Autism Resource Podcast

James is Founder/CEO of James Emmett & Company also known as JEC. It is one of the most recognizable brands in the field of disability inclusion and is a global leader in the implementation of disability inclusion initiatives with essential businesses. James has worked with companies like Advance Auto Parts, Walgreens, Lowe’s, Best Buy, and Office Depot to help plan & execute initiatives that have resulted in over 100,000 jobs for people with disabilities and has received numerous awards for innovation related to company-owned disability inclusion.

Kelley Coleman is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports draws upon over a decade of experience as a parent caregiver, and gives parents the tools to spend less time with paperwork and more time loving their kids exactly as they are.

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL Coaching, a specialized tutoring program that offers individualized one-on-one home, virtual, and on-site instruction using research-based, multi-sensory techniques. She is the co-creator of the Writing Mastery software program that helps students develop stronger writing skills using a systematic approach to instruction and direct feedback. Sophie Gutter is a ninth-grade student who is incredibly passionate about helping neurodivergent students thrive. She is the co-creator of the Writing Mastery software program and is excited to help students improve their writing skills.

Cian is an award-winning director, showrunner and executive producer. He is the co-creator, showrunner and director of the Emmy-winning Love on the Spectrum series, and has just finished filming a 3rd US season. In addition to creating and directing other series and documentaries, Cian was the series director of the critically acclaimed and award-winning Employable Me, a series featuring people with disabilities looking for employment, and Changing Minds: The Inside Story, an observational documentary filmed inside a mental health unit. He is attracted to projects that have something to say, while not forgetting it is the audience they are made for.

Diane Strand is an author, an award-winning Executive Producer, an owner at JDS Video & Media Productions and Actors Studio, and the founder of the nonprofit JDS Creative Academy. Her programs provide Hands-On training and paid supported internship opportunities, and are designed to break down barriers to gainful employment in video production, post production and acting for neurodivergent and disabled individuals.

Alex Astrella is a visual artist based out of Orange County, California. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 2, Alex was told that he’d never be able to hold a job as an adult. 25 years later, Alex has won numerous awards and has garnered nationwide praise for his documentary films and screenplays.

Jimmy is an award-winning Film and Television Producer, Educator, and Supervising Sound Editor. He is credited on more than 500 productions and has won 2 Emmys and 5 Golden Reel awards. Jimmy is the founder of award-winning training operations for Autistic adults and disabled Veterans.

Steve McConnell has a background in biology and is a practicing lipidimiologist. His research and advice are sought out by physicians in many areas including cardiology, kidney disease and, most recently, various neurodiverse conditions. He joins us today to discuss managing challenges often presented for those navigating the autism spectrum and more.

On her journey of navigating through the worry and heartbreak of raising a special needs child Susanna Peace Lovell found her true life calling: to help other parents find and realize joy and passion in their own lives. She provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, and support groups for special needs families. Her book Your True Self Is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autism was released in January 2024.

Celia Landman is a mindfulness educator offering support to teens and adults. She draws from experiences working with those impacted by trauma, addiction, and anxiety, and creates customized meditation, visualizations, and trainings to reconnect them to what she refers to as their wholeness and show parents how to find balance while navigating seemingly impossible parenting situations.

Jeff Pearson is a speaker, author, business owner and TV host. When Jeff was two weeks old, it was confirmed that he had hydrocephalus and he underwent his first brain and abdominal surgery. Despite those challenges, he traveled the world, got married, raised three children, and is now the owner of Hydro with Hope, and the host of the TV show “Invisible Condition” on e360tv. It’s a show that brings awareness to all the medical conditions millions of people deal with that aren’t visible from the outside. Through Hydro with Hope and his TV show, Jeff spreads the message that First: you are not alone. Second: there is hope, and Third: there is a community of help and resources out there for you.

I welcome Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh back for an encore guest spot! Jeremy and Ilana are friendship and dating coaches who teach the strategies and skills that empower autistic and neurodivergent adults to find community, make friends, start dating, and build relationships. Ilana has over 16 years of experience as a special education teacher in New York City and Jeremy has over 13 years of experience as a social coach for autistic and neurodivergent adults.

