Tony Mantor

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mayator. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today, we have Haley Graham, a psychotherapist, author, and charity founder of Bounce Brighter Futures Foundation. She is passionate about the transformative power of stories and fostering meaningful connections.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

386.593

Yes, it can get very difficult for the kids, unfortunately. When you deal with the teachers, what do you find that you're addressing in that capacity?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

456.927

Yes, it is absolutely a very difficult job. When you start working with a child or children, you see they are having some struggles. What are some of the things that you do to give them a pathway for a better mindset and to a better future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

563.743

Right, I agree. The biggest issue I see is when an autistic person decides that they want to mask it. They can only do that for so long before it will start to affect them mentally and create some issues for them to cope with it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

622.984

Yes, that's true. Now, you reach out to a lot of areas with posts and blogs. I understand you have a magazine. I think it's called Bounce Brighter Future. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

650.362

Yeah, that's great. Now, is that still an ongoing thing that you do along with your social media? I know you have a very good impression out there with your social media along with your magazine.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

69.18

Today, she shares her journey with mental health, therapy, autism, and her lived experiences. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

690.066

That's great. I think anything you can do to help people like that is a good thing. Now, what led you down this path to do what you're doing now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

81.044

If you would, tell us a little bit about what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

827.994

When you was going through all this, how did you approach it? Did you take any steps with doctors? Did you find out he was autistic? What were your findings on this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

886.434

That totally makes so much sense. And I'm glad that actually did help your family. After that, did you find yourself going back to school, back to college? What were the next steps of your journey?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

947.788

Yes, that is a huge thing that I hear from so many different people. When they find their child is autistic, ADHD, or whatever the case may be, there's a huge black cloud hovering around them because they just don't know what to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

965.996

So in your travels, have you seen where you've been able to be that bridge between the known and the unknown for these people, where you have lived it so you're able to help them navigate through some things that give them a better understanding so that way they can move forward with more knowledge of what they're dealing with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1013.731

I believe that people can be aware of something, they can accept it because they're aware of it, but until they fully understand it, then they never comprehend what the other people are actually going through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1066.673

Yeah, that's great. When you have someone that's nonverbal, let's say they're between three and six, What are the steps you take to help them communicate so that they can learn, grow, and then down the road, keep our fingers crossed, become verbal?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1159.212

That sounds like such a great process to do. Now you've got a set of parents. They've tried everything they could in their mind. They think that everything they've tried is a total disaster. It might not be. Yet their perception is that this just isn't working. There's nothing that's going to help my son or daughter. Have you run into a situation where you had parents like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1182.81

You worked with a child, built that relationship, things actually started getting a lot better. They could see it. Now they've changed their mind completely and it's turning into a success story that can carry forward for a long time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

123.809

I think that's awesome that you knew what you wanted to do right from the very start. I've had friends that have gone to college, learned their craft the best they could, followed the books.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1307.337

Absolutely. I mean, when parents first learn of their child's autistic diagnosis, some tend to be really afraid and fearful because they think it's a death sentence, and it's really not.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1322.722

Now they have taught us that they can do so many great things and become just anything that anyone would want them to be.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

135.038

But then they found that the books just didn't really work out the way they thought.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1373.789

Yeah, absolutely. Because this is a very complex situation. There could be multiple people within the family. They all have to be on the same page so they know the good and, unfortunately, the not so good about it. And then when it's not going so good, they learn how to get it back on track. So is there anything that I've missed that needs to be addressed for people to hear?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

141.503

How did you find what you learned in college about autism, special needs, etc., to relate to the everyday world?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1424.494

I do. I have many.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1453.393

Yeah, unfortunately, there's several countries that don't even recognize autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1462.864

Yeah, there sure is. So how do people find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1486.937

Well, this has been awesome. I really appreciate you coming on today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1492.038

Yeah, it's been great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1493.918

Pleasure's all mine. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

1525.99

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

212.681

Well, that's a great passion. Were you surrounded by anyone in your past that was autistic or that led you to the path of what you're doing today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

245.069

That's very interesting to think that back in the early 90s, autism wasn't even really talked about. We had ones that were called the weird ones. Now it's much more prevalent than it's ever been. So it's been continually changing. I'm curious, how have you seen it change from when you started to where you are today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

330.069

Yeah. How do you approach it? I mean, there's been a lot of, for lack of a better word, controversy about ABA therapy.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

