Supports and Models for Adult Living - Wendela Whitcomb Marsh, MA, RSD
Wendela Marsh discusses her book series Adulting While Autistic with special emphasis on the topic of autistic adult support. Shared through the lens of "nothing is wrong with you, you just have a different brain," Wendela highlights the importance of identifying the real challenges that often accompany being on the spectrum, along with the need for recovery from years of being forced to mask. She also discusses the process and steps necessary to identify and obtain support for the real challenges that prevent those across the spectrum from living their most sustainable and happy lives. 

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Relationships and Sexuality Across the Autism Spectrum - Wendela Whitcomb Marsh, MA, RSD and Wenn Lawson, Ph.D.
Experts Wenn Lawson and Wendella Marsh talk openly and without reservation about the very important topic of relationships and sexuality for adults across the autism spectrum.  Within a discussion that highlights the importance of self awareness and acceptance, open communication, safety and vulnerability, gender fluidity, and sexual diversity, this session debunks a number of myths and offers useful information and hope for individuals at any stage of their "relationship journey."

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Becoming an Autistic Entrepreneur: Marketing & Building Connections to Build Your Own Business - Ron Sandison, MDiv
Currently in the U.S 80% of people with autism are unemployed or underemployed. Becoming an entrepreneur can help these individuals enjoy employment as their own boss and to use their unique abilities to impact the world. Professionals and educators will learn to empower people with autism and other disabilities to develop entrepreneur skills. Sandison teaches practical ways to build connections, market a business, and get first on Google. Individuals with autism will learn to use their strengths to accommodate for limitations, find a mentor, strength connections by the ability to delight clients, and pursue new opportunities. During the past 7 years, Ron has spoken live to 250,000 people, published three nationally books, and his nonprofit Spectrum Inclusion receives 10,000 views a month. Sandison shares the knowledge he gained from interviewing autistic entrepreneurs while writing his fourth book Autism, Growth & Transitioning into Adulthood.

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Autism & Aging: What Does This Look Like for Intersectionality with Cognitive Style, Interoception & Object Permanence - Wenn Lawson, Ph.D.
Autistic individuals tend to be ‘monotropic’ in their cognitive style. Being ‘mono’ will impact how we learn and what this means for connections with our eighth sense, (interoception) and Object Permanence (OP- knowing things, people, seasons, places, time and so on, have a life of their own, even when out of sight).  This session will define, explain, and give examples so viewers can form an understanding of the older autistic person they may relate to.

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Fostering Cognitive Flexibility As We Age Across the Spectrum: Michael McManmon, Ed.D.
Autistic self-advocate and US Autism Association Advisory Board Member Micheal McManmon discusses how he has utilized small, incremental steps each and every day to "flex" outside of his own patterns of cognitive rigidity to widen his comfort zone and build his best life yet. WIth personal insights and reflections into his youth, his challenges across his relationships, and his own autistic aging process, Michael shares practical tips and strategies that everyone can benefit from, but that are especially important for older adults on the autism spectrum. Misery is a choice, according to Michael, as he sets the example for pursuing one's passions and living in joy as we age.

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Late Diagnosis, Lasting Love: Navigating Marriage as an Autistic Adult - Sara Bradford
This presentation explores the challenges and insights of a couple, both diagnosed autistic later in life, focusing on how this late diagnosis impacts personal relationships, particularly marriage. Sara shares personal stories and practical strategies for fostering understanding and communication between partners. The presentation emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, emotional awareness, and creating a supportive environment to strengthen material bonds and navigate the unique dynamics of living with and being an autistic partner with a late diagnosis.

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Gut/Digestion and How it Impacts Sensory and Nervous System Responses - BG Mancini AP, FMP, MHS

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Life Planning: Expanding Ordinary Opportunities for an Awesome Adult Life - Eric Goll
Eric Goll, brother to a disabled older sister and successful Life Plan Coach, discusses how more severely disabled adults can often obtain the added support they need to live their best lives through what he refers to as "awesome, ordinary options."  Working within his 5-year, life vision planning model, Eric gives new insight and hope to adults who feel more capable than their circumstances might suggest. In this upbeat and positive session, Eric reminds all who live with challenges that it is ok to ask for help, that there are many ways to obtain help, and that finding one's best life often comes when people creatively put their heads together to solve real challenges in practical, ordinary ways.  

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Late Diagnosis in Adults Across the Spectrum - Wendela Whitcomb Marsh, MA, RSD and Marlo Payne Thurman, Ph.D.
Wendella Marsh and US Autism Association President, Marlo Payne Thurman share their wealth of expertise on the topic of diagnosing adults with autism spectrum disorders. Using a combination of skilled clinical judgement, along with useful, standardized assessment tools that align with DSM-5 TR Diagnostic Criteria, this session provides diagnosing clinicians and adult individuals exploring possible diagnosis with both the formal diagnostic criteria and the less formal characteristics that tend to "pop out" when diagnosis is less clear. Within a model that is much more than just a single clinician's opinion, this session guides those wanting to learn more about autism diagnoses from two of the experts who have made diagnosing autism their lifelong specialty.

