How Using Universal Design For Autistic People Helps Everyone

Hi everyone, this is just a quick episode to share some personal updates and announce the podcast will be going on a hiatus for a bit.

"So that's always my analogy for autism. We're not broken birds. We're fruit bats. And we're just trying to figure out how to live in a bird's world."My guest this week is Jessica Penot, an autistic therapist and writer. She was diagnosed with autism in her 40s, which helped her understand a lifetime of feeling different. She is the author of several books, including The Unmasking Autism Workbook for Autistic Adults.You will learn:Why autistic people are fruit bats, not broken birdsHow Jessica’s app Glimmernest can help autistic adultsHow you can build connection with other autistic peoplePlus, learn about Jessica’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:What’s one passion you’ve hidden away that you want to bring back?What are some activities you can do to build connection with other people?Can you think of a neuroaffirming place near you?Guest Bio:Jessica Penot, LPC-S is the founder of Tree of Life Behavioral Health and the Neuroaffirmative Autism Resource Center (NAARC). She is an autistic therapist, writer, speaker, and unapologetic advocate for embracing the beauty found in human difference.Long before she knew she was autistic, Jessica always felt like she was living just outside the world everyone else seemed to understand. She found belonging where many people overlooked it—in forgotten places, ghost stories, folklore, fantasy, and the strange corners of history. Those lifelong passions led to bestselling paranormal novels, regional history books for The History Press, and countless late nights chasing stories that made people wonder.Receiving an autism diagnosis in her forties gave a name to a lifetime of feeling different. It also transformed the direction of her work. Today, Jessica writes to help autistic people understand themselves with compassion instead of shame, to unmask safely, honor their disability needs, and build lives that fit who they truly are rather than who the world expects them to be.She is the author of ten books, including The Unmasking Autism Workbook for Autistic Adults (New Harbinger Publications), writes for Psychology Today, develops therapeutic apps designed specifically for autistic adults, and speaks internationally on neuroaffirmative autism, mental health, and authentic living.Whether she is writing fiction, developing new tools, counseling clients, or standing behind a podium, Jessica's work is guided by the same belief: the goal isn't to teach autistic people how to fit into the world—it is to help them build lives where they no longer feel they have to hide who they are.Links:Jessica’s websiteGlimmernest (iOS)Neuro Affirmative Autism Resource CenterQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Reach out to me through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].

All people need love, belonging, and connection, and I think that's true for autistic people just as much as everyone else. Even the best relationships can cause us to feel stressed though, so how can we address those feelings in a healthy way? In this episode I talk about some great relationship advice I learned from the book Secure Relating by Sue Marriott, LCSW, CGP and Ann Kelley, PhD.Resources:Secure Relating: Holding Your Own in an Insecure WorldReach out to me through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].

“But the gut, once you connect with that and you're really connected and you've worked through the anxiety and unresolved trauma and everything, that is rarely wrong. And it's unique for everybody.”Gossip and small talk can be difficult to navigate for autistic adults. That’s why I was excited to talk to Dr. Louise Taylor, a neurodivergent therapist that has written about how gossip affects neurodiverse people.You will learn:Why therapists are like hairdressersHow to keep your head, heart, and gut alignedWhat gossip means for neurodiverse peoplePlus, learn about Louise’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:What does your gut say?Are you letting anxiety lead your decisions?What is one way you see the world differently?Guest Bio:Dr Louise Taylor/ Smyth is a Neurodivergent therapist, consultant and researcher. She runs her practice from her home in Tyrone in Northern Ireland. She is also a political ecologist and researcher with Queens University in Belfast. As well as an environmental and community campaigner and has recently started a blog called Climate Child. She loves writing, dancing, spending time with her kids and travelling.Links:Psychology TodayWhat Gossip and Small Talk Means for the NeurodiverseQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Reach out to me through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].

I recently read the book Self-Care For Autistic People by Dr. Megan Anna Neff and thought it was a great read with a lot of good advice for autistic adults. I wanted to share a few tips from the book that really resonated with me from a work-related perspective. I highly recommend reading the book yourself!Follow-up Questions:What was your favorite tip from this episode?Links:Self-Care For Autistic People book linkReach out to me through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].

