Autism In Real Life

In this episode I talk about the current criteria used to determine an autism diagnosis.  This criteria is from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) which is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. My goal is to help people better understand the criteria that is used by clinicians. 

This is part 2 of a 6 part mini course.

In this episode I give an introduction and overview of the autism spectrum.  I talk about the different facets that can be affected, some of the common challenges and common strengths. If you have ever wanted to learn more about autism and related diagnoses such as Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), High Functioning Autism (HFA) and others, give this mini course a listen. 

This is part 1 of a 6 part mini course.

In this episode, I talk about my journey into this work of advocacy and education in Autism and talk about why I do what I do and why it is important to me.  

Ilia has been a corporate trainer for such organizations and conferences as GE Capital, Morgan Stanley, UBS PaineWebber, Massachusetts State Department of Disability Services, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), AANE Connections Conference, and over 1000 Administrators, Faculty & Staff in over 150 school districts in Massachusetts and New York.

In addition to being a corporate trainer, she has worked with many an influential individual such as Temple Grandin, Tony Attwood, Carol Kranowitz, David & Kristin Finch, Stephen Shore, Becca Lory, and Isabelle Hénault.

She is an instructional designer and curriculum developer who has created custom educational content for the private, public and non-profit sector.  She currently offers workshops, trainings, consultations and coaching for families, educators, clinicians and employers.

Ilia Walsh is also like many of you; she is a wife, sister, friend, and mother of two adult children, one of which is on the autism spectrum.

Every get confused about what ABA is and how it all works? 

In this episode I chatted with Rebecca Lake who is @TheSpectrumAdvocate and Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Endless Abilities, Inc. We had a great conversation about educating students with autism including the benefits and drawbacks of traditional Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapies and how ABA can be used in a wider context and customized to meet each individuals needs. 

In this episode, Morénike and I have a great conversation talking about a wide range of topics from parenting to educating those around us about autism, from self awareness and advocacy to the intersectionality of culture, gender, race and autism and how it can impact diagnosis and finding the best supports for each individual. 

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 [email protected]

(^This is derived from my “real” bio. For a more casual/”fun”/informal version, visit my About page.)

In this episode, I got a chance to talk with Eric Chessen, Founder of Autism Fitness about how he has made it to bring effective, fun, and meaningful fitness and Adaptive Physical Education programs to as many on the autism spectrum as possible. 

When just beginning his career as a fitness trainer over fifteen years ago, Eric had the opportunity to develop fitness programs for teens on the autism spectrum and undergo high level ABA training both clinically and academically. As he became increasingly dedicated to working with this unique population, Eric found a near-total lack of information concerning best practices and approaches when creating fitness programs for those with autism.

Steadily, and over the course of a decade working with hundreds of athletes who had significant variance in their ability levels, he began to create the outline for Autism Fitness as a business and mission; providing not just fitness programs, but effective and reliable fitness programs for every individual with autism and related disabilities. Autism Fitness was to serve as a bridge between the professional fitness and autism communities (families, educators, and therapists).

Today, with his athletes in the greater New York Area, the Autism Fitness Toolbox, and the Autism Fitness Certified Practitioner program, Eric continues to build a gateway towards a more optimal, independent future for the ASD community and future generations. When not working with his athletes he is either in the gym, playing outside with friends, or reading.

In this episode, I got a chance to talk with Chris about his passion for helping people connect and find adventure through surfing to positively impact their physical and mental well-being. Gnome Surf offers one-on-one sessions, group workshops and full on camp experiences. If you want to learn more about surf therapy and if it something that would be interesting to try for you or a loved one, listen in to learn more.

More From Gnome Surf:

In this episode, Tony and I have an in depth conversation on how special interests can impact the lives of those with autism. We talk about the impact on behavior, emotional regulation, relationships, anxiety, education, employment and so much more!!

Professor Tony Attwood PhD is an internationally recognised clinical psychologist, educator, and author.  Recently featured on ABC’s Australian Story, Tony is one of the world’s foremost authorities on autism.  His book Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals is an international bestseller and seminal in the field.

Attwood & Garnett Events
Resources from Jessica Kinglsey Publishers

In this episode, I talk a little bit about special interests and how important they can be in an individual's life.  Do you or someone you know have an intense focus on a particular area?  Perhaps it's ballet, robots, lizards, dogs, trees or maybe its Pokemon, Minecraft, Star Wars, Star Trek, McDonald's, Harry Potter, or a whole list of other amazing topics that can hold interest for hours on end.  Listen in to learn more about how and why these interests can be so impactful. 

In this episode Kelley and I talk about what transition planning is and the variety of ways that it can be done.  Each Transition Plan is as unique as each individual that it is being written for.  If you are a parent or educator wondering how to start or refine the transition to post high school

Ms. Challen has been engaged in assessment, development, and direction of transition-focused programming for teenagers and young adults with a wide array of developmental and learning abilities since 2004. While Ms. Challen has special expertise in working with children with autism spectrum disorders and Asperger profiles, she enjoys working with students with a range of cognitive, learning, communication, social, emotional and/or behavioral needs.

Ms. Challen joined NESCA in 2013. She believes that the transition to post-secondary learning, living, and working is ongoing, and that there is no age too early or too late to begin the planning process. Moreover, any transition plan should be person-centered, individualized and include steps beyond the completion of secondary school.

To learn more about Kelley, you can go to https://nesca-newton.com/challen/

              Transition Services at NESCA

              MassHire Career Information System

              O*NET OnLine Career Exploraiton and Job Analysis

              Landmark College’s A Guide to Assessing College Readiness

              Life Skills Inventory Independent Living Skills Assessment Tool

              Casey Life Skills (CLS) Assessment

              Adolescent Autonomy Checklist

               Book: Students With Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel