Jen Turrell is mom to two daughters on the spectrum, and is the author of the new book Help! My Child Has Autism: A Parent's Guide to Start, Fund, and Maintain an Evidence Based Intervention.

We chat about ABA, staffing up, and first plane rides.

The particulars:

Autism Website: Able Interventions 

Book: Help! My Child Has Autism 

Personal Website: Jen and Stew

Kelley

PS Click here to listen, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes: Joyriding in Autismland

Hey guys! So summer is coming, even though you wouldn't really be feeling it yet if you are up in Maine with us, and I wanted to do an  episode about safety issues and autism. This is super important because statistically, most accidents involving people on the spectrum happen in the warmer months. I'm excited to be speaking today with Federal Law Enforcement Officer, autism parent, and autism first responder trainer Matt Brown.

We talk about why it is sooooo important to register kids with autism with the local and state police departments. <--Hint: it literally saves lives.

Check out Officer Brown's website at http://www.aset911.com, and print out the registration form here: http://aset911.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/autism-registration-form-shortened.pdf

You can find our show notes at http://www.joyridinginautismland.com/34

Kelley

PS Click here to listen, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes: Joyriding in Autismland

Today I'm excited to speak to author Patty Pacelli, whose young adult son has autism. She advocates for people on the spectrum to achieve their career dreams and contribute their exceptional talents to the workforce, and has just written a book entitled Six Word Lessons for Autism Friendly Workplaces.

We chat about preparing younger kiddos for the workforce, what makes some people with autism fantastic hires, some of the best and worst jobs for people with autism, and about helpful work accommodations.

In case you're thinking about picking up the book here's a chapter summary
1.  The Need for Autism Friendly Workplaces
2.  Career Preparation for Parents and Children
3.  How to Find the Best Jobs
4.  ADA Laws and Rules for Work
5.  Best Interview Practices for the Employer
6.  Interview Tips for People with Autism
7.  Reasonable Accommodations for Employers to Offer
8.  Accommodations that can Help Autistic Employees
9.  Benefits of Hiring People with Autism
10. Be Aware of Unique Autistic Traits
11. Social Expectations for Workers with Autism

And here are Patty's deets:

Website: http://www.growingupautistic.com
Book: http://www.growingupautistic.com/six-word-lessons-for-autism-friendly-workplaces.html
Fast Company article: http://www.fastcompany.com/3028536/leadership-now/how-to-build-an-autism-friendly-workplace
Entrepreneur article: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233281

Kelley

Today I'm excited to speak to author Patty Pacelli, whose young adult son has autism. She advocates for people on the spectrum to achieve their career dreams and contribute their exceptional talents to the workforce, and has just written a book entitled Six Word Lessons for Autism Friendly Workplaces.

We chat about preparing younger kiddos for the workforce, what makes some people with autism fantastic hires, some of the best and worst jobs for people with autism, and about helpful work accommodations.

In case you're thinking about picking up the book here's a chapter summary
1.  The Need for Autism Friendly Workplaces
2.  Career Preparation for Parents and Children
3.  How to Find the Best Jobs
4.  ADA Laws and Rules for Work
5.  Best Interview Practices for the Employer
6.  Interview Tips for People with Autism
7.  Reasonable Accommodations for Employers to Offer
8.  Accommodations that can Help Autistic Employees
9.  Benefits of Hiring People with Autism
10. Be Aware of Unique Autistic Traits
11. Social Expectations for Workers with Autism

And here are Patty's deets:

Website: http://www.growingupautistic.com
Book: http://www.growingupautistic.com/six-word-lessons-for-autism-friendly-workplaces.html
Fast Company article: http://www.fastcompany.com/3028536/leadership-now/how-to-build-an-autism-friendly-workplace
Entrepreneur article: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233281

Kelley

Kyle's work in autism spans direct services, research, and administration. He worked one-on-one with adults on the spectrum in Santa Barbara, CA, focusing on improvements in quality of life, employment, health, and social networks. For two years, while pursuing his Master's of Social Work, he worked for a multi-million dollar state and federally funded psychosocial intervention research project at the University of Pittsburgh for adults with autism that aims to be a new standard in adult autism services. And he's author to the recent book, Connect: Findings for a New Era of Autism.

