This Week on Autism Weekly: Transforming Workplaces for Neurodivergent Individuals with Dave Caudel In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Dave Caudel, Executive Director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. With a passion for understanding how things work and a personal diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, Dave brings a unique perspective to the conversation. As a father of three children on the spectrum, his mission is to create a better world for neurodivergent individuals. Tune i...
Sep 06, 2024•49 min•Ep. 177
Today's guest, Sylvia Moore Myers, is an experienced entrepreneur, author, and business consultant with over 30 years of expertise. Certified in mental health, life coaching, and crisis intervention, she is the founder and CEO of Gold Scars, LLC. Sylvia authored "Gold Scars," offering insights into grief, loss, and trauma. As a sought-after speaker, she inspires audiences to embrace S.C.A.R. (Strength, Courage, Adaptability, Resilience) and navigate healing through her 7 to Heal Method. Download...
Aug 23, 2024•53 min•Ep. 176
This week, we are excited to welcome Dr. Sarah Shultz, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Shultz is a leading autism researcher, focusing on its neural and behavioral origins. Her work at Marcus Autism Center uses neuroimaging techniques to improve early identification and intervention. She also leads several NIH-funded projects on brain development in infants and children. Today we will be discussing her research on early autism in...
Aug 16, 2024•42 min•Ep. 175
This week, we are excited to welcome Ronnie Daniel, the executive director at the Children First Education Fund. Ronnie brings a wealth of experience from his extensive nonprofit leadership roles, including his advocacy for children with disabilities, especially those with autism. Today we will be discussing how to support children with autism, the impact of the Children First Education Fund, and tips for nonprofit leaders aiming to make a difference. Download latest episode now! Resources Linke...
Aug 09, 2024•23 min•Ep. 174
This week, we are excited to welcome Dr. Aaron Rachelle Campbell to the podcast. Dr. Campbell is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Missouri, specializing in culturally responsive practices and interventions for minoritized students in underserved communities. Her research focuses on reducing exclusionary discipline practices and enhancing student-teacher relationships to improve academic, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Download episode to learn more! R...
Aug 02, 2024•45 min•Ep. 173
This week, we are excited to welcome Dr. Jaye Odom who is a licensed psychologist in New Mexico with impressive board certifications in applied behavior analysis and bariatric counseling. She has also reached clinical reliability in a gold standard assessment, highlighting her commitment to excellence. Today, we will be discussing how improving autism services in rural areas and the importance of cultural competence in reaching Native American and Spanish-speaking communities. Download episode t...
Jul 26, 2024•37 min•Ep. 172
This week, we are excited to welcome Dr. Bryn Harris to the podcast. Dr. Harris is a distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado Denver with a dual appointment in the School of Education and Human Development and the Department of Pediatrics (Developmental Pediatrics). She is also the director and founder of the bilingual school psychology program at the university and a bilingual (Spanish) licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist. In this episode, we will be ...
Jul 19, 2024•41 min•Ep. 171
This week, we're excited to welcome Dr. Bethany Raiff, a leader in combining technology with behavioral interventions to promote healthy behaviors. Dr. Raiff will share her insights on using innovative tools to support families raising autistic children, including video game-based learning and mobile interventions for encouraging positive habits. Whether you're a parent, therapist, or passionate about autism support, this episode will offer new understanding and opportunities. Resources (31) Bet...
Jun 14, 2024•32 min•Ep. 170
This week, we are joined by Rachel Dorsey, an autistic speech-language pathologist. Rachel has an extensive background in supporting children with a variety of neurodivergences and medical conditions through speech, language, social connections, self-advocacy, emotional and sensory regulation, and feeding challenges. She is also working on developing a continuing education course focused on affirming goals. Resources The discount code for my course is RACHEL15 for 15% off. Here is the link to th...
Jun 07, 2024•37 min•Ep. 169
This week, we are joined by Dr. Pranali Hoyle, a seasoned Behavior Analyst with over 20 years in the field, specializing in autism, ADHD, and more. Holding degrees from Kean University and a doctorate focused on mindfulness-based parent-child interactions, Dr. Hoyle is here to discuss the work she does at Neurodiversity of northeast and incorporating mindfulness and compassionate care in ABA practices. Resources Neurodiversity of Northeast (29) Pranali Hoyle, Ph.D., BCBA-D | LinkedIn Links: Wher...
