Special education teacher, author, and advocate Debbie Brady joins us to talk about how she incorporated the use of weighted blankets to help her Autistic son. Soon after the entire family got their own blankets! Debbie works tirelessly to educate the public in order to reduce, even eradicate the stigma associated with Autism, as well as, mental health and mental illness. Take a walk with us as she shares her journey. www.endingstigmatogether.com...
Oct 04, 2019•21 min
Stephanie Holmes interviews advocate Miyah Sundermeyer concerning the transition of students with autism from high school to college. Miyah encourages educators and parents to support students on the autism spectrum to reach fulfilling goals and admonishes students on the spectrum to advocate for themselves. Miyah's parents were told to get guardianship and that Miyah would not have a fulfilling life, but Miyah's determination and hard work helped her achieve her associate's degree, continue to ...
Sep 26, 2019•51 min
Join guest Prairie Conlon and host Kristin Walker as they discuss how horses and dogs are used as adjunctive therapy for kids on the autism spectrum. About Prairie Conlon: My Approach I believe that you are ultimately the expert on you. Let me act as a motivational guide through your struggles and together we can reach your goals. I believe in holistic treatment plans that involve working in several areas of your life to approach the issue comprehensively and thoroughly. I have both professional...
Sep 20, 2019•26 min
In this episode Mental Health News Radio Co-Host Matt Pappas interviews Kelli Gettel. Kelli is an entrepreneur living in the central Pennsylvania area, and a parent of 3 children, including a 4 yr old who also was diagnosed with autism. As you'll hear on the podcast, Kelli has overcome tremendous odds in her life, as so many survivors do, and wants to help others understand life with the challenges she faces. By doing so she wants to educate others that these are not reasons to stay silent, isol...
Sep 12, 2019•41 min
Bob Sheehan, CEO of Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, discusses how the state of Michigan successfully changed health coverage for Autism care. www.cmham.org
Sep 05, 2019•29 min
In this episode Stephanie and Sydney Holmes go over some important tips for teachers when they have a child on the spectrum in their class. They also discuss how to make accommodations without making any of the students feel uncomfortable. Sydney is off to college and joined us live at the 2019 Converge Autism Summit to talk about girls on the autism spectrum. She talks about what was helpful for her when it came time to go back to school. Stephanie C. Holmes, M.A., is a Certified Autism Special...
Aug 22, 2019•30 min
Join Sydney and Stephanie Holmes for helpful tips getting your kids prepped for school. Sydney is off to college and joined us live at the 2019 Converge Autism Summit to talk about girls on the autism spectrum. She talks about what was helpful for her when it came time to go back to school. Stephanie C. Holmes, M.A., is a Certified Autism Specialist and Credentialed Christian Counselor with the Board of Examiners for Georgia Christian Counselors and Therapists and was formerly an LPC in North Ca...
Aug 16, 2019•48 min
Join Holly Blanc Moses as she discusses anxiety, ADHD, and Autism. Who is Holly? Her house is a total mess and she can’t grow plants to save her life –BUT she gets ADHD, Autism, and anxiety and she's always THRILLED to share her knowledge and experience with you! She has two differently wired boys = never a dull moment! Holly Blanc Moses is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Licensed Psychological Associate with over 20 years' experience in ADHD, Autism and ...
Aug 09, 2019•51 min
Join one of the speakers at Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health's yearly summit: Converge Autism, Stephanie Holmes MA, BCCC, and Certified Autism Specialist as she discusses some of the myths that have been perpetuated about Autism. She also takes a look at some of the headlines in the news currently tackling Autism Spectrum Disorder. Stephanie C. Holmes graduated from Campbell University summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1994. Her Master’s degree in Counseling was obtai...
Aug 01, 2019•31 min
There are wonderful initiatives that focus on people from all walks of life sharing their stories. The #ifyoucoulseeme project is one of them. Today we speak with its founder, Erin Mahone, and her hope to have someone on the Autism spectrum join the movement. This project has taken off, been reported on in the news, and is becoming known around the globe for its groundbreaking ability to help people be seen and heard. Erin's "day job" is as a caseworker in the state of Virginia working with fami...
Jul 26, 2019•40 min
Join Aaron Huey, owner of a residential treatment center for at risk youth, as he discusses his experiences working with kids on the spectrum. Aaron is the host of the podcast, Beyond Risk and Back. Aaron has been working with children, teens, and parents for over 18 years. After ten years directing camps and empowerment programs around the world, Aaron opened Fire Mountain because he wanted to work with kids and families on a deeper level. Over the first few years of running programs like Teen ...
Jul 19, 2019•28 min
Join us for a discussion with Dr. Peter Vermeulen, the 2020 keynote presenter for the Converge Autism Summit, about Theory of Mind: How does it relate to Autism? Peter is the founder, director, CEO, lecturer, consultant, website developer, secretary. Occasionally, Peter even does the cleaning of the office of Autism in Context, the senior Autism lecturer and consultant for Autisme Centraal, and the Chief Editor of “Sterk in Autisme!”, a bimonthly magazine of Autisme Centraal. Autisme Centraal is...
Jul 11, 2019•38 min
Join Stephen Kavalkovich, host of Rescue the Rescuer podcast, who was relieved to find out his son was just diagnosed with Autism. Stephen worked as an EMT and was at ground zero on 911 working as a first responder. He shares the journey of finding out how his son's diagnosis of Autism has affected his family and why this was such a relief for him. The diagnosis has galvanized him to work with other first responders on how to respond to those emergency calls when a child or adult is on the spect...
Jul 05, 2019•25 min
Jeff Cohn joins us to talk about his work as an Occupational Therapist in the field of Autism. With a BS and MS in Occupational Therapy, Jeffery Cohn has a deep well of educational professional experience. As lead OT in a pediatric development outpatient clinic, lead OT in CA school districts, experience in long and short term rehab facilities, and now with experience in the Autism Program at Springbrook Behavioral Health, Jeffry brings a wide range of real-world patient and clinical experience ...
Jun 27, 2019•37 min
Melanie Watt who has a Masters of Education and a background as Special Education teacher joins us to talk about how equine therapy has changed the face of Autism. She is the Founder & Executive Director of Hope Remains Youth Ranch, an equine program that offers riding lessons, after school programs, certified equine therapy sessions and professional counseling to children and families throughout the Upstate of South Carolina. Melanie has a heart for seeing children succeed and sees Hope Rem...
Jun 21, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Chris Medina, Andy Chavez, and Annie Escalante join Kristin Walker to talk about Applied Behavioral Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Human Behavior, Mental Health, Virtual Reality, Autism, and more. We talk about how virtual reality is being used to help those with Autism. These young entrepreneurs created the organization BehaviorMe and we got the chance to use their simulator and the Oculus Go Virtual Reality Headset. BehaviorMe is developing immersive virtual reality simulations for behavio...
Jun 13, 2019•28 min
Recently, fellow MHNR Host Joseph Fusaro sat down to talk about writing, art, Autism, and Aspergers with Motesem Mansur. Motesem is an author and artist that uses creativity to write stories of hope for kids living with Aspergers and Autism. He faced struggles first hand as a kid and it is his mission to show this generation that there is nothing to fear, to let your passion guide you, and most importantly don’t allow others to take you off of your path. Moe gives his books to schools, hospitals...
Jun 06, 2019•26 min
We sit down for a chat with Madonna Kilpatrick from Seattle Washington. Her I.Q. is off the charts. She's an author, a blogger, a podcaster, a docent for the Museum of Arts in Seattle, and an artist. She's also autistic. Madonna lets us behind the veil to discuss what it was like for her in school, how she manages her life and her unique abilities while feeling vulnerable and insecure at times because of her diagnosis. It is a peek into a very rich and incredible life of a young woman on the spe...
May 31, 2019•34 min
Mary Neil, a student at the University of Florida down in Gainesville joins Kristin Walker live at the Converge Autism Summit. She is a mentor and student leader for their Social Gators program which is a new program that is a mentorship for students on the Autism Spectrum. This program helps them to get involved like any neurotypical student activities program. https://disability.ufl.edu/students/get-involved/social-gators/ Mary explains her role and why it is vital to have programs like this i...
May 23, 2019•9 min
Donald Bailey joins us live from the Converge Autism Summit by Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health. He's been on the podcast before talking about his autistic son and the journey he's experienced with him as a child and now an adult. Donald is working on helping him find private housing and continuing to speak at events like this summit to raise awareness about the lifelong journey of parents with children on the spectrum. A lifelong South Carolinian, Donald began his career in the insurance in...
