Discover what’s possible when you're given a hand to hold.
Today we are joined by the CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, and Sensory Integration Therapist, Anna Tuzova. Anna is a Ukrainian refugee currently living in Poland.
If you've been following our work closely, you'll know that a few weeks ago Molly visited Poland with a small team to learn how to best support Ukrainian families with autistic loved ones. Since then, we’ve been in direct communication with hundreds of families who need help. Families who have spent weeks in bomb shelters with their children, have had harrowing experiences trying to escape to safety, and are now just wanting to get their children back on track.
The stats are staggering. Over 105,000 families with autistic loved ones are fleeing Ukraine. The immediate needs of this community include housing and specialized services for their children. Unfortunately, the capacity of nearby countries to support these needs is extremely limited, and as such, families are left with little to no resources or hope.
Sadly, this war is not over. In a lot of ways, the struggles of these families have just begun, as they work to rebuild their lives in a new place.
There is a small window of time in which we can easily connect with those who fled Ukraine. Each day that these families are left in limbo, the children experience severe regression and the parents continue to feel lost, helpless, and powerless.
Families are constantly requesting educational services and continuation of care for their autistic loved ones. These would allow parents to start work and provide a routine and basic sense of normalcy for the entire family.
Our organization is on a mission to solve this urgent need now. We have several projects already in the works that will allow us to begin services and recreation opportunities for hundreds of Ukrainian families right away.
You can donate directly to our podcast community fundraising page at: give.globalautismproject.org/podcast
In today’s conversation, Molly, Anna, and I discuss:
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136. Autism Europe and Improving Lives, with Harald Neerland
TBT | 75. Meaningful International Collaboration, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and Pooja Panesar
135. Social Thinking, with Michelle Garcia Winner
134. Peer Support Groups, with Stephane Guidon
TBT | 46. Autism in the Black American Community, with Maria Davis-Pierre
133. RTD | Transitioning into College, with the Global Autism Community
132. SkillCorps Journey, with Team Bangalore, India
131. Meet Our Global Autism Project Partners in Bangalore, India
TBT | 24. A Father’s Path to Autism Acceptance, with Jamiel Owens
130. ’Love on the Spectrum’ and Teaching Social Skills, with Kaelynn Partlow
129. New Year Intentions and Open Application, with the Global Autism Community Moderators
128. Highlights of 2022: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community
127. Highlights of 2022: Part One, with the Global Autism Community
126. Visual Thinking and Problem Solving, with Dr. Temple Grandin
TBT | 28. Occupational Therapy and Yoga for the Special Child, with Cheryl Albright
TBT | 33. Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni
125. Thanksgiving Special, with the Global Autism Community
124. RTD | Health & Wellness, with the Global Autism Community
123. Art, Synesthesia, and Software Engineering, with Austin Lubetkin
122. RTD | Self-Development & Accountability, with the Global Autism Community
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