May 24, 2024•39 min•Ep. 168
This week, we are joined by Milena Suarez, a passionate advocate for the autistic community. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Milena pursued psychology at the Universidad Católica de Colombia, working with victims of domestic violence before moving to the U.S. in 2020. She recently completed her master's in ABA and is now on her way to becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Milena is driven by the potential of Applied Behavior Analysis to transform autism services in Colombia and beyond. J...
May 17, 2024•38 min•Ep. 167
This week, we are joined by Dr. Janie Funk, who is the Clinical Director at Behaven Kids, overseeing the ABA programs and services across all locations. Dr. Funk brings over a decade of experience in providing services for individuals with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities. Dr. Funk's contributions are pivotal in expanding Behaven Kids reach to support more families in Nebraska. Her commitment lies in not just maintaining but elevating the quality of behavioral health services through ...
May 10, 2024•38 min•Ep. 166
This week, we are joined by Landa Fox, a BCBA and Certified Sexual Health Educator with extensive experience in autism and developmental disabilities. Landa specializes in inclusive sexual health education for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Today, she'll share vital insights on the importance of this education, effective strategies for parents and caregivers, and how ABA therapy can aid in teaching boundaries and safety. Download to learn more! Landa’s Bio Landa Fox (she/her) is a Boar...
Apr 26, 2024•51 min•Ep. 165
Join us on this week's Autism Weekly podcast where our host, Jeff Skibitsky, engages in a meaningful conversation with Dr. Nicole Young, Clinical psychology director for California at ABS Kids. This episode takes a deep dive into the significance of April, highlighting its importance as both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Autism Acceptance Month. Dr. Young shares her insights on what autism acceptance truly means and how it shapes the way we approach and empower individuals with autism. The di...
Apr 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 164
This week, we are joined by Dr. Han Ren, a licensed clinical and school psychologist, consultant, and speaker, deeply committed to liberation and anti-oppressive work. Through widely viewed social media content, Dr. Ren makes mental health accessible, focusing on collective healing in marginalized communities like Asian-Americans and children of immigrants. Featured on TEDx, Headspace, Buzzfeed, and Huffington Post, Dr. Ren advocates for culturally affirming care. Download to learn more! Resourc...
Apr 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 163
This week, we are joined by Dr. Naima Bhana Lopez, an assistant professor of special education and BCBA-D at Niagara University in New York. Dr. Lopez specializes in enhancing social-communication opportunities for children with developmental disabilities. Her work also explores diversity and equity in special education, empowering natural communication partners to improve outcomes for diverse students and families. With expertise in ABA therapy and special education, Dr. Lopez will be discussin...
Mar 29, 2024•37 min•Ep. 162
This week, we are joined by Jarad Van, a Ph.D. student at The Pennsylvania State University, specializing in Special Education. With a background in behavior analysis and extensive experience working with autistic children, Jarad brings valuable insights into Precision Teaching. Join us as we discuss the benefits and future potential of precision teaching for children with autism and their families. Resources Websites: Celeration.org https://www.octavetraining.com Books: The precision teaching b...
Mar 15, 2024•38 min•Ep. 161
This week, we are joined by Dr. Bruce Tinor, Vice President at Black Men in Behavior Analysis (BMBA), and Principal at CCIU's Child and Career Development Center since July 2023. Joining him is Jeron Trotman, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from Atlanta, GA. Jeron is not only a visionary and founder but also the president of Black Men in Behavior Analysis (BMBA), an organization dedicated to black men in ABA. Together, they’ll be discussing applied behavior analysis, staff training, and curri...
Mar 08, 2024•45 min•Ep. 160
This week, we are joined by Dr. Casey Dupart a highly accomplished K-12 administrator, school psychologist, certified clinical trauma professional, and board-certified behavior analyst. With a diverse career spanning various educational settings across the globe, from Italy to Hawaii, Dr. Dupart brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our discussion. Join us as we explore the vital role of systems-level approaches in enhancing both education and mental health outcomes for students everywh...
Mar 01, 2024•40 min•Ep. 159
This week, we're honored to have Dr. Wendy Chung, a leading expert in precision medicine and the genetic basis of autism. Dr. Chung's groundbreaking research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School is revolutionizing healthcare for children with autism and related conditions. Download to learn more! Resources: Chung Lab at Boston Children's Hospital | Human Genetics and Precision Medicine (wchunglab.com) SFARI | Wendy Chung ..........................................................
Feb 23, 2024•43 min•Ep. 158
This week, we are joined by Carrie Woodward, a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and the brilliant mind behind Jumpstart the Journey. With over two decades of experience, Carrie's journey into autism began at Pepperdine University in 2002, igniting a lifelong passion for helping families navigate the complexities of autism spectrum disorders. By combining scientific expertise with empathetic communication, Carrie provides parents with practical strategies to empower them during the critical waiti...
Feb 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 157
Welcome to the latest episode of the Autism Weekly Podcast. This week, our special guest is Paul Constable, an optometrist, autism researcher, and a father with a personal journey. From coping with his son's autism diagnosis to breaking new grounds in autism research, Paul's life has been an unexpected journey full of inspiring perseverance and groundbreaking work. Paul's pioneering research primarily focuses on exploring the potential of retina signals in autism diagnosis. He has utilized eye s...
Feb 09, 2024•34 min•Ep. 156
In this insightful episode of Autism Weekly, host Jeff Skibitsky and esteemed guest Dr. Matthew Wappet, Executive Director of Utah State University's Institute for Disability Research, engage in an illuminating discussion about reimagining the future of education to be more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. With a focus on autism, they critically discuss the current challenges and possibilities of special education. The episode highlights the pressing issues of incorrect societal atti...
Jan 26, 2024•49 min•Ep. 155
This week, we are joined by Dr. Eric Larsson, who is the Executive Director of Clinical Services at the Lovaas Institute Midwest, a Licensed Psychologist, and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral. With extensive experience in autism intervention, he's currently researching high-intensity Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) programs. Dr. Eric Larsson, President of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, actively advocates for increased ABA service access. Join us for a ...
Jan 19, 2024•51 min•Ep. 154
This week, we are joined by Andrea Pollack, the founder of Autism Parent Solutions. With a mission to empower parents of autistic children and teens, Andrea guides families to build essential skills and inner strength, fostering unshakeable confidence, and joy in their parenting journey. Today, we delve into Andrea's unique 5-step approach to autism parenting confidence and success. Join us as we learn from her personal journey, raising a son diagnosed with autism at age two – a journey marked b...
Jan 12, 2024•38 min•Ep. 153
This week, we welcome autism advocate and author Sam Farmer BACK to the podcast for another appearance to talk to us about his latest published article “An Autistic’s Vision for Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy”. This topic is important because it provides invaluable insights from lived experience, fostering inclusivity, and offering practical strategies to enhance therapeutic practices for neurodivergent individuals. Download to learn more! Resources JRc/electric shock article: https://medium.c...
Jan 05, 2024•49 min•Ep. 152
This week, we are joined by Katie York, also known as The Distracted Autistic. Katie is also the founder of Harford County Neurodivergents, a community group located in Maryland. Katie is also an educator, student, advocate, and community organizer with nearly fifteen years’ experience in community college workforce training programs. Katie's autistic voice will help us explore the diverse interests of the neurodivergent community. Download to learn more! Resources: "I Will Die On This Hill: Aut...
Dec 15, 2023•42 min•Ep. 151
This week, we are joined by Dr. Judy Van de Water, a leading immunologist and autism researcher at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Van de Water has dedicated her career to understanding the immunological underpinnings of autism, exploring the role of maternal immune activation and autoantibodies in brain development. Join us as we delve into her groundbreaking research and uncover the fascinating connections between the immune system and autism spectrum disorders. Download to learn more...
Dec 08, 2023•37 min•Ep. 150
This week, we are joined by Judith Ursitti who is the Vice President of Government Affairs for CASP, the Council of Autism Service Providers. Formerly a CPA, Judith transitioned into autism advocacy when her son, Jack, was diagnosed at age 2. With over a decade of experience, she's been a driving force behind autism-related legislation in numerous states. Judith's accolades include the Margaret Bauman, MD Award and the Autism Advocacy in Action Award. Today, we'll discuss profound autism, advoca...
Dec 01, 2023•36 min•Ep. 149
This week we welcome Dr. Matthew Wappett to the podcast to talk with us about strategies for community inclusion and belonging. Dr. Wappett is a researcher, a writer, and an educator in leadership, stress management, and inclusion. His expertise in Disability Studies informs his approach to "compassionate leadership," which has been taught in a variety of organizations and classrooms but is also completely relevant in our everyday lives. Dr. Wappett's research also looks at the impacts of laught...
Nov 17, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 89
