GUESTS

 


 

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Ana Anselma is the co-founder of the Social Mind Center in Davie, Florida. She is also the mother of

 

Click to hear Ana discuss the importance of creating safe environments for children with autism and asperger’s syndrome to develop social skills on Exploring Different Brains.


Different Brains guest karina barleyKarina Barley M.Ed. founder of Project Autism Australia/USA, is an internationally recognized educational consultant specializing in the needs of children with autism and their families. She has over 25 years of expertise as an educator, private one-on-one consultant, course developer and educational technology specialist.

Click to listen to Karina discuss autism awareness in Australia on Exploring Different Brains.

 


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Michael Bernick is the former director of California’s labor department, the author of “The Autism Job Club,” and a board member of AASCEND

Click to hear Michael discuss his important mission on Exploring Different Brains.

 


Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 7.56.50 PMSarah Collins is the mother and principle carer of 4 children, 3 of whom have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is also the Owner and Founder of Autism CAER and provide effective information and training courses for those who care for individuals with Autism.

Click here to listen to Sarah discuss the challenges of raising autistic children in Australia.

 

 


AAEAAQAAAAAAAAYkAAAAJDVjYWM3ZjJkLTRlMmItNGUzZC05Y2RhLTY3NjEwYmQ2ZGFlNgTarita Davenock is the founder of Travel For All, a travel agency dedicated to facilitating truly inclusive travel. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 29, Tarita believes everyone has the right to travel.

Click here to listen to Tarita discuss the importance of inclusive travel. 

 

 


Different Brains guest anlor davinAnlor Davin is autistic, and the author of “Being Seen”. During Anlor’s childhood, her native France was in the grip of oppressive and now discredited theories about autism. Anlor instinctively knew she had to flee France in order to survive. She was diagnosed at age 46, a life-changing and life-saving event she traces to her Zen practice of the years preceding. With proper medical care and many other supports her life improved unexpectedly and dramatically. This healthy outcome and Anlor’s later fullness of life give her a secure place to stand and reflect with greater clarity on her journey. She now lives near San Francisco with her partner, her son living nearby.

Click to listen to Anlor’s amazing story and opinions on autism awareness in France on Exploring Different Brains.

 


Different Brains guest susan kahnSusan Kahn – Inspired by her experience as a parent and by her fascination with language, Ms. Kahn spent over forty years changing and improving lives. She taught for twenty-five years in Arlington, MA as a special needs, public school educator. The International Dyslexia Association honored Susan with an Orton Oaks membership for her many years of service.

Click here to listen to Susan discuss her unique strategies for teaching the dyslexic  on Exploring Different Brains.

 


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Raun Kaufman is the former CEO and current Director of Global Education of The Son-Rise Program, and author of “The Autism Breakthrough.” Diagnosed as non-verbal, severly autistic, and with an I.Q. under 30, Raun’s parents, Barry Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman, instead developed The Son-Rise Program and worked with him until he overcame these diagnoses.

Click to hear Raun telling his story on the first episode of Exploring Different Brains.

 

 


 

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Ron Large is the author of “Larger Lessons,” and is an educator that travels around the nation sharing his methods of teaching those traditional education methods have failed.

Click hear Ron discuss the importance of treating neurodiverse students as individuals on Exploring Different Brains.

 


Judge_Ginger_Lerner_Wren_2014Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren is a County Court Judge in The Criminal Division of the 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County of Florida. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Criminal Justice Institute. Judge Lerner-Wren is a pioneer of America’s first mental health court, dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental illness.

Click hear to watch her discuss the challenges faced by the neurodiverse in the criminal justice system.

 

 


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Debra Muzikar, co-founder of The Art of Autism, and organization dedicated to highlighting the art of the neurodiverse. She is also the mother of a son on the spectrum.

Click here to hear Debra her amazing organization on Exploring Different Brains.