"I think also it's just asking, you know, bringing somebody in your office and saying, 'Hey, how can I get you to do your very best job here and to be the most comfortable you can be in this setting?' Most of us have an answer for that, you know? think that's what's probably missing in a lot of workplaces."Therapist and late-diagnosed autistic adult Kory Andreas joins the show to discuss what autistic adults need to succeed at work.You will learn:Why workplace issues are due to capacity, not motivationWhat that feeling of ‘grelief’ is after an autism diagnosisHow autistic people can build communityPlus, learn about Kory’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:Can you ask what your coworkers prefer for communication?Is there a group for your special interest in your area?What brings joy in your life?Guest Bio:Kory Andreas, LCSW-C is a clinical social worker and Autism & Neurodivergent Specialist who brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. As a late-diagnosed autistic adult, Kory understands the complexities of neurodivergence—particularly for individuals who have spent years masking or navigating systems not built for their needs.With over two decades of experience in education and clinical practice, Kory supports neurodivergent adults, couples, and families through autism assessments, therapy, and advocacy. She is certified as an AANE® Neurodiverse Couples Therapist and integrates trauma-informed, identity-affirming, and nervous system–aware approaches into her work. Kory is also the founder of Unmasking Retreats, immersive experiences designed to create safe, sensory-aware spaces where autistic adults can rest, connect, and be fully themselves. She is a writer, educator, and speaker on high-masking Autism and its intersection with LGBTQIA+ identities, PDA, trauma, eating disorders, addictions, and sexuality.Links:https://koryandreas.com/Reach out to me through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].

I recently learned about the concept of "universal design" and thought it was a really interesting concept that could be used to improve the work lives of not just autistic people, but everyone.Follow-up Question:As you go about your day, use a neurodiverse lens to think about the processes or objects you use. Can they be improved for someone with sensory needs?Links:Inside The Box by David EpsteinUniversal Design ProjectReach out to me through Instagram, LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].

“I got diagnosed [with autism] when I was 38. And so like anything where you go and get a diagnosis, you're like, oh, what are the next steps? And I found out that really there aren't any for when you're diagnosed as an adult. I was looking for information. I was looking for people that I could talk to about their experience who I could relate to. And I just wasn't able to find anything especially in my age range. I'm like, well, maybe I'll create something where there is this space where we can get together and talk to each other and learn from each other's experience and have that sense of belonging.” Katie Oswald is the founder of Full Spectrum Agency, a community for autistic adults. I first met Katie at the Navigating Autism Today conference put on by the Autism Alliance of Michigan. When I learned about all the work she has done to create a community for autistic people, I knew she would be a perfect guest on the podcast and we had a great discussion about the importance of spaces for autistic adults that are created by autistic adults.You will learn:What the “services cliff” is and how it affects autistic adultsHow Katie is helping autistic voices be heard in governmentHow you can get started with autism advocacy in your own areaPlus, learn about Katie’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:How has autism reframed your past struggles?Have you been affected by the services cliff?Is there a meetup group for autistic adults in your city?Guest Bio:Katie Oswald is an Autistic self-advocate and nonprofit founder who works at the intersection of education, disability justice, and real-world systems that weren’t built with Autistic people in mind. She’s the founder of Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults, where she focuses on helping people move from trying to “fix” Autistic people to actually supporting them in ways that work.Katie trains educators and professionals on neurodiversity-affirming practices, with a focus on things like communication differences, sensory needs, and what support really looks like in everyday environments. Her work is grounded in lived experience and centered on a simple idea: Autistic people don’t need to change who they are to belong.Links:Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adultshttps://www.meetup.com/full-spectrum-agency-autistic-adults/Autistic Self Advocacy NetworkThinking Person’s Guide to AutismKind TheoryQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at [email protected]

In honor of releasing my tenth interview episode on the podcast, I decided to collect a quote from each interview and compile them into one episode. This is a great episode to start with if you’re new to the podcast or need a quick hit of inspiration!You will learn:How to approach autism like a detectiveHow to tell if an employer supports neurodiversityHow to check in during conversationsAnd much more!Follow-up Question:Which tip was your favorite? Let me know through one of my social media accounts below!Social Media Links:InstagramLinkedInRedditQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at [email protected]

“It really comes down to just working with individuals one-on-one, understanding where they're at, and trying to lead them to the options that exist here in Michigan to support what they need.” -Erik GalleryMy guest this week is Erik Gallery, the Director of Navigation for the Autism Alliance of Michigan. I met Erik at the Alliance’s Navigating Autism Today conference and I jumped at the chance to talk to him about the alliance and the tools it could offer to autistic adults.You will learn:How the MiNavigator program can identify resources for autistic peopleHow autism evaluation centers can help adultsThe importance of shared spaces for autistic peoplePlus, learn about Erik’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:Where can you find resources for autistic people?Can you share those resources with someone who needs them?What’s one thing you can do to create belonging?Guest Bio:Erik Gallery is the Director of Navigation for the Autism Alliance of Michigan. He leads an interdisciplinary team of professionals as they serve those touched by autism across the state, addressing needs through the lifespan. Erik’s background in disability services ranges more than a decade, from job coaching and case management, to clinical services and executive administration.Links:Autism Alliance of MichiganQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at [email protected]