338.538

I was talking to Temple Granite about that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

341.722

And she said it simply came down to the person that's doing the ABA therapy, whether they're good or bad.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

349.321

So with the controversy that was out there because of the APA therapy going on and off, how did you address that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

370.101

That's great. So can you explain the difference to the listeners?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

462.117

What? Doctors with no bedside manner? Tell me that's not so.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world. Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance and a better understanding for autism around the world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

507.186

Yes, that's so true. When a parent comes to you, they have just found out that their child is autistic and Their mental health is just all over the place. They're really afraid. They just don't know what to do. They've tried things that just haven't worked. Right. Or maybe it has to a small degree.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

51.454

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Today's guest is Rose Griffin, a distinguished speech-language pathologist and board-certified behavior analyst. During her senior year of high school, Rose took a career assessment that suggested a career in speech therapy.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

527.157

When you meet them and meet that child, what is the first thing that you do to start that relationship so you can build their life and put it back together?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

565.138

Sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

575.605

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

586.793

That's great. Is there any autism in your family at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

591.616

What do you do when you get a child that's a little older, maybe preteens or teens? That's a whole different dynamic for them. Teen years are tough for a neurotypical child, but you add autism to that and they're trying to figure it all out and fit in. It makes it really, really tough sometimes. How do you approach that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

69.342

This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her professional journey dedicated to serving individuals with autism and their families. Rose joins us today to share her inspiring story and the evolution of her career from its inception in high school. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

693.193

Yeah, that's awesome. You just mentioned a home scenario. I spoke with an ABA therapist. He went into a person's home. Yeah. He immediately assessed the situation for his own safety, then thought to himself, this might not work. Have you had situations like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

773.061

Yeah, I can understand that for sure. You mentioned earlier that males are diagnosed about four to one. I've heard that the reason why females aren't diagnosed quite so early is because they're masking, they're trying to fit in, they're trying to be socially acceptable. Sometimes that works, sometimes that doesn't.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

797.159

And most times it doesn't work out as well as they thought because they still get bullied or looked at and it's really hurtful. How do you approach someone like that that is just so tender and needs help yet is still undiagnosed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

900.222

Yeah, online definitely has its good points and its bad points. From what I see, the online problem is the labeling. They don't want that label, but yet they need that label to get the support. How do we create that bridge to labeling of autism so that they get it and it ultimately helps their lives moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

92.64

Wow. I really appreciate the referral from them. That's awesome. So when do you decide to go into therapy?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rose Griffin:The Path to Inclusive Support and Autism Awarenes

999.541

Yeah, I think the biggest issue is simply it's misunderstood. It's like you said, April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. The slogan I use for my podcast is autism awareness, acceptance, and understanding.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1029.795

What's one of the more things that you would consider straightforward? I mean, you go in there, you look at the situation, and you go, okay, this isn't going to be too bad. So what would you consider straightforward for the listeners? I mean, I think they can visualize the worst case scenarios.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1044.872

What's something that you look at and you go to yourself, okay, this shouldn't be too much of a challenge?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1122.856

So how do you talk them down off that cliff? I mean, from what I understand, the ones that are talking about it are the ones that, I'm not going to say less likely, but sometimes will not follow through. But the ones that don't talk about it much, they're the ones that might just go ahead and do it because they've kind of pre-planned it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1142.884

So what do you do to help them so that way you can talk them down off that cliff and

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1184.932

What happens when you have some that are thinking about it, they don't follow through, but yet they're thinking about it. They go back and forth. Is that a situation to where you get concerned?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1210.487

Is that something that you deal with quite often?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1220.376

When you're dealing with someone that's borderline, that's not psychotic, right?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1234.924

And you deal with that situation quite a bit?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1240.225

How do you get across to them? I mean, they're talking about self-infliction, hurting themselves. How do you get them down off that cliff?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1321.914

Is there a certain age group this affects more than others? Is it older or is it more younger?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1367.13

That's the first time I've heard this kind of information. So that's kind of important for people to know and understand. What would you like to tell our listeners that you think is very important that they know and understand about what you do and what you're trying to do to help the people that need help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1422.576

Yeah, they are.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1424.998

Yeah, police are there for a reason. That's to help. Situations like that, they need to step up for sure because you need the help and the person there needs the help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1461.567

Yeah, that's good. I mean, when you get into the mental illness part of it, there's psychosis and there's so many different layers of things that it can be. Unfortunately, people that don't know will clump them all in together and the worst is part of that situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1477.653

So it's very important that people know the differences between everything so that the understanding is there for them to at least have a little empathy for them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1511.181

Right. One of the things that I have heard is the ones that are not violent can oftentimes be the victims. And many people think that they are creating victims when they really aren't.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1525.825

Yeah. It's a very tough subject. Not a lot of people want to do it because there's so much stigma attached to it. Then a lot of people don't want to talk about it for that same reason. There's a lot of stigma attached to it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1558.581

Yeah, unfortunately, it's very sad. People that think about psychosis tend to go to the very worst case scenarios. The news media, unfortunately, carries a lot of the worst parts of it where people kill somebody or something bad happens. But as you said, a lot of people can actually thrive in life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1583.422

Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1592.266

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

1625.576

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere. about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

172.581

Do you work with the police alongside them, or lots of times do you work without them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

186.279

So when you are involved with the police, what's the criteria for you to work with them so you can get everything you need under control and create a better situation for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

251.483

So if it does get out of control where they have to be restrained and they need medication, is that done there or at a different time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

270.92

Okay, that makes sense. So what led you to get into this business? It's not your everyday nine-to-five job that people think of. So what drew you to doing this profession?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

317.163

I think that's great. So what's your first approach when you first come onto the scene? How do you handle this with the person that you're going to be looking at and ultimately trying to help out? So what's the first thing that you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Meet the World? Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Lynn Nanos. She is an LICSW.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

406.115

So if you're in a situation where someone just does not want to go to the hospital at all, and you know they need help, they might be in a situation where they may not realize they need the help, but they do need the help. So what's your approach? How do you get them to settle down, calm down, and get them to a point of where you can actually help them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

463.339

That's good. You kind of caught me off guard a little. I thought the presence of the police might be a little more intimidating for them. So that's really good that it worked out. Now, if you've seen a person a couple of times and you've gone through all these situations, how is that handled? Has that created a relationship, so to speak, with them so they understand you and trust you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

532.541

So how do we fix that? I mean, you're in crisis mode sometimes when you go out to try and help these people. You get them to a facility, you see that it does help them, but then a week or two, a day or two, or whatever the time frame may be, here they are back in front of you again.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

549.355

So what are your thoughts on how we can mend this system so you don't have to see these people on a continuous basis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

64.382

She has done this for most of her life, and she is very passionate about helping people with serious mental illness, especially those involving psychosis. She brings a wealth of experience from her work on a mobile crisis unit in Massachusetts. She's here to share insights on collaborating with law enforcement, navigating complex cases, and diagnosing a diverse range of individuals in crisis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

668.03

Okay, you just brought up anosognosia. Can you explain that to the listeners so they can understand what it is compared to other serious mental illnesses?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

717.461

So if they're being treated, then that gives them the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life and it gets rid of all that noise that's going on in their head. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

747.495

So if Massachusetts was to get and pass AOT, that would help everything that you're trying to do, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

799.443

Now, when you mention dementia, the first thing that comes to mind is the elderly. Now, do you run into younger people have this or is this mainly just for the older people?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

818.912

So do you get calls from people that are older that's going through dementia? Is that something you have to deal with as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

863.467

Now, when you evaluate them, you have so many things that it can be. I mean, you've got psychosis, you've got dementia, and all of the above that you just mentioned. You only get a limited amount of time. You haven't seen them that much. How do you diagnose in such a short period of time? I think it must be really tough. That's my opinion.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

90.482

Her expertise offers a unique perspective on mental health intervention, and we're incredibly grateful for her time and knowledge. Thanks for coming on. I'm glad to be here. Yes, it's great to have you on. If you could, tell us a little bit about what it is that you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

923.47

Okay, you just brought up something that I think is very important. You just mentioned people with all the issues that they have that you just mentioned. So at the end of your workday, when you're trying to decompress, you're just trying to relax yourself. How does this affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

970.956

Yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean, I know a lot of police, a lot of EMTs, a lot of people that do everything on a daily basis, and they see these people, and there's always one or two that just get to you. You see them struggling, you see them trying, they're just having a rough time. So this is something you have to deal with on a daily basis, and I just can't imagine having to do that all the time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lynn Nanos: Navigating Psychosis: A Mobile Crisis Worker's Perspective

994.232

It's tough.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1002.075

And of course, males are diagnosed more than females are.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1007.87

