Paul Finch is the treasurer and chief financial officer of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU). He is also on the autism spectrum.

Paul discusses the advantages and disadvantages of being on the spectrum as well as the importance of social engagement, developing and connecting with your skills, the value of having routines and why understanding etiquette is critical to success.

Paul is a vocal advocate for people on the spectrum and we are grateful that he a part of our community.

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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

Bruce Petherick, neurodiverse musician and adult-diagnosed autistic, shares his thoughts on being a parent on the spectrum. As well, he introduces us to his daughter Kayleigh and they openly discuss her neurodiversity (ADHD) and their relationship as neurodiverse parent and child.

 

This engaging conversation between a father and daughter is not only heart-warming but is also funny, sweet and full of great information for autistics and their families.

 

Thanks to Bruce and Kayleigh for sharing such intimate and personal parts of their lives with us!

 

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Bruce Petherick is a neurodiverse (ASD) musician and a creator of acoustic spaces living in Calgary, Canada. He has performed music around the world, playing various styles from classical to jazz and musical theatre. He is married to Meredith, an artist and a social worker, and is a parent to 3 children, 2 of whom are also neurodiverse (ADHD). As well as being an active performer and composer, he has taught at tertiary institutions in both his home country of Australia and in his new home of Canada. Bruce has presented at many musicological conferences around the world and is an infrequent speaker at churches where he performs. 

 

Website: http://www.brucepetherick.com/ 

 

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

Warm and intimate, join blogger Rebecca Campol and her son Jacob as they discuss life with autism and the social challenges that Jacob has experienced living with ASD.

A conversation for everyone, have a listen!

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Rebecca Campol is a Canadian Parent Blogger, from the Okanagan, BC.  Her blog, meohmy.ca is a place where she provides readers an intimate and honest look at her family’s life with autism.  Rebecca’s husband and 2 children are all on the autism spectrum. 

 

“I am navigating this family adventure in all its glory.  Our lives are filled with love, hilarity, and stressful chaos, which I would not change for the world.

 

With a lack of verbal filters and a surplus of sensory irritants, there is never a dull moment in my comical household.  I have surrendered and conformed to a very structured lifestyle.  I am the family coach, advocate, referee, and scorekeeper.  In the words of my family, I am a thoughtful, caring person with obsessive tendencies and a love for everything cozy.  It is true- I am a track-pant-wearing, bra-less preferring, medicated warrior.

 

This is my life, my typical life in a very untypical world.”

 

Follow and join Rebecca for a dash-cam view of some of her best (and worst) moments with some tips, tricks, experience, and products along the way.

 

Are you with an online media platform, print publication or community organization? Rebecca would love to work with you! She is available for: Writing, Podcasts, Interviews, Speaking Engagements and Product Reviews.

 

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

"People are getting too locked into the label. They're not looking enough at what the kid can do."

Join Autism Canada in conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin as she discusses COVID isolation including how to manage the days, the different needs of people on the spectrum and what we can do to help our children learn during these times and beyond.

From her website:Dr. Grandin is a prominent author and speaker on both autism and animal behaviour. She also has a successful career consulting on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare.  She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio in the U.S.), and a BBC special called The Woman Who Thinks Like A Cow. She has also appeared on national TV shows such as Larry King Live, 20/20, Sixty Minutes and she has a 2010 Ted Talk.

Articles about Dr. Grandin have appeared in Time Magazine, New York Times, Discover Magazine, Forbes and USA Today. HBO made an Emmy Award winning movie about her life and she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2016.

Dr. Grandin also has an honorary degree from Dalhousie University and has appeared on CBC and CTV in Canada.

Some resources:Temple Grandin WebsiteDr. Grandin's Ted Talk: The World Needs All Kinds of Minds 

Books: Calling All MindsThe Girl Who Thought in PicturesThe Way I See ItDifferent Not Less

In this episode, we welcome Dominique Payment to the podcast.

Dominique is the mother of 2 boys on the autism spectrum and she is also the Family Support Representative at Autism Canada. If you have ever called for support, she is the happy and reassuring voice on the other end of the call.

In this episode, Dominique shares personal stories and experiences from a mother's perspective including how she and her husband discovered her eldest son was autistic and some of the signs that led them to the diagnosis.

Dominique also explains what autism is, describes some of the signs of autism and discusses strategies and steps to getting a diagnosis including how to find resources and support that may be helpful as you navigate this journey.

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

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Autism Canada’s new podcast, Sharing the Spectrum. Today we welcome Kelly Bron Johnson to the table.

Kelly is an Autism Canada board member as well as a late diagnosed autistic person and parent with a child on the spectrum. During the podcast, she is joined by her 10 year old son as she shares some of their stories and experiences with autism.

Kelly believes that autism awareness is the key to the acceptance that will lead to appreciation of the diversity and strength of the autistic community.

Many thanks to Kelly for sharing with us!

Autism Canada relies on the generosity of donors like you. Every dollar goes towards helping the autism community in Canada. To donate, click 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