In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr highlights the vital role of fun for those with profound autism. Sharing his son Michael’s love for boating, he shows how joyful, sensory-rich activities can foster deep connection—even for nonverbal individuals. Despite challenges, Mike stresses the value of creating joyful moments. Through his nonprofit John 13 and the R2R program, he champions experiences that prioritize joy, bonding, and meaningful connection.

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a milestone: he and his wife are traveling to Italy while their profoundly autistic adult son stays at Denmar House for the first time. Mike reflects on the years of preparation that made this possible and the value of introducing variety into his son's life. From boat rides and movies with peers to theme park struggles and family gatherings, he shows how new experiences—successful or not—can lead to growth, joy, and stronger family connections.

In this episode of the Autism Labs podcast, Mike Carr shares his journey with his 35-year-old nonverbal, profoundly autistic son, Michael. He discusses how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), when used with empathy and consistency, has helped manage aggressive behavior. Mike explains core ABA principles—like antecedents, behaviors, and consequences—and stresses the importance of not reinforcing negative actions, especially in public. Highlighting the success of J13’s program, he shows that real progress is possible with time, patience, and a trained, unified team. His message to caregivers: the journey is tough, but meaningful change is achievable.

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares insights on the challenges and lessons learned from decades of hiring staff to support adults with profound autism. He emphasizes the importance of finding team members who are not only reliable and coachable but who also have a genuine calling to serve this community. Beyond experience, traits like optimism, trustworthiness, and a strong spiritual foundation often set the best caregivers apart. Mike introduces the current John 13 team—a diverse group including behavior analysts, teachers, climbers, therapists, tech professionals, and students—each bringing unique strengths and deep commitment to the mission. Together, they create a culture of trust, compassion, and purpose that families can look to as a model when hiring for their own loved ones.

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares his journey raising a profoundly autistic, nonverbal son with complex needs. Lacking support, he and his wife founded John13.org, a nonprofit in Austin offering inclusive programs for adults with severe autism. Their summer program and respite care focus on joy, structure, and community integration, showing how thoughtful planning and support can help families thrive.

Mike Carr shares seven practical autism parenting hacks focused on supporting severely or profoundly autistic individuals. He emphasizes the power of frequently expressing genuine thanks to caregivers and staff, reducing anxiety through improved communication like visual schedules and observing nonverbal cues, and promoting positive behavior with enthusiastic praise. He advises ignoring negative behaviors to avoid reinforcing them, giving undivided attention during shared activities, offering choices to empower the child, and prioritizing building a strong, supportive team culture around the child rather than making the child the sole priority, which helps reduce staff turnover and ensures consistent care.

This Autism Labs episode highlights how real-world, community-based experiences can drive meaningful progress for individuals with autism. Mike Carr previews the J13 summer camp, reflecting on last year’s success with activities like rock climbing, horse therapy, and visits to inclusive places like Morgan’s Wonderland. These engaging, social, and novel environments fostered growth, joy, and resilience—especially for those with profound autism—showing that consistent exposure to the real world can spark breakthroughs beyond what science alone can predict.

In this episode, Mike Carr addresses growing concerns about potential Medicaid cuts and shares practical funding alternatives for families caring for individuals with profound autism or multiple disabilities. He emphasizes the importance of staying hopeful and proactive, offering guidance through his personal experience and upcoming book. Key alternatives discussed include Social Security benefits (SSI and SSDI), Medicaid waivers like CLASS and HCS (each with different funding caps and waitlists), and ABLE accounts, which allow families to save without affecting benefits. Mike encourages families to plan early, apply for multiple waivers, and reach out directly for support navigating these complex systems.

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares his struggles with gaining and keeping instructional control—getting his profoundly autistic son to follow directions without resistance. He contrasts his challenges with others' success and stresses that instructional control is about trust, not compliance. Carr discusses using consistency, patience, and positive pairing to become a reinforcing presence, the strategic use of reinforcers, and the need for caregiver consistency. He also outlines seven steps to build instructional control through reinforcement, engagement, and routine.

Mike Carr shares five key tips for families seeking residential housing for profoundly autistic adults, based on his 35-year journey with his son. He urges parents to prioritize programs with purpose-driven missions, real community engagement, and clear visions for lifelong growth. Mike highlights his nonprofit, J13, as a fast-growing model focused on joy, connection, and meaningful living.