Uniquely Human: The Podcast
75 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 223 ratingsUniquely Human: the Podcast expands the conversation on autism and neurodiversity by amplifying the voices of autistic individuals and thought leaders in providing insightful, cutting-edge and practical information about the autistic experience. Hosted by Barry Prizant and Dave Finch.
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Episodes
“My Mother’s Apprentice” - A Discussion with Gyasi Burks-Abbott
January 20, 2023 13:30 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MB“My Mother’s Apprentice” – The Special Qualities of my Upbringing. A Discussion with Gyasi Burks-Abbott Gyasi Burkes-Abbott has a unique perspective as a late-diagnosed autistic man, who is African-American and raised by his mother in a white-dominated culture. In today’s episode, he discusses how his mother was vigilant about exposing him to role models in black literature and culture, and how his upbringing led to a strong sense of identity, confidence and purpose. He shares the specia...
Logically Illogical: An Interview with Ros Blackburn and Sigourney Weaver - Special Release
January 13, 2023 13:30 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBMany of you may be aware of the fact that “Avatar: The Way of Water”, the follow up of the 2009 "Avatar", was just released. One of the stars is Sigourney Weaver, and we had the great pleasure of interviewing Sigourney with Ros Blackburn, a great friend of ours who is an autistic women from England. We invite you to listen again, or for the first time, to the episode we did with them. We have a discussion with Ros Blackburn, an autistic friend, colleague and international speaker from the ...
Autism Friendly Architectural Design: A Discussion with Dr. Magda Mostafa
January 06, 2023 13:30 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBIt is now widely accepted that for autistic and neurodivergent individuals to be fully included and successful in educational and vocational settings, the design of such settings must support accessibility and be sensitive to the specific environmental challenges posed by different settings. Such challenges may occur due to the sensory and social demands inherent in schools, vocational settings, and everyday environments. Dr. Magda Mostafa, a leading expert and innovator in architectural de...
The Art of Autism: A Discussion with Debra Muzikar
December 23, 2022 13:30 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBThe Art of Autism is a nonprofit that has become a community of sharing art, poetry, and literary works by autistic people from around the world. In this episode, Debra Muzikar, one of its founders, discusses the range of artistic endeavors and submissions to their website and then shared in their e-mail newsletter.
“In a Different Key”: A Discussion with John Donvan and Caren Zucker about their autism documentary
December 09, 2022 13:30 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBInspired by their NY Times best selling book, John Donovan and Caren Zucker discuss their mission in producing their film, “In a Different Key”. Their engaging film includes an historic perspective built around the life of Donald Triplett, the first autistic child diagnosed by Leo Kanner, as well as many profiles and voices of autistic people sharing their experiences and challenges.
Use of Medications for Autistic Individuals: A Discussion with Dr. Josh Feder
November 25, 2022 13:30 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBMedications are often prescribed for autistic individuals for a number of conditions co-occurring with autism. Dr. Josh Feder, a child and family psychiatrist, author and researcher, discusses his background leading to a specialization on appropriate use of medications. He discusses his emphasis on seeing medications only as part of more comprehensive plans for supporting autistic and neurodivergent individuals, and not as isolated treatments.
Neurodiversity: A Conversation with Barry and Dave
November 11, 2022 13:30 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBThe concept of neurodiversity and its application is currently one of the hottest issues of discussion and consideration, both within and outside autism and disability culture. Barry and Dave have a wide-ranging conversation that addresses the origin of neurodiversity, current debates about boundaries and terminology, and how the concept has evolved in recent years. They go onto discuss implications of our evolving understanding of neurodiversity for education, employment, and supporting a m...
Supporting Fitness and Mindfulness for Autistic Youngsters: The JustB Approach
October 28, 2022 12:30 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBIt is well known that a major challenge for autistic and neurodivergent individuals of all ages is developing a healthy lifestyle that supports fitness, and emotional well-being. Belden Long and Rosie White, NCAA and Olympic elite athletes, with additional expertise in occupational therapy, yoga, and movement approaches to fitness, have dedicated their current careers to helping neurodivergent individuals and their families live healthier lives. They discuss their motivations for doing so, a...
