Autism In Real Life

By Ilia Walsh, Creator and HostEducation Self-Improvement Parenting Kids & Family Education for Kids

Autism In Real Life episodes

January 05, 2021 Episode 47: Autism and the Law with Peter Hahn
58 min
January 05, 2021 Episode 46: Building Healthy Relationships with Karen Lean
In this episode, Karen and I have an open conversation about building the foundation for having healthy and authentic relationships.

Karen Lean has sat on the Board of Directors and various committees at AANE and has given numerous keynotes, panel appearances, and workshops. Her writing appears in the book of essays, “Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity.” She was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 2009, at the age of 32. Originally from Canada, she lives with her husband in Boston where she works in Healthcare IT.
To learn more about Karen's writing as mentioned in this episode go to:

Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
Neurodiversity is for Everyone ™

1 hr 2 min
December 30, 2020 Episode 45: Final days of 2020 and looking to what lies ahead
Let's acknowledge getting through 2020 and get s glimpse into what 2021 will bring for the podcast. Learn how you can get involved and be a guest on the show!

9 min
December 16, 2020 Episode 44: Trauma and Autism (Part 3) Standing up for your basic human rights
I came across a list entitled "Basic Human Rights for Self Development" (Benedict, 2018) that can help individuals that are healing from trauma and working with PTSD. These can be excellent for beginning a dialogue with others about setting boundaries, self advocacy and self care. I am looking to set up some groups to have a conversation around some of the rights on the list. If you are interesting in being part of that conversation as part of a podcast, please reach out to me! Looking forward to hearing from you.

14 min
December 08, 2020 Episode 43: Trauma & Autism (Part 2): A conversation with Lisa Morgan, M.Ed and Mary Donahue, Ph.D on Living with PTSD on The Spectrum
In this episode Lisa, Mary and I got a chance to talk about what their experience is regarding living with PTSD while also having autism. We talked about common traumatic events, different responses to trauma based on neurology, how those with ASD can be more vulnerable, research in this area, and what we all can do to help.

Lisa Morgan is a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) and holds a Master's degree in the Art of Teaching in Special Education. She has previously authored Living Through Suicide Loss with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (JKP 2016) and is a senior editor for the Spectrum Women online magazine. She also is co-chair of the Autism and Suicide committee of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS).

You can learn more about Lisa and her work at:
https://autism-crisis-support.com/

Mary P. Donahue, Ph.D is a psychologist specializing in trauma and loss and working in private practice. She is a collaborator for The Center for Grieving Children and has developed specialized 'Providing a Safe Shoulder' training for helpers wishing to assist victims of domestic abuse. She is also a Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteer, and is the author of three books for teens on bullying, disability and domestic violence.
54 min
December 02, 2020 Episode 42: Trauma and Autism (Part 1)
In this episode I talk about trauma and post traumatic stress (PTSD) and explore the different ways they may overlap with autism. This is Part 1 of a series where I will cover a variety of topics that can fall under this umbrella.
22 min
November 25, 2020 Episode 41: Some strategies and a check-in before the holidays
Feeling the pressure of the upcoming holidays?

In this episode I offer some suggestion to help with making the holidays a little smoother regardless of whether you are having a small intimate gathering or sharing your time with others that you care about. I talk about anxiety, sensory sensitivities, executive function, social expectations and of course....COVID.

40 min
November 24, 2020 Episode 40: Interview with Nomi Kaim on the gifts of self-awareness with autism
In this episode, I had a great conversation with Nomi around self awareness, self respect and self compassion. Very inspiring!

Nomi Kaim was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in 2004 at the age of 21. Since joining the Asperger / Autism Network in Watertown, MA, Nomi has been fortunate to access a wide range of speaking opportunities. Before audiences of students, teachers, coaches, and mental health professionals, Nomi shares her experience of managing and learning from her life with ASD as well as bipolar and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Her interests include cognitive psychology, human and animal behavior, and Mahayana Buddhism.

56 min
November 19, 2020 Episode 39: An Interview with Sarah Hendrickx on Women and the Autism Spectrum
Curious about how sometimes those born female with autism present differently ?
Check out this fun and interesting conversation I had with Sarah Hendrickx who is the foremost specialist on women with autism among lots of other things!

Sarah is autistic. She has worked in the field of autism as an independent autism specialist since 2007. Sarah has also delivered over 1000 autism training workshops and conference presentations internationally to all types of professionals from educators and care providers to counsellors and lawyers. She has an unusually blunt and humorous speaking style which is more informal and 'says it like it is' more than many professionals. Many of her presentations can be found on Youtube. Sarah rarely does any public speaking these days due to health issues. She does contribute to occasional webinars and podcasts.
Sarah has written 6 books on autism - employment, sex and relationships, alcoholism, girls and women on the Autism Spectrum and also on the adult neuro-diversity spectrum. She has been involved in the development of training materials for the Dept of Education funded AET National Autism Training Programme and also spent three years working for the Ministry of Defence supporting autistic employees in science and technology. She was also involved in Scottish Autism’s Right Click Programme for Women and Girls and the National Autistic Society Professional Module for Clinicians diagnosing women and girls. She was Project Leader for ASpire autism mentoring project, and has worked in residential care and educational settings.
Sarah has a Postgraduate Certificate in Asperger Syndrome and an MA in Autism. She lives in the South of France with her beloved Keith, mostly riding her bicycle, talking to creatures and avoiding bread.

To learn more about Sarah's work you can go to Hendricks Associates
55 min
November 17, 2020 Episode 38: Financial Planning and the Autism Spectrum with Andrew Komarow
Why is financial planning important to those with special needs?

Listen in on this episode to learn why everyone should think about a financial plan and how it can help those particularly with special needs.

Andrew Andrew Komarow, CFP®, AEP®, AIF®, BFA™, CAP®, CASL®, CHFC®, ChSNC®, CLU®, FSCP®, REBC®, RHU®, RICP® the founder of Planning Across the Spectrum Andrew specializes in specialize in helping any individual, family or employer of those with autism and other disabilities pursue financial independence. Striving to enhance the quality of their lives, and their future. Andrew provides a unique perspective for those with unique needs, their caregivers, and their families because he has “walked in their shoes,” having received his autism diagnosis late in life.

To learn more about Andrew Komarow, visit planningacrossthespectrum.com/our-team. He can be reached at [email protected].
54 min

About Autism In Real Life

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Autism In Real Life, hosted by Ilia Walsh, is dedicated to offering insights into the joys and challenges of living with autism. Are you a parent or educator frustrated with how to best help someone…