Autism Labs
Practical tips and evidence-based guidance to make life easier for you and your severely autistic loved ones.
Episodes
76 episodes
From Respite to Residential: Preparing Adults with Autism with Nathan Bryant
Most families don’t go straight from home to residential care and they shouldn’t.In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr sits down with Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of High Point Village, to break down one of the most im...
What Happens After 22? High Point’s Plan for Autistic Adults with Nathan Bryant
What happens after age 22 for individuals with autism?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas.Nathan shares his unique journe...
Sudden Autism Behavior Changes? It Might Be Catatonia
Sudden Autism Behavior Changes? It Might Be CatatoniaWhat happens when your child, teen or adult suddenly changes?Increased aggression, freezing, loss of communication or unusual behaviors can feel like regression...
Autism Sleep Crisis: Dr. Muzammil Shafi on Behavior, Meds & Reality
Sleep challenges in autism aren’t just difficult, they can be life-altering.In Part 2 of this Autism Labs conversation, Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a neuroradiologist and father of a profoundly autistic son, shares the real-world impac...
He Stopped Talking After Showing Progress: Autism Regression Explained with Dr. Muzammil Shafi
In this powerful episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr speaks with Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a board-certified radiologist and neuroradiologist and a father of a profoundly autistic son.Dr. Shafi shares both his medical expertise an...
Autism at 18: Do You Really Need Guardianship? with Melissa Donovan
What actually happens when your autistic child turns 18?For many families, this transition brings overwhelming questions about guardianship, SSI, financial planning and long-term independence. But what most parents don’t realiz...
What Happens at 18? Autism Guardianship & Money Mistakes with Melissa Donovan
What happens when your autistic child turns 18?For many families, this transition brings unexpected legal and financial challenges and without the right plan, it can put your child’s care and benefits at risk.In t...
Autism After 22: What Parents Must Do Now with Jon Hockenyos
What happens after individuals with profound autism age out of the school system?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with Jon Hockenyos, a father and advocate navigating life with a profoundly autistic adult son...
What Happens After Your Child Ages Out? Two Dads Share Truth with Jon Hockenyos
What happens after autism services end?In this powerful Autism Labs episode, Mike Carr sits down with Jon Hockenyos economist, policy expert and father of a 23-year-old son with profound autism for a candid, dad-to-dad conversa...
Finding Safe Residential Care for Profound Autism (What We Learned)
Finding the Right Residential Program for Profound Autism: What Really MattersAfter more than two decades of searching for the right residential environment for his profoundly autistic son, Mike Carr shares a deeply honest look at what f...
The Reality of Raising a Profoundly Autistic Adult. Nobody Talks About This
Some mornings feel impossible but years later, they're the stories that keep us going.In this deeply personal solo episode, Mike Carr steps away from the topic of guardianship to share an unfiltered look at one unforgettable mo...
Autism Future Planning: 9 Steps Every Parent Must Take
What happens to your child with autism when you’re no longer there to care for them?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a deeply personal and practical guide to future planning for children with autism especially t...
What Happens to My Autistic Child When I’m Gone?
What happens to your child with autism when you’re no longer there to care for them?It’s one of the most difficult and most important questions parents face.In this episode, Mike Carr shares his personal journey a...
Don't Underestimate What Your Nonverbal Teen Understands with Mailande Vise
In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with BCBA Mailande Vise, who shares practical, experience-driven strategies for supporting individuals with high support needs especially in the home environment.
Small Tweaks at Home can Improve Your Autistic Teen's Life with Mailande Vise
What happens when autistic children grow into autistic adults?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with Mailande Vise, M.Ed., BCBA, an experienced behavior analyst with more than a decade of experience supporting...
Autism Breakthrough Starts with Health with Dr. Theresa Lyons
Are we focusing on the wrong starting point in autism care?In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr speaks with Dr. Theresa Lyons a Yale-trained scientist, PhD and autism parent about why health may be the missing piece i...
7 Things Autism Parents Must Know with Dr. Theresa Lyons
Many families are told that autism is something that inevitably gets harder over time and that there’s little they can do beyond behavioral therapy and medication.But what if that narrative is incomplete?In this e...
Why Great Autism Caregivers Leave (And How to Keep Them)
Finding a great caregiver for a child with profound autism is incredibly difficult, but keeping them may be the real challenge.In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a practical, experience-driven framework to help fa...
How to Find Great Caregivers for Profound Autism (Real Strategies)
How do you actually find reliable caregivers for profound autism?For many families, this is the single hardest part of the journey.In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr, father of a 35-year-old profoundly auti...
AI & Autism: The Technology Creating Safer, More Independent Lives at Home with Mike Courtney
What if technology could help autistic adults become safer, more independent, and more engaged in everyday life?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with Mike Courtney, founder of Daily Living La...
What If AI Could Help Your Autistic Child Learn Daily Skills? With Mike Courtney
What if the tools to improve daily life for individuals with autism are already within reach?In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr is joined by futurist, researcher and entrepreneur Mike Courtney to explore how AI and ...
The #1 Mistake Autism Parents Make When Choosing Care with Jonna Oppermann
Choosing the right autism program isn’t just about services, it’s about culture, communication and trust.In Part 3 of this series, Johnna Oppermann, a consultant with over two decades of experience working with autism nonprofit...
Autism Programs: Red Flags Parents Must Never Ignore with Johnna Oppermann
Not all autism programs are built the same and choosing the wrong one can have lasting consequences.In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with autism consultant Johnna Oppermann to explore what tr...
Before You Choose an Autism Program… Watch This with Johnna Oppermann
What actually makes an autism program safe, sustainable and trustworthy?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Johnna Oppermann, a leading expert in residential and day programs for individuals with profound auti...
Autism Sleep Problems: What Actually Helps (From 30 Years) with Mike Carr
Sleep is one of the biggest and most exhausting challenges for families living with autism.In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr shares 8 real-world strategies that have helped his son sleep over the past 30 years....
