Today’s Autistic Moment: A Podcast for Autistic Adults by An Autistic Adult

Michelle Markman is a Neurodivergent relationship coach and a late diagnosed Autistic woman.  Michelle was aware of social differences and experienced the social challenges in her  childhood, but was unclear on their explanation until college.  MIchelle has been through spinal fractures, chronic pain, an autoimmune disease and through it all has refused mediocrity. Michelle's greatest personal accomplishment was climbing Kilimanjaro the world's tallest free standing mountain in Africa.  Michelle is a mother, world traveler, foodie, bibliophile and bon vivant.  Don't miss this great show as Michelle will talk about her greatest pleasure in helping others form and nurture social relationships.

Oluwatobi Odugunwa works with the Autistic People of Color Fund will be my guest for The Strengths and Achievements of Black Autistic Adults. The news and media tends to focus on the difficulties of having Autism, and black people are sadly classified as troubled and/or inferior to white people. In keeping with the theme for this year, my guest Oluwatobi Odugunwa and I are going to talk about the great work that Black Autistics are doing to foster a society of anti-bias towards Autistic Black individuals with disabilities.

Autistic Adults are pioneers on their own journeys. Lisa Morgan is a pioneer as part of a family with a history of suicide because of Autistic needs that were not being met. Lisa is an example of someone who met their tragedies and used them to build herself up and founded her own company to support Autistics in moments of crisis. Lisa’s story will move and inspire you in whatever situation you find yourself in, to work with and through it as an Autistic Adult to create and live your own life as you are. Don’t miss this special show.

Today's Autistic Moment is recognizing Black History Month with this special show. The movement for Neurodiversity like many others has it's own version of systemic racism.  Many of the programs, classes, presentations and schedules are created by and for the white majority.  If the movement for Neurodiversity is to be inclusive, then we must listen to the stories of Autistic people of color and learn from them how we can address the issue of racism.  Precious Lesley is a black Autistic Adult who will be talking about this sensitive topic.  In keeping with the theme for 2023, Precious will talk about the strengths and Achievements of Black Autistic Adults.

Today's Autistic Moment reaches a major milestone with the 50th show.  The podcast began in 2021 with a goal of creating some real social changes for the Autistic Adult Community.  The past two seasons have brought Autistic Adults and professionals who work with Autistics together to talk about the topics that matter most to us. Today's Autistic Moment and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions are giving Neurodivergent the chance to use their voices that are so often left out of the conversations about us and having our say.  It is having an impact.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Ana Aragon is my special guest for this premier to discuss the context of the theme for Today's Autistic Moment in 2023.  The Strengths and Achievements of Autistic Adults.   The guests and topics during 2023 on Today’s Autistic Moment’s podcast and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions will do more than talk about our many challenges; we will talk about how so many amazing Autistic Adults are using their challenges to build up their strengths so that we can set reasonable goals and achieve them successfully. There are so many talented and skillful Autistic Adults that are authors, educators, mathematical geniuses, advocates, who are using their tenacity to help the movement for Neurodiversity create community to support and encourage one another. In 2023, you will be meeting and hearing from many of them on Today’s Autistic Moment and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript Autistics are stereotyped as not knowing how to communicate appropriately. As each Autistic is unique from another, each of us communicates differently. Some of us communicate verbally. Some of us communicate nonverbally. Some of us are non-speaking, but we still communicate. While Grace Ogden-Parker and I will not be speaking for every Autistic, we will be advocating for the diversity of Autistic Adults communicating with others in our own Autistic languages and styles of communicating. Are Neurotypicals really listening?

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript For many Autistic Adults the holidays are a time of sensory distress, seasonal depression, with social demands and all the music and holiday advertising that can stress us out. Becca Lory Hector who was my guest for the Summer of Self-Care Series will give us some of her ideas about managing holiday stress to help us all enjoy them as much as we can.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Autistic Adults are often stereotyped as children that never matured properly. Autistic Adults are infantilized by neurotypicals who feel that they know better as to who we should be and how we should behave and therefore should teach us to be more like neurotypicals. Robert Allan Claus III is an Autistic Adult who is here to talk about how being infantilized has affected him, and why he feels it is important that Autistic Adults be respected as Adults.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Nicky Collins is Autistic.  Nicky and her partner are parents of Autistic Children.  Nicky joins Philip to talk about what learning about her own Autism from her Autistic child was like. Nicky will talk about how Autistic Parents are different in how they work with their children and their challenges with schools and educational professionals that dismiss their concerns and advice.   Enjoy the show.