Autism Live

Shannon is joined by Mary Allen who works at CARD in the talent acquisition department and she won the Guest host Autism Live gift at last year's All Ghouls Gala!!

00:00 Introduction & Halloween Week Updates

02:21 How to Watch, Listen, and Join the Conversation

06:02 Supporting Families Through Autism Care Today

09:01 All Ghouls Gala Awards, Celebrities & Attractions

13:26 Silent Auction & Meet Guest Co-Host Mary Allen

16:21 Mary Allen's Journey to CARD Recruiting

20:13 Recruiting BCBAs and Clinical Talent in ABA

25:15 Career Growth, Training, and CARD Culture

35:07 Mary Allen's Autism Parenting Journey

37:30 Discovering Neurodivergence as an Adult

44:19 Parenting Two Children with Different Autism Profiles

46:33 Influencers, Autism Advocacy & Social Media Resources

49:30 Feeding Challenges, Food Selectivity & Nutrition Concerns

53:31 Strategies for Expanding Food Choices

57:12 Final Thoughts, Autism Community & Future Connections

59:29 Auction Reminder & Closing Remarks

PARENT TO PARENT ON AUTISM LIVE: GUARDIANSHIP & CONSERVATORSHIP — WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

What happens when your autistic child turns 18? Does your family need to consider guardianship or conservatorship? What alternatives are available, and how can you protect your young adult while preserving their independence and right to make choices?

Join us on Autism Live for an important Parent to Parent conversation about navigating the transition to adulthood. We'll explore the basics of guardianship and conservatorship, supported decision-making, powers of attorney, financial planning options, and the questions every family should ask before making these important decisions.

Laws vary by state and country, but every family deserves access to information that helps them plan for the future with confidence.

Knowledge is power. Planning starts with a conversation!

0:00 Welcome to Autism Live 4:12 How to Watch and Listen 7:19 All Ghouls Gala 12:27 Understanding Conservatorship 14:19 What Happens at Age 18 15:39 Safety and Conservatorship 20:04 Guardianship vs. Conservatorship 21:47 When to Start Planning 24:09 Preparing for Adulthood 28:08 Rights and Decision-Making 32:59 Balancing Safety and Independence 35:35 Listening to Your Adult Child 41:25 Alternatives to Conservatorship 47:47 Building a Long-Term Safety Net 53:46 Conservatorship Resources #ParentToParent #AutismAcceptance #AutisticAdults #TransitionToAdulthood #Guardianship #Conservatorship #SupportedDecisionMaking #DisabilityRights #Neurodiversity #AutismParenting #AdultServices #SelfAdvocacy #SpecialNeedsPlanning

Your child holds it together all day at school… and then comes home and falls apart. Meltdowns, shutdowns, refusal, tears, irritability—or suddenly needing to be completely alone.

Sound familiar?

On this week's Parent to Parent, Shannon Penrod takes a closer look at what may be happening underneath the behavior.

🔹 Is your child exhausted from holding it together all day? 🔹 Could sensory overload, anxiety, transitions, or too many demands be playing a role? 🔹 How can we recognize the signs that our child is becoming overwhelmed before the meltdown? 🔹 And when should we reduce the demands—and when is it time to teach a new skill?

Sometimes what looks like "bad behavior" is a child communicating, "This is too much for me right now."

Let's talk about how parents can look beyond the behavior, find the clues, and better understand what their child is trying to communicate.

Parent to Parent — because sometimes we just need another parent to say, "Yep. I've been there." 💙Join us at 10am PST!

#AutismLive #ParentToParent #AutismParents #ParentingAutism #AutismSupport #AutismParenting #Neurodiversity #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismAcceptance

Friendship. Community. Connection. Romance.

How can neurodivergent adults build meaningful friendships and relationships without the pressure to fit into traditional social expectations?

This week on Autism Live, Shannon Penrod talks with Trishta Villati, BCBA and founder of Capable Hearts, a specialized platform creating sensory-friendly, low-pressure spaces for neurodivergent adults to connect, build friendships, find community, and explore relationships.

Jargon of the Day: Perspective Taking — What does it really mean, and how can it help us better understand one another?

Join Shannon and Trishta for an important conversation about connection without pressure and community without judgment.

#AutismLive #CapableHearts #NeurodivergentAdults #Autism #AutisticAdults #Friendship #Relationships #Community #PerspectiveTaking #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #DisabilityInclusion #SocialSkills

When EVERYTHING becomes a battle… what do you do?

Getting dressed. Brushing teeth. Turning off the tablet. Leaving the house. Eating dinner. Going to bed. Sometimes it feels like you're spending your entire day saying, "Come on!" "No!" "You have to!"

But does every challenge need to become a battle?

On this week's Parent to Parent, Shannon Penrod talks about how to pick your battles—how to decide what really needs to be addressed, what can wait, and how we can teach important skills without turning every moment into a power struggle.

✨ Are you fighting battles that don't really need to be fought? ✨ How do you know when to hold a boundary—and when to let something go? ✨ Could changing how we ask make a difference? ✨ And how do we protect our own energy along the way?

Because sometimes parenting isn't about winning the battle… it's about deciding which battles are worth having.

Join us for a conversation every parent needs to hear.

#AutismLive #ParentToParent #AutismParents #ParentingAutism #AutismSupport #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismParenting #ParentLife

Back to School? Don't Do It Alone!

On Wednesday's Autism Live, Shannon is joined by Lorri Unumb, one of the most respected and widely admired parent voices in the autism community. We're talking about back-to-school resources, what families can find at TheSpectrum.org, and the work of CASP to support autistic individuals and their families.

As a parent and longtime advocate, Lorri brings a unique perspective to the questions families are asking right now: Where can I find reliable information? What resources are available? And how can I help set my child up for a successful school year?

If you're a parent, educator, or professional supporting an autistic student, this is a conversation you won't want to miss! Join us Wed at 10am!

#AutismLive #BackToSchool #AutismParenting #AutismResources #TheSpectrum #CASP #AutismSupport #AutismCommunity #SpecialEducation

Is September throwing your child's routine completely off? New schedules, school demands, homework and bedtime battles can leave everyone feeling overwhelmed.

This week on Parent to Parent, we're talking about how to reset when routines fall apart—without blame, guilt, or turning every day into a battle.

You haven't failed. Sometimes, you just need a new plan.

00:00 – Welcome to Autism Live & 16 Years of the Show

03:22 – All Ghouls Gala & ACT Today Grant Applications

09:32 – ACT Today Grant Program Video

12:09 – When Your Child's Routine Falls Apart

14:39 – Morning Routine Reset Strategies

18:20 – Why Visual Schedules Matter

23:10 – Preparing the Night Before

27:12 – Making Mornings Fun and Motivating

32:06 – Rebuilding Sleep and Bedtime Routines

41:31 – Overcoming Homework Resistance

49:14 – Using Technology to Support Homework

52:00 – Managing Unexpected Schedule Changes

56:17 – Helping Children Transition Between Activities

59:09 – When to Hold the Line and When to Adapt

1:03:14 – Building Independence and Giving Yourself a Reset

1:07:37 – Next Week's Show & Closing Remarks

#AutismParenting #Autism #ParentToParent #AutismSupport #AutismLive #Neurodiversity #SpecialNeedsParenting

The Emmys are here—and we're talking about the shows, stars, surprises, snubs, and autism representation that have everyone talking!

Join Moira Giammatteo and Shannon Penrod on Autism Live for a fun, fast-paced conversation about what's happening in Hollywood—and why representation on screen matters.

Grab your popcorn. We're talking TV! Join us live on Wed. 10am PST!

#LetsTalkMovies #MoiraAndShannon #AutismLive #Emmys #Emmys2026 #LoveOnTheSpectrum #AutismRepresentation #RepresentationMatters #Autism #Neurodiversity #Television

On today's show, Shannon is joined by Diane Strand, founder and executive producer of JDS Creative Academy, for an inspiring conversation about the power of creating meaningful career pathways for marginalized groups and adults with special needs.

Can for-profit companies and nonprofits work together to create REAL opportunities and lasting outcomes for foster youth and special needs adults? Diane is here to show us how—and why it matters!

Plus, today's Autism Jargon: Accommodations. What does it mean, and how can accommodations help create greater access and opportunity?

Be honest: How often do you go to bed thinking you didn't do enough for your child? Am I Doing Enough?

If you're the parent of a child with autism, you may know that feeling all too well:

"Should I be doing more?" "Am I missing something?" "Am I giving my child enough opportunities to learn?" "Am I doing this right?"

Today on Autism Live's Parent to Parent, we're talking about the incredible pressure parents put on themselves—and why sometimes, you are doing far more than you realize.

We'll talk about the difference between being an engaged parent and feeling like you have to be your child's therapist 24/7, how everyday moments can become opportunities for connection and learning, and why taking care of yourself isn't selfish.

00:00:30 Welcome to Autism Live & Building an Inclusive Autism Community

00:03:48 How to Connect With Autism Live & Support the Network

00:05:36 All Ghouls Gala Update and Community Announcements 00:07:34 Today's Topic: Am I Doing Enough as a Parent? 00:10:59 The Questions Parents Ask Themselves at Night 00:12:56 Negative Self-Talk, Guilt, and Unrealistic Expectations 00:14:47 Survival Mode: Parenting Through Stress and Overwhelm 00:18:12 What Advice Would You Give Another Parent? 00:20:24 The Most Important Truth: You Are Enough 00:24:34 Connection Over Perfection: Loving Your Child First 00:27:07 Recognizing the Extraordinary Work Parents Already Do 00:31:14 Daily Opportunities for Meaningful Connection 00:39:46 Creating Bedtime Rituals and Building Strong Bonds 00:45:46 Positive Assumptive Questions and Changing Your Mindset 00:57:35 Letting Go of Blame, Embracing Self-Care, and Final Takeaways