Sounds Like Autism
By Josh Mirsky & Dave Thompson
Sounds Like AutismJun 01, 2020
The Best of Puerto Rico! Gersh Academy - SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour
Kevin Gersh, the neurodivergent innovator behind Gersh Academy, stops by SLA to talk about his philosophy towards education, vocational training and support. Gersh Academy's mission is to provide an environment where programs and services are customized around individual needs. Their vision is a world where individuals on the Autism spectrum are empowered to thrive.
Check out Gersh Academy at www.gershacademy.com.
Check out www.soundslikeautism.com for the video, merch + more from SLA, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram + Facebook!
For more about what Dave + Josh do, visit The Nicholas Center - www.tncnewyork.org
The Best of Illinois! - Aspiritech - SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour!
Josh + Dave don't know much about computers, but they know a great company when they hear about one!
Rachael Brusic is employed as a Software Quality Assurance Lead at Aspiritech NFP. She actively leads a team of 25 neurodiverse QA Analysts through complex + chaotic projects for Fortune 500 companies. Each day, she + her team empower + change the lives of adults on the autism spectrum.
Check out their website at www.apiritech.org.
Check out www.soundslikeautism.com for the video, merch + more from SLA, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram + Facebook!
For more about what Dave + Josh do, visit The Nicholas Center - www.tncnewyork.org
The Best of Missouri - Skills Center - SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour!
Josh + Dave head west to Missouri and discover the incredible Skills Center! Executive Director joins the show to discuss how the Skills Center supports neurodiverse jobseekers in being set up for success in the workplace!
Check out their website at https://skillscenterstl.com/
Check out www.soundslikeautism.com for the video, merch and more from SLA.
Also mentioned in the episode:
The Nicholas Center - www.tncnewyork.org
Spectrum Designs Foundation - www.spectrumdesigns.org
"Next Stop: Staycation!" - Mental Health Day for SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour
"The Boys Are Back In Town" to catch up and talk mental health!
Check out www.soundslikeautism.com for merch and more from SLA.
Mentioned in the episode:
The Nicholas Center - www.tncnewyork.org
Spectrum Designs Foundation - www.spectrumdesigns.org
Autism With A Side Of Fries - http://autismwithasideoffries.blogspot.com
Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children - https://www.moffc.org/
The Best Of Tennessee - Sweet Jordan's! SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour
Josh + Dave stop in Dave's new home state, Tennessee, at an incredible establishment that's making delicious treats, and making an impact at the same time.
Check out Sweet Jordan's at www.SweetJordans.com
Check out the video of our interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ah98HPwkm5I
Follow us on Facebook, and Instagram.
For more from SLA, including our merch by Spectrum Designs Foundation, visit www.soundslikeautism.com
The Best of New York! SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour stops at home with The Nicholas Center
Josh and Dave are thrilled to make a stop at home on their virtual inclusion tour.
The Nicholas Center is a human service agency,a nonprofit with a social mission: to help individuals with Autism lead full and productive lives in the community. They focus on an individualized approach – meeting the person where they are – abilities, needs for support, interests and goals — they create opportunities for community engagement, vocational training and job support and peer connections.
Josh and Dave have been involved with The Nicholas Center and Spectrum Designs Foundation for many years and are so excited to highlight what exactly makes these nonprofits so special, featuring participant perspectives from Jason and Robert, and a leadership perspective from Sr. Director Brooke Mellett.
Check out www.tncnewyork.org for more information about TNC.
Also mentioned, Josh and Dave’s TEDx Talk
Losin' Louisiana - Police Autism Trainings and Nicholls State University - SLA's Virtual Inclusion Tour S.3 Ep.3
For Josh's brithday, he and Dave plan to cruise through Louisiana, home of his favorite hot sauce. BUT - the virtual inclusion tour bus breaks down as they become dissappointed with the lack of meaningful opportunities being afforded to teens and young adults on the spectrum. They do find some and celebrate those, and discuss why this is really what SLA is all about.
