Autism Knows No Borders

*THROWBACK EPISODE*

This episode with Cassie Harden Scott and Russell Hornig-Rohan was originally released on August 20, 2020.----more----

Discover what’s possible when community outreach begins with empowerment. 

Our guests today are two members of our Global Autism Project family: Cassie Harden Scott and Russel Hornig-Rohan, or Rusty for short. 

Cassie and Rusty have been involved with the Global Autism Project for over 6 years. Both of them began as volunteers on SkillCorps trips to several of our partner sites – including Centro ACAP in the Dominican Republic, which you may remember from Episode 20. SkillCorps is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to visit autism centers around the world, working directly with their local teachers and therapists while providing sustainable training. If you’d like to know more about our SkillCorps volunteer program, please listen to episodes 4 and 17, featuring round table discussions with a few other members of our community. 

Over time, Cassie and Rusty each stepped into roles related to outreach and advocacy. Cassie is currently our Director of Outreach and works closely with our partners to help spread autism awareness and acceptance in their communities. Rusty is an autism self-advocate, as well as a polyglot whose impressive abilities have helped his teams cross language barriers while abroad. 

In today’s conversation, Cassie and Rusty share how they got involved with the organization and why they’re passionate about its mission. They also reminisce about trip highlights and recount fun stories from when they were working together at our office in Brooklyn, New York. 

We discuss some of the different outreach initiatives that can be carried out, from supporting parents and professionals to giving presentations at universities. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear about ways to engage in advocacy work from your own home. 

For more information about our work, please visit globalautismproject.org. 

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Discover what’s possible when you find the right provider.

Have you ever struggled to navigate the healthcare system? Autistic individuals often have their own set of challenges when dealing with accessing medical services.

If you’d like to learn about your rights as a patient, and how you can advocate for your individual needs, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable about Healthcare Preparation and Advocacy was facilitated by Global Autism Community moderator Danielle Terrell, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Amy Smith and Sara van Koningsveld.

Among other things, they discuss:

• The complexity of health insurance plans 

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Are you a self-advocate willing to share your story and educate others? Or a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Or maybe you’re a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one?

Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love for you to join our next roundtable in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world come together to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

*THROWBACK EPISODE*

This episode with Pamela Fisher was originally released on August 13, 2020.

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Discover what’s possible when music unlocks hidden strengths. 

Pamela Fisher is a Registered Music Therapist from Sydney, Australia. She is skilled in voice, guitar, piano, improvisation, and clinical supervision. With over 15 years of experience specializing in groups and individuals with autism, Pam provides music therapy services both in-person and online. 

In today’s conversation, Pam gives us a brief history of autism awareness in Australia and explains which services are covered by government funding. She defines what music therapy is and shares how she got involved in the field. We talk about different populations who can benefit from services and discuss some common misconceptions. 

Through simulating various musical interventions, Pam demonstrates different goals she may work on in a session. We also point out the benefits of collaborating with behavior analysts and speech therapists when writing programs. 

Pam has created a musical kit to target different sensory needs a child may have. You can purchase a kit and inquire about her online music therapy services here: The Musical Nest. 

For more information about Pamela Fisher and her work, please visit her website: musicalmonkeys.com.au. 

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you embrace your true identity. 

Are you a late-diagnosed autistic person, or do you know someone who is? If this resonates with you, you’ll want to listen to today’s conversation, where we touch on how acceptance of one’s autism can change over time. 

The following Global Autism Community roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Hattie-Angelys Fox, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Brian MIddleton, Corben Havener, Mary Johnston, Bob Schmus, Amira Collantes, and Adrian Sanchez, as well as community moderator Danielle Terrell.

Among other things, we discuss:

• Finding out about an autism diagnosis at different stages in life

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Are you a self-advocate willing to share your story and educate others? Or a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Or maybe you’re a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? 

Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love to hear your takeaways from this episode in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world come together to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. 

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when you engage your inner leader. 

Do you want to learn how to communicate and collaborate effectively, identify the root causes of roadblocks in your life, and embrace your role as a leader? 