May 16, 2019•15 min
Live at the Converge Autism Summit Aspie Comic Michael McCreary stops by the media room for a chat looking very tired and losing his voice! He did a wonderful session at the summit and was on his way to the next speaking engagement with his father. Joining us next is the CEO of Springbrook Autism Behavioral, Mike Rowley. Tune in for an update of all the great initiatives Springbrook has in place for this year and beyond! www.convergeautismradio.com...
May 09, 2019•18 min
We've heard so much about CBD oil and had the chance to speak with one of the exhibitors of the Converge Autism Summit, former NLF player Jeff Reed. His organization was there to talk about some of the research around CBD oil and Autism. Jeff is a two-time Super Bowl winner for the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers, Jeff Reed knows a few things about being in the spotlight. With millions of people focused on him and his leg, he’s kicked game-winning field goals in the sports’ bigges...
May 02, 2019•15 min
Live from the Springbrook Autism Summit, Scott Compton joins our host Kristin Sunanta Walker to discuss how he got into working with children on the Autism Spectrum. Scott Compton is the Regional Director Of Business Development for Springbrook Autism Behavioral. www.convergeautism.com Lori Reinhart-Mercer, RN also stopped by to talk about the research projects on ADHD and Autism being done for Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. autismcenter.duke.edu...
Apr 25, 2019•19 min
Join filmmaker Allen Wolf as he discusses his upcoming film Hooked, a romantic dramady where the lead character is Autistic. This film will bring awareness to help people to see autism through a new lens. Allen Wolf has won multiple awards for his storytelling as an author, filmmaker, and game creator. He is a producer, writer, director, and a communication specialist. www.hookedthemovie.com
Apr 18, 2019•26 min
Dr. Matthew Fisher stopped by the media room for a chat with our host Kristin Walker. We were live at Springbrook's Converge Autism Summit and we thought about how difficult it was to keep Dr. Fisher in that room, undisturbed for 15 minutes. Why? Because he is needed. Self-care amongst the caregivers became our focus for this conversation. Join us for a behind the scenes sneak peek in the world of self-care for caregivers. Dr. Fisher completed his General Psychiatry residency at the University o...
Apr 11, 2019•25 min
Jennifer Ferguson who runs Upstate Adult Aspies in Greenville, South Carolina runs a Meetup group for Aspies, led by Aspies. She stops by the media room at Springbrook's annual Converge Autism Summit to talk about the much needed community services for adults on the spectrum. Carolyn O'Connell with Mary Sunshine House joins us to share an option for some adults with Autism - group housing. Mary Sunshine House endeavors to create a safe and loving community housing project. Both of these wonderfu...
Apr 04, 2019•20 min
Live from Springbrook's Converge Autism Summit, we sit down with presenter and often guest Stephanie Holmes and her daughter Sydney. Stephanie talks about her presentation Spectrum Teens and the Issues they Face with Sydney talks about what her journey has been as a young woman with Autism. Stephanie C. Holmes, M.A., is a Certified Autism Specialist and Credentialed Christian Counselor with the Board of Examiners for Georgia Christian Counselors and Therapists and was formerly an LPC in North Ca...
Mar 28, 2019•29 min
Live at the Converge Autism Summit we sat down with Richard (Dick) Hills, the founder and President of Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health and Havenwood Behavioral Health at Springbrook. Dick shares his personal story about why he created Springbrook and the mission that drives his life of service. You don't want to miss this episode! www.convergeautism.com www.springbrookautismbehavioral.com...
Mar 21, 2019•17 min
Dr. Temple Grandin, Author, Speaker, and Professor of Animal Science was the keynote speaker at Springbrook's Converge Autism Summit held in March of 2019. Dr. Grandin stopped by the media room to chat with Kristin Walker again and it was such a pleasure. She wanted to talk about the behavior of herd animals and also about Autism in the workplace. Find out more about her work at www.templegrandin.com .
Mar 14, 2019•17 min
Robert Walker joins us today to talk about his experience as a public school teacher working with kids in Special Education - now called Exceptional Children. Rob takes us on a walk through his experiences with training and educating students about their classmates with Autism. He also explains that part of his job was to work with other teachers and how healthcare privacy made that a real challenge at times. www.convergeautism.com www.springbrookautismbehavioral.com...
Mar 07, 2019•28 min