Each month, Josh and Dave will make another virtual stop celebrating the best, most inclusive programs, businesses and people from a different state. Hit the road with us!
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @SoundsLikeAutism!
For videos, merch and more, visit www.soundslikeautism.com
The Best Of New Jersey! No Limits Cafe + Words Bookstore - SLA's National Inclusion Tour
Josh and Dave hit New Jersey! National Inclusion Tour - Florida! No Limits Café and Words Bookstore are celebrated for being incredible social enterprises which employ and provide vocational training opportunities for people who think differently.
Each month, Josh and Dave will make another virtual stop celebrating the best, most inclusive programs, businesses and people from a different state. Hit the road with us!
Check out No Limits Café online at https://www.nolimitscafe.org/
Check out Words Bookstore online at http://www.wordsbookstore.com/
Follow on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe, comment and review wherever you get your podcasts!
The Best Of Florida! My Autism Connection + EmployU - SLA's National Inclusion Tour, S3E1
Josh and Dave are back and stoked to bring you on their first stop of the National Inclusion Tour - Florida! My Autism Connection and EmployU are celebrated for their incredible programs. Each month, Josh and Dave will make another virtual stop celebrating the best, most inclusive programs, businesses and people from a different state. Hit the road with us!
Follow on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe, comment and review wherever you get your podcasts!
Visit www.soundslikeautism.com for more from SLA.
Sounds Like Autism is sponsored by The Zoomiverse - Virtual Learning and Leisure programming for neurodiverse people.
Season Two-Taloo - S2E16
Josh and Dave say farewell to Season 2 by reflecting on the past months.
Follow along with SLA on instagram @soundslikeautism
Don't forget to grab your SLA merch at www.soundslikeautism.com
And make sure you #dontwaitforapril
Our TEDxCELLENT Adventure with George Andriopoulos
George Andriopoulos is a management consultant who prides himself on fixing broken businesses. He’s an entrepreneur and accomplished keynote speaker. He’s also producer of TEDx Farmingdale and since meeting him almost a year ago, he’s become a dear friend and mentor to Josh and I. He is the first guest we have to have back on the show due to not pressing record the first time. We're proud to have him as a friend, and stoked to have him drop in live from his living room.
Check out The Launchcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Check out his company, Launchpad 516!
Follow him on instagram @launchpadceo!
Sounds Like Inclusion: A Panel In Collaboration with Spread The Word - S2E14
SLA teams up with Spread The Word: Inclusion to moderate an international panel of inclusion all-stars! Hear a conversation about neurodiversity, virtual inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic, and inclusion beyond April and social distancing.
Guests include:
Haley Moss - Attorney, Artist, Author, Autism Self-Advocate
Britney Bautista and Savannah Rock- Special Olympics North America Youth Ambassadors
Daniel Jones - Autistic YouTuber and Social Media Sensation behind TheAspieWorld
Jerry Holy - Specialist - Unified Champion Schools, Special Olympics North America
Soeren Palumbo - Vice President, Global Youth Engagement, Special Olympics International
John and Mark Cronin - Cofounders of New York-based social enterprise John's Crazy Socks
Catalina Mildenburger - Special Olympics Latin America Youth Leader
#DontWaitForApril
Making Inclusion Fancy - with Emmy Award winning writer Matt Hoverman - S2E13
Matt Hoverman has written for Disney Jr's Fancy Nancy and Sofia The First, PBS' Arthur and Curious George, among many other excellent kids shows, along with being an accomplished playwright and voice over actor - but we reached out because of his efforts to normalize people who carry the label of "different."
Inspired by his sister, Matt has made an effort over the years to include characters that expose young viewers to learning differences and differing abilities in an accessible, digestible and fun way. Most recently, he wrote in a character with Autism into Disney Jr.'s Fancy Nancy - released on International Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day.
Matt wanted to make it clear that the episode was a team effort, including the magnifique leadership of Fancy Nancy’s head writer Krista Tucker, the brilliant eye of the director Jamie Mitchell, the entire talented crew, our encouraging executives at Disney Junior, and our insightful expert consultants, particularly Elaine Hall of RespectABILITY – who all did their best to get this very important story just right.