That will add another layer of challenges to the autistic world as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1034.679

I've talked with a lot of females that have been late diagnosed, 30s, 40s, some even in their 50s. It takes a huge leap of faith to get that diagnosis because they've lived their life for so long as they have been. What would you tell someone that's considering diagnosis, they've lived their life, they're comfortable with their life,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1060.58

yet they know there's something not quite right, what would you tell them? Because it's a big challenge to find these things and then realize you might have to change a few things to create that better life that you want.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1179.818

Yeah, yeah. It's tough living with it, not knowing. Yet it's tough to make that decision to get a diagnosis. Because when you get that diagnosis, it could be freeing, but it also could add a lot of stress because of the unknown.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1223.035

Yeah, yeah. It's finding that balance so that you can thrive in the world. But it's also finding that comfort zone that allows you to accept it and thrive.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1302.595

Absolutely. The most important thing is that you find your comfort zone. As the old saying goes, you find a way to be comfortable in your own skin. Yeah. The most important part is that you take everything that you learn, apply it, find a way to accept it, and then hopefully, with all the changes, you move forward with a better life for yourself.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1357.856

Absolutely. From the time that you started up until now, what are some of the changes that you've seen in yourself?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1426.575

That's great to hear that you feel more confident about what you're doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1466.466

Absolutely. And that's a great thing. Another thing you have to add to that is that everything that you're doing is actually helping someone and you're changing lives. That's a huge positive all the way around. I hope so. Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1513.542

You bring up the workplace. That's another area that needs to be addressed for sure. Autistic people are either underemployed or unemployed. I think that's great that you're trying to help that out too, because they certainly can contribute to the workforce.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1558.875

Absolutely. How do people find you if they need your help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

156.347

Did you get a formal diagnosis of autism before?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1589.511

This has been a great conversation. I've really enjoyed it. So thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1601.573

Absolutely. It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

1634.506

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

263.993

With everything that happened to you, finding that you're autistic, just the way that you did, the way that things seem to make sense with your husband and the people around you, how did that affect you with your family and your interaction on a day-to-day basis? Did that change things for you? What happened after that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

369.025

That's a great way of looking at things. You've been able to reflect on your past, diagnose yourself a little bit in things that happened so that you could kind of make sense of them. With this all going on in your life and you come into grips with everything that you need to, this has really helped your overall outlook on moving forward. I think that's a great thing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

424.699

Sure. I've had the opportunity to speak with many people that have been late diagnosed. The greater percentage of those being late diagnosed were females.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

437.711

The reason they've told me is they tend to mask more to fit in. So once you came to the conclusion that you are autistic, did you get a chance to look at yourself as an outsider looking at you, where you could reflect on things that you did, look at how you handled those things? And once you looked at yourself

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

465.836

did a deeper dive on some of the issues that you was having, did you find that you was masking as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

5.953

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world hopefully you gain more awareness acceptance and a better understanding for autism around the world

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

511.772

Yeah, that makes sense. By doing this self-diagnosis while you're working with a therapist to get your diagnosis, have you found that this might have put you in a better place, more of your comfort zone, because you can accept what happened, accept what's going on now, so that you can use that to better move forward with your future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

54.778

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Today, we are joined by Gabriela Russo, an expert with 25 years of experience in supporting organizations that cater to children, young people, and families in the UK and internationally. Her work has taken her to primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities, where she helps ensure their safeguarding measures are up to date.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

586.952

Sure, sure. What are some of the things that you still struggle with? You may be still working on it, trying to fix it so that you can still accept who you are. Yet you may be struggling on some things just because the way the world is in its perception of autistic people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

697.495

Yeah, I mean, that makes total sense. So with all this happening, everything that you went through, this has really turned you to an advocate and really helped your overall business prospects in what you're doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

776.986

Yeah, yeah, right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

79.432

Gabriella is passionate about creating a workplace culture that is inclusive, empathetic and compassionate. We're excited to share her inspiring story. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

834.315

What are some of the challenges that you face? One of the things that I find in talking with people for the last year and a half to two years is autistic people, those with mental health, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. The biggest issue I've found is trying to get the neurotypical world to understand what they are going through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

856.443

As much as it's needed for people to understand, there has to be those that are willing to teach them so they can understand, and hopefully that will make it better for everyone. What are some of the things that you've run into trying to do this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

