This week we are thrilled to welcome arguably the most famous person in the autism community, Temple Grandin, Ph.D. Dr. Grandin has been advocating for individuals with autism for more than 30 years. In 2010, Grandin delivered the TED talk “The world needs all kinds of minds.” Grandin’s own experience with autism has informed her numerous books on the subject including My Life in Pictures which was adapted for the award-winning HBO film. Her most recent book, The Autistic Brain, focuses on the latest autism research and new diagnosis and treatments.    Born on August 29, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism as a child and went on to pursue work in psychology and animal science. She has become a leading advocate for autistic communities and has also written books and provided consultation on the humane treatment of animals.  Grandin has been recognized by the academic community and the general public for her work. In 2009, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. She is the recipient of several honorary degrees, and has been featured on a range of television and radio programs. In 2010, HBO released an Emmy Award winning film on Grandin’s life which continues to strike a chord with audiences.  Temple’s willingness to honestly share her challenges as well as share her passionate perspective with depth and resonance has made her a very popular (and busy) speaker and presenter. All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by Autism Spectrum Therapies (autismtherapies.com) and Trellis Services (trellisservices.com) and Learn It Systems (learnitsystems.com)

From bedtime tantrums to bedwetting, sleep problems can be one of the biggest sources of worry and frustration for parents of children with special needs. V. Mark Durand joins our show to share insights from his updated book, Sleep Better! Dr. Durand will discuss widely tested, easy-to-use techniques that work for all children, with and without disabilities. Psychologist and father Mark Durand helps families tackle sleep issues with optimism and proven strategies drawn from clinical and personal experience.  V. Mark Durand, Ph.D., is known worldwide as an authority in the area of autism spectrum disorders. He is a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where he was the founding Dean of Arts & Sciences and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Dr. Durand is a fellow of the American Psychological Association.  Dr. Durand is currently Co-editor of the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, is a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the Autism Society of America, and is on the Board of Directors of the international Association of Positive Behavioral Support. His books include several best-selling textbooks on abnormal psychology, Severe Behavior Problems: A Functional Communication Training Approach (Guilford Press, 1990), Sleep Better! A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 1998), and When Children Don't Sleep Well: Interventions for Pediatric Sleep Disorders, Therapist Guide (Oxford University Press, 2008).  All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by Autism Spectrum Therapies (autismtherapies.com) and Trellis Services (trellisservices.com) and Learn It Systems (learnitsystems.com)

Caroline Wilson, RN, BSN, Nurse, Special Needs Advocate & Executive Director Caroline and her husband Dean are the parents of two adults on the autism spectrum, Merritt, age 25 and Eliza, age 23. Born and raised in Southern California, Caroline received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at California State University, Long Beach and worked as a Medical, Surgical, Oncology, and Labor and Delivery nurse for more than 15 years. She became a School Nurse for the Long Beach Unified School District in 1997, and earned a credential in school nursing from California State University, Los Angeles in 2000.  In 2004 Caroline left nursing to become an advocate for families with autism. She also became the president of the Autism Society of Los Angeles that same year. Caroline served as President from 2004 to 2009, when she became the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Los Angeles. All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by Autism Spectrum Therapies (autismtherapies.com) and Trellis Services (trellisservices.com) and Learn It Systems (learnitsystems.com)

Arman Khodaei is working towards positively shifting the perception of what autism is on a worldwide level through his blog, YouTube videos, empowerment groups, documentaries, and speaking engagements. His desire is for everyone involved in the autism community to accept, understand, and communicate effectively with each other. Arman has spent the past five years helping adults with autism by facilitating weekly group meetings in Southern California. He is also one of the subjects in the documentary Autism in Love which is slated to be released in 2014.  All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by Autism Spectrum Therapies (autismtherapies.com) and Trellis Services (trellisservices.com) and Learn It Systems (learnitsystems.com)