Everyone has the potential to be a leader in their own lives. If you’re interested in personal and professional growth, stick around for this episode with the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney where she talks about all things leadership. 

The Global Autism Project accredits autism centers worldwide and provides sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to service providers seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities. 

This conversation with Molly was originally released on November 25th, 2020. We are re-releasing it today as a shout out to our SkillCorps® trip leaders who have just returned from a volunteer trip to Peru. A huge thank you to Adriana Garcia and Kelly Cotter for stepping up in an incredible way to guide our volunteers’ collaboration with our partners at MADI and the autistic community in Lima. 

In today’s conversation, among other things, we discuss:

• Why leadership training has always been at the foreground of support provided by the Global Autism Project

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We’d like to give a shout out to our SkillCorps® 2024 Title Sponsor, Action Behavior Centers. We’re excited to be partnering with businesses to create opportunities for employee development and growth through our SkillCorps® program. SkillCorps® Business Partners endorse employee participation in our SkillCorps® volunteer program and provide support to selected employees through granting time-off, providing funds to help team members fundraise, and more! 

Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry. 

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when your environment fits your needs. 

Do you struggle with organizing your physical space? Or have you found systems that work well for your needs? Organization can be a sensitive topic, especially if you feel any shame for not being as organized as you’d want to be. 

If you’re looking for tips on how to design a space that works for you, stick around, because today’s episode is a Global Autism Community roundtable discussion about Organizational and Environmental Management, featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie-Angelys Fox, Amira Collantes, Adrian Sanchez, and Eren Denburg, as well as community member Cheryl Albright.

Among other things, we discuss:

• Decluttering small vs large spaces

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Would you like to share your own perspectives by participating in roundtables like this one? Join our online Global Autism Community, a safe and judgment-free space where all kinds of people connected to autism regularly discuss important topics like autistic identity, dating on the spectrum, coping strategies, and many, many more. We’d love to see you over at community.globalautismproject.org. 

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Discover what’s possible when every child is given a voice. 

In many countries around the world, autistic students are effectively excluded from the education system, as schools often lack adequate resources to accommodate their needs. 

The work that our Global Autism Project Partners are doing around the world is fundamental to overcoming these challenges. By presuming competence, we can avoid setting unnecessary limits and instead build on each child’s capabilities. 

Today’s guest is Yaser Aljaaidi, the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Namaee Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and also the first Registered Behavior Technician to become certified in his country. The Global Autism Project partnered with Namaee from 2018 to 2023, and we sent several SkillCorps® volunteer teams to provide sustainable hands-on training. 

Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities. 

This conversation with Yaser was originally released on September 3rd, 2020. We are re-releasing it today to highlight the great work being done by Yaser and his team at Namaee, and to also announce that we currently have a SkillCorps team in Peru collaborating with our partners at MADI. Follow us on IG @globalautismproject to see the team in action! 

In today’s conversation, among other things, we discuss: 

• How autism is understood in Saudi Arabia and what services are available for families, from diagnosis to adulthood

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We’d like to give a shout out to our SkillCorps® 2024 Title Sponsor, Action Behavior Centers. We’re excited to be partnering with businesses to create opportunities for employee development and growth through our SkillCorps® program. SkillCorps® Business Partners endorse employee participation in our SkillCorps® volunteer program and provide support to selected employees through granting time-off, providing funds to help team members fundraise, and more! 

Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry. 

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. 

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast 

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project 

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey 

Discover what’s possible when you show up better for the world. 

In today’s episode, we’re highlighting our recent SkillCorps® trip to Peru. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities. 

This carefully curated 10-day journey includes developing culturally-relevant and sustainable training with our partner staff, listening to local Autistic Self-Advocates and family members to learn about their lived experiences, sharing meals with community members to brainstorm ideas and solutions, and executing a high-impact project to build on existing work being done in the country. 