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Social, Emotional, and Sensory Wellness for Life - Michael McManmon, Ed.D.
Psychologist, US Autism Advisory Board member, and life long autism self-advocate Dr. Michael McManmon discusses his own mental health journey.  Within many relatable stories, deep personal insights, and as is always true for Michael, a well organized list of practical, real-world tips and strategie, this session addresses mental health for adults across the spectrum from the front-loading of preventative measures.

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Counseling or Coaching? Two interventions for Adults that Function Together Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate - Patty Laushman and Marlo Payne Thurman, Ph.D.
Patty Laushman, Founder and Head Coach of Thrive Autism Coaching Services, shares her work with Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman, a licensed mental health therapist and President of US Autism Association, to explore the differences and synergy between coaching and counseling for adults across the autism spectrum. With topics ranging from executive and social functioning to trauma, social anxiety, and depression, this session provides clear differentiation between coaching and counseling and emphasizes the “happy marriage“ that often occurs when these two interventions are combined.

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Voices Across the Spectrum - Angela Weddle 
This episode of the US Autism Association's series, Voices Across the Spectrum, features Angela N. Weddle, a professional visual artist and published poet who is autistic with cerebral palsy and congenital right hemisphere brain damage.

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Listening to Autistic Voices: Participatory Research in Prioritizing Mental Health - Stephen Shore, Ed.D.
In this session, Dr. Stephen Shore will discuss the value of including those on the autism spectrum in participatory research. He will share the reasons for inclusion and the benefits to both autistic and non-autistic groups.

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Ron Sandison: An Autistic Man’s Personal Journey with Mental Health - Ron Sandison, MDiv
In this in-depth, candid, and deeply personal interview with world-renowned autism expert and self-advocate Ron Sandison, Ron shares stories about some of his own mental health challenges with useful understanding and insight for those who struggle. Covering topics that include being bullied and assaulted by peers as a child and teen, to coping with anxiety, depression, addiction,, and even suicidal thoughts as an adult, Ron gives hope and practical advice for addressing mental health in autistic adults.

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Adults Across the Spectrum: An In-Depth Discussion with Some of US Autism Association's Founding Members - Lawrence P. Kaplan, Ph.D., Phillip C. DeMio, M.D., Theresa Wrangham, and Marlo Payne Thurman, Ph.D.
In this exclusive, 90 minute session, some of the founding members of the US Autism Association take on a variety of topics in autism from a parent lens to give voice to more severely affected adults. This group discussion covers changing diagnoses, first-person vs autism-first language, neurodiversity, levels of functioning, optimizing independence, supporting self-determination, and even the challenge of life-long care for those who are unable to live independently. In a session that offers something for everyone, be they severely affected by the limiting features of their autism or functioning at the "college professor" level, this discussion is sure to give viewers much to consider. 

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The Medical Side of Autism: Recognizing and Treating the Most Common Physical Conditions that Tend to Coexist with Autism - Phillip C. DeMio, M.D.
In this session, Dr. Phillip Demio, biomedical physician and US Autism Advisory Board Member shares his wealth of expertise on the topic of the relationship between autism and a number of physical and psychiatric medical conditions. In a discussion that covers gastro-intestinal function, diabetes, seizures, autoimmune disorders, and susceptibility to a host of opportunistic infections and diseases, Dr. DeMio draws useful connections between several medical conditions and "autistic functioning." He then provides recommendations for individuals who either don't feel well physically or find themselves unable to function as well as they would like to due to medical or psychiatric symptoms. 

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Envisioning and Maintaining Self-Employment - Michael McManmon, Ed.D.

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Online Safety and Pornography Pitfalls - Wenn Lawson, Ph.D. and Carol Weinman, Esq., C.A.S.
In this session, British Psychologist Wenn Lawson and Legal Consultant Carol Weinman discuss some of the challenges and pitfalls that face autistic individuals when they choose to engage with pornography. From algorithms that intentionally target vulnerable and naive populations to simple, one-click steps where an individual can find themselves involved in criminal activity, this session details the reasons why many autistic individuals turn to pornography and discusses when and how this choice can get them into legal trouble. The session concludes with resources about where individuals on the spectrum can get safe information about adult sexuality and how they can protect themselves from unknowingly falling prey to the pitfalls of the porn industry.

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Dating - Sara Bradford and Wendela Whitcomb Marsh, MA, RSD

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Diagnosis in Women

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Working While Receiving Government Benefits - Michael Beloff, CFP®, ChSNC®

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Housing - Michael Beloff, CFP®, ChSNC®

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Strategies for Success for College Students - Alexander Morris-Wood

MORE SESSIONS & DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON! And … Check Out the Bonus On-Demand Sessions Below!