Norman Wasserman is the founder of Friend Entertainment USA, and has been fundraising for nonprofits for over 35 years. He started Friend Entertainment to provide high-quality entertainment for nonprofit fundraising concerts. Norman says he understands the great need to make a difference in this world and is driven by the belief that we are here to help one another and have great fun along the way.

Jason Weissbrod has a Bachelor’s degree in Directing and Acting for Film and Theatre and has directed, produced, written, edited and starred in many films, television shows, web series, commercials and theatre productions. Jason became involved with the neurodiverse and autism community over 15 years ago. Many neurodivergent and autistic artists told Jason they wanted to work in the entertainment industry and this inspired Jason and his colleague, Garth Herberg, to create Spectrum Laboratory.

Jojo Williams is a certified massage therapist who began working in the field in 2011 and in 2015, left her previous career of 24 years, supporting individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, to focus solely on massage. She opened her own business during the pandemic of 2020 and now serves many individuals & families with wellness support.

Jen Malia is an autistic mom of three autistic children. She is the author of The Infinity Rainbow Club series and Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism. She is also a Professor of English and Creative Writing Coordinator at Norfolk State University. She joins me to discuss her journey, the inspiration for her books, and the insights she has gained along the way.

Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh are friendship and dating coaches who teach the strategies and skills that empower autistic and neurodivergent adults to find community, make friends, start dating, and build relationships. Ilana has over 16 years of experience as a special education teacher in New York City and Jeremy has over 13 years of experience as a social coach for autistic and neurodivergent adults.

Since entering private practice in 1980, Valerie Vanaman has become an acknowledged leader in providing representation for individuals challenged with disabilities and for their families, securing her clients’ educational rights. She served as a teaching fellow at Harvard Law School and is a member of numerous Bar associations, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and several at the Federal District and State Court levels.

Dr. Jennie Trocchio is an autism educator, advocate, and VP of Clinical Operations at Positive Development, which is a leading provider of developmental care for neurodiverse children and their families. We discuss the various therapies they provide and how families can access their services.

David Wildkress was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 6. He is a learning specialist who is passionate about supporting neurodivergent people and has developed expertise in supporting folks with complex profiles. David holds a master's degree in education and a certificate in educational therapy, and has helped countless students and adults improve their executive function and metacognitive skills.

Christian Vinceneux has been in the neurodivergent space his entire life. He grew up as an anxious and shy kid with ADHD in a neurodiverse family. Professionally, he worked as an occupational therapist for over 30 years with neurodiverse families and has now transitioned as a parent coach. Christian has developed a unique approach to help parents navigate neurodivergence and identify practical solutions for everyday challenges while focusing on building a strong relationship with their child.

Wendy Jones is the founder of Be Better Life and Media, a transformational life coach, and the mother of four kids, both neurodivergent and neurotypical. Through her coaching at Be Better Life and productions at Be Better Media, she helps people unlock their potential and grow through greater self-awareness that helps them create more flow in their lives.

Anne Ryan is the Online Program Director for STRIVE Worldwide, an online program designed to teach independent living skills to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. STRIVE offers a variety of classes and students can learn at their own pace. Students are supported during the learning programs, and Anne shares course details and success stories from their enrollees.

Ben Drew has worked in the field of intellectual disabilities for over 25 years. He grew up in the UK and qualified as a learning disability nurse. In 2003 Ben founded Options in Bristol to help people with intellectual disabilities buy or rent their own homes and manage their own support. In 2008 Ben moved to New York and founded Open Future Learning, an organization that helps support staff assist their clients to their best possible potential.

Megan Smith is the founder of Harmony Restored, a company focused on helping individuals heal from the stress that is at the root of their physical and emotional pain. She is also President of Guiding Arrow Nature Camp, a non-profit regenerative farm and healing retreat center specializing in providing transformative outdoor experiences in a safe and nurturing community for neurodivergent children and young adults, and their families. Megan shares her experiences as the mother of two autistic children and her vision for the resource she is creating.