The Journey of Dave Osmundsen, An Autistic Playwright
October 14, 2022 14:26 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAs autistic individuals become increasingly involved in contributing to the performing arts, a relatively new role is that of autistic playwrights developing bodies of work admired for their creativity and impact. Dave Osmundsen, one such playwright, is experiencing success and recognition for his contributions. Dave discusses his development as a playwright, and the themes that he finds most exciting to explore in his plays.
Suicide Risk and Prevention for Autistic Individuals: A Discussion with Lisa Morgan
September 30, 2022 12:30 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBAutistic individuals are more likely to attempt suicide at rates alarmingly highly than in the non-autistic population. In this episode, Barry and Dave discuss critical issues regarding suicide and mental health with autistic professional, Lisa Morgan, based on her personal experiences and her professional mission to educate others around the risk factors and prevention. In particular, Lisa advocates for approaches that are based on the unique experiences of autistic people, she challenges a...
A conversation with Lauren Ober: The Loudest Girl In The World
September 16, 2022 12:30 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBLauren Ober is an award-winning podcaster and journalist, and also is incredibly insightful (and funny) when discussing her late diagnosis of autism, her early years of being mistreated in school, and how her strengths have led to a successful career. She and Dave discuss similarities in their experiences, and what she hopes to accomplish in her new podcast, The Loudest Girl in the World.
From The Loudest Girl in the World: What it Means to be on the Autism Spectrum
September 13, 2022 13:19 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MBThrilled to announce a new collaboration with Pushkin Industries, we’re sharing a special preview of a new podcast, The Loudest Girl in the World. For years, journalist and podcast host Lauren Ober wasn’t all that jazzed about herself. She was always getting in trouble, she had a lot of sensory issues and her anxiety felt off the charts. And then, she found out why — she was autistic. The Loudest Girl in the World tells the story of Lauren’s journey to understand what it means to be on the ...
Autistic Adults and Neurotypical Parents of Autistic Children: The Need to Work Together
September 02, 2022 13:11 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBThere is a significant divide between autistic advocates and parents of autistic children. Parents may feel attacked for their lack of understanding, and autistic adults who offer insight and guidance may also be met with rejection. Professionals face their own challenges in supporting autistic people. Limited by information that often excludes autistic perspectives, professionals may inadvertently contribute to this divide. Meghan Ashburn, a mother of two autistic boys of color, and Jule...
Strategies for Successful Transitions Back to School for Parents and Professionals, a conversation with Dave and Barry
August 19, 2022 12:30 - 1 hour - 102 MBSupporting successful transitions back to school is critical for maximizing success for the whole school year. Join us as we throw back to episode 31st, where Dave and Barry shared a lively discussion about challenges and creative strategies to help children of all ages to get off to a good start in this coming school year.
Family Medical Practice for Neurodivergent and Neurotypical People: A Discussion with Autistic Physician Dr. Mel Houser
August 05, 2022 13:55 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBFor many years, parents of autistic children and family members, and autistic people themselves have expressed concerns about how they have been misunderstood, and even mistreated by medical professionals and the traditional medical systems they work within. Dr. Mel Houser has experienced this personally as a physician trained in the medical establishment, as a late diagnosed autistic woman, and as a mother of an autistic child. She discusses the need for change and the changes she is actual...
“Being with” autistic people: A Conversation about Relationships with Dave and Barry
July 22, 2022 12:30 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBIt is widely accepted that many autistic children and adults may have difficulties feeling comfortable in social interaction and social relationships given neurotypical expectations. Non-autistic people also may also feel uncomfortable and may have difficulty adjusting their style of communication and social interaction to support successful social engagement. Dave and Barry discuss these issues from a neurotypical and autistic perspective, looking, in part, through the lens of cultural diff...