93.83

Oh, it's my pleasure. How did you get involved with the autistic community?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriella Russo: Embracing Self-Discovery and Advocacy in Autism – Overcoming Challenges and Building a Supportive Community

990.408

I can understand that for sure. I think basically what you just said is what's been said so many times. You've met one autistic person. You've met one autistic person.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tony Mantor: Sharing Stories of Resilience and Hope – Fostering Autism Awareness and Mental Health Advocacy from Nashville

115.46

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tony Mantor: Sharing Stories of Resilience and Hope – Fostering Autism Awareness and Mental Health Advocacy from Nashville

34.92

Hopefully, you'll gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. I am grateful for the opportunity to express my appreciation for your ongoing support of my podcast. May this special time of year bring you and your loved ones joy, peace, and happiness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tony Mantor: Sharing Stories of Resilience and Hope – Fostering Autism Awareness and Mental Health Advocacy from Nashville

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tony Mantor: Sharing Stories of Resilience and Hope – Fostering Autism Awareness and Mental Health Advocacy from Nashville

68.253

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season. I have several exciting initiatives planned for next year, including a special event in April to commemorate Autism Awareness Month, followed in May, a project supporting mental health awareness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tony Mantor: Sharing Stories of Resilience and Hope – Fostering Autism Awareness and Mental Health Advocacy from Nashville

86.709

Until then, I will continue to release new episodes on a weekly basis, with a bonus episode each month focused on mental health awareness. Thank you once again for your support, and happy holidays to all! Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1009.252

I notice you have evaluations. Yes. What does that encompass? Are you evaluating what they can do, what they can learn to do? What's that process look like?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1107.04

Yeah, that sounds really good. I noticed you have janitorial, you have several other things, including forklift training. What's that training look like?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1176.039

So basically, that's just another form of getting out there and shadow working. How wide a net does the shadow working encompass?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1232.327

So do you work with autistic people as well as those that might have mental health issues?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1267.111

Yeah, that's great. Pretty inclusive. So how is your percentage of those that come in, learn, and then those that graduate? Do you have a high success rate of graduation rate? as well as a high success rate of getting people valid work.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1341.004

That's great. Everyone wants to work. What's the best way for people to find you and contact you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1374.25

That's great. What would you like to tell our listeners that you think is very important for them to know about what you're doing and the accomplishments that you've had over the years?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1424.576

Yeah, that's great. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on. Thank you for having me. Oh, it's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

1456.569

Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

242.281

That's nice. Now, how long have you been there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

249.671

What are some of the changes that you've seen from when you started to what it is today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Joining us today is Angela Calzone, President and CEO of Inroads to Opportunities, an organization dedicated in supporting individuals with disabilities, both visible and invisible.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

358.806

So how have you grown? How many people work within your organization?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

432.302

What's the criteria to get into your service? What's the process they have to go through? And how do you handle it so that you know that it's a good fit for both them and your company?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

554.821

So is your situation like a vocational school where someone will come in and learn their craft? How long do they have to learn it? What's that process look like?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

680.846

So do you have people or organizations that you work with So when the client goes through your classes, when they're finished, they have maybe a job to go to?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

70.352

They provide training and assistance to facilitate a seamless transition into the workforce. Angela brings a wealth of knowledge and we are delighted to have her with us today. Thanks for coming on. I'm delighted to do this. If you would, tell us a little bit about what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

752.372

With any company that does things like you do, there's always bumps in the road, challenges to overcome. What were some of the challenges that you faced initially getting this started? And further, what are some of the challenges that you face day to day now that you've been up and running for a while?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

854.251

You mentioned you have a contract for packaging.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce

940.902

Your facility seems to cover a multitude of things, which is really good. You've got the packaging. I noticed that you had something about cooking. What does that entail and how does that work for them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1013.365

Have you run into any situations where they try to fit in so hard that unfortunately they get taken advantage of?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1068.88

So true, unfortunately. When you come across someone like that, how do you handle it? They've been taken advantage of. You want them to understand what has happened, but you also want them to handle it in such a way so they don't feel bad about what they've done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1141.112

Yeah, that makes complete sense. So this business you have, is it your own practice or do you have other people as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1160.659

Okay. How long have you had your own private practice?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1166.376

Five years. What are some of the changes you've seen from year one to year five?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1223.593

Now, do you work with the nonverbal as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1245.686

Okay, that makes sense. What would you say that you see for the major differences between someone that's around five or six like your daughter was when she was first diagnosed to a 15-year-old and then like 25 to 45 or more?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

