Jason is the Client Program Manager at Rangam Consultants where he works with organizations to create more inclusive hiring and employment. Join us as we discuss the hiring process and the work Rangam is doing to support businesses and individuals on the spectrum connect and work together.

 

About Jason: Jason develops disability integration programs for corporations, government agencies, non-profits and national funders. He works with clients to understand their work culture and needs, then matches them with disability industry resources. He combines his experience with a focused passion to find innovative solutions for talent acquisition and retention. Jason’s work has been vital to the creation of multiple collaborative groups that connect businesses with job seekers and disability support providers, resulting in positive outcomes and confirmation that disability hiring is a sound business decision.

Connect with Jason: [email protected]

Learn more about Rangam: http://www.rangam.com/

Learn more about SourceAbled: http://www.sourceabled.com/

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, an autistic advocate, neurodivergent musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

Kara Dymond is an elementary school teacher, a teacher instructor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and an autism consultant with a Canadian school board.

Her new book, The Autism Lens is a resource for teachers to help them confidently connect with and support students on the autism spectrum. Offering practical solutions that foster inclusion, prevent challenging moments, motivate, develop strengths, boost resilience and help teachers respond proactively to student needs, this book is a resource for every classroom.

Primarily meant for teachers, this book is also an excellent resource for parents who are looking for tips and ideas to help their student succeed and for engaging with teachers to ensure this success.

To connect with Kara and for more resources, visit her website: https://www.karadymond.com

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

Introducing Blair Durnan, founder of Spectrum Skateboard Society, an organization that teaches skateboarding to kids on the spectrum.

Join us as we chat about how skateboarding can help with social skills, self-esteem, communication and persistence and about how Blair is using his experiences on a board to share these lessons with kids and families.     

Connect on Instagram: @spectrumskateboardsociety

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About Blair Durnan

BLAIR FOUNDED SPECTRUM SKATEBOARD SOCIETY IN 2020 OUT OF A SHEER PASSION FOR SKATEBOARDING AND KIDS WITH AUTISM

Blair’s skateboarding story started back in Ontario in the mid 80s at the age of 11. He always found skateboarding to be an incredible outlet for energy and creativity. Blair has lived on the North Shore for the past 20 years and he has continued to skateboard regularly.

Blair graduated with a diploma in Therapeutic Recreation and has extensive experience working with children and youth on the Autism Spectrum. Now that Blair has his own kids, one of whom is on the Autism Spectrum, he’s been reminded first hand of the power of skateboarding for fun and also for building social connections and skills. Blair is so grateful to have the opportunity to bring skateboarding into kids’ lives.

Blair’s ultimate goal with Spectrum Skateboard Society is to give children and youth on the Autism Spectrum a chance to feel cool and a chance to feel like they truly belong.

 

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

Join us for this conversation with Vicki McGrath, late-diagnosed woman on the Autism Spectrum.

Vicki shares her story of determination & perseverance before and after diagnosis, her Extra Sensory Perception, how she sees her autism as a gift and, in her words, her extraordinary life.

 

About Vicki:

Vicky McGrath is a wife, mom, and business owner and was diagnosed with ASD in 2019, at 50 years of age. Vicky has an undergraduate degree from Trent University and a master’s degree from Cambridge University.  Vicky spent 20 years in the government sector in the environmental field before making the jump to business ownership. Currently, she is owner of a private home care company, caring for elderly clients in the safety of their own homes and also a professional speaker.

Vicky is also a runner and triathlete, having completed several marathons, half marathons and triathlons including half Ironman and three full Ironman triathlons. It was during a long training ride in 2006, before her (not to be) third Ironman that Vicky crashed her bicycle, broke some ribs, punctured her lung and sustained a concussion and launched her path of self-discovery, resulting in her autism diagnosis in 2019.

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The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

Caris Park is an 11 year old autism ally and advocate who, with her parents support, started educating the kids in her school about autism when she was in grade 4. Her "What is Autism?" class presentation ended up reaching over 90,000 people via social media!

Today, Caris, her mom Sara and her brother Carter, who is on the Autism Spectrum, work to educate and create acceptance with their series of educational videos and through their social media pages. Their videos include information about autism including things like stimming, sensory concerns and communication and are perfect tools for teaching anyone about the special characteristics of autism.

As Sara says, early education is one of the keys to increasing acceptance and inclusivity for individuals on the spectrum and the videos that she, Caris and Carter are developing are excellent resources for anyone working to educate and learn.

Caris is a role model for other kids out there who want to work towards a more accepting world and we are excited to share her enthusiasm today.