Where Autism meets Mental Health: A Discussion with Sean Inderbitzen, Autistic Behavioral Health Therapist
July 08, 2022 12:59 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBIt is widely accepted that autistic individuals often experience co-occurring mental health challenges and conditions. However, the specific relationships between autism and mental health conditions remain an area of debate and even significant disagreement. Sean Inderbitzen, an autistic Behavioral Health Therapist, holds specific beliefs that vary from views of autism grounded primarily in a social model of disability framework. In this episode, Sean, Dave and Barry have a lively discussion...
Universal Design for Learning for Autistic and Neurodivergent Children: A Conversation with Emily Rubin and Dr. Lindee Morgan
June 24, 2022 12:30 - 55 minutes - 75.6 MBUniversal Design for Learning (UDL) is an invaluable framework that has great relevance in addressing the varied needs of autistic and neurodivergent learners, and supporting active engagement in learning environments. We discuss the basic concept of UDL with Emily Rubin and Lindee Morgan, experts on UDL, and its great value for developing individualized programs and for addressing social emotional as well as pre-academic and academic goals for children who may think and learn differently. W...
Successful Travel with Autistic Children: A Discussion with Dawn Barclay
June 10, 2022 12:30 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBTraveling for vacations and for other purposes provides great opportunities for learning, for creating wonderful memories for families and for growing socially and emotionally. However, for autistic and neurodivergent children and adults, and their families, traveling can also present unique challenges. In this episode, we discuss challenges and many helpful strategies to support positive traveling experiences with Dawn Barclay, an expert on travel for families who have neurodivergent family ...
Educational law: A Discussion with Autistic Attorney Michael Gilberg
May 27, 2022 12:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBMichael Gilberg, an attorney specializing in educational law, discusses his varied experiences he brings as an attorney involved in legal issues for individuals with disabilities, including autism. These experiences include his being a student who received a late diagnosis of autism, as well as numerous and varied experiences working with families and school districts as a lawyer. He provides advice to school personnel and to parents about how to navigate through the through the oftentimes co...
The Vital Importance of Diagnosis of Autism in Girls and Women: A Discussion with Zhara Astra
May 13, 2022 12:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBZhara Astra’s mission is to communicate the vital importance of early and accurate diagnosis of autism and neurodivergent conditions in girls and women. Drawing from her own experience as an autistic woman diagnosed in adulthood, as well as her knowledge of the research in this area, she argues for a different set of criteria for diagnosis in females. Zhara discusses the debilitating impact of not being diagnosed, some of which she experienced personally, as well as the how receiving a diag...
Illuminating and Celebrating Autism and Neurodiversity
April 29, 2022 12:30 - 1 hour - 69.8 MBFrom each of us at Uniquely Human: The Podcast, thank you for listening and contributing to this show. As we look back on our first 50 episodes, Barry and Dave share some of their favorite moments.
Unmasking Autism: A Discussion with Dr. Devon Price
April 15, 2022 12:30 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBAn issue of increasing interest and concern in the autism community is that of masking. Masking or camouflaging is when an autistic person or neurodivergent person consciously, or subconsciously seeks to hide or minimize their autism or neurodivergent traits to fit in with the neurotypical world. Individuals with autism, especially ones who have a history of trauma, frequently feel they need to mask their autistic traits in order to fit in. Dr. Devon Price, a social psychologist and transge...
The Bright and Quirky Community and 2E Children: A Conversation with Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz, LMFT
April 01, 2022 12:30 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBDebbie Steinberg-Kuntz, a marriage and family therapist and parent, discusses the development of the Bright and Quirky community, that she founded to support 2E children who are twice exceptional, and their families. That is, they excel in some aspects of development, typically verbal and cognitive abilities, but may also experience challenges in social-emotional development and specific areas of learning. These children may receive various neurodevelopmental diagnoses including autism, ADHD...
Interoception: The Eighth Sense with Kelly Mahler and Chloe Rothschild
March 18, 2022 12:30 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBInteroception is a relatively new concept as it pertains to the experiences of autistic children and adults. Described as the eighth sense, it has to do with being able to understand and interpret sensations that come from one’s own body. There is increasing evidence that problems related to interoception are common in autism, and are related to capacities in the development of self-regulation. In this episode, Kelly Mahler, an OT and a leader in bringing awareness of interception to autism...
