The Understanding Autism Podcast

Season 2 Episode 55: Taking Charge of Your Own Personal Finances Part 1

A big challenge in transitioning to living alone is the experience of managing a budget. This can be especially difficult if you are neurodiverse and have no previous experience in running your own household. Dealing with limited income, bills, taxes, unexpected events; it all adds up. In this first of two episodes, we explore basic budgeting practices and reflect on our own experiences as we tried to manage our own debt as young adults.

Season 2 Episode 54: Teaching Financial Literacy with Zach Nuttall at Scenic View Academy

As young autistic adults prepare for living independently, it’s important to have a good grasp of money management. But how do schools prepare their neurodiverse students for the economic pitfalls that come with living on their own? We discuss this topic with Zach Nuttall, a life skills specialist at Scenic View Academy, about the unique challenges that his autistic students face when learning about personal finance.

Season 2 Episode 53: When Your World Changes: Adam's Account of His Adult Diagnosis Experience

We know transitions can be difficult for those on the spectrum, but what if you are transitioning from high school to college and you just discovered you are autistic? In today’s episode, we interview Adam, a college student at Colorado School of Mines about his journey in navigating college life while discovering his true self.

Season 2 Episode 52: Adult Autism Diagnosis and Assessments

With autism awareness surging online, more adults than ever are seeking answers. But is the current assessment process actually helping them, or just ticking a box? This week, we dive into the recommendations from The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook to find out what a truly supportive evaluation looks like.

Season 2 Episode 51: What Happens When Our Autistic Adult Child Gets Into Legal Trouble?

As parents of autistic children who have moderate to severe needs, we worry about how our children can protect themselves legally as they become adults. In our second of two episodes on protecting our adult children, we interview Lila Kimel, of Kimel Psychological Services who specializes in psychological evaluations for medical and forensic determinations. She also offers her expertise in legal situations when neurodiverse people get into legal trouble. We hear Lila offer frank discussions of common situations those on the spectrum get into legal trouble and ways they can protect themselves. (Explicit Warning: Adult Sexual Content)