Watch the videos HERE

Follow Caring with Caris on Instagram HERE

Follow Clever Carter on Instagram HERE

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The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

You may know her as the award-winning Canadian children's entertainer Boots from Splash'N Boots but to us, she is also Taes, creator of My Big Autism Journey, a mindfulness and meditation program for kids on the spectrum and their families.

Taes is passionate about working with and helping kids and as we chat, she talks about her experiences as a performer meeting and connecting with kids at shows and online  and why she wanted to share the benefits of a mindfulness and meditation practice with those kids. 

We chat about The Big Heart Journey and how that led to her latest program for kids on the spectrum, My Big Autism Journey.

Taes is a joy to spend time with, kids love her and her programs are fun, educational and effective. 

For more information about The Big Autism Journey and our launch event on March 27, visit MY BIG AUTISM JOURNEY

For more information about Lucas's Letters, click HERE----more----

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

"How you view your child's behaviour is going to inform how you address it". - Sue Simmons

Sue Simmons is a mom, autism advocate, Certified Professional Coach and Certified EFT practitioner who, while exploring ways to help her son, discovered that looking at autism from a developmental perspective and working on adjusting the way she responded to her son's behaviour, helped both of them to decrease frustration and feel more successful every day.

Sue talks about her personal story and shares how she helps other families explore and initiate this new perspective in their lives.

To connect with Sue: https://equinoxfamilyconsulting.com

*NOTE: Autism Canada does not endorse any specific treatments, therapies or medical interventions. Our goal is simply to provide resources and information for family's and individuals.*----more----

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

Kara Dymond is an elementary school teacher, a teacher instructor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and an autism consultant with a Canadian school board.

Her new book, The Autism Lens is a resource for teachers to help them confidently connect with and support students on the autism spectrum. Offering practical solutions that foster inclusion, prevent challenging moments, motivate, develop strengths, boost resilience and help teachers respond proactively to student needs, this book is a resource for every classroom.

Primarily meant for teachers, this book is also an excellent resource for parents who are looking for tips and ideas to help their student succeed and for engaging with teachers to ensure this success.

To connect with Kara and for more resources, visit her website: https://www.karadymond.com

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

This episode of Sharing the Spectrum is a repost from the 2019 Au-Some Conference. This years conference is on Saturday, November 28 from 1 PM EST to 4 PM EST.

 JOIN US

 

Hello, my name is Kevin Chapman and I am diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which has enabled me to do other things that I would not have expected.  For example, I have fine memory skills, I’m good at numbers, and I am able to focus on tasks I love. 

 

I am an accounting major, but I knew I was in trouble when I realized that the last section 

I wanted to read in the newspaper was the Business Section. So instead, I presently work in the hotel industry. I am employed at Les Suites Hotel, in Ottawa, as a Senior Night Auditor. I am an avid sports enthusiast and ran marathons about 50 pounds ago.  I am also obsessed with watching movies and television. My love is my cat, Howard. I call him Handful Howard.  He is a very mischievous cat. 

 

I also love public speaking at Toastmasters. I am the president of CMHC Toastmasters. I love public speaking because I love to motivate people and more importantly, to make people laugh and brighten up their day.  In my video presentation, I will have a goal: to inspire people with Autism and Asperger's syndrome. 

Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected].

Resources and other information can be found at www.autismcanada.org.

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com

Shanyn Silinski is the Program Manager for Search & Rescue for Autism (SARA), a first of its kind program to train families, caregivers and the Responder community around preparedness and safety for people on the autism spectrum.

Shanyn joins us to discuss the importance of this program, who it is for and how it will help ensure better outcomes in emergency situations involving autistics.

To learn more about Search & Rescue for Autism or register for the launch and learn, click HERE.

 

About Shanyn Silinski:

As Program Manager for the SARA Project, Shanyn is responsible for the development and deployment of the education resources and accompanying training. Shanyn is no stranger to emergency planning and response as a former Captain of a local volunteer fire department and Training Officer.

 

She spent several years working on a joint research and development project between the Department of Defense and Public Safety as a Senior Advisor heading an international working group with a focus on emergency planning and vulnerable populations.

 

When she isn’t working Shanyn spends time with her family enjoying the farming and ag tech life (where AI, robotics and other technology meets agriculture). She is known for her photography, art, writing and being an advocate for important issues such as neurodiversity, agriculture, gifted education and rural technology access. 

 

On a personal note, Shanyn has autistic and neurodiverse family members, including her husband and son. This has given her a unique perspective on her work and the SARA program.

 

 

Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected].

Resources and other information can be found at www.autismcanada.org.

 

The music from today's podcast was composed and performed by Bruce Petherick, a neurodiverse musician and friend of Autism Canada. To hear more, visit Bruce's website at www.brucepetherick.com