On the ground, this SkillCorps® team worked diligently on a range of tasks for our first ever Latin America Autism Summit, from preparing group presentations to fine-tuning logistical details. We collaborated with our partners at Centro Enigma, from Ecuador, and our local host sponsors at Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru, in order to put together an unforgettable event that forged long-term connections that will last a lifetime. The Latin America Autism Summit is the biggest project a SkillCorps® team has taken on so far. 

We also visited several businesses employing autistic adults in the community, hosted a self-advocate dinner to listen to their needs, and built relationships with our new partners at MADI while laying the groundwork for future collaboration. 

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear some of our SkillCorps® Peru team members’ personal experiences and takeaways. Special shout out to SkillCorps® Alum and leader Adriana Garcia, who helped guide this professionally diverse team of 23 global visionaries on their transformational journey. 

Coming up, you’ll hear about: 

• Memorable moments from the trip

Related episode:

The Latin America Autism Summit in Lima, Peru

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We’d like to give a shout out to our SkillCorps® 2024 Title Sponsor, Action Behavior Centers. We’re excited to be partnering with businesses to create opportunities for employee development and growth through our SkillCorps® program. SkillCorps® Business Partners endorse employee participation in our SkillCorps® volunteer program and provide support to selected employees through granting time-off, providing funds to help team members fundraise, and more! 

Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry. 

Discover what’s possible when you make lifelong connections. 

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. We’ve also hosted global and regional summits over the last several years, but we were forced to pause these projects during the pandemic. 

Last July, we were thrilled to get back into the field and host our first ever Latin America Autism Summit in Lima, Peru. We collaborated with our partners from Centro Enigma, in Ecuador, and our local host sponsors at Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru in order to put together an unforgettable event that inspired connections that will last a lifetime. 

On the ground, our SkillCorps® team worked diligently on a range of tasks for this 3-day summit, from preparing group presentations to fine-tuning logistical details. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and engage with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives specific to their communities. The Latin America Autism Summit is the biggest project a SkillCorps® team has taken on so far. 

In today’s episode, you’ll hear from our CEO, Molly Pinney; our partner at Centro Enigma, Mafer Chang; the founder of Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru, Dr. Liliana Mayo; a Peruvian self-advocate, Amira Collantes; and a QABA representative from Honduras, Nestor Mercadal. 

Next week, you’ll hear from some of our SkillCorps® team members about their personal experiences and takeaways. 

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Are you a professional eager to stay at the forefront of current best practices and expand your services to reach even more families in need? Or maybe you’re a parent looking for support from others who understand your needs? Or maybe you’re a self-advocate wanting to share your story and educate others? 

Look no further! The European Autism Summit is THE event tailored to address these pressing questions and more. Mark your calendar for April 23rd-25th in 2025, as we gather in Italy, immersed in a dynamic atmosphere buzzing with insightful presentations, invaluable networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops led by industry experts. 

Join us at the European Autism Summit! ->>> Call for Sponsors 

Discover what’s possible when behavioral science is creatively broadcasted.

Have you ever heard of Applied Behavior Analysis? Have you ever wondered how it came to be used in autism services?

If you’re curious about the true story behind the origins of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA for short, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Ryan O’Donnell, where he shares his passion for disseminating behavioral science.

Ryan O’Donnell is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, videographer, and entrepreneur. Through quick and easy-to-digest YouTube videos, he makes behavioral science publicly accessible so that people of all ages can experience their version of success. 

In the summer of 2019, Ryan collaborated with the Global Autism Project to document our training approach and highlight our partners at Kaizora Center for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, in Kenya. You can watch these videos on his YouTube channel, The Daily BA. 

This episode with Ryan was first released in June of 2020. We’re re-releasing it today to celebrate the recent release of Ryan’s film The History of Applied Behavior Analysis, which is available for free exclusively at thebehavioracademy.com.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

• A condensed history of behavioral science, from early controversial practices of behavior modification to modern ABA used in autism services

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take a moment to rate the show and leave a review. You’ll be helping us to continue spreading autism awareness and acceptance around the world.

Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey