Spectrum Sundays

This week we welcome back Lauren Melissa, also known on social media as Autienelle. She is an autistic advocate and public influencer. In following her passions, she obtained a BA in Creative Writing and MS in Library and Information Sciences. Her background in creative writing truly shines in her articulate and informative blogs and posts about her autistic characteristics and traits. Lauren Melissa is also an established public figure within the autism community and has shared her voice on a multitude of platforms around the world. We are so glad to have her on our series to share her perspective with our viewers.

You can find her on  Instagram and Twitter @Autienelle and find her check out her website at https://instabio.cc/autienelle. Thank you, Lauren Melissa!

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays and don’t forget to subscribe to our series for weekly episodes!

@MissAmerica @MissAmericaNY @MissNewYorkOrg@FromANewPerspectiveOrg@MissPAScholarshipFoundation @MissamericaPA.

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM.

This week we are sharing Vincent Balestrieri’s experiences as an autism professional at Autism Movement Project (AMP) Sports and Fitness, a school psychologist, board certified behavior analyst, and certified trainer. He explained his perspective on working in the autism community and how he used his passions for a purpose. Vin shared his experience in coaching autistic athletes and provided insight on how AMP Sports and Fitness impacts the Manasquan, New Jersey community where AMP was founded.

You can follow AMP Sports and Fitness on Instagram and Facebook @autismmovementproject. Check out their website to learn more about what they do at ampfitnj.com and contact them via email at [email protected]. Thank you so much for visiting with us, Vin!

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays.

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

This weekend, Spectrum Sundays celebrates its 1 year anniversary! We are so honored and humbled by the many voices within the autism community we have interviewed over the last year. We have learned so much during the many discussions we have shared and we hope you have too. Thank you to all the guests who have given their time and shared their perspectives. Additionally, thank you to all of our viewers who have supported us throughout this entire experience!

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays.

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

This week we welcome back Michelle Dampf, who is a speech-language pathologist at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. She has extensive clinical experience providing services for individuals on the spectrum and leads multiple autism social language groups. We are so thankful that Michelle shared her knowledge and experience with us to address important topics within the autism community. To find more information about the Thompson Center, please visit the links below. Thank you so much for visiting with us, Michelle!

MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Supporting the Spectrum Podcast

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays and don’t forget to subscribe to our series for weekly episodes!

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

Jaymie Bianca, Miss Bristol 2021 of Connecticut, has joined us this week for an interesting conversation about policy reform and advocating for the autism community as a family member. She has worked with numerous organizations and spoken at the State Capitol on behalf of her social impact "OpportunAbility: Providing Opportunities for People of All Abilities". Jaymie will be graduating this May from Trinity College with three degrees in Educational Studies, Human Rights, and English. We are excited to support her on her journey to Miss Connecticut on April 10th and 11th. Thank you for sharing your time and stories with us, Jaymie!

Jaymie: Instagram

Miss Connecticut: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays.

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

Monica Fenwick, Miss Greater Watertown of Connecticut, is an active and dedicated autism advocate for her community. Her initiative, "Autism Speaks: It's Time to Listen", has been a long-time passion for hers. Through her advocacy, she hopes to be a “piece to the puzzle" in creating a more accepting and inclusive world. She is pursuing a degree in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies with a concentration in Communication Sciences Disorders and a minor in Education from the Assumption University in Massachusetts.

You can follow her on Instagram (link below) to support her journey to Miss Connecticut this April 2021. Please also make sure to check out her original interview with us (Ep. #44). Thank you so much for visiting with us, Monica!

Monica: Instagram - Email

Miss Connecticut: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

“Spectrum Sundays” is a collaborative project designed to foster acceptance and respect for autism while empowering individuals to share their stories. We would love to hear from you! Message us with questions, follow us on social media, and make sure to subscribe to our series for weekly updates!

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

Please help us welcome back Basmah Alshatti to Spectrum Sundays! She is a second-year graduate student at the University of Missouri studying Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders recently highlighted her as a student leader for her best care practices and personal journey. She serves as a great example of student initiative and expertise within the autism community.

If you missed Basmah’s original visit to Spectrum Sundays, you can go back to episode #43 to learn more about her work and experiences! You can also follow Basmah on Instagram @woal17. Thank you so much for visiting with us, Basmah!

Basmah Alshatti: Instagram

Thompson Center: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Podcast

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays and don’t forget to subscribe to our series for weekly episodes!

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

Margaret Carpenter-Dove, serving her community as Miss Greater Hamden, is a highly accomplished athlete who will compete for the job of Miss Connecticut 2021 this April. Margaret shares with us about her advocacy, her background in sports, her work at Vista Life Innovations special needs school, and her inspiration behind competing in the Miss America Organization. She also provides words of encouragement for the autism community. We welcome you to follow Margaret’s journey on social media at the links below. Thank you for visiting with us, Margaret!

Margaret Carpenter-Dove: Instagram - Twitter

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays and don’t forget to subscribe to our series for weekly episodes!

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

Lauren Melissa, also known on social media as Autienelle, is an autistic advocate and public influencer. In following her passions, she obtained a BA in Creative Writing and MS in Library and Information Sciences. Her background in creative writing truly shines in her articulate and informative blogs and posts about her autistic characteristics and traits. Lauren Melissa is also an established public figure within the autism community and has shared her voice on a multitude of platforms around the world. We are so glad to have her on our series to share her perspective with our viewers. You can follow her on social media at the links below. Thank you, Lauren!

Lauren Melissa: Website - Instagram

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays and don’t forget to subscribe to our series for weekly episodes!

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

This week we welcome Michelle Dampf, who is a speech-language pathologist at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. She has extensive clinical experience providing services for individuals on the spectrum and leads multiple autism social language groups. On this episode, we discuss general information about autism, the evaluation process, and early diagnosis of autism. We are so thankful that Michelle shared her knowledge and experience with us to address important topics within the autism community. To find more information about the Thompson Center, please visit the links below. Thank you so much for visiting with us, Michelle!

MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Supporting the Spectrum Podcast

“Spectrum Sundays” is a weekly series committed to bringing together autism professionals and advocates. We would love to share your personal stories! Please feel free to message us or email [email protected] if you would like to be featured on Spectrum Sundays and don’t forget to subscribe to our series for weekly episodes!

Francesca D'Alessandro: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Meghan Sinisi: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

From a New Perspective: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss America: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Miss New York: Website - Instagram - Facebook

Miss Pennsylvania: Website - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

Music: Sunset On Terra by HYBRID V is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM