Big changes don’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes little day-to-day actions to bring forth change in massive ways. Dr. Gail Chodron is on a mission to bring forth change by improving access to integrated systems for children with an autism spectrum disorder. She is the training director for the Wisconsin LEND and the coordinator of community training and technical assistance. She’s also a parent of a young autistic adult and has a passion for applied research and training as it relates to her mission. 

Today, Jeiri chats with Gail about what motivates her to incorporate equity, inclusion, and diversity into training curriculums. Gail also shares an important truth on why it isn’t the job of marginalized individuals to bring to light what others are excluding. However, she also discusses the importance of sharing lived experiences when it comes to advocacy and self-advocacy work.

Their discussion taps into the importance of interdisciplinary skills when it comes to fighting for change between the medical and social models. Gail shares the two changes that she believes are important when it comes to improving LEND programs, including bringing together a set of different disciplines.

If you’re a trailblazer and change-maker within your own space, this episode with Gail will inspire you with small but actionable steps that you can take in your own life to move the needle forward. Tune in to this important discussion about change, advocacy, and diversity.


View all episodes and transcripts at http://www.aucd.org/podcast


This episode was funded in part by the Administration for Community Living through technical assistance contract # HHSP233201600066C. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration on Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.

This podcast episode is provided in partial fulfillment of tasks outlined in a cooperative agreement (#UA5MC11068) between AUCD and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of MCHB, the Health Resources Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Government.

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