What’s Up With Catalight!

Ep. 7 - Dismantling of the Intact Mind

The “intact mind” is an old idea still common in discourse that inside every autistic child – even those with the most severe presentations – is a typical child with a high intellect waiting to be liberated. Author, University of Pennsylvania historian of medicine and mother of a 25-year-old profoundly autistic son, Dr. Amy Lutz joins to discuss her newest book, “Chasing the Intact Mind.” She and Lindsey talk about how the insidious idea of the intact mind gives false hope to parents while marginalizing individuals with profound autism and their caregivers at the greatest levels. Disability service systems are still being predicated on the idea rather than being designed to serve the full spectrum – including the different needs of people with legitimate intellectual disabilities. Intact mind related practices and movements like facilitated communication, “nothing about us without us” and anti-subminimum wage, are leaving the stories of those with profound autism untold and their needs unmet.

Ep. 6 - Dungeons, Dragons & Disabilities: The 'Autistic Rizz' of Lived Expertise (2 of 2)

Autistic self-advocate and dungeon master Peter Jung is back for part two of the Dungeons & Dragons series to talk with Lindsey about the importance of representation in social skills groups and elsewhere. Over the years, he’s found that autism social skill groups are far too often led by neurotypical people. While a leader with ‘lived experience’ is tremendously beneficial for autistic social group members who may not feel as comfortable being themselves around neurotypical people, he calls for more – ‘lived expertise.’ Someone with lived expertise, he says, is a person who has a sense of agency, knows how to utilize accommodations and, most importantly, employs “autistic rizz.” Whereas groups led by neurotypical people often take on a classroom setting with a misguided focus on correcting deficiencies, those with a charismatic autistic guide normalize behaviors in a fun way and create a safe space. In the case with Peter’s Dungeons & Dragons group, teens and young adults are taught teamwork, conflict resolution and myriad other social skills through the filter of a low-pressure fantasy game where it’s OK to make mistakes. Peter just had a paper published in the in Japanese Journal of Analog Role-Playing Game Studies about autistic accessibility in role playing games and his concept of ‘6 autism social advocacy skills.’ Check it out here: https://jarps.net/journal/article/view/58/111

Ep. 5 - Dungeons, Dragons & Disabilities: "Maximum Autism" (1 of 2)

By masking in fantasy, you can learn a lot about becoming your true self in reality.
Peter Jung’s games have been dubbed “maximum autism” and a young player once called him “the most reasonable adult” they know – two compliments Peter regards in high esteem. Peter is an autistic self-advocate who holds a master’s degree in educational psychology. He’s also a…Therapeutic Dungeon Master – as certified by Geek Therapeutics – who, for 11 years, has been running sessions of Dungeons & Dragons, a tabletop fantasy roleplaying game popular in “geek culture,” as social skills groups for people with autism in Washington state. He and host Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., BCBA, talk in this first part of a two-part series about how games like D&D increase communication skills, self-advocacy, problem solving, assertiveness, confidence, pride, resilience, flexibility, ethics and relationship building all while normalizing autistic traits and creating a greater sense of community.
Check out Peter’s website, www.rollforkindness.com, for more information. 

Ep. 4 - The Pursuit of 'Autistically Happy'

In the pursuit of wellbeing, we shouldn’t seek to make children less autistic – our mission should be to help them become autistically happy. Internationally renowned Belgian lecturer, researcher and author Peter Vermeulen, Ph.D., joins Lindsey to discuss his newest book, “What Really Works for Children with Autism.” The book takes a slightly more non-traditional angle in explaining that autism shouldn’t overshadow children’s needs. The need to be understood is universal for all humans; neurotypical caregivers can support autistic children by helping them draw a road map for life occurrences. Lindsey and Peter talk about predictability, consistency, planning and how making small changes can have negative or positive impacts. In 2019, Peter received the Passwerk Lifetime Achievement Award for his more than 30 years of work in the field of autism. Published in August, “What Really Works for Children with Autism,” written with Kobe Vanroy, can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/What-Really-Works-Children-Autism/dp/1957984961

Ep. 3 - Diverse Approaches to Autism Intervention

Considering the heterogeneity of people with autism, it’s no surprise that outcome research and treatment dosage needs vary widely from person to person. Experts need to think more creatively about how to provide evidence-based intervention. Individualized care based on the needs of the unique person is crucial in the field of applied behavior analysis. Guest Dr. Cynthia Anderson, child psychologist and senior vice president of applied behavior analysis at the May Institute, talks about her soon to be published research combines comprehensive behavioral interventions with a modular perspective. The treatment, which she’s calling Modular Approach for Young Autistic Children (MAYAC), is meant to be a lower dose, family-centered approach focusing on the specific needs of a child and the goals most important to their parents instead of attempting to address the vast array of all behaviors. Together, she and host Dr. Lindsey Sneed discuss dosage effect, outcomes and promoting positive care. 

Ep. 2 - The End of One-Size-Fits-All: Individualized Autism Care and Wellbeing (2 of 2)

Boundaries, rules and decision making can be a minefield. Brian “The Bearded Behaviorist” Middleton, M.Ed., BCBA, is back for part 2 of the conversation about personalized-care and meeting the needs of individuals. He and host Lindsey Sneed  Ph.D., BCBA,  discuss how traditional, one-size-fits-all paraprofessional ABA is rigid, focused on the easily observable, and can be limited. An interesting discussion of behavior analysis and stimulus follows, concluding with Brian’s take on pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and a report from Lindsey that training behavioralists in Catalight’s Compass Behavioral model – a program that focuses on improving organization, planning, social skills and regulating emotions – has demonstrated enhanced wellbeing among clients. In the planning for the podcast, Lindsey and Brian discovered they’re from the same small town in Northern California. They share memories of their hometown.

Ep. 1 - Beyond Behavior: Measuring Quality of Life in Autism (1 of 2)

Is lying good? Are rules meant to be broken? Host Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., BCBA, is joined by Brian "The Bearded Behaviorist" Middleton, M.Ed., BCBA – an autistic adult, professional speaker, behavior scientist and advocate for disability rights – in part one of a two part episode to discuss the importance of individualized care for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. They emphasize the need to move away from a traditional one-size-fits-all approach to care in favor of striving for greater wellbeing while highlighting the role of parents/caregivers and the challenges they face. In an episode full of real-life stories, Brian talks about the concept of boundaries and rules while empowering the individual –  prompting discussions about the importance of independence, autonomy, complex thinking and critical skills.

Trailer - What's Up With Catalight!

Where every conversation brings us closer to a brighter future for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.