The Middletown Centre for Autism Podcast

Send us Fan Mail
In the latest episode of the Middletown Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Schaefer, Director of Equity and Inclusive Practices for California’s Supporting Inclusive Practices (SIP) project. We ask how we can support students to experience belonging and power in the spaces where they learn? Our conversation centres on the concept of rightful presence, and why it helps schools move away from compliance towards human dignity. You’ll also hear practical, school-ready ideas: building self-advocacy over time, protecting the dignity of risk, and understanding Universal Design for Learning.

Send us Fan Mail
In the latest episode we chat to poet, researcher and advocate, Kayren Hayes. Kayren has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She was very keen to share her journey as an autistic person, navigating a very serious health condition and navigating the healthcare system. 
Kayren is very honest about her experiences in cancer treatment, so if you feel like you can't hear about cancer and the challenges it poses, then it might be no harm to skip this episode for today. 
Kayren shares two stunning poems in the episode and, as ever, she is insightful and compassionate.

Send us Fan Mail
We have another episode with Clinical Specialist OT, Susan Madigan. Susan brings a wealth of knowledge through working with university students. This episode is for students who are heading back to college or university but are feeling some dread about it. 
You can find out more about Susan's work here: https://www.susanmadigan.ie/

Send us Fan Mail
In the first of two back-to-university episodes, we chat to Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Susan Madigan. Susan has years of experience working with autistic students in universities. In this episode we discuss the challenges and many joys that autistic students might experience when they are just starting out in their college or university life. Susan shares lots of practical tips!

You can find out more about her work here: https://www.susanmadigan.ie/

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode we share time with Oisin, a young autistic advocate who is working to improve the education system for all autistic people. Oisin is non-speaking, so Noel, Oisin’s carer, read the answers that Oisin wrote to our questions.
Oisin shares his thoughts on advocacy for non-speaking people and how we should all challenge our assumptions about people who communicate in different ways.