Antoinette Banks is an accomplished author, researcher, and CEO of Expert IEP, an EdTech company that supports students who learn differently and their parents. The platform helps to navigate the often confusing and daunting IEP process and system. Her book, "Better than A Diagnosis: A Single Parents Guide to Autism," draws on her experiences as a mother of an autistic teenager to offer practical guidance and emotional support to others navigating similar challenges.

Nicole Homerin is an Inclusion Communities Manager at Partners for Youth with Disabilities and has over a decade of experience working with disabled children and youth. She has a background as a special education teacher and adaptive performance arts instructor, and joins us to discuss the training provided by her organization to support neurodivergent and disabled individuals and the community that supports them.

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL Coaching, a specialized tutoring program that offers individualized one-on-one home, virtual, and on-site instruction. Her program uses research-based, multi-sensory techniques that have proven successful in helping students who are struggling with their studies. We discuss academic challenges often faced by neurodivergent students and the best ways to support them both in and out of school.

Ben VanHook is a young, neurodivergent person whose goal is to reform employment and education policy to make both domains more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. He is a speaker and writer and has been featured in the media from PBS programs to the New York Times. In this second episode of a two-part appearance, he shares his own experience of being employed and neurodivergent, as well as various challenges he has faced.

Ben VanHook is a young, neurodivergent person whose goal is to reform employment and education policy to make both domains more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. He is a speaker and writer and has been featured in the media from PBS programs to the New York Times. In this first episode of a two-part appearance, he shares his own experience of being adopted and neurodivergent, as well as various challenges he has faced.

Professor Andrew Whitehouse helped to create the first national guidelines in Australia for diagnosing autism and supporting autistic children. He is the Director of Clinikids based in Perth, where they are breaking ground in terms of combining research and support for neurodivergent children and their families. Andrew also discusses the importance of early intervention and guiding parents through the first few years of a child’s life. Clinikids makes their services available to families all over the world.

Devon MacNerland is a neurodivergent advocate and documentarian. He has been working in this realm for several years and is spending his time and resources on bringing his cause to the media realm. He discusses his latest project, a documentary about restraints and restrictions for neurodiverse students in schools. He highlights relevant issues and shares his thoughts on needed change and system reform. Warning: This episode contains material that some listeners may find disturbing.

Zhara Astra is a writer, producer, and television executive. She is also a professor at Arizona State University where she developed the first course in the world on understanding neurodivergent women. After discovering as an adult that she was on the autism spectrum and had ADHD, she set out on a mission to help other women better understand themselves and their potential neurodivergences, while aiming to educate and equip the neurotypical world with a greater understanding of how to interact with those who think differently, operate differently, and see the world through a different lens.

Eddie Tuduri is a career musician who has worked with many of the world’s great entertainers. He has also received many awards for his work with neurodiverse and disabled communities all over the world. After a near-death and disabling experience, Eddie founded The Rhythmic Arts Project, known as TRAP, which he created to help neurodiverse and disabled individuals overcome learning issues and address cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges.

Ashley Keller, Founder of Empower Self-Care and Consulting joins us to discuss helping families cope with the challenges they face when the system has failed them and they lack the support and resources they need. She talks about the “old vs. the new” ABA model. She believes in building proper communication on a foundation of mutual respect and trust between parent and child. Her goal is to maintain a strong parent-child bond, address caregiver burnout and support children to build skills that help them and their families live life to the fullest.

Jay Baldwin, Program Navigator at the Help Group’s Kaleidoscope organization for LGBTQIA+ youth, joins us to discuss the intersection of autism and LGBTQIA+ identities. They share the importance of creating a safe place for these young people to explore and grow. Jay also offers advice for the families of these individuals to support them in their journeys, as well as to facilitate communication in order to ease the transition and discovery process for everyone concerned.

