337:Respect The Spectrum By Leila Farschian

Today's episode focuses on Leila Farschian. Leila Farschian is at the intersection of education, technology, and social impact with over 25 years of knowledge of behavioral therapy and autism education. holding a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University's Teachers College in addition to being a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Special Educator. Her early professional achievement was the State Board of Education's ranking of her autism program among New Jersey's top three, which set the stage for her further successes in the field. Farshchian has established and expanded several educational establishments. In addition to Circa Thera, a comprehensive practice management platform that is revolutionizing the delivery of therapy services in schools, agencies, and universities, she founded Learner Compass to provide tailored care for children with autism. Her impact extends beyond her direct services as president of the Farshchian Art Foundation, co-creator of Farshchian Art, and developer of the Global School House Project. Farshchian's commitment to global education initiatives is demonstrated by her involvement in educational programs that impact communities worldwide as an elected official of the International Health Awareness Network.Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated competence in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) technique, instructional leadership, and program design. By bridging the gap between evidence-based methods and real-world implementation, her efforts continue to improve outcomes for children with autism and special needs in a range of learning environments. Join me in extending a warm welcome to Leila at Autism Rocks and Rolls. https://www.abatoolbox.com/ https://www.learnerscompass.com/ https://www.farshchianart.com/ https://www.global-schoolhouse.org/  

In this episode, I dive into the topics of autism looping and echolalia. I start by explaining what both of these are and how they’re similar yet different from one another. I also share a personal daily experience that inspired me to discuss this topic. Throughout the episode, I talk about how looping and echolalia can actually help people with autism build social skills. I also speak directly to parents, explaining why it’s important not to chastise their child for these behaviors, while still offering practical tips for both parents and  individuals with autism on how to handle them in a supportive way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8LpAUG3lXU  

Gab Eato, a supporter of individuals with autism and ADHD, will be the guest on this episode. Ms. Eato, a 26-year-old neurodiversity advocate, philanthropist, and digital visionary, is transforming the way people think about inclusivity on the internet. Eleable, the world's first Digital Design Psychology firm, was founded by her. It combines mental health, imagination, and accessibility to develop ADA/WCAG-compliant websites that make everyone feel completely seen and valuable. Due to her quirks, Gab used to believe she was "less". Eventually, she came to understand that her uniqueness was a product of divine design. This realization served as the foundation for her professional work, which seeks to inspire everyone to understand that they are much more than a label. Gab is also a confirmed TikTok maker, with approximately 101K followers and a score in the top 1% globally on the WAIS test of intellect for spatial awareness. Few people can match her ability to successfully blend design and psychology, earning her the nickname "digital savant." Gab's ultimate goal is to create a society where everyone, neurodivergent or not, feels valued, acknowledged, and inspired to live beyond a label. Join me in extending a warm welcome to Gab Eato, who is simply incredible. https://gabeato.com/  

I have two guests for you. Starting off is Sourena Vassenghi, the incredible individual  who finds joy in life despite having cerebral palsy and being wheelchair-bound. Mr. Vassenghi is a parent and husband in addition to his duties as a writer and company entrepreneur. I also bring his closest companion, Chris Stevenson, who performs on stage with Sourena and speaks all over the world about customer service and the field of fitness. They are also closest friends because they have similar views on what it means to be remarkable. Please help me welcome these two incredible people to Autism Rocks And Rolls. https://www.sourenav.com/ 

Join me as I speak with former WWE and WCW wrestler Bill DeMott. He is well-known for his roles as Hugh Morris in WCW and his work in the WWE under his real name. While the promotion was in decline, he achieved title glory by holding the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship twice at the end of 2000 and the beginning of 2001. He usually worked as a jobber to the WCW stars. Mr. DeMott has been a coach for the business's Tough Enough program since he left the ring, where he gained notoriety for his rigorous and contentious training regimens. He is here to talk about his inspirational non-profit, The Keri Ann DeMott Foundation. Let's welcome Bill DeMott to Autism Rocks and Rolls, everyone. He is an athletic and motivational man. https://thekeriannedemottfoundation.com/

Marc Copani, a former professional wrestler who goes as Muhammad Hassan, is my following guest. Mr. Copani introduced Muhammad Hassan, one of the most ferocious antagonists in WWE history, in 2004. He was an American of Arabic descent who would praise Allah and condemn the United States for the 9/11 tragedy. Copani's controversial reputation led to him working with superstars like The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan. He's on my show because, after being released in 2005, he went into teaching, became an assistant principal, and is currently working as an HR specialist for Fulton's School District in New York. This is inspiring, in my opinion. In order to welcome Marc Copani, also known as Muhammad Hassan, to Autism Rocks and Rolls, I would want your help.

For the past 15 years, Jake Edgar, my guest, has enjoyed working with children and adolescents with disabilities in a variety of settings, including managing and supervising self-contained classrooms and currently serving as the Director of Education at Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health. He also started the Carolina Special Education Advocacy Group, where he helps families with the IEP process and advocates for individuals with disabilities. The All Abilities, No Filter Podcast, which Jake hosts, is a laid-back, open platform where people with autism and other disabilities, like me, are encouraged and supported. Jake enjoys spending time with his significant other and their therapy pet dog, Cooper, who helps him work with children, while he is not working. He likes to cook, travel, be outside, and experience life to the fullest. Please help me welcome Jake! https://springbrookbehavioral.com/ https://www.allabilitiesnofilter.com/

In this episode I speak about regression in those with autism. The first topic I speak on is what autism regression is and the hard times should the person with autism regress. I also speak about how the parents' reaction to autism regression is wrong while at the same time telling the parents how to address autism regression correctly. Additionally, I talk about the types of autism regression and how autism regression could lead to burnout. Furthermore, I tell what causes the person with autism to regress. Lastly, despite autism regression being negative, I do try to add some positivity because I do tell parents what to do if you see your child with autism regressing. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8SMOybWXTN8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpP6VEoI2ao https://www.divinestepstherapy.com/blog/regressive-autism-signs

Today, I will have Nick Yerhart, a disability advocate. In addition to hosting The Infinite Abilities Podcast, where he interviews leaders to motivate others and offers resilience-boosting stories, Nick is a qualified 10X business coach under Grant Cardone's program. He founded Infinite Pod Studio, a centralized location that assists customers in producing high-caliber, viral content. Among the numerous struggles Nick has faced throughout his life is having cerebral palsy. Nick wants to be a well-known speaker and community leader who is committed to assisting people in overcoming their perceived limitations and realizing their full potential. Welcome to Autism Rocks and Rolls, my friend and fellow podcast host Nick Yerhart. https://nickyerhart.com/

An extra buddy from Autism Rocks and Rolls is my guest today. This is Radine Smith, a 2024 PhenomeMom Award winner and fellow Hoosier. The city of Indianapolis, Indiana, is where she was born and raised. Since parenting a child with autism, she has been devoted to her family and faith because those are the things she cherishes most. She holds two bachelor's degrees one in architecture and one in interior design.Radine is also a proud graduate of North Central High School. Radine even became the CEO of Rae's Designs by using her degrees. In addition to her passion for cars, she sincerely cares about improving her community. She likes to travel, watch sports, do hairstyles, and spend time together with her children when she has time to herself. Welcome to my show, Radine Smith, a truly remarkable mother.