Autism Grown Up Podcast

Becca Lory Hector, CAS, BCCS was diagnosed on the autism spectrum as an adult and has since become a dynamic autism advocate, consultant, speaker, and author with dual certifications as a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) and Cognitive Specialist (BCCS). With a focus on living an active, positive life, her work includes autism & neurodiversity consulting; public speaking engagements; a monthly blog, “Live Positively Autistic”; a weekly YouTube news show, “Neurodiversity Newsstand,”; and being an Assistant Editor/Feature Writer for Spectrum Women Magazine. An animal lover with a special affinity for cats, Becca spends most of her free time with her many animals, her husband Antonio Hector, and their Emotional Support Animal (ESA), Sir Walter Underfoot. Becca and I discuss her path to self-determined decision making, with her ASD diagnosis as a jumping off point, and how it’s so critical that other autistics learn and practice this skill. She’s interested in quality of life, specifically creating quality of

Beth Rosenberg is the Founder and Executive Director of Tech Kids Unlimited, a not-for-profit organization based in New York City. Beth has a background in special needs and technology, which informs how Tech Kids Unlimited began and its educational + student/staff ratio model. Tech Kids Unlimited seeks to open up the field of technology to students with disabilities, especially those on the autism spectrum to help them become the techies of tomorrow. Speaking of, Beth and I discuss her goals in promoting employability and implementing programming to support work-based learning experiences, such as internships and courses focused on technology skills that translate to the workplace. Plus bonuses that I enjoyed hearing about: the sense of community they’ve cultivated, collaborations with peers, teaming amongst staff, and self-determination to pursue your own interests. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROW

For this week’s episode, we are chatting with Ray Hemachandra, who is the father of Nicholas Hemachandra, a 19-year-old autistic and intellectually disabled young man. Ray and his son are based in western North Carolina, where he speaks and writes about autism and neurodiversity. In this episode, we take a deep dive into neurodiversity and what he refers to as authentic self-determination. This is a great episode for parents and professionals supporting individuals on the spectrum who are growing up because supporting self-determination and support networks are important well before an autistic person becomes an adult. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Rachel Worsley is the Founder and CEO of Neurodiversity Media - an online agency based in Australia. She integrates her background in journalism, law, and personal experience as someone with ADHD and who was recently within the past couple of years diagnosed autistic. Ever since launching Neurodiversity Media within this last year, her insightful, innovative work has taken off on LinkedIn. Neurodiversity Media creates accessible information resources to empower the neurodivergent population to fulfill their potential through the dignity of work. They are a content marketing agency supporting organizations with their content creation about neurodiversity and shaping content about people with disabilities. They publish a newsletter called NeuroWork that you should definitely sign up for! You’ll receive news, views, and resources about neurodiversity at work directly to your inbox. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/

Kirt Manecke is an award-winning author who has written books on topics such as customer service and sales skills, social-emotional learning, social and career. He’s from Michigan and shares a lot of great local resources to his area if you’re from up there! The book we discuss today is Smile and Succeed for Teens, which as he shares in the episode - Dr. Temple Grandin read it and called him right away to leave a testimonial for this book as a tool for teens and young adults as they enter the workforce and seek employment. These are tangible skills that schools are now incorporating in their curricula. This answers a common concern we have when it comes to a tremendous need for preparation for the realistic aspects of work while in high school. He has helpful chapters on clear expectations in the workplace, volunteering, and running your own business which many young adults are focusing on. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aut

Haley Moss is an autistic advocate, attorney, artist, author, and speaker. She is a leader on disability inclusion, autism, neurodiversity in the workplace, employment policy, accessibility, and lawyers and disabilities. We discuss finding and pursuing your interests, pushing through to your goals, and the importance of finding and listening to autistic self-advocates in the autism space. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

This week we have Julie Hornok on the show! She is an autism parent, advocate, author, and event planner. Her book, United in Autism: Finding Strength Inside the Spectrum shares stories from autism parents/caregivers, and her non-profit plans and facilitates emotional support events for autism parents/caregivers.  Being an autism caregiver is truly a unique experience with its own journey, strengths, and challenges. Parents and caregivers of autistic loved ones across the lifespan can also benefit from finding and engaging in the types of groups we discuss - from online to an in-person Special Needs moms retreat that Julie is collaborating with other parents to plan and facilitate. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-p

Friendships can be a challenge to begin and navigate for many teens and young adults on the autism spectrum. Over 61% of teens on the spectrum experience bullying and social isolation, leading to increased mental health challenges, such as depression and suicidal thoughts. As a result, many people have become interested in starting social clubs or meet-ups in their area. (Note: this is a time sensitive issue, and we hope the opportunities to have social experiences in our community will become an option again sometime soon). Our guests this week are from a non-profit organization called Erin’s Hope for Friends, which is on a mission to create lasting relationships through joyful interactions with teens and young adults on the autism spectrum. It was founded by the Horst family, in their daughter’s loving memory. Erin was a teen with Asperger’s who faced many challenges and decided to take her life. They started their first clubhouse in Georgia and have since opened a couple more and are working on expanding t

Housing is a major gap and need in adulthood. This week, I chat with Desiree Kameka, the Director of the Autism Housing Network. They provide information and resources online all about housing - from a network of housing communities, to starting your housing search, to advocacy and policy work in making housing accessible to all. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