 

 


Different Brains guest carolyn-naifehCarolyn Naifeh is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Nashville IDD Housing Group. She has nearly 15 years of experience in international broadcasting and 15 years in non-profit management, predominantly with organizations working with special needs. She holds a BA in English and an MA in Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Click to hear Carolyn discuss the challenges with housing the neurodiverse on Exploring Different Brains.

 


Different Brains guest william packardWilliam Packard, Ph.D. is the author of “Intellectual Disability and the Criminal Justice System: Solutions through Collaboration.”. He is a licensed clinician holding a doctorate degree in psychoanalysis. He has devoted a significant part of his thirty-five year career to the fields of intellectual disability and forensic mental health. Dr. Packard is one of the original founding members of the Community Crisis Intervention Team in Massachusetts where he continues to play an active role.

Click to listen to Dr. Packard discuss the challenges the neurodiverse can face in the criminal justice system on Exploring Different Brains.

 


Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 7.53.58 PMCatherine Pascuas is an autism specialist and founder of Edx Autism Consulting, providing training and consultation to families and organizations that support individuals with autism. Her work with families aims to create optimal outcomes for long-term high quality or life. Catherine is also the producer and host of The Autism Show Podcast, a weekly interview show with top autism experts and changemakers (including Temple Grandin, Areva Martin, and Tania Marshall).

Click here to listen to Catherine discuss how she became aware of neurodiversity.

 


ron sandisonRon Sandison – Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and Charisma House. He is an advisory board member of Autism Society Faith Initiative of Autism Society of American. Sandison is the author of the book A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice, Biblical Wisdom. He has over 10,000 Scriptures memorized including 22 complete books of the New Testament.

Click to hear Ron discuss life with autism on Exploring Different Brains.

 


MattPortraitDr. Matthew H. Schneps is an astrophysicist at M.I.T. and a founding member of the Science Education Department at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). He is also the founder of the Lab for Visual Learning.

Click here to listen to him discuss how his dyslexia made him who he is.

 

 

 


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Stephen Shore is an author and autism awareness advocate. Stephen was diagnosed as non-verbal and autistic at the age of 4, when doctors suggested his parents institutionalize him. Since then he has gone on an amazing journey that has led him to speaking on behalf of autism and neurodiversity in 49 countries and all but one continent. Stephen, now a professor at Adelphi University, is also a board member for Autism Speaks.

Click here to hear Stephen discuss his inspiring story on Exploring Different Brains.

 


 

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Jim Sporleder is the former principle of Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, Washington. That school and Jim’s tenure there are the subject of the new documentary “Paper Tiger.”

Click here to hear Jim discuss the school’s amazing transformation on Exploring Different Brains.

 

 


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Michael Tolleson is an autistic savant artist. Diagnosed later in life, he discovered an ability to create gallery-worthy paintings in a matter of minutes. He also travels around the country displaying his amazing gift and talking about autism.

Click here to hear Michael talk about his amazing artwork on Exploring Different Brains.

 


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Derek Volk is the author of “Chasing The Rabbit,” host of The Derek Volk Show, and father of a son with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Click here to hear Derek talk about the arduous task of finding a correct diagnosis for his son on Exploring Different Brains.

 

 

 


Different Brains guest Elizabeth-WilkinsonElizabeth Wilkinson – Elizabeth “Eli” Wilkinson founded The Dyslexic Dyslexia Consultant in January 2007. She, herself has dyslexia, and she founded Dyslexia information Day on 2008. “Eli” combines her 16 years of professional dyslexia experience with her 44 years of personal dyslexia experiences to bring you services for the benefit of us all.

Click to listen to Eli’s amazing story, and hear about her tireless advocacy,  on Exploring Different Brains. 

 


Different Brains guest allen wongDr. Allen Wong is professor and director of Hospital Dentistry Program at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. He has a true passion for treating people with medical problems and disabilities. From participating in service projects in college and dental school, to his current role as director of Hospital Dentistry at Pacific, to volunteering in his free time, Allen has been caring for the vulnerable population of people with developmental disabilities for nearly 25 years.

Click here to listen to Dr. Wong discuss special care dentistry on Exploring Different Brains.