The Grit and Grind of Autism- Finding Light Along the Journey Diana W-G

Honey Rinicella is the Executive Director of the Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special needs (MAPS), and proud parent of 23 year old twins with autism. Prior to her onboarding with MAPS, Honey spent nearly two decades working leadership roles for Non-Profits, supporting families and parents in the Autism/Special needs community. She has seen the lives of her children transform under the care of a MAPS physician, which in turn has sparked her passion to grow the organization. The MAPS mission is to equip dedicated professionals in delivering the best possible care to children, teens, and young adults with special needs and complex medical conditions. Honey’s commitment is to ensure every child has the chance to achieve their full potential through this enhanced care; She knows first hand that a properly educated practitioner is the true key to unlocking that potential in anyone with Special Needs.
Vincent Rinicella is a 23-year-old nonspeaker who had been a prisoner in his mind for 18 years. Fortunately, this changed when he was introduced to a newer communication method, which finally allowed him to break free from his silence. Through hard work and dedication, Vincent can now share his feelings, needs, opinions, and insight, which in turn has brought a whole new meaning and reward to his life, as well as to those he loves. Vincent is a published author of poetry and short stories, creator and writer of a blog (The Unfiltered Mind of Vincent), and has become a passionate advocate for bringing forth change in our community. He believes it’s critically important to help ensure all nonspeakers are given the chance he had, so they too can break free and live a life of their own choosing.

Vince’s Blog
Spellers The Movie (Must Watch!!)
MAPS (Physicians and Practitioners)
MAPS (Parents and Caregivers)
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 Hi, I’m TJ, or Tiffany, creator of the social media platforms, Nigh Functioning Autism. I am a single mother of three neurodivergent teens. I live and work in and around Maryland and Virginia, in the Washington DC area.
 
I am Autistic, diagnosed in my late teens. However, I was diagnosed with other conditions when I was in elementary school, like central auditory processing disorder and ADHD. I also have had epilepsy and OCD since I was a child. I am hard of hearing as well. As such, I use many ways to communicate like ASL, mouth words, high-tech AAC and other ways depending on how accessible my speech and memory is to me at the moment.

I work in special education or more preferred, ‘accessible education’, as a paraeducator for elementary school and a communication teacher/ partner to mostly teen and young adult Autistic nonspeakers.

My passion in the disability space is communication and education rights for people of all disabilities. I specifically love teaching how to implement high-tech speech generating devices in schools and homes. I always say, I would have access to my own speech if I had text-based or high-tech speech generating strategies earlier in my life.

I proudly sit on the board for Lilly’s Voice, a non-profit organization that provides high-tech speech generating devices for nonspeakers under age 18 in the United States. I am also a member of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities council, which is a federally funded, national organization in every state that sets the disability culture, policy, and laws in that state.

Book Recommendations:
Miracle at St. Anna
Leaders Around Me 
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This is the other half of my discussion about our trip to Myrtle Beach. Please listen to part one first if you haven’t already. The spectrum of highs and lows in any single event for our community is real!

Book Recommendations Discussed:
The Body Keeps the Score
Atlas of the Heart

Danny With Words 
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Holy freaking cannoli… the last month has been a mixed bag of all things emotions. 

The lows: betrayal, defensiveness, anger, resentment, failure, and forlorn to name a few. 

The highs: gratitude, happiness, peace, amusement, pride, enjoyment and love.

Then slipping into the black hole our families with complex needs tend to slide back into. Accompanied by anxiety, defeat, depression and overall PTSD. 

For continued healing you can’t ignore these feelings. You have to take a seat and join them. Or get in the freaking hole with all the feels. Take care of yourself even if it means sleep, eating, hydrating and showering. These are big accomplishments some days. 

Eventually, the clouds move again, perspective comes and you can climb out of the dark hole and proceed with life. 

"Feelings come and go like clouds
in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

THICH NHAT HANH
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A new podcast released bi-monthly.  I am having honest, raw and authentic conversations with caregivers, family members, friends, service providers, practitioners, legislatures and people with a diagnosis of autism. There are no boundaries, no shame, no judgement... just a safe place for our community to support one another and create collective, positive change.  Autism is an epidemic.  There is a place for everyone to better understand, support and contribute.  

Episodes released bi-monthly.

Subscribe and follow on all major podcast platforms.




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Justin Valenti is an artist and author who currently lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He graduated from the Project SEARCH internship program and now works as an Office Clerk at the National Institutes of Health. Justin graduated from Partners in Policymaking in 2019 and he is a strong advocate. Justin also does a lot of fluid painting and digital artwork. He is also involved in self advocacy groups like The ARC Maryland and People on the Go of Maryland. Over the past few years, Justin has self published three amazing books: “Blast from the Past”, “Meeting the Girl”, and “The Zania Virus”. Justin lives at home with his family and his dog, Koda, in Maryland.

Justin’s art can viewed and purchased here:
Justin Valenti Art
Etsy




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