Dr. Nora Baladerian joins us to discuss the prevalence of abuse among the neurodiverse and disabled communities. Statistics show the rate is much higher than in the general population and the abuse is not limited to a particular type. She also shares the approach and treatments she uses to deal with the associated trauma and reduce the risk of the abuse happening in the first place. Dr. Baladerian treats those at all levels including those who are non-verbal or whose disabilities are profound.

Walt Karniski, MD, author of the book “ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe?” joins us to share his expertise. We discuss diagnosis, presentation in males versus females, the various medications and their side effects. We also talk about transitioning to adulthood with ADHD, and the results of research and certain studies that have been done. Dr. Karniski’s background as a developmental pediatrician supports an informative and intriguing conversation.

California State Senator Anthony Portantino joins us to discuss how he supports the neurodiverse community. He stresses the importance of advocacy and shares his plans for legislation that will make important changes for the benefit of this population. He also shares his thoughts on social justice and access to services. He believes that addressing mental health is just as important as physical health and talks about the need for reform in our educational system.

Ernie Merlan is the Founder of Muralism, an organization dedicated to connecting people with special needs to their community through art. They create large-scale murals wherever they are commissioned, from city streets to museums, to government offices. It is a group effort, and everyone from the public to politicians works side by side with the artists. The organization is heading towards its goal of 100 murals by the year 2028. Muralism teaches young neurodiverse artists to work while doing something they love.

Chris Latham, CFP, gives us an overview of financial planning for those with special needs. He shares his insights on what it takes to properly plan for the future. He offers information on special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, using life insurance as a tool, and more. He stresses that financial wellness and physical/mental health go hand in hand.

Dr. Temple Grandin, a renowned authority on autism and animal behavior, shares her insights and perspectives on raising a child with autism. She discusses various do’s and don’ts and offers some sage advice about early intervention, developing personal strengths, dealing with sensory issues, and preparing for the workforce. She also mentions a few of the many books she has written on the subject.

Andrew Arboe, Founder of Driving with Autism, specializes in helping neurodiverse individuals pursue driving as a transportation option. He was inspired to start the organization by his own experiences and discusses things to be aware of when considering driving. He offers online workshops and consultations and plans to make his solutions available across the United States.

Vijay Ravindran, Founder and CEO of Floreo, shares the amazing technology of virtual reality learning he has helped develop to aid neurodiverse learners to succeed in school and in life. It is a tool for therapists, schools, and parents alike. It teaches a wide variety of skills from socialization, to coping with bullying, to navigating your neighborhood. It is a fun and accessible device that is available through many affordable avenues.

David Terk of Serenitas Special Needs Planning joins us to discuss some of the basic government benefits available to this community. He helps to demystify what the different names and acronyms mean. He also gives some great tips on how to qualify and apply for things like SSI, SSDI, and IHSS. David also touches on the importance of special needs trusts and planning for the future.

Dawn Barclay is a travel expert and mother of two. She has written a book about traveling with children who are neurodiverse. We discuss the various chapters and useful information in the book, and she offers some great tips to make the process much easier. She also shares tidbits from her blog and social media posts.

Mary Ann Hughes started Special Family Transitions to help others cope with the challenges of a divorce involving children who are neurodiverse or disabled. She shares her own story and offers suggestions on the important things to keep in mind and the best first steps to take. She also discusses how to support the children during this difficult time.

Dr. Hillary Ganek is a specialist on the effects of hearing challenges on learning languages. She talks about the importance of considering a child’s culture and environment when giving speech therapy. She shares her experience and gives advice on how caregivers can help support a child’s identity while encouraging them to express themselves.

George Bailey is the President of zPods, a company breaking new ground in innovations for better sleep. They have developed a new type of bed that offers a sensory-friendly experience for children and adults who have difficulty sleeping, including those who are neurodiverse. George discusses this new approach and shares a hopeful message for rethinking the importance of sleep in general.

Welcome to ARP’s 100th episode! Suzanne Firstenberg joins us to celebrate. She is the talented artist behind the In America: Remember exhibition on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. She discusses the healing power of art as a means of positive social change. She also talks about art as a means of communication and expression for those who are neurodiverse or disabled. As she says, empathy is her medium.