3/22/21 Interview with Connor Kavanaugh ,  founder of Palladio Consulting Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #41: MP - Tips for Accessing Adult Resources Hello and welcome to another episode of the Synergy Autism Podcast. Today, I am interviewing my colleague, Connor Kavanaugh   who is the founder of Palladio Consulting here in Portland, Oregon. I’ve really appreciated Connor's approach over the years in his guidance with families not only for setting themselves up for success with their own money but also for accessing government funding supports and services as well.  In this episode, Connor shares excellent descriptions of different services like SSI, SSDI, An ABLE account, and VR. He shares how to set yourself and/or a loved one up for the best chance for accessing these services successfully. To learn more about financial planning for you and/or your family, please visit Palladioplanning.com  You can also email or phone Connor directly at: connor@palladio...

Episode #40: MP - Give Others Processing Time Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #40: MP - Give Others Processing Time I really enjoyed giving a Facebook live presentation a few months back and people seemed to like it, so I turned it into a podcast! Listen in to this podcast where I review the one practice that can help anyone feel heard, seen, and respected.  This simple seeming practice can make a world of difference for someone. It builds trust and allows authentic connection.  In this podcast, I share why it is necessary, when to apply it, and the steps for how to give someone processing time. Enjoy and if you want more, please stay tuned for my book coming out this Summer 2021! I go into this and other topics in much more depth for an even better understanding and application. Sincerely, Barb Avila

SUPPORTING AUTISTIC ADULTS IN CONVERSATION Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #39: MP - Supporting Autistic Adults in Conversation If you are a job coach, counselor, parent, or guide of any sort seeking support to motivate someone with autism, this podcast is for you. Top 4 tips for supporting an autistic adult in conversation: Allow processing time: when you ask a question, get comfortable with silence. They may not have been given processing time much growing up. They may even have habits (aka masking) to obtain the processing time they need (i.e., saying "I don't know"). After asking a question, wait up to a full minute to allow that processing time. Narrow the field : reduce the stress of open ended questions by offering more concrete choices but be careful not to narrow it too far to just yes/no questions. Be predictable : Have a consistent outline for your meetings (i.e., questions you start with each session and ensure consistent times to meet - even as parents) Al...

Episode #38: MP - Visual Conversations Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #38 MP Visual Conversations I’m here to tell you about my approach to what are called social stories. I’d like to help you really use them as a tool not worrying too much about the product. I like to call them visual conversations. Here is what I mean. Carol Gray, who was the woman who coined the term “social stories,” developed them to help people with autism better understand social situations. She was witnessing that her clients were not always aware of some social nuances but when they were aware of them, they could navigate quite well. The way she designed them, the child, teen or adult is actively involved in the actual writing or creation of the social story. People with autism do well with information provided visually. You have found that, I am sure, with the person you know with autism. They tend to appreciate written schedules and lists, for example. And they tend also to not only better understands in...

 Episode #37 - MP The 50% Rule The 50% Rule By Barbara Avila, M.S. Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #37: MP 50% Rule People learn through partnerships with others. We first learn through our parents and caregivers and then through friends, relatives, neighbors, and teachers. We observe, integrate our experiences, and determine our strengths and interests in relation to others. Many individuals with autism struggle with the basic foundations of relationships for learning through partnerships. As a result, they may take full control of a situation, or allow others to take full control, becoming passive as the other does the work in the interaction. For individuals on the spectrum, sharing control within interactions for learning can be limited. If they control the situation, they are not open to new ideas or ways of doing things. If they allow the other person to take complete control, they are passive receivers and do not learn to think for themselves. In school programs and social...

 Episode #36: MP (Mini-Podcast) - Resist the urge to solve Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #36: MP- Resist The Urge To Solve So this is one my favorite topics when coaching parents, professionals, and individuals on spectrum themselves. Today I’m giving you the golden ticket for helping someone you know think for themselves. That golden ticket is for you to resist the urge to solve problems for someone with autism. And if you, yourself, have autism, you can ask those around you to stop solving problems for you - as you would like like to learn  to do it for yourself. Let me take a step back for a moment. We are learning through research studies that the act of shifting ones’ attention early in development is an indicator of autism. I mention this so that you can consider the fact that people with autism frequently need more time to shift their attention from one thing they are thinking about or doing before being able to attend to your question, comment, or even something o...

 Episode #35: Riding High Synergy Autism Podcast · Episode #35: (Mini-Podcast) Riding High Today, I am talking about what I call “riding high.” No, I am not talking about bicycling or getting high, even though I live in Oregon.  I am talking today about our neurobiological systems working on overdrive and I call this “riding high.” I see most of my clients “riding high” so frequently and so often that it is their norm - so that others around them do not even know it is happening for them. I had an older client once tell me, autistics may not know what “safe” really means so I should reframe the conversation to simply “avoiding danger.” As I am producing this in the middle of the Covid19 pandemic and the 2021 Inauguration of our new administration, I am going to guess that a few of you, my listeners, may be able to relate with this “riding high” while still having to semi-function at work, in your families, and communities. You might equate this with driving a car too fast in ...