130.868

What started that journey for you? If you look at your bio, it says you've been around neurodivergent people your whole life. What led you to this path you decided to go on?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1377.958

Yeah, for sure. I've spoken with several different people that have been diagnosed later in their life. Some that was in their 30s.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1384.959

Some were in their 40s.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1386.96

They grew up and lived in a time that autism wasn't really spoken about and really wasn't a thing at all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1459.683

Yeah. So is your husband neurotypical?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1468.784

Yeah. The reason why I asked that is I have a guy that I interviewed here a little while ago. He was autistic. His wife was neurotypical.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1480.267

They just looked at the way that they had to get together as different cultures. So and it worked out quite well for them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1543.669

How many kids do you have in your family now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1557.134

What age range are they?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1563.826

Wild. Yeah, I bet that's fun at times. Interestingly enough, I had a lady that was telling me a story about her son that was autistic. His father, which he thought he was autistic but did not get diagnosed, she told her son, well, why don't you talk to your dad about this? You go through a lot of the same things. The son said, he can't be autistic. He hasn't been diagnosed.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1584.961

And that was kind of the impression that went on between the two of them, even though they did a lot of the same things exactly the same.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1613.017

Yeah, that's just so good. So I guess my next question is, how do people find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1640.444

Yeah, that's great. So your website is once again?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1647.239

Yeah, that's great. This has been awesome. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1653.323

It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

1685.494

One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

183.515

During the school years, were you teaching?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

192.978

Okay. During those 20 years of working in the school system, what type of kids came to you and then how did you handle it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

230.114

When they did come to you, were they situations like they were having meltdowns and just having a tough time dealing with all the noise that happens to be in a school like that? Yeah. How did you handle it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

273.137

I think there was something about you had a situation with a child that had a problem. The teacher or the principal didn't want you to use the word autism, and that kind of created a little bit of a controversial issue for you. Can you explain that a little bit more?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

34.919

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today, we are joined by Cori Andreas, who will be discussing her career transition from the public education system to a private practice specializing in neurodiversity and autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

347.075

When you decided to leave, that was really the transition of starting your own company, right?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

355.64

What were your next steps once you made that decision to move forward with your own business?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

407.64

Right, definitely. People are becoming more aware of autism since the mid to late 90s.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

414.768

Unfortunately, the understanding still isn't there yet. What do you do to help the understanding from the neurotypical world so they can see what needs to be done to help others?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

502.438

Yeah, that's all good points. Now, you brought up masking. It's pretty well known that although some men mask, it's more of a female trait because they're trying to fit in. Sometimes they do. Sometimes it doesn't work out as well. When it doesn't, it can create a lot of psychological issues. What do you do to help them get through that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

588.971

You mentioned that you're autistic as well. Did you find out that you are autistic before you were teaching or afterwards?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

66.859

Cori's late diagnosis of autism and ADHD became evident as she worked in her private practice. She now leverages her expertise to create a safe environment for individuals to discuss their interests freely. Cori is here to share her journey from its inception to its present form. Thanks for coming on. Sure. Let's start off a little bit differently this time. I want you to tell me what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

663.817

Once you figured that out, then you realized that you are indeed autistic. Did that change your life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

743.859

You say that your daughter is autistic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

746.92

Did she get diagnosed before?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

755.925

What led you to think that she was autistic or did you just know and that's how you found out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

878.831

Yeah. When you found out you was autistic, did you look back and say, okay, this makes sense. I did this, I did this, and I did this. Were your meltdowns any different than others? I mean, everyone's different and every autistic child is different from another one. But did you have anything where you said, okay, this totally makes sense now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

89.945

Yeah. Then we'll backtrack to how you got there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Kory Andreas Shares Insights on Neurodiversity and Self-Realization

999.514

So basically, it's the extreme focus that many autistic people will talk about that seems to be what you have.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1010.316

Having observed these transitions, what key areas do you believe still demand greater scrutiny and effort? While these topics may have been initially explored, they clearly warrant deeper attention and development. Can you identify any areas where you would assert, okay, this absolutely requires us to prioritize and address it thoroughly because you see the need for it to get better for everyone?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

113.704

Oh, it's my pleasure. I understand that you are the president for CIT Utah. Can you expand on what that is?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1289.52