Black Fathers, Parenting and Mental Health: A Discussion with Dr. Michael Hannon
March 04, 2022 13:30 - 52 minutes - 48 MBDr. Michael Hannon is an Associate Professor of Counseling at Montclair State University. Dr. Hannon earned his doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from The Pennsylvania State University. As an award-winning counselor educator and scholar, Dr. Hannon is a highly sought after lecturer, consultant, and collaborator. He also is the father of a teen-age son on the autism spectrum, and co-facilitates support meetings for Fathers of autistic children through Drexel University. D...
Echolalia and Unconventional Verbal Behavior – A Discussion with Barry Prizant, Dave Finch and Rebecca Rosenzweig
February 18, 2022 13:30 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBEcholalia has a very special place in Barry’s life. It became a topic of fascination and an enthusiasm in his very early work with a group of wonderful young autistic boys. His deep interest resulted in a federally funded dissertation that challenged and overturned misinformed and disrespectful views of echolalia disseminated by Ivar Lovaas, the father of ABA. Rather than seeing echolalia as meaningless parroting and psychotic speech that needed to be “extinguished”, Barry’s research demons...
Autism and the Power of Music with Yasmine White & Jonathan Chase
February 04, 2022 13:30 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBBarry and Dave have a lively discussion with Yasmine White, music therapist, and Jonathan Chase, autistic professional musician and self advocate. Yasmine discusses her approach to music therapy and the VOICSSⓇ together model, and her new book focusing on helping parents connecting with their children through music. Jonathan talks about his journey as a person with autism, career as a professional musician, and his current career focus on providing supports in various ways to autistic indiv...
Meditation, Zen and Autism: The Journey of Anlor Davin
January 21, 2022 15:01 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBAnlor Davin, an autistic Zen meditation practitioner discusses her journey to finding her authentic self from her upbringing in France, to her immigration, autistic diagnosis and life in the United States. Since she has found her calling, she shares how she now provides the gift of meditation to autistic individuals through online service and weekend retreats.
Autism Level UP: A Discussion with Dr. Amy Laurent and Dr. Jacquelyn Fede
January 07, 2022 13:30 - 51 minutes - 71 MBDr. Amy Laurent, a Development Psychologist and OT, and her autistic colleague, Dr. Jacquelyn Fede, a Developmental Psychologist discuss how their relationship led to the development and evolution of Autism Level Up, a joint venture that provides a variety of services and supports to the autism community nationally and internationally. As a SCERTS Model Collaborator, Amy describes how Dr. Jacquelyn’s perspective as an autistic self-advocate encouraged them to build on the foundation of SCER...
Autism Level UP: A Discussion with Dr. Amy Laurent and Dr. Jacqueline Fede
January 07, 2022 13:30 - 51 minutes - 71 MBDr. Amy Laurent, a Development Psychologist and OT, and her autistic colleague, Dr. Jacqueline Fede, a Developmental Psychologist discuss how their relationship led to the development and evolution of Autism Level Up, a joint venture that provides a variety of services and supports to the autism community nationally and internationally. As a SCERTS Model Collaborator, Amy describes how Jacqueline’s perspective as an autistic self-advocate encouraged them to build on the foundation of SCERTS...
Autism at the Holidays (Throwback)
December 24, 2021 11:00 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBThe holidays can be such a fun and spiritual time of year for a lot of us, but there are also challenges, especially if you or a family member is autistic. In this special throwback episode, Kristy Forbes joins us from Australia, and Dave’s wife Kristen spills the tea on their own family’s strategies for enjoying the holidays together. And, hear a special performance from our autistic friend, Conner.
Reflecting on the Journey: A Retreat Weekend for Parents of Autistic Family Members
December 17, 2021 13:30 - 50 minutes - 68.8 MBFor 25 years, Barry and his colleagues have conducted a unique retreat weekend in a beautiful setting in New England in partnership with Dr. Elaine Meyer of Harvard University, and Barbara Domingue, founder and Executive Director of Community Autism Resources, a parent founded and run family support agency. The retreat welcomes 50-60 parents each year, to share experiences and wisdom, and to refuel in a “non-judgmental zone”. In this podcast, we discuss the philosophy, the goals, and the nu...