Josh Mirsky's Socially Distant, Low Sound Quality, High Friend Quality, Big, Fun, First Ever Zoom Surprise Birthday Party
COVID-19 couldn't stop Mirsky's friends from wishing him a happy 27th birthday. People from all over the U.S. gathered on Zoom to wish him well, despite all of the challenges we've all faced.
Party guests include the Spectrum Designs team (www.spectrumdesigns.org) which includes some of Josh' best friends in the world, Marc Cordon of The Golden Mic Podcast and The Joy Revolution, and George Andriopoulos of The Launchcast and Launchpad 516!!!
Say "Hi!" to Hygiene! S2E11 *Minisode*
Josh and Dave get together, while staying six feet apart, to talk about the effects of COVID19 on the community and catch up on all things SLA.
The SLA crew recently appeared on The Launchcast, a show that focuses on leadership hosted by their friend and mentor, George Andriopoulos. Check out the episode and more awesomeness from George on The Launchcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow on IG: @SoundsLikeAutism for more from SLA
Visit us on www.soundslikeautism.com
Sounds Like An Adventure with Megan Carranza - S2E10
Josh and Dave sit down with one of their oldest friends in the game, Megan Carranza from Adventures In Autism! The gang talk about her and her family's journey, the global Autism community, and her awesome podcast, which was a huge inspiration for SLA.
Check out Adventures In Autism wherever you listen to SLA.
Want to have Josh and Dave speak in YOUR community, see your TEDx or shop our SLA Web Store?? Check out our website at www.soundslikeautism.com.
For Thomas - S2E9
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode surrounds the topics of child neglect, abuse and wrongful death.
"An NYPD officer and his fiancee pleaded not guilty to murdering the officer’s 8-year-old son, Thomas Valva, as new troubling details emerged about life in what prosecutors are calling “a house of horrors.” - CBS News NY
Dave and Josh process the news unfolding in their own backyard - the abuse, neglect and death of Thomas Valva.
Inclusion Diffusion with Jay Ruderman
Josh and Dave regroup after Josh recovers from a long bout with the flu. Dave shows Josh what he unfortunately missed out on - a deep dive interview on inclusion with Jay Ruderman from the Ruderman Family Foundation.
Pixar Perfect: Staying in the LOOP - S2E7
Erica Molsom, Director, and Michael Warch, Producer of Pixar's short film Loop hang out with Josh and Dave. Some technical difficulties didn't stop the gang from having an awesome conversation about inclusion, neurodiversity, and the truly special film about two kids in a canoe figuring each other out.
Rebel, Rebel! With Christa Holmes, @NeuroDivergentRebel
Finally, we sit down with Neurodivergent Rebel!
New Mic, Who Dis? [Minisode] S2E6
Josh and Dave take the new sound equipment for a test spin and talk about what's new in SLA world, as well as an issue with one of the biggest social media apps of 2019, Tik Tok.
DISNerds! Interview with Bobby Rubio, Writer/Director of Pixar's "Float" - S2E5
Josh and Dave sit down with Bobby Rubio to talk about his inspiration behind the new Disney+ Original, Float!
Winter Wondercast! [Minisode] S2E4
Josh and Dave are gettin' snowed in to talk about everything from weather, to bullying, to upcoming plans for SLA.
Expect The Unexpected: Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Gettin' Comfy! Comfort Items for the Neurodivergent [Minisode] S2E2
Josh and Dave hang in the new SLA studio for the first minisode of the season to discuss comfort items. Instagram Facebook Website TEDx
Just ATYPICAL Episode - Interview with Atypical Executive Producer Mary Rohlich - S2E1
In the first episode of the second season of SLA, Josh and Dave land a sit down with Mary Rohlich, the producer behind the NETFLIX Original Series "Atypical." Will she invite us to be on the show? Listen to find out!