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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BONUS: How to Make an Impact in the Field of Autism Services
87. Global Autism Leadership Series, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney, Yaser Aljaaidi, and Dr. Megan Miller
86. RTD | Coping with Stress and Sensory Overload, with the Global Autism Community
85. How to Teach Autistic Children to Read, with Lois Letchford
84. RTD | Overcoming Obstacles, with the Global Autism Community
83. Building Healthy Parent-Child Relationships, with Lafaya Mitchell
82. RTD | Preparing for Adulthood, with Dani Bowman, Robert Schmus, Cammie McGovern, and Cheryl Albright
81. Autistic Traits vs. Criminal Law, with Tom Oliver
80. Autistic Empathy, with Terra Vance and Kate Jones
79. RTD | Navigating Social Situations, with Anthony Ianni, Sangeeta Jain, and Vanessa Lista
78. Avatars for Autism, with Gary Jesch and Leslie Baldwin
77. The Disability Cliff and Adult Services in the US, with Cammie McGovern
76. RTD | Safety in Public, with Rachel Barcellona, Thomas Iland, Jamiel Owens, and Maricarmen Hazoury
74. The Four A's of Autism, with Dr. Stephen Shore
73. Therapeutic Tennis at Love Serving Autism, with Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix
72. Connecting to Nature Through Wildlife Photography, with Alfie Bowen
71. Changing Perspectives in India, with Jayashree Ramesh
70. Transitioning into Adulthood, with Robert Schmus
69. Animation for All Abilities, with Dani Bowman
68. Self-Care for Parents, with Maggie Nunez
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