriar.org

Happy Thanksgiving! This week, we bring you some of our favorite clips and stories from the past year on the Autism Hour Podcast! We hear from Natalie Drew (00:45), Kristen Hallsworth (5:25), Jasmine McInnis (16:28), Melanie Leonardo (21:28), Beth Newman (24:30) and Dr. Haylie Miller (32:40). To hear the full interview with these guests, you can find these and all of our Episodes at www.theautismhour.com, or find us on iTunes and Stitcher. We would love to hear what you are thankful for this holiday season! Send me your thoughts or any questions you may have at theautismhour@gmail.com. I hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving, Thanks for tuning in!

Kristen is a BCBA at The Helm ABA. She has been with them for three years. She leveraged her past experience in schools as an LSSP and her time doing direct therapy as a behavior therapist to tailor treatment plans specifically to meet the needs of her clients. These resources were mentioned in this episode: -The Helm ABA http://thehelmaba.com/ -Lewisville ISD https://www.lisd.net/ -Functions of behavior (SEAT acronym) -Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19383703 -Autism Speaks https://www.autismspeaks.org/ -ADOS https://research.agre.org/program/aboutados.cfm

Kathy is a Pre-K resource teacher at the Early Education Center in Krum ISD. She has over 30 years of experience in education, 20 spent in private education and 10 in public schools. Kathy also has administrative experience and owned a school from 2000 to 2007. She is very passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities through special education. The following resources were shared during this episode: -UNT KFAC https://autism.unt.edu/ -Krum ISD https://www.krumisd.net/ -ARC of Texas https://www.thearcoftexas.org/ -TEA https://tea.texas.gov/ -Region 11 https://www.esc11.net/ -PBIS https://www.pbis.org/ -St. Timothy Academy https://www.staplano.org/

Natalie Drew is an amazing mother, sharing her experiences as a mom of a son with Asperger's. She has four amazing kids and one brilliant husband, and together they are fumbling through a life full of highs and lows. Through it all, they choose to believe the Father's promises of His grace and mercy.

Jasmine McInnis is a single mother of Carter Lane. Carter is an 8 year old who loves life and adventure and is curious and caring. Cater is the light of Jasmine's life and she works hard to support him in every way she can. Jasmine is a neuro nurse, on the road to get a Master's in the Science of Nursing. Carter also loves to help others, and says he wants to follow in mom's footsteps. Together, they love going to parks and spending time with family.

Amy Foxman is the founder of Ability ABA, PLLC, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and certified special and general education teacher. Ability ABA is dedicated to building strengths and skills across the lifespan through providing direct services, consultation, and training. Amy currently is pursuing her Ph.D. in Autism Intervention at the University of North Texas and has worked extensively with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from early childhood to adult, in home, clinical, and school settings. Amy utilizes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and an evidence-based approach to support individuals, families, and other professionals to achieve optimal outcomes and quality of life. Here are some resources shared in Amy's episode: Financial Assistance/Grant Organizations: • Autism Support Network: Links to grants for individuals and families. http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/resources/autism-grantsunited-states • Masonic Home and School of Texas: Provides funding for family needs, medical and prescription services, therapies, and school supplies and career counseling. http://www.masonichometx.org/ • Variety Texas: Provides individual grants and funding for assistance animals, therapy, sensory equipment, modified vehicles, education, and more. http://www.varietytexas.org/

Leslie is a loving mother of two, a wife, and recently began the autism journey with her son, Grayson, who was diagnosed at the age of two. She is dedicated to serving her family and providing both of her children with the opportunity to learn and grow in a way that supports their individuality. Grayson is served through therapy at The Helm ABA clinic and Riley is learning at home with mom. Here are some resources from Leslie: - https://www.iloveaba.com/p/aba-glossary-new-to-my-blog-start-here.html - AuSome Moms Facebook Group (facebook.com/Ausomemoms) - An Early Start for your child with Autism by Sally Rogers and Geraldine Dawson - It Takes Two to Talk: A Practical Guide for Parents of Children with Language Delays by Elaine Weitzman Resources shared with Leslie from Cigna: http://nationalautismassociation.org/ https://www.autismspeaks.org/ http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2530 http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/ http://www.autism-society.org/ http://www.modelmekids.com/ https://www.socialthinking.com/ http://www.p2pusa..org/ http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/07/15/15-indispensible-websites-for-parents-of-children-with-autism/ https://www.myautismteam.com/

