Autism Stories

"Can you imagine so much wanting to do something, but having to do it with someone who is not always available or interested? I think this has been the hardest life lesson for me, Not everyone cares enough to make the time to develop the skills needed to be a communication and regulation partner", says Graciela Lotharius. Graciela joins this episode to discuss learning to communicate with a letterboard, communicating things you truly want to say, and the impact of music on her life.  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 never assumed that we'll enter spaces with the 'cool kids.' It's never assumed that we'll be in with professional peers as out, as our authentic selves- flappy and happy and needing hearing protection, and these types of things that tend to attract attention. It's assumed that you'll mask, that you'll blend in to get in", says Jim Hoerricks. Jim joins this episode to discuss being a special education teacher, the problems with teaching students to read, and his upcoming book  that teaches literacy for gestalt language processors. To learn more about Jim visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhoerricks/ . 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.

"For me, I have the sacral authority, which means I have a gut reaction. If you say, "Hey, Michelle, do you want to go to the carnival tonight?" It's either going to be a heck yes or a heck no!  In finding out this part of myself, that plays in big with the autism, because if I don't want to do something, if I'm not lit up about it, I'm just gonna get to that burnout stage so much faster", says Michelle Borowski. Michelle joins this episode to discuss discuss transitioning to a career in coaching, facilitating a support group for women, and the impact of human design on her life. To learn more about Michelle visit https://www.instagram.com/iammichelleborowski/ 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.

"To me, autistic joy is about authenticity and being able to express joy in a way that is comfortable and unique to oneself. But I think that there's also this added autism layer to it. Because everybody wants the opportunity to be authentically joyful in the way they would like to be, but I think the added autism layer to it is that the joy may present differently or the joy may be about different things than neurotypical people. I think that kind of joy should be celebrated", says Ryan Walsh. Ryan joins this episode to discuss autistic joy, facilitating an autistic support group for men, and podcast production. To learn more about Ryan and AANE visit https://www.aane.org . 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 personally am one of those people that's like I would rather put all the cards on the table. I'm not gonna be able to hide it. So, if you're going to judge me and discriminate against me and you're going to make things hard for me, you're going to do that whether I tell you or not. The difference is, if I tell you who I am, and then you choose to do that to me, that says something about you and it says nothing about me. It also, from a legal perspective, it opens me up to protections that I might not otherwise have", says Brandon Stump. Brandon joins this episode to discuss being the first openly queer and autistic law professor to publish a law review article, getting accommodations as a professor, and the future of disability law. 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.

"For people to understand that it's not us that are preventing our success and inclusion in the workplace. It really is the systems, procedures, policies, and bias that come into play and prevent us from either entering the workforce or having a stable position for a long period of time. That's my biggest thing that I hope people take away", says Nicole Seaward. Nicole joins this this episode to discuss her LinkedIn course Autism in the Workplace and projects outside of work that brings her joy. To learn more about Nicole visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/nseaward/ . 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.

"Honestly, I feel like they know I'm not trying to just keep them coming back to therapy or keep them dependent on me. I want them to have a whole slate of autistic people in your friendship circle. Even if I'm the first autistic person you ever sat down and talked to about your life or medical history, I don't want that to be the case six months from now. I want them to have an outlet into the autistic community", says Elizabeth Sherman. To learn more about Elizabeth and her occupational therapy practice visit https://heartofgoldpgh.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.

"The steady day job with the constant salary that was predictable, in my comfort zone, that was covering of the basic needs, the safety, that kind of thing. But I'm getting to the point now at the age of 47 where I need to shoot for the self actualization bit of the top of the pyramid. And really do something that will be memorable to me, and where I will really feel like I made a big difference", says Charlie Hart. Charlie joins this episode to discuss transitioning to a career as an HR Inclusion specialist, problems with the interview process, and how the best employers help their employees thrive. To learn more about Charlie visit https://charlieausomehart.wordpress.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.

"Being an autistic bookkeeper, I love working with neurodivergent folks. I find it easier to navigate communication, and I provide a safe place where we can work together to gain clarity on finances", says Nathanael Low. Nathanael joins this episode to discuss being a bookkeeper and creating diverse business plans. To learn more about Nathanael and his services visit https://www.nlbookkeeper.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.

"Our understanding of masking up until talking about this has been really, really limited, because it hasn't looked at the trauma aspect, it hasn't looked at the identity aspect. It's really been this superficial notion of, "Oh look, here's a social situation. I'm gonna pop a mask on, be a different person, and then at the end of it, I'll take it off again." Hopefully, what we want from this, is to encourage people to look at this in a much more deeper way, and not be as superficial around this narrative", says Kieran Rose. Kieran joins this episode to discuss his new book that he co-wrote with Dr. Amy Pearson Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma. To learn more about and purchase Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma visit https://www.amazon.com/Autistic-Masking-Understanding-Identity-Management-ebook/dp/B0C94XV5ST/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1688567406&sr=8-3 . 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.