Here are all the deets on Kyle:

Kelley

PS Click here to listen, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes: Joyriding in Autismland

Today's episode is a bit different, because I won't be doing any interviewing - I'm flying solo. It's been a rough week for us all, because my father-in-law died on Monday afternoon, and he was just a great guy. A coach, a teacher, a veteran, a lifelong athlete, and a kind and gentle man.

I'm feeling nostalgic, so I wanted to give a look back and give you guys a quick guide to our previous episodes to help you find a good one you might have missed. 



The episodes from the parent perspective are:
           

Writing from the first-hand perspective of autism    

The sibling perspective is highlighted with my own kids in episode 6



Authors- we have a bunch in the parent category (Rupert Isaacson, Wayne Gilpin, Cynthia Lord), but also:
               

And then there are therapists and therapies on
               



School & Home focused:
               

Episode 22 with Eric Tivers is about how ADHD tends to co-occur with autism



And then there are two episodes not specifically related to autism, but to being different:

And the last episodes I haven't mentioned are about Kid Gigawatt (that's us!)
   

And today is episode 30, so there you have it! And after 4 planes and a funeral, what I'd really love more than anything, is to hear from you. Please email me your funny stories from Autismland, I'd love to put together an episode together just with some of the bright spots. So when we're feeling a bit blue, we can have a good laugh. Email me at [email protected] I'm counting on you! :)


Kelley

PS Here's a link to the blog post I mentioned on the podcast, Remembering Opa.

Today, I'm so excited to speak to Mabel's Labels founder, blogger, and mama to many, Julie Cole. Julie's business has been featured on the Huffington Post, The View, InStyle Magazine, Forbes, and many others, and her oldest of 6 kids has autism.

You can get Mabel's Label's through their website or at Target. For those of you with runners (I'm lookin' at you, Roman!), I'm gonna encourage you to check out these handy disposable ID bracelets - especially if you're planning to go somewhere magical like Disney, and want to make it out the other side with your kid.

Here's the link to the excellent summer camp guide that I mentioned on the podcast - Julie wrote this backed by her experience in choosing camps for her own kids, and it picks apart how to consider your child's unique character and interests, figuring out what's left in your wallet, and finding the right environment for them.

Also, here are links to her blog post Nice Things You Say That Annoy Me, and her hilariously well-reasoned 6 Reasons to Have 6 Kids, that originally appeared in the Huffington Post.

Here are Julie's deets all in one place:
Website: http://www.mabelslabels.com
Personal Blog: http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/julie-cole-the-baby-machine
Business Blog: www.mabelhood.com/JulieCole
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mabelhood
Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/mabelhood
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mabelslabels

Best quote ever? "Labels are for clothes."

Kelley

Today I am super excited to speak to fellow Mainer and Newberry award-winning author of the book Rules, Cynthia Lord. We chat about writing a book with autism at the center, her new books coming out this year, and some ideas for making libraries more inclusive for kiddos on the spectrum.

My favorite rule for David: "Sometimes people laugh when they like you, but sometimes they laugh to hurt you." So true!

Grab your copy through your local independent bookseller here.

You can find Cynthia's website at cynthialord.com, and she's also on Facebook and Twitter.

Kelley

PS A link to my blog post on our top 15 audiobooks.

PPS Click here to listen, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes: Joyriding in Autismland

On road tripping from Portland Maine to Portland Oregon this summer, and our plans to make a documentary movie. Check out the deets here.

Kelley

I'm stoked to be speaking with Tom Angleberger today, New York Times best selling author of the Star Wars-inspired book series that began with Origami Yoda in 2010. The series stars a middle schooler named Dwight, whose Yoda paper finger puppet is both wise and weird.

Tom's self-proclaimed superpower is Asperger's, and we chat about how wearing a fake chicken on his head made him invincible on stage, going back to speak at his own middle school, and his favorite Star Wars character.

You. Must. Listen to the Horton Halfpott audiobook. I command you! The narrator is among the best I've heard, and trust me, we've listened to a metric ton of audiobooks. Love it, you will.

Check out Tom's fan site at Origami Yoda, and learn how to make an emergency Yoda finger puppet in only 5 folds here. If you've got a little more time, give this one a whirl, and may the force be with you.

Kelley

PS Click here to listen, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes: Joyriding in Autismland