How do we get legislators to truly understand the value of funding systems like health care and judicial support for the mentally ill beyond just knowing they exist? They often dismiss it as throwing money into a black hole, missing how it's a long-term investment.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1310.583

I've spoken with people who say they've lost 10 years navigating these systems, fighting for the right medication, battling through the court system, before finally thriving. How do we move past vague calls for education and make lawmakers see that this isn't a bottomless pit, but a step-by-step process that, though it may take years, ultimately transforms lives and benefits society?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1517.952

While we could dive into countless fascinating topics and keep this discussion flowing for hours, I'd love for you to reflect for a moment. What's one critical insight, idea, or piece of wisdom you feel compelled to share with our listeners? Something you consider truly vital for them to grasp and carry forward in their lives.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1621.522

Yeah, that's great information. This has been a tremendous conversation with a lot of great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1634.988

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

1668.022

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

240.65

With what you're involved, I believe they have created a new number for crisis response other than 911, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

291.448

When police are involved, the goal is of course to improve outcomes and prevent situations from escalating. How have they responded to the training efforts aimed at teaching the officers to quickly assess situations and make decisions given their limited time and of course their budget constraints? Have you seen as good a response as you hoped for?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. We're delighted to welcome Sherry Witwer, a dedicated and passionate advocate for mental health and community well-being.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

426.367

Okay, let's do a scenario here. A police officer responds to a call about a person whose behavior might typically suggest they're under the influence of drugs or alcohol, erratic movements, slurred speech, other telltale signs. This individual is also holding a knife or a gun, something that could drastically escalate the situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

451.159

With only seconds to react, how does the officer distinguish between someone experiencing a mental health crisis, like psychosis, or someone who's simply high or intoxicated?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

580.836

I'm really interested in getting back to that center you mentioned. But first, could you tell me what a typical day looks like when you're setting up a conference for police officers or other first responders? What does the schedule involve as they go through the process of learning all this material, which seems like a lot to take in?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

66.206

With an extensive career spanning numerous roles, Sherry has made significant contributions across a wide range of sectors. This includes community nonprofits, government, and corporate environments. She currently serves as board president for CIT Utah, sits on the National Advisory Board for the CIT Assist Program, and holds the position of board vice chair for the Utah Housing Coalition.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

709.249

Now, you mentioned a treatment center. When someone reaches a point where intervention is necessary, you mentioned a treatment facility where they can go to for diagnosis and support. What factors determine whether they end up in jail, going through that legal process, or are directed to a treatment center instead where they can get help and potentially avoid incarceration?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

791.525

Right. When someone calls 911 for assistance but provides insufficient details, it leaves the responding officers unprepared for what they might encounter. Situations involving civil disturbances can be particularly volatile, making them some of the most dangerous scenarios for police to handle without the proper information.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

853.412

When individuals enter this facility you spoke about, does it remove the legal aspects or do these legal elements remain in place? How does this all connect and work together?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

904.91

As someone who's been involved for about 20 years, what positive changes have you observed, particularly in the last five or six years? It often seems like five years is the window it takes for things to process and start working effectively. So in the past five years, what specific changes have you seen that you'd say are definitely positive and moving in the right direction?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sherri Witwer: Rethinking How We help People in Mental Health Crisis

93.624

Additionally, she is a founder and board member of Peers Empowering Peers Utah, an organization devoted to advancing mental health peer support. It's an honor to have her with us today to share her wealth of experience and insights. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1005.117

Yeah. Do you feel better about yourself and your daughter with the future that you both can have?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1054.627

I agree 100%. What about textures? Does she have any problem with textures of food or clothes?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1122.381

Yes, it is very well known that females are very good at masking. Now, what about focus? Many autistic people are very focused when they have something that they focus on. They just don't give up anything until they get through that. Is she very focused as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1180.198

Yeah. So she has a sister. Is she neurotypical?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1186.222

Okay. Is she younger?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1190.45

Okay. How do they get along?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1193.253

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1194.934

Oh.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1283.186

Yeah, that's rough. Hopefully when they get into their teens, that can change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1290.191

Yeah, I think you've brought out a lot of very, very good points. I think a lot of people are going to be able to relate to your story. That's why I do this podcast. It's about people like yourself telling stories and hopefully others hearing it and then they can get something out of it that will definitely help their situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1314.628

So it's very tough what you're going through, but I definitely do appreciate you telling it because it's definitely needed for everybody.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1372.438