Scott Steindorff, Television and Film Producer, on The Gifts and Challenges of Being Neurodivergent
December 03, 2021 13:30 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBBarry and Dave welcome Scott Steindorff, a highly accomplished international television and film producer and writer. In their riveting discussion, Scott shares the many challenges he faced in life resulting from his autism and ADHD, especially in the early years. He describes the torment he experienced as he was misunderstood and misdiagnosed by people who knew him well, as well as professionals. He also credits the many gifts and talents that being neurodivergent has brought to him, and h...
Nonspeakers and Human Rights: A Discussion with Jordyn Zimmerman and Tauna Szymanski
November 19, 2021 13:30 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBBarry and Dave discuss human rights issues with their guests, Jordyn Zimmerman and Tauna Szymanski, from both a personal and policy perspective. Jordyn Zimmerman is a nonspeaking autistic woman who was denied access to an effective AAC system well into her teen years. She experienced misunderstandings, discrimination, and psychological abuse as she was not able to communicate her sense of self, her opinions, and her basic needs. She is now a passionate advocate for non-speaking people, and ...
"What I (don't) know about Autism" A conversation with Irish autistic playwright Jody O'Neill
November 05, 2021 12:30 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MBJody O'Neill is the award-winning Director, playwright, actor, and mother on the autism spectrum. Her play, "What I (don't) know about Autism, has received critical Acclaim and is opening for the second time at the Abbey theater in Dublin and will be streamed online. Jody discusses how to play was designed to educate the public about autism, but also be an artistic work that all can benefit from seeing.
Longing to Belong in Faith Communities: A Conversation with Shelly Christensen
October 22, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 106 MBShelly Christensen brings a vast amount of experience in helping various faith communities be more welcoming and inclusive. As a professional with deep experience and expertise in faith communities and disabilities, and as a parent of a young man on the autism spectrum, and as a person with a disability herself, she discusses her experiences as a parent-professional and the need to work with the leadership of faith communities to create opportunities to families and individuals that allow t...
A Conversation with Danny Whitty: A Talented, Witty Cook Who Communicates by Spelling
October 08, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 122 MBDanny Whitty is a 36 year old Autistic self advocate who communicates his complex thoughts and ideas primarily by spelling, and with unreliable speech. Barry and Dave engage in a lively conversation with Danny who receives support from his sister, his communication regulation partner. Topics range from how his life has changed dramatically since he learned how to spell to communicate, the qualities of people who best support non-speakers, and the culinary arts, an area in which Danny demons...
Autistic Identity, Trauma, and the Importance of Mentoring - A Conversation with Dena Gassner
September 24, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 82.9 MBDena Gassner is an autistic professional who is helping to create, shape and advance the agenda of autistic self-advocates, and indeed, society in general. As a researcher, author, social worker, university instructor, mother, grandmother and mentor, she brings a lifetime of experience in sharing her wisdom about autistic identity, generational differences between older and younger autistic people, and the importance of mentoring.
Dr. Paula Kluth on Inclusion, Virtual Learning and Co-teaching
September 10, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 92.5 MBDr. Paula Kluth shares her decades of deep experience in supporting inclusion and the rights of students with disabilities in educational settings. She discusses the true meaning of inclusion in educational settings, as well as the benefits of “virtual inclusion” and co-teaching, while offering effective strategies for teaching students virtually and in classroom. In our discussion, Paula emphasizes the importance of educators, related service professionals, and families working collaborati...
The Vital Importance of Play: A Discussion with Dr. Pamela Wolfberg
August 27, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 88.4 MBDr. Pamela Wolfberg, a leading expert in understanding and studying play, socialization, and the development of friendships for autistic children. She joins us for a lively discussion that will be of great interest for parents, teachers, and therapists. We learn about her esteemed career during which she provided great insight into the play of autistic children, and developed an internationally recognized, evidence-based approach now being implemented internationally: The Integrated Play Gr...
