Synergy Autism Podcast

Barbara Avila
  • 4.9 (8)
  • Education

Podcast by Barbara Avila

  1. 04/14/2025

    Dr Louise Kirz Part II - Autism & Anesthesia

    This is a great podcast with Dr. Louise Kirz, who was interviewed with autistic advocate, Sam Way, a few weeks ago. Here, she shares more about anesthesia and the ways someone can advocate for themselves with anesthesiologists and more. Please see synergyautismcenter.com/podcast for more podcasts. And for the handout that goes with this podcast, please go to this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H3Rmdeptwem9RCNlPBCeQsxrWZGap_Oj__AmSIIP8v8/edit?usp=sharing

    Dr Louise Kirz Part II - Autism & Anesthesia

  2. 03/31/2025

    2025 Mini-podcast: More on the Telepathy Tapes

    Today, I am expanding on my blog post about The Telepathy Tapes. Please find the original blog post on my website: www.synergyautismcenter.com Ky Dickens actually seems in support of autistic spellers and keyboarders. The podcast, however, is about telepathy. It is not about whether or not autistics can use augmented means to communicate like using a keyboard or letter board. My concerns are squarely on the fact that autistics should not be used to prove telepathy when their communication using these augmented means is already under fire by so many. I worry (and it has been confirmed) that speech language pathologists and others who criticize the use of letter boards and/or keyboards to communicate now have additional fodder to weaken the legitimacy of autistics communicating in these ways. My concerns were recently confirmed when I joined a respected speech and language pathologist “watch party” where we all watched the actual videos of the autistics on the podcast communicating their telepathy. As the videos were played, the argument was NOT on whether they were telepathic but on whether or not they were even communicating. The majority of the participants were arguing that they were not actually communicating anything let alone telepathy. I very pointedly argued that the tapes were NOT to prove communication but to prove telepathy. Therefore, they should not be under fire for whether or not they were communicating. While they did shift their conversation and agreed with me, my point was made in that setting and not in so many more conversations. People across the world listening will now question the legitimacy of a vulnerable population communicating through means that are already questionable and in dire need of further research. Next, I spoke with a friend who is autistic and a magician. He turned my attention to James Randi, The Amazing Randi, who was a magician who turned his work to people using “magic” to trick people into believing they are telepathic, speaking to God, the deceased, etc. and getting money for it. He thought it was tragic and criminal, of course. My friend (Jonathan Chase, if you know him) helped me consider that one of the many ways to “trick” people is to use a vulnerable population in their providing “proof." Because then if you voice your doubt, you are speaking against a vulnerable population - which we just wouldn’t think of doing, right!? ugh. I never intended to imply that Ky Dickens was against Autistic people using Spelling and Keyboards to communicate. In fact, she seems to be in support of it. The podcast's focus is on telepathy, not on whether Autistic people can use these tools to communicate.

  3. 02/21/2025

    Part 1: Anesthesia and Autism Series

    Episode #72: Part 1 in our Series on Anesthesia and Autism. In this podcast, I was lucky enough to sit down with both a fabulous anesthesiologist who happens to have two autistic children as well as a wonderful autistic man who is trying to understand an upcoming procedure requiring anesthesia. I learned so much about anesthesia through this discussion and I hope you do, too. Correction: "MAC stands for minimal alveolar concentration not minimal anesthetic concentration. It’s the concentration of the gas in the lungs."

  4. 10/29/2024

    Episode #71: Masking and Camouflaging with Blake Baxter

    Listen in as I have a conversation with Blake Baxter about the experiences of masking and camouflaging. We discuss what they are and how they manifest in the autistic experience. SHOW NOTES: https://synergyautismpodcast.blogspot.com/2024/10/episode-71-masking-and-camouflaging.html

  5. 10/22/2024

    Episode #70: Asperger Controversy Podcast with Blake Baxter

    Listen in to an interview with Blake Baxter regarding the diagnosis of Aspergers and the controversy around Aspergers having ties to the Third Reich. Blake shares the reading and research he has done and you can read more in the show notes found at https://synergyautismpodcast.blogspot.com/2024/10/episode-70-aspergers-controversy-with.html

  6. 03/27/2024

    Episode #69: Pathological Demand Avoidance Discussion with Blake Baxter

    Part of the Blake Baxter conversation series, listen in was we discuss Pathological Demand Avoidance... AKA Pervasive Drive for Autonomy... a profile for some individuals on the Autism spectrum. Show notes: https://synergyautismpodcast.blogspot.com/

  7. 03/18/2024

    Episode #68: Autism & Empathy (Against Empathy) - Conversation with Blake Baxter

    Blake Baxter and I dive into the book titled Against Empathy by Paul Bloom. As Blake puts it, "empathy has been weaponized against autism." Listen in to hear more about both autism and the concept of empathy. Show notes: https://synergyautismpodcast.blogspot.com/

  8. 02/19/2024

    Episode #67: Blake's late diagnosis story

    Listen in to Blake's story of his diagnosis in his 50's and how his life began to make more sense because of it. Show notes: https://synergyautismpodcast.blogspot.com/

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Podcast by Barbara Avila

Information

  • Creator
    Barbara Avila
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Synergy Autism Podcast