Autism Stories

"It's at the start of session, I get a box of stim toys out. I go and put them on the desks, and then I sit down with the occupational therapists and the consultants. I start talking to them about it. They all look at me like, this is really, really weird, why are you talking about these things? But at the end of the session they're all playing with them! ", says Loren Snow. Loren joins this episode to discuss working with professionals and parents to support autistic children. We also discuss how meal time can be one of the most traumatic experiences at home and how to better support your autistic loves during these times. To learn more about Loren visit https://www.lorensnow.com . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"It's a gift to be able to say this isn't really right. How can we make this better? That's what I do with my clients. My goal as a doula is to make the world more accommodating, because I don't think the world is accommodating enough. I've had tons of experiences with what it's like to not be accommodated. If I can make anyone's experience on earth a little softer, and more friendly, that's what I want to do", says LIanne McCray. Lianne  joins this episode to discuss being a doula. We also discuss neurodivergent empathy and secondary trauma. To learn more about Lianne visit https://www.instagram.com/doulalianne/ . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

" Research is showing that there actually isn't a lot of benefit to homework. When I have parents request homework, I will send it, but I also encourage them to make it playful. Let's say I have some students struggling with reading basic sight words. I will send home those sight words they're struggling with. But I'll say, parents, instead of doing flash cards, to make it into a game. Hide the words around the house and make it a scavenger hunt", says Emily Archer. Emily joins this episode to discuss teaching autistic students, accommodations that are helpful to students on IEPs and 504 plans, and reducing their overwhelm at school. To learn more about Emily visit https://www.instagram.com/autisticautismteacher3/ . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Misconceptions of Deaf people is that hearing people, people who can hear around 100%, views would be that Deaf people cannot drive, read, write, understand English, and that is far from the truth. Being Deaf does not and should not hinder someone, yet it does, because of these stereotypes of what Deaf people can and cannot do", says Kaishawna. Kaishawna joins this episode to discuss misconceptions about deaf people as well as being a classical musician. To learn more about Kaishawna visit https://www.instagram.com/kaishawna_music/. If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"There were great schools, but none of them were very neurodivergent-friendly. It was all very, very fast paced. You never really learn to talk to clients. You're just kind of given a dog. There will be 20 other students and one teacher and you just have to figure it out as you go. Even someone who was neurotypical, they were struggling with it", says Stephenie Calhoun. Stephenie joins this episode  to discuss opening up a dog grooming academy, how her academy focuses on the needs of neurodiverse students, and the history of dogs and how they became domesticated. To learn more about Stephenie visit https://meditativegroomer.com . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Autistic students are very often not given services and supports that is evidence-based according to atypical evidence-based. Meaning that, very often, I think, autistic students on campus are expected to camoflauge, to mask, to fit in, to be like everyone else, as opposed to just be themselves", says Rabbi Simcha Weinstein. Rabbi Weinstein joins this episode to discuss being a college rabbi, founding the Jewish Autism Network, and the connection of superheroes and marginalized people. To learn more about Rabbi Weinstein and the Jewish Autism Network visit https://www.jewishautismnetwork.com . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Because I'm autistic, I avoided a lot of games that involve reading people's faces. I was really averse to games like poker where it's basically just 100%, wall to wall, reading faces. What's really different is there's a bluffing element to Star Wars: the card game...the thing that made a difference for me was context. Because with poker, there's no context for why someone would or would not be bluffing, because you don't know what cards they have. Whereas with Star Wars, you knew which unit they were using", says Bijhan Agha.  Bijhan returns to Autism Stories to discuss creating a strategy board game, successfully funding their comic book, and how self publishing may be a viable route for other autistic creators. To learn more about Bijhan and Jamsheed Studios visit https://www.patreon.com/Jamsheedstudios If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠.

"There still is a lot of stigma towards medium support needs and high support needs autistics. There's a lot of stigma about not being able to act neurotypical. I think there needs to be more talk about why that is. Why exactly do we feel the need to act neurotypical so much? I also want people to include all of the excluded types into the conversation- that needs to happen more", says Ash. Ash joins this episode to discuss autistics that have medium and high support needs, his love of sharks, and their intersectional identities. To learn more about Ash visit https://www.instagram.com/sharktizzy/ . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠.

"It's hard to contend what it means to be a living creature in an area where it doesn't necessarily belong. I think I felt a lot of connection to the Lantern Fly because they're very beautiful and strange, and people don't understand them. I think that I felt a connection to being an LGBT person and then also being an autistic person, where I often feel like misunderstood and out of place", says Robin Gow. Robin joins this episode to discuss  their new book of poetry Lanternfly August, managing programs at their local LGBT community center, and being a witch. To learn more about Robin and their book of poetry Lanternfly August check out https://www.driftwoodpress.com/our-books/lanternfly-august If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠. If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠.

" I've been learning how to play the guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, ukulele, mandolin, and the harmonica...I've been taking guitar lessons for 6 years. I used to take a little bit of drum lessons, but not anymore. Everything else, I've been self taught", says Ryan Woodard. Ryan  joins this episode to discuss being a musician, being recognized by John Mayer, and plays one of his original songs. To learn more about Ryan and his music visit https://ryanwoodardrocks.com . If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for extraordinary support support to live self-sufficient and purpose-driven lives through customized coaching then visit ⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠. If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠.