Autism Weekly Podcast

ABS Kids

Autism Weekly brings you weekly conversations with researchers, clinicians, and families at the forefront of the autism community. Each episode explores a new perspective on autism news, therapy, inclusion, and life. Presented by ABS Kids. New episodes every week. Send us your feedback at marketing@abskids.com.

  1. Jun 12

    When Anxiety and Autism Collide: What Families Can Do | With Dr. Lauren Moskowitz #233

    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 ............................................................... 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.

    54 min
  2. Apr 10

    How the Brain Gets Stuck and How to Help It Flex | Dr. Lucina Uddin #229

    What's actually happening in the brain when an autistic individual struggles to shift gears, adapt to change, or break out of a repetitive thought pattern? This week, host Jeffrey Skibitsky sits down with Dr. Lucina Uddin, neuroscientist and director of the Brain Connectivity and Cognition Laboratory at UCLA, to explore one of the most important and least-discussed topics in autism research: cognitive flexibility. Dr. Uddin breaks down how brain networks switch between internal thinking and external awareness, what happens when that switching system gets overloaded, and why some autistic individuals get stuck in a loop even when they have every skill needed to problem-solve in calmer moments. She also shares a surprising research finding: bilingual children with autism showed stronger inhibitory skills than their monolingual peers, suggesting that natural language exposure at home may support cognitive flexibility in ways families can start building today. Resources: Lucina Q. Uddin, Ph.D. (she/her) Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences Professor, Department of Psychology Director, Brain Connectivity and Cognition Laboratory Director, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Analysis Core Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior University of California Los Angeles   Dr. Uddin's lab at UCLA is currently recruiting children ages 8 to 12 with an autism diagnosis for a paid brain study on bilingualism and cognitive flexibility. Families can earn up to $300 for participating. To learn more or sign up, contact uclabccl@gmail.com or call 323-609-5866.  In this episode: What cognitive flexibility is and why it matters for autistic individuals and their families The brain networks behind flexible thinking: default mode, salience, and executive systems Why anxiety and stress can shut down problem-solving even in high-ability individuals What neuroimaging reveals about brain differences in autism and where the science is headed The bilingual advantage: what Dr. Uddin's lab discovered and what it means for parents How early brain markers visible at six weeks old can predict later social development The shift toward precision psychiatry and individualized treatment Whether you're a parent, clinician, or educator, this episode gives you a new lens for understanding why flexibility can be hard and concrete reasons for hope. ............................................................... 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.

    38 min
5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Autism Weekly brings you weekly conversations with researchers, clinicians, and families at the forefront of the autism community. Each episode explores a new perspective on autism news, therapy, inclusion, and life. Presented by ABS Kids. New episodes every week. Send us your feedback at marketing@abskids.com.

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