Autism Weekly Podcast

This week on Autism Weekly, host Jeff Skibitsky sits down with Amy Kelly, National Director of Family Engagement at Devereux and mother of three, including her daughter Annie, who was diagnosed with autism just before her second birthday. With nearly 20 years working directly with families and a career built out of her own experience navigating the system, Amy brings both professional expertise and lived experience to a conversation about what real inclusion looks like.
Resources
X
Handle: @Devereux_Natl 
Link: https://x.com/Devereux_Natl
Instagram
Handle: @devereuxnational
Link: https://www.instagram.com/devereuxnational/
Facebook
Handle: @DevereuxNational
Link: https://www.facebook.com/DevereuxNational
LinkedIn
Handle: @devereux 
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devereux 
Amy and Jeff explore what family engagement actually means in practice, not just as a program feature but as a standard organizations should hold themselves to. They discuss the difference between token inclusion and full participation, how to prepare for and navigate an IEP meeting with confidence, and specific questions families should be asking depending on where their child falls on the spectrum, from communication device access on school buses to Extended School Year services and social skills programming.
Amy also shares practical strategies for advocating effectively without being labeled the "difficult parent," why evidence-based practices matter, and how documenting a child's progress can shift conversations with school districts. She closes with a reminder that autism is a family diagnosis, and that supporting the whole family, not just the individual, is central to long-term success.
Whether you're just starting the IEP process or years into advocating for your child, this episode offers grounded, practical guidance from someone who has lived both sides of it.
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.

This week we're joined by Dr. Mary Jane Weiss, a psychologist and board certified behavior analyst who has spent her career advancing the science of applied behavior analysis and its application to autism. Dr. Weiss serves as executive director of programs in ABA and autism and directs a Ph.D. program in the field. Her work focuses on the philosophical and scientific foundations of ABA, ethical decision-making in professional practice, and collaboration across disciplines. Today we'll talk about what compassionate, humane, and effective ABA actually looks like in practice. Download latest episode to learn more!
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
BACB Ethics Code for Behavior AnalystsDr. Mary Jane Weiss discusses the four core principles of the BACB Ethics Code: benefit others; treat others with compassion, dignity, and respect; behave with integrity; and ensure competence.
BACB Ethics Code landing page: https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/ethics-codes/Full PDF: https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ethics-Code-for-Behavior-Analysts-240830-a.pdf
Learn More About Dr. Mary Jane WeissEndicott College faculty page: https://www.endicott.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/m/mary-jane-weissMelmark bio: https://www.melmark.org/staff/mary-jane-weiss/
Further ReadingRohrer, J. L., Marshall, K. B., Suzio, C., & Weiss, M. J. (2021). Soft Skills: The Case for Compassionate Approaches or How Behavior Analysis Keeps Finding Its Heart.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00563-x
Rohrer, J. L., & Weiss, M. J. (2022). Teaching Compassion Skills to Students of Behavior Analysis: A Preliminary Investigation.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-022-00748-y
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.
 

This week we're joined by Dr. Marilena Griguoli, a neuroscientist whose research is helping us understand something that sits at the very heart of autism: how the brain processes social experiences and builds social memory. Dr. Griguoli's work, funded by the Autism Research Institute, is looking at the specific brain circuits involved in social behavior and how they can be supported. Social connection is one of the most meaningful and complex areas for autistic individuals and their families. Today, we are exploring what the science reveals about why. Download latest episode to learn more!
Resources
Resources Mentioned & Further Reading
Learn more about Dr. Marilena Griguoli’s research:Dr. Marilena Griguoli — ResearchGate Profile
Featured research:Medial Septum: Relevance for Social Memory
Related autism research funding:Autism Research Institute — ARI-Funded Research Studies
Institutional research profile:Dr. Marilena Griguoli — CNR / Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology
Researcher bio:Dr. Marilena Griguoli — European Brain Research Institute
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.

This week we're joined by Dr. Tana Carson, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Florida International University, and Dr. Tania Santiago Perez, Associate Teaching Professor in Recreational Therapy, also at FIU. Together, they're doing something that has never been done at this scale: building an evidence-based swim instruction program specifically designed for children with autism, and training the next generation of therapists to deliver it. Download latest episode to learn more!
Resources
https://ymcasouthflorida.org/special-needs/
https://discovery.fiu.edu/display/person-carson-tana
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.
 

This week we're joined by Dr. Lauren Moskowitz, a clinical psychologist and researcher at St. John's University who studies something so many families know firsthand: the intersection of autism and anxiety. For many autistic children and teens, anxiety isn’t just a side challenge. It can be one of the biggest barriers to daily life, school, friendships, and feeling like they belong. Dr. Moskowitz and her team have developed a therapy program specifically designed to treat anxiety and other mental health challenges in autistic individuals. Today we're getting into what that looks like and what families can do right now. Download latest episode to learn more! 
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
SPIRIT-ID/A Training Program (Drexel University/Lerner Lab) – An online CBT training program for mental health practitioners working with individuals with intellectual disability and autism, co-led by clinicians and autistic providers. lernerlab.com/spirit-ida.html
SPIRIT-ID/A Research Program (A.J. Drexel Autism Institute) – Information on the research program behind SPIRIT-ID/A within Drexel's Life Course Outcomes research area. drexel.edu/autisminstitute/research/ResearchPrograminLifeCourseOutcomes/SPIRITIDA
Facing Your Fears Program (JFK Partners, CU Anschutz) – A group CBT program for autistic youth with anxiety, with versions for clinic, school, and IDD populations, plus provider training options. medschool.cuanschutz.edu/jfk-partners/clinical-services/facing-your-fears-program
UCLA META (Meya) Autism Intervention Lab – YouTube Channel – Videos from UCLA's autism intervention research lab. youtube.com/@uclameyaautismintervention1480/videos
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Brandon Ito, a psychiatrist, educator, and advocate specializing in LGBTQ+ mental health and reducing healthcare disparities. As a UCLA Health LGBTQ Champion and leader in medical education, Dr. Ito is dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable care. Today, we’ll explore the intersection of diverse identities within the autism community, focusing on sexual and gender diversity and the mental health disparities many face. Download the latest episode to learn more!
Resources
Social Media Handle: UCLA Tarjan Center: @uclatarjancenter
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, a pioneering researcher at Arizona State University whose work is changing how we understand the connection between gut health and autism. Dr. Krajmalnik-Brown and her team were the first to show that changing the gut microbiome can actually change behavior and improve autism-related symptoms in people with autism. This is a conversation for every family, every caregiver, and anyone who has ever wondered if what's happening in the gut might be connected to what's happening in the brain. Download latest episode to learn more! 
Resources
LinkedIn: 
www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-krajmalnik-brown-b6549a9
 
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.
 

This week we're joined by Lexus Johnson, a BCBA who is doing really meaningful work with her clients every day. Lexus is passionate about something that doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves; making sure that kids aren't just learning skills, but learning to communicate who they are, what they need, and what they're okay with. Today we're talking about functional communication, life skills, and what it really means to put a child's voice at the center of their care. Download latest episode to learn more!
Resources
ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association): for AAC and communication supports 
Autism Society of America: for family support during Autism Acceptance Month and beyond 
ABS Kids: to learn more about services, including life skills and social skills programs 
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Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, stitcher, Spotify, amazon music, and more. Subscribe to be notified when we post a new podcast. Autism weekly is produced by ABS Kids. ABS Kids is proud to provide diagnostic assessments and ABA therapy to children with developmental delays like Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can learn more about ABS Kids and the Autism Weekly podcast by visiting abskids.com.