Jennifer Cook was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at the age of 35 and is raising three children on the spectrum. She is the author of seven bestselling, award-winning books. This lively conversation had our host, Katherine Johnson laughing and crying. Jennifer provides perspective on why diagnosis has been widely missed in girls and women and promotes her philosophy of helping others, “Move from feeling like a mistake to feeling like a miracle”.   For More Information: https://www.jenniferotooleauthor.com/ https://www.sanctuary-magazine.com/autism-in-heels.html https://www.nowyoubelong.com/welcome   All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Holly Lechniak Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Outreach Director for the AARTS (Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment, and Services) Center at Rush University Medical Center, joins us to share about the work of SPARK. This national study is working towards accelerating research, as well as our understanding of autism.  Holly shares, “Autism, as compared to other fields, is still relatively new in the area of research. There is still much to learn in order to continue to improve treatment, care, and quality of life for individuals across the lifespan.”   For More Information: https://www.rush.edu/services/autism-care https://sparkforautism.org/rush   All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Dr. Fred Volkmar, a professor at Yale University with over 40 years in the field of autism-related studies, joins us to provide perspective on how far we have come in the diagnosis, research, and services for individuals with autism.  With all the gains, there is still a great need for more research.  As Dr. Volkmar put it, “I think until we get more parents pushing for work on adults, we’re just not going to see it. You have to put your money where your mouth is and I think the federal government needs to fund more research on adults with autism”. Dr. Volkmar also discusses his latest book written with his wife, Dorothy Goodwin which aims to provide parents with practical help for their family. For More Information: Book: https://lrnbvr.com/wiley Yale Autism Seminar: https://lrnbvr.com/yale-autism-seminar Center of Excellance on ASD: https://www.southernct.edu/asd-center All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Dr. Danquah-Brobby is an international psychologist and board certified behavior analyst currently serving as the ABA Chair for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Washington, DC Campus. Paula joins us to talk about a variety of topics related to the education, professional progression, and interests of behavior analysts.  From teaching young learners to working internationally, this conversation highlights the many opportunities to diversify your work and experiences in the field of ABA. Paula and Richie discuss parallels in their careers and the moments that define success for their clients, their students, and themselves. As Paula shared, “I saw the beauty and the science of ABA and I thought - alright, I am going to be in this career for the rest of my life”.  For more information: https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/ https://www.facebook.com/TCSPPDC https://www.instagram.com/tcsppdccampus/ https://twitter.com/TCSPPDCcampus  All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Devon Sundberg, M.S., BCBA is the founder of the groundbreaking (and long overdue) Women in Behavior Analysis Conference (WIBA).  Devon shares how raising three daughters helped open her eyes to how gendered life can be (including party food). Having previously founded an ABA company (BACA) with her husband, Devon was acutely aware of the need for more awareness of the women in her field. Devon shared,  "The research shows, this is a field full of women and yet we haven’t received the professional appointments or the awards or been invited presenters at the Ph.D. level." This year at the 5th WIBA conference(July 29-31), will include inductees to the Women in Behavior Analysis Hall of Fame. For More Information: https://thewiba.com/ https://www.facebook.com/womeninbehavioranalysis/ https://www.instagram.com/wiba_conference/ https://twitter.com/WomeninBA https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-behavior-analysis/ All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Dan McManmon is President of the College Internship Program, also known as CIP, one of the world’s most comprehensive transition programs for young adults on the autism spectrum and learning differences. CIP operates full-year and summer programs at 5 center locations nationwide, offering specialized programs and services that help empower students to pursue higher education, employment, and independent living in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. For More Information: Website: https://cipworldwide.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collegeinternshipprogram/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cipadmissions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cipworldwide/ All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Dr. Ronit Molko acts as an advisor to investors, service providers, clinical organizations, and communities, providing cutting-edge insights into the rapidly expanding field of behavioral healthcare. Dr. Molko helps leaders and delivery teams understand current trends and best practices, navigate complex care intersections, design innovative solutions, and identify and pursue intelligent behavioral health investment opportunities. Dr. Molko also serves on numerous nonprofit and for-profit boards. In 2001, Dr. Molko co-founded Autism Spectrum Therapies ( acquired by Learn Behavioral in 2016). As CEO, Dr. Molko established the company as a national provider of services for children with autism and other special needs. Dr. Molko also co-founded the Autism Investor Summit, an annual conference that brings together stakeholders in autism and behavioral health services to advance services and enhance outcomes for businesses and consumers alike. For More Information: https://ronitmolko.com/ All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Christopher Banks has a comprehensive background in human services and the healthcare arena, where he’s had a successful record of increasing fundraising efforts, measurably improving revenue strategies, and being a transformational leader committed to diversity and cultural growth. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Development and Community Engagement at Charles E. Smith Life Communities in Rockville, Maryland; here, he provided leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation of all philanthropic and community engagement efforts. His daily work supported the organization’s impact strategy, and aimed to accelerate growth while building strong community partners. A native of Hazlet, NJ, Chris has spent the better part of the last 25 years in the New York Metropolitan area, and has two adult children, Patrick and Quinn. He currently lives in Rockville, MD, and joined the Autism Society of America in January 2020. For More Information: https://www.autism-society.org/ https://www.autismacceptance.org/ LinkedIn: @Autism Society of America   Facebook/Twitter/Instagram @AutismSociety All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Dr. Annette Estes is a Research Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. She holds the Susan & Richard Fade Endowed Chair and is the Director of the University of Washington Autism Center. She is a licensed psychologist in the state of Washington. Her research is carried out at the UW Autism Center and Center on Human Development and Disability. Dr. Estes has conducted intervention studies for very young children on the autism spectrum and is especially interested in the role of the family in supporting positive outcomes for children with disabilities. Dr. Estes leads the behavioral assessment core for a national network of researchers studying the brain and behavioral development of infants at high likelihood of developing autism.  For More Information: https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/ All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

Ira L. Cohen, PhD, specializes in autism and behavioral assessment. He received his PhD in psychobiology from Rutgers University in 1974 under the supervision of Dr. Michael R. D’Amato. He was an NIH post-doctoral fellow in experimental psychopathology and behavior therapy at NYU Medical Center from 1975-1977. He was then employed as a research psychologist at NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Magda Campbell, where he worked with children with autism from 1977-1980. There, he developed objective rating scales, a carpet-based activity monitor, and developed operant conditioning procedures for quantifying behaviors in the children. He joined the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities in 1981 as part of the Autism Demonstration Project under the supervision of Dr. Erwin Friedman. There he served as a research scientist, and later, as head of the Division of Behavioral Assessment and Research, and chair of the Department of Psychology. He is currently the Visiting Research Scientist at the Institute. David Fuscus is a media relations expert who is the spokesperson for the National Coalition for Access to Autism Services. He is the CEO of Xenophon Strategies, Inc. To Sign the Petition Visit: https://saveautismservices.org/ For More Information: https://www.facebook.com/SaveAutismServicesforKids https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ira-Cohen-2 https://www.parinc.com/Ira-Cohen All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).