Strategies for Successful Transitions Back to School for Parents and Professionals
August 13, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 102 MBSupporting successful transitions back to school is critical for maximizing success for the whole school year. Dave and Barry have a lively discussion about challenges and creative strategies to help children of all ages to get off to a good start in this coming school year.
Autism and the Criminal Justice System: A Conversation with Nick Dubin
July 30, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 105 MBNick Dubin is an autistic author with professional expertise and personal experiences involving encounters with the criminal justice system. Nick shares his personal history highlighting some of the challenges experienced by an autistic person growing up in the 1980s and 1990s. He shares his own experiences with the criminal justice system and how ill-prepared the system, at all levels, is in understanding the impact of autism on the behavior and reactions of autistic individuals. Our discu...
Autistic Women, Autistic Mothers: A Conversation with Carly Ott Fulgham
July 16, 2021 12:30 - 57 minutes - 79.5 MBUnderstanding the experience of autistic women and autistic mothers is a recent and critical focus in both the autism and neurotypical community. Carly shares her experiences of late diagnosis, motherhood, success in the corporate world and her “hobby” of selfless volunteerism to help other autistic women.
Interview with Dr. Jed Baker on Anxiety, The Incredible Hulk and Life Satisfaction
July 02, 2021 12:30 - 55 minutes - 76.4 MBAutistic people of all ages are vulnerable to many factors, both internal and external, that may lead to frustration, anxiety, and dysregulation. Dr. Jed Baker’s many publications and clinical innovations have directly addressed these challenges in respectful and insightful ways. We discuss ways to understand such challenges and provide support based on a deeper understanding of the experiences shared by autistic individuals. Jed also discusses his approach to enhancing social understanding ...
The Wisdom of Fathers (Autistic and Neurotypical)
June 18, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 96.3 MBIn commemoration of Father’s Day, we have a discussion with Bob Jones and David LaFrenz. Bob is the father of a 32 year old autistic son, who has been severely impacted by his disability, and needs ongoing support. Bob is a Psychiatric Social Worker and Co-Founder of Cape Cod Village, a residential community-based community that provides support for autistic adults. David is an autistic adult who works as motor vehicle license evaluator in California and has a 15 year old son on the spectru...
Interview with Ron Sandison on Faith, Advocacy and Prairie Dogs
June 04, 2021 12:30 - 50 minutes - 69.8 MBRon Sandison is an autistic man with boundless energy and who wears many hats. He is an author, speaker, and does ministry work for faith institutions. We speak with Ron about how his mother recognized and nurtured his interests and enthusiasms, the role of faith in his work, and the advice he gives to parents raising autistic children based on his own experiences.
Beyond Social Skills: Michelle Garcia Winner and the Social Thinking Methodology
May 21, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 91.5 MBThe Social Thinking Methodology, developed by Michelle Garcia Winner and her colleagues has helped to change the landscape of approaches to enhance socioemotional abilities for persons with more advanced language who also have significant challenges in social understanding. We discuss Michelle’s deep clinical experience and motivation to develop and continually evolve an approach that supports social competence in a respectful, relationship-based and developmentally informed manner.
The Wisdom of Mothers
May 07, 2021 12:30 - 59 minutes - 81.5 MBIn commemoration of Mother’s Day, Barry and Dave speak with two mothers at very different points of their journeys, 1 ½ years and 34 years following their son’s diagnoses. They share challenges and successes they have experienced, what they have learned, and advice they would give to other mothers and parents.
Emotional Regulation: A Key to Understanding the Autistic Experience
April 30, 2021 12:30 - 1 hour - 91.2 MBChallenges in emotional regulation, and appropriate supports and plans to address those challenges are among the most important aspects of the autistic experience. This concept was first introduced to autism in publications by Barry and his colleagues in 1990, and then as a core domain in the SCERTS Model framework in 2000. Barry and Dave discuss critical issues in emotional regulation, including self- and mutual regulation, and levels of support appropriate for persons of different abiliti...