As we get into adulthood services, there are a variety of options and services that an adult with IDD can opt into. One of those options is day habilitation programming. In this episode, I chat with Joe Spreitzer, the founder of ABLE Adults, a day program located in Stirling, New Jersey. Joe is a former special education teacher who saw a tremendous need for programming for adults with disabilities in his community after working in the schools and with other services. We get into Medicaid service definitions, what the day-to-day programming looks like, and how it's important to promote opportunities for learning - - learning doesn't stop in adulthood! AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Today's episode is a solo one, where I share more info about our latest bimonthly resource: High-Quality Transition Planning in High School. Each high school and IEP team does transition planning differently, but what are the ways that can best support and prepare the student for life after high school? AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Today's guest is Cassidy Hooper, who is an autistic self-advocate from Mississippi and now as of this week... our AGU Online Community Manager! We discuss the importance of finding your support network/your community/your people to turn to, how she's been able to rely on her family and local community as well as cultivate one online. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Today's guest is Dr. Shuting Zheng, a postdoctoral research scholar at UC-San Francisco. She shares what she's learned from splitting her time in research and clinical settings, her work on eye-tracking and heterogeneity of ASD, and making ASD diagnostic and research assessments more realistic and ability-based instead of deficit-focused.  AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup *Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in January 2020 and the UCSF STAR Center for ASD and NDDs has been renamed to the UCSF Center for ASD and NDDs. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

This week we have Dana Kelsey (from @autism_irl) on the podcast! She's a fellow autism sibling of an autistic brother - so you know we gotta talk about that! I love following her adventures online with her brother Rob and we share commonalities in interests between our brothers.  We also delve into the sometimes unfortunate realities of adult services and programming and some gaps in supports including autism training and pay. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Let's kick February off with #blackautistic pride! In this episode, we get to chat with Kayla Smith, the creator of #AutisticBlackPride/#BlackAutisticPride and is incredibly active online. We discuss intersectionality, the challenges of sharing your voice online, as well as her life as a college student trying to drum up more autism support on campus. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Castle J. Colder is on the show today! He shares his experiences in discovering art as his passion and pursuing it for a career, his ASD diagnosis as an adult, and why he believes mental health is an incredibly important conversation.  More about Castle: He was born and raised in Georgia. He creates comic art and illustrations on paper and digitally, all inspired by comics, video games, and more. You can follow him along on Instagram and Twitter.  AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Our Guest Juliana Fetherman is the 23-year-old founder and CEO of Making Authentic Friendships LLC, an interactive web app that enables children (ages 13+) and adults with special needs to make friends. It matches users based on age, diagnosis, interests and geographic location. It is called Making Authentic Friendships, MAF, which is also her brother's initials. Juliana's brother is 21 and has autism and ADHD. He is very lonely due to his lack of friends and he inspired this initiative. We delve into the major reasons why MAF began, some things she's learned along the way (including learning how to run a startup), and what is working for current users of the app.  AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

Today I get to talk with my dad on the show! [Finally, right?!} Rory Regan is a super proud father to 4 children, including 2 sons on the autism spectrum (Tyler & Tanner), an Air Force veteran, and is an advocate in the autism community. He enjoys sharing what he's learned along the way, what he's continuing to learn as his sons navigate adulthood, and promoting the Autism Grown Up vision and mission for other families to be able to have the resources they need. AUTISM GROWN UP COMMUNITY: https://community.autismgrownup.com/ AUTISM GROWN UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/autismgrownup/ AUTISM GROWN UP SHOWNOTES: https://www.autismgrownup.com/agupodcast/ AUTISM GROWN UP PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/autism-grown-up-podcast/support

We're doing a solo episode today! Just Tara today sharing some major updates, behind the scenes, and projects occurring at Autism Grown Up. Essentially, all the happenings! We also share a few key ways you can now get involved with our work at Autism Grown Up: 1. Submissions Write a guest blog article for the blog  (autismgrownup.com/submissions) Submit a guest interview for the Podcast (autismgrownup.com/futureguest) Submit a community organization for the Community Spotlight Series (email hello@autismgrownup.com) 2. AGU Ambassadors Our AGU Ambassadors are key members of our community. Autistic adults. Family members. Professionals. Friends. Colleagues. And more. We work together to share, create, and connect with others in our community to learn more about planning for and navigating autistic adulthood life. Learn more and sign up at autismgrownup.com/aguambassador 3. Donate  Support the resources, community, and resource center (https://www.patreon.com/autismgrownup) Suppor

For today's episode I chatted with Doug Blecher from Autism Personal Coach and the Autism Stories podcast. We delved into the behind the scenes of how and why Autism Personal Coach was created, and where they are today: with a growing base of coaches that serve adults on the autism spectrum to support them in meeting their personal goals. Doug has worked with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder for the past 17 years in residential and community settings. He founded Autism Personal Coach seven years ago as a result of seeing the growing need of Autistic adults and teens to access proper supports at home, work, school, and in the community so they can be the best version of their authentic selves. In 2015 Doug was awarded the community innovator award at the Milestones National Autism Conference for the work of Autism Personal Coach and continues to learn from Autistic people every day. This is such an incredible model to support autistic adults and I always enjoy talking with Doug about servi