Send us Fan Mail

What do you do when your child receives an autism diagnosis and the doctor's answer is essentially "good luck"? For Theresa Lyons, a Yale-trained scientist and parent of a non-speaking autistic daughter, that moment became the beginning of a decade-long mission to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and the real-life decisions families have to make every day.

In this episode of Voices of the Community, host Harry Lane sits down with Theresa to explore what she calls "the messy middle" --  that space between diagnosis and clarity, between overwhelm and empowerment. Theresa brings both scientific expertise and lived experience to a wide-ranging conversation that covers:

• Why getting the right autism diagnosis matters, and who is actually qualified to make one
• The "top three" framework for families who feel overwhelmed by too many priorities at once
• What the research actually says about gluten, gut health, and sensory sensitivity in autistic individuals
• How grandparents can play a meaningful role in early identification and long-term support
• Medication, executive function, and habit-chaining strategies for young adults living more independently
• What early family support has to do with long-term workforce readiness
• How Theresa's platform, Navigating Awetism, supports families in over 20 countries

Theresa's closing message: the person with autism has dreams and goals. Understanding what they are, and how they want you involved in creating that reality, is where everything starts.

Learn more about Theresa's work at https://awetism.net/.

Learn more about Meristem at https://meristem.pro.

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

What does it really take to support autistic young adults in finding meaningful employment? In this episode, host Harry Lane sits down with Eric Stewart, Meristem's Work Skills Director, for an in-depth conversation about autism employment, job coaching, workplace inclusion, and building relationships with employers and employees.

Eric shares his 25-year journey in workforce development, the importance of individualized support, and how Meristem's Work Skills program is transforming employment outcomes for autistic job seekers. Plus, Executive Director Erin Schirm joins to discuss Meristem's broader mission of creating social change through inclusive employment.

IN THIS EPISODE:
• How to build authentic relationships with employers to create inclusive workplaces
• The two-way street of workplace support: employer AND employee perspectives
• Why disclosure and self-advocacy matter in autism employment
• What a day in Meristem's Work Skills program actually looks like
• The role of job coaches in supporting autistic employees
• Navigating the complex process of workforce readiness for autistic young adults
• Practical advice for parents and job seekers

ABOUT VOICES OF COMMUNITY:
Voices of Community is Meristem's podcast featuring conversations with autistic adults, families, and professionals who are helping shape a more inclusive world. Each episode shares personal stories, insights, and perspectives from across the Meristem community and beyond.

ABOUT MERISTEM:
Meristem is a California-based program dedicated to preparing autistic young adults for a life of greater independence and fulfillment. Through our experiential learning approach and the Meristem Method, we help young adults build the skills, confidence, and self-awareness needed to thrive.

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: https://meristem.pro
TAP Autism: https://tapautism.org
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe to Voices of Community for more conversations about autism, employment, independence, and community inclusion.

---

BUZZSPROUT SEASON/EPISODE INFO:
Season: 2026
Episode Type: Interview/Conversation
Explicit Content: No
Episode Art: (Use Meristem/Voices of Community branded artwork)

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Voices of Community, hosts Erin Schirm (Executive Director, Meristem) and Harry Lane speak with Sarah Howard, a graduate of Meristem’s Transformative Autism Program (TAP).

Diagnosed with autism later in life, Sarah shares her journey of self-discovery and the realities of navigating college, work, and adult life while learning to advocate for herself in systems not always designed for neurodiverse individuals. Her story offers an honest look at the challenges — and the resilience — that come with finding your voice and building confidence as an autistic adult.

In this episode:

• Sarah’s late diagnosis and how it reframed college and early career
• Common barriers autistic students and employees face in institutions
• Practical ways to identify resources and build a self-advocacy toolkit
• What educators, employers, and peers can do to make inclusion real

#VoicesOfCommunity #Autism #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #Inclusion #Meristem #TAP

 Learn more at meristem.pro and tapautism.org. 

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

Special guest Marnie Harris from Shepherd Hotels joins hosts Harry Lane and Erin Schirm from Meristem to explore how Shepherd Hotels is creating meaningful careers for individuals with developmental disabilities. Together, they discuss inclusive hiring practices, staff training and coaching strategies, and the impact of fostering workplaces where everyone can contribute their talents.

In this episode:

• How Shepherd Hotels builds a culture of belonging through inclusive employment
• Marnie shares real stories from the hospitality floor—successes, challenges, and lessons learned
• Harry and Erin connect the conversation to Meristem’s mission of preparing neurodiverse young adults for greater independence
• Insights into how businesses can lead the way in accessibility and workforce inclusion

…and more!

#inclusion #neurodiverse #hospitality #employment #meristem #shepherdhotels

Learn more about our work at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

Special guests Jacob and Jordan from Ventures ATL join Harry and Erin from Georgia to talk about how their non-profit is tackling the 80% unemployment rate of neurodiverse individuals. 

Check out Ventures ATL on their website here.

In this episode:

• The mission of Ventures ATL
• Jacob and Jordan share how they got involved with Ventures ATL, and how their non-profit has evolved over the years.
• Harry and Erin discuss support strategies with Jacob and Jordan for neurodiverse employees.

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

Dive into all things Department of Rehabilitation with Harry and Eric as they sit down with Spencer Hoke, Regional Business Specialist at D.O.R.'s Fair Oaks' office.

In this episode:

• Spencer shares his personal story about growing up with a learning disability, and how that fueled his passion for helping individuals with disabilities get jobs.
• Harry and Eric ask Spencer about how someone starts getting signed up for D.O.R. services.
• Spencer shares success stories from his time at DOR, and how employers have responded to their inclusive hiring trainings.

...and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

Brandon is BACK and giving an update on his life since his last interview! He sits down with Harry and Erin to talk about his experience in the Disney College Program, moving away from California, and potentially graduating from Sac State soon.

In this episode:

• An update on Brandon’s life
• His experience in the Disney College Program and how the program showed him that he wanted to pursue a career in hospitality
• His potential graduation from Sac State this year

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Harry and Erin sit down with Meristem’s Day Program Director Shea Smith to talk about her journey to becoming director of the Day Program, her personal connection to autism through raising two neurodiverse children, and how her background as an herbalist gave her the ability to revamp the Day Program’s Herbal Arts and Nutrition programs. 

In this episode:

• Shea’s personal journey with raising two neurodiverse children
• How her different career paths led her to Meristem
• The changes in Day Program that have been influenced by her background in herbalism, construction, welding, and nutrition

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

Harry and Eric Steward, the director of Meristem’s Work Skills program and the Transformative Autism Program, sit down with Grant Harris, a published author and chief diversity executive. Grant talks about his experience with a late autism diagnosis, his journey with self-advocacy, and his journey with building his diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm.  

In this episode:

• Lessons in self-advocacy from Grant and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
• How Grant’s late diagnosis helped him to understand himself better
• Grant’s journey with being an entrepreneur and helping businesses navigate inclusion “from the boardroom to the mailroom”
• Tips for employers and employees in accommodations and self-advocacy in the workplace

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us Fan Mail

Harry and Erin sit down with New York Times best-selling author J.D. Barker about the intersection between autism and creativity – J.D.’s journey with a late autism diagnosis and how autism has contributed to his major success as an author. 

In this episode:

• J.D. details his life before and after his diagnosis at the age of 22
• How autism helped J.D. realize his potential as an author, and how it actually equipped him for success
• Ways that J.D. loves to give back to the autism community, and his toolkit for those who have autism to handle large scale social interactions

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Check out J.D.'s website for information on his latest book and links to follow him on social media!

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org