What happens when there are no autism services in your country? In this episode, Ben speaks with Maxcia Williams, a parent, advocate, and behaviour technician in the Turks & Caicos Islands, about her journey raising a son with autism in a system that didn’t yet exist—and how she helped build one. From navigating stigma and cultural myths to founding the Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness, Maxcia shares what it means to move from isolation to impact. This conversation explores culturally responsive care, workforce challenges in small communities, and the power of caregiver-led change. At the heart of the episode is Israel—Maxcia’s son—whose journey into self-advocacy, homeschooling, and authorship reminds us that autism is not a limitation, but a different path.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZqhcnZnjN4I

This episode is presented by our founding academic partner, the Doctor of Education in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis program at Western University’s Faculty of Education. 

Program Information: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/edd/applied-behaviour-analysis.html

How to apply: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/apply.html

Program brochure: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/edd/foe120_edd_aba_r1.png

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.5 Ethics

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LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Contact Maxcia

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxcia-williams-ibt-ados-2-administrator-1b735a77/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/maximalicious/

The Elephant Rooms - (The clinic Maxcia works in)

https://theelephantrooms.com/team/

Links:

What Happens Next?  by Isreal Rigby

https://www.amazon.com/What-Happens-Next-Isreal-Rigby-ebook/dp/B0CTZV63ZM

Caribbean Association for Behaviour Analysis

https://caribbeanba.org/leadership/

The Black Association of Behavior Analysts

https://babainfo.org/

International Behavior Analysis Association

https://theibao.com/

To learn more about behaviour analysis in the Caribbean, check out these interviews:

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-97-bridging-the-gap-culturally-responsive-telehealth-and-behavior-analysis-with-kimberly-woolery-ms-bcba/

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/epiosde-187-culturally-grounded-autism-training-for-black-parents-with-camille-proctor/