Jeannie is a teacher for preschool children who are deaf. She has served in this position for the past six years and worked with deaf students, deaf students with autism, ADD/ADHD, intellectual disablities, vision impairments, and other varieties of comorbities.

We're back with all new episodes this fall!Kristi Cortez has a master's degree from the University of North Texas in Behavior Analysis. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has over 10 years of experience working with children with autism. She also has 7 years of experience as a special education teacher. Kristi is now a BCBA at the Kristin Farmer Autism Center in Denton. Kristi is also married to a firefighter in Lewisville (Ryan), has a son (Lincoln), and just had another little boy this summer.Here are the resources mentioned in this episode:-Ausome Moms -Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd edition) by Cooper, Heron, & Howard

We're taking a break for the summer! But we will be back and better than ever in August with all new episodes of the Autism Hour Podcast! Happy 4th of July!

Kate Lundgren, and her husband Joe, are owners of Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy. Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy provides occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy to clients. There are three locations: Dallas, Mansfield, and Houston. Kate and Joe have two sons, Trenton and Spencer. Trenton has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and Spencer with Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified. Kate was an occupational therapist when her boys got diagnosed, specializing in treating patients with head trauma, spinal cord injury, and strokes. The Lundgren's believe in a comprehensive treatment package for individuals with disabilities and believe in “therapy with a purpose”. Here are the resources mentioned in this episode:- Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy https://cuttingedgepediatrictherapy.com/about-pediatric-therapy/- Rally in the Forthttps://www.facebook.com/events/359040140955018/- Hope Center for Autism (associated with Rally in the Fort)http://www.hopecenter4autism.org/- Ausome Momshttp://ausomemoms.org/- Joseph Lundgren Consultinghttps://josephlundgrenconsulting.com/about/- My Possibilitieshttps://mypossibilities.org/- nonPareil Institute https://www.npitx.org/- Autism Speakshttps://www.autismspeaks.org/- Life Planning for Families of Special Needs, Inc.http://txlifeplanning.com/

Melanie Leonardo is an intervention specialist in Frisco ISD. She is a wife and mom of a son who has been diagnosed with autism, intellectual disability (ID), cerebral palsy, and cortical visual impairment. Melanie has been in the field of special education for six years now. She started as a middle school theatre teacher, and has been on quite a journey to where she is now.Resources mentioned in this episode:- ECI- Early Childhood Interventionhttps://hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/early-childhood-intervention-services- Proloquo2go (iPad app.)https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/proloquo2go/id308368164?mt=8- Baby Centerhttps://www.babycenter.com/- Welcome to Hollandhttps://www.pdx.edu/students-with-children/sites/www.pdx.edu.students-with-children/files/Welcome%20to%20Holland.pdf- Frisco ISD (ACCESS Program)http://www.friscoisd.org/- Hope Parkhttps://lifestylefrisco.com/hope-park-a-unique-park-experience-on-your-frisco-doorstep/-AUsome Momshttp://ausomemoms.org/ 

Emily Duff has been in the special education field for 6 years, all in Coppell ISD. Her first teaching job in the district was as a long-term substitute teacher for the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities classroom (PPCD), and she fell in love with this class and the students. She also has three years of experience as a Kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5) resource teacher, with a focus in math and social skills. She taught Structured Learning K-5 for a year and then was able to return to PPCD. She has been back in the PPCD classroom for two years now. Emily is also a wife to a super patient and supportive husband, Matthew, and fosters animals in her spare time!Resources mentioned in this episode:- Vroom.org- Coppell ISD https://www.coppellisd.com/- The Autism Helper (blog)- Missbehavior (blog)- DFW Child http://www.dfwchild.com/- Navigate Life Texas https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en

Beth has been in the field of education for 11 years now and has a passion for teaching students vocational skills to assist them in life beyond high school. She has taught in Structured Learning for 8 years at Coppell Middle School North (in Coppell ISD). She received the honor of Campus Teacher of the Year during the 2015-2016 school year. Beth was also a paraprofessional for a year in the Practical Academics Program in Coppell. She started her career in education teaching 2nd and 3rd graders in the general education setting. She is also a wife to her husband, Brian, and has been for 3 and ½ wonderful years!Beth mentioned the following resources in her episode:- Unique Learning System- Coppell ISD

John D. Richmond is a proud husband and father. He has two children, a one-year-old girl and six-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with autism after his 5th birthday. The diagnosis and search to know more about autism, inspired John to write a book known as Totally Lost: A Brutally Honest Assessment of Raising a Child on the Autism Spectrum. John hold an MBA and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. He is a published research author and has a passion for higher education.John mentioned the following resources in his episode:- The Kristin Farmer Autism Center- Krum ISD- Denton ISD

Dr. Haylie Miller is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in the Department of Physical Therapy. Dr. Miller is currently conducting research investigating visuomotor integration in Autism Spectrum Disorder. This pertains to the use of visual information to plan, execute, and modify movement. She is also on the Texas Board of Directors for Autism Speaks.Dr. Miller mentioned the following resources during her episode:- Society for Neuroscience http://www.sfn.org/- Karen Caeyenberghs (Australian Catholic University)- Lisa Aziz-Zadeh (USC)- Sue Morris (Curtin University)- Priscila Cacola (UT Arlington)- Nicoleta Bugnariu & Rita Patterson (UNT HSC)- Mary Hayhoe (UT Austin)- Matt Mosconi (University of Kansas)- Autism Speaks (toolkits) https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits- National Autism Association http://nationalautismassociation.org/- Center for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/about.html- Interactive Autism Network https://www.ianresearch.org/- International Society for Autism Research http://www.autism-insar.org/UNT HSC: www.unthsc.edu/HMPlab/autismautism@unthsc.eduFacebook: @UNTHSCautismTwitter: @HMPlab

Jessica is a mother of two and a wife, a student at the University of Texas at Dallas, has a son with autism, and previously helped families of children with disabilities plan for long-term needs. She is also working with a team of individuals to create better transition planningprograms for students with disabilities who are between the ages of 18 and 22 in Coppell ISD. Jessica is an open-book and eager to tell her story to encourage other families along their journey.Jessica mentions the following resources in her episode andshared some additional resources to check out:-Autism Service Dogs of America http://autismservicedogsofamerica.com/-For Families of Special Needs http://forfamiliesofspecialneeds.com/-The Behavior Exchange http://www.behaviorexchange.com/-HEROES Camp (Richardson) https://www.heroesdfw.org-Hope for Gray http://hopeforgray.com/-It's A Sensory World www.itsasensoryworld.com-Navigate Life Texas https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en-Special Olympics Texas www.sotx.org

Katie is currently completing her LPC licensure and serving as an ABA therapist and counselor at Behavioral Transformations, an ABA clinic located in Rockwall and Rowlett (Texas). She also served children in the foster care system before beginning to support individuals with autism. Katie is a mother of four, previously worked in a public elementary school (in a variety of positions), and she is striving to support individuals with autism by using her gifts, experience, and education.Katie mentions the following resources/terms in her episode:- The Bair Foundation https://www.bair.org/- Behavioral Transformations (Angie Klutts) http://www.btrockwall.com/- ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)- Social Stories- PPCD (Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities)- Generalizing across settings

Cassie is a special education teacher at Christie Elementary in Plano ISD. Cassie received her undergraduate degree from UNT and is currently pursuing a master's degree in elementary education and leadership. She is dedicated to serving students with autism in her structured classroom where she strives to help each child meet his/her full potential. Cassie discusses behavior, reinforcement, data collection, inclusion, and shares many resources on this episode.- Howdy Homemade https://www.howdyhomemade.com/whole-story- News2you https://www.n2y.com/news-2-you/- TeachTown http://web.teachtown.com/- CPI- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training https://www.crisisprevention.com/- Zones of Regulation http://www.zonesofregulation.com/index.html- Life Path http://www.lifepathsystems.org/

Dr. Carnett is an Assistant Professor in Special Education at the University of North Texas. She has been conducting research since 2011. Dr. Carnett has research interests in speech generating devices and verbal behavior. She is extroverted, enthusiastic, and very eager to change the field of autism through her research. I am currently a student in one of Dr. Carnett's classes and her research assistant, which allows me to gain valuable experience conducting research in the field. In this episode, we talk about the importance of science and research, evidence-based practices, prompting, single-subject research, reinforcement contingencies, and so much more! She mentioned the following resources in this episode:- NPR http://www.npr.org/2015/09/17/441222497/an-alternative-vaccination-schedule-actually-presents-more-risks-than-benefits- Frontline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzCGux7qD1c- The Verbal Behavior Approach https://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Behavior-Approach-Children-Disorders/dp/1843108526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507755704&sr=8-1&keywords=verbal+behavior+approach- National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/- Center for Survivors of Torture http://cstnet.org/- Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org/en/- Verbal Behavior (book by Skinner) https://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Behavior-B-F-Skinner/dp/1614278652- National Center for Autism Research http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/

Stay tuned for new episodes of the Autism Hour Podcast!

In this special edition of the Autism Hour, we take a look back at a few moments of thankfulness and joy from a few of our previous episodes. Featured guests are (in order of appearance): Julissa Becerra, Dr. Miriam Boesch, Dr. Kevin Callahan, & Dalonda Pierson If you like the show, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or sharing with a friend to help us achieve our goal of educating more people about autism. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode! Thanks for listening and Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Kevin Callahan is the center director for the Kristin Farmer Autism Center at the University of North Texas. Prior to becoming the center director for KFAC, Dr. Callahan taught in the Educational Psychology department at UNT for 18 years. His research interest includes examining ways to provide effective school programming for students with autism and other disabilities. Dr. Callahan recently published journal articles pertaining to comprehensive autism treatment models. Dr. Callahan has a zest for the field and is always energetic and encouraging. In this episode, we discuss Dr. Callahan's experience teaching special education in a juvenile detention center, components of ABA and TEACCH, and his current position as the center director for KFAC, and his current research. Dr. Callahan shared the following resources on his episode: - Paul Alberto (ABA for Teachers) https://www.bookdepository.com/Applied-Behavior-Analysis-for-Teachers-Paul-Alberto/9780132655972 - ABA versus TEACCH article http://dcautismparents.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/ABA_7.9260942.pdf - Richard Foxx- Behavioral Artistry http://www.childpsych.theclinics.com/article/S1056-4993(08)00041-2/pdf - Richard Foxx- Twenty-five Years of Applied Behavior Analysis: Lessons Learned (article) - Kristin Farmer Autism Center http://autism.unt.edu/ - Texas Health and Human Services Commission https://hhs.texas.gov/ - National Autism Center http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/ - National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/ - Texas Association for Behavior Analysis http://www.txaba.org/ - International Society for Autism Research http://www.autism-insar.org/? - Texas Workforce Commission http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ - Social Validity of Evidence-Based Practices and Emerging Interventions in Autism http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1088357616632446

Dalonda is a loving, spunky, and charismatic mother of three. She has a son, Ryley, who was diagnosed with autism and started school when he was three years old. I had the wonderful privilege of being Ryley's teacher for two years and experienced much joy interacting with Ryley and his family during that time. Ryley's parents are extremely devoted to providing him with resources and supports to foster independence and growth- all of which have proven very successful. Dalonda also works for Mesquite ISD and has a love for people that is hard to overlook. In this episode, Dalonda and I talk about the process of diagnosing Ryley, life with three children, work, a husband, and many other activities, how to work together with your spouse, and how she helps people recognize and supports kids with autism in a variety of ways.

Sara is a Ph.D. student at the University of North Texas studying autism intervention. She opened her own business back in 2015 known as The Helm ABA Clinic. Sara is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and talks about her vision to include children with autism in general education settings. The vision of The Helm is discussed in addition to parent training, conducting research, partnering with parents and families, and teaching children with autism social skills. Please check out The Helm ABA clinic at www.thehelmaba.com.

Julissa is the mom of a bold, courageous, and charming boy with autism. Julissa also has three other children, works, is in school, and rocks at life! I have interacted with Julissa for several years now, as I was her son's (Jaiden) special education teacher for three years. During that time, I had the opportunity to get to know Julissa and her family and really love and appreciate her warmness, willingness to try new strategies, and patience. She truly loves her family and continually strives to provide the best opportunities to each of her children. In Julissa's episode, we chat about receiving a diagnosis of autism for Jaiden, her experience as a mother of a child with a disability, progress, and sibling interactions.

Suzie is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in human development and family studies with a specific research interest in studying the role of movement in the prenatal environment and socioemotional functioning of women during pregnancy. She is especially interested in studying pregnancy in underrepresented communities. I have had the opportunity to interact regularly with Suzie as we are both students in the Educational Psychology department at UNT. She continually exudes a positive energy and is a joy to collaborate and work with. Suzie was also a guest speaker in an undergraduate course I taught, sharing about her experience with having a stepson with high-functioning autism. In this episode, we discuss Suzie's current research pursuit, her family operating as a unit, the process of receiving a diagnosis for her stepson, and both the challenges and joys of life. Suzie mentioned the following resource in her episode: Association for Neurologically Impaired Children (AFNIC).

Jennifer has served in the field of education for about 10 years now. She was an interpreter for children who are deaf, taught deaf education, and served as an instructional specialist. Jennifer is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at UNT in emotional/behavioral disorders. Recently, Jennifer decided to pursue her degree full-time while working at Texas Woman's University to serve distance learners. Jennifer is also part of an initiative to include safety statements in the individualized education plan (IEP). The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness, increase recognition and reporting, and prevent child abuse altogether.In this episode, we discuss various resources for children with communicative disorders, the function of challenging behaviors, and how to ensure children with disabilities are living and learning in safe environments. Jennifer mentioned the following resources in her episode:deafed.netThe OUR Projecthttp://www.handsandvoices.org/resources/OUR/index.htmhttps://www.playitsafe.org/http://deafed-childabuse-neglect-col.wiki.educ.msu.edu/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1744291

Morgan is a math specialist for Christie Elementary in Plano ISD. Prior to that, she taught for 7 years. Morgan is dedicated to serving ALL students and supports learners who may be struggling in their general education classrooms. Morgan also started her own podcast for Christie Elementary where she is fostering collaboration between teachers and providing a platform to share encouragement, struggles, and experiences on campus. In this episode, we talk about ways in which general education teachers can be supported while serving students with disabilities. In addition, we discuss teaching in other countries and compare teaching abroad to teaching in the United States.

Dr. Miriam Boesch just got promoted to associate professor at the University of North Texas where she has been teaching and conducting research for 6 years. Her interest primarily includes researching alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) methods and strategies for individuals with disabilities. She has served as my advisor and mentor during my time in the Ph.D. program at UNT. Dr. Boesch is consistently positive, encouraging, and focused on changing the field to better serve individuals with disabilities. In this episode, we discuss Dr. Boesch's path to academia, information about AAC, characteristics of autism, high-functioning autism, causes of autism, and much more! Thanks for listening!

Welcome to The Autism Hour Podcast! My hope is the Autism Hour will bridge the research-to-practice gap by creating a platform for families, professionals, teachers, and other individuals to share information and experience. Enjoy!