Yes, absolutely. That's the best words that you can say. How has your family handled this? Have they embraced your daughter with her autism? Has that been a good thing for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1474.352

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. That's all we can hope for is for people to at least try to understand. Most people, it's the big unknown.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1486.221

I'm the perfect example. Before I started this podcast, I knew absolutely nothing about autism other than I'd heard the word. I didn't know anyone that was autistic. And so it was a complete unknown entity to me. Now, a couple of years later, I've found that I do know people that are autistic. They've come out and told me because they feel like they can.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1508.534

The biggest thing that I think everyone needs to do is tell their stories, get it out there, create more understanding because we can accept it, we can be aware of it, but until we understand it, it will stay a complete unknown, unfortunately.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1530.464

Yeah, it's tough. I'm just hoping that we can just continue to do what we're doing, get more information out there, and then just make things better for everyone involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1547.509

Yeah, that's the key for sure. I really appreciate you coming on. It's been a fantastic story and a great conversation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1567.043

It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

1599.44

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

184.426

Yeah, that makes total sense. When did you start your business?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

215.134

That makes total sense. Plus, it gives you time for your kids.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

283.809

What grade was she in school at that time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

288.933

Since she's been diagnosed, have you been able to get therapists and help for her so that she can integrate within the school system and with her friends more? Are better things happening for her now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Joining us today is Jess Tuff, a devoted single mother, passionate educator, and dedicated advocate for mental health awareness, women's empowerment, and special education.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

395.245

I totally agree. People have to have some self-reflection at times and realize that others need help and sympathy and empathy as well. Is this what prompted you to make a change to get into the schooling and become more of an advocate for autistic people?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

469.399

Yeah, I think information is coming from all angles. That's truly great. Did you finally get a diagnosis or did they still push it to the side?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast. Hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA. Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

546.806

Yes, I agree. Unfortunately, it seems to be hit and miss depending upon where you live. Each areas have different amounts of money to spend, different things in place. So your living area is a big, big deciding point for that. Once you did get the diagnosis, and found she is autistic, did that change anything for you? Did you approach anything differently?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

574.786

How did the interaction go between you and the doctor? How did the interaction go between you, her, and all the other people around you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

66.751

She shares with us her journey with her autistic daughter, the emotions that accompanied her along the way. Her story is truly inspiring, and I'm delighted to have her as our guest. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

683.564

Yeah, absolutely. How old is she now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

687.529

Nine. Okay. Some people, unfortunately, that do not understand autism, they don't know the difference between a meltdown or a child just having a tantrum. They don't realize when an autistic child is having a meltdown, it can last 10, 15, 20 minutes. Once that's over, then everything's okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

708.703

But it's that 10 or 15 or 20 minutes of going through it that people have to see, and they just unfortunately do not understand it. So I'm guessing before you got the diagnosis, things like that was happening with your daughter. You were probably questioning yourself as a parent.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

728.594

So what were some of the things that went through your mind before the diagnosis? And then what went through your mind after the diagnosis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

81.781

It's my pleasure. I understand you're involved in the autistic community. What do you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

819.96

You were so correct. I tell everyone that I work with, perception is reality. It may not be true, but is that person's perception of you, is that person's reality of you? How did you address some of those things? I mean... You know your child. You know what she's going through most of the time. How do you address those people knowing what you know without, as they say, blowing your gasket?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

889.029

Absolutely. No one wants to do that. It's really a tough situation you were in. So what did you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jess Tuff: Empowering Autism Acceptance Through Advocacy and Empathy – A Mother's Journey in Special Education and Mental Health

934.386

Yeah, that's so tough.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1002.419

Then when you have someone that's autistic or has mental health, you don't know how they're going to react because everyone reacts completely different. It's a tough situation for them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1013.45

Now that you've jumped into that arena, is this something that you're going to be putting on a schedule to do once a month or as often as you can to bridge that gap?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1038.737

Yeah, that's so good. Now you're doing ABA, you're bridging into the community. What other things do you do that people wouldn't be expecting of you to be doing because you are a university? Because people don't look at universities as they would charities of helping the autistic community and those with special needs.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1086.724

Yeah, I mean, that's a great answer. People, especially today, need empathy. They need help. They need support. They need all those things. I think that's a great answer. People have to understand they get bullied. They're trying to fit in. They're just trying to do what everybody else wants to do, and that's just live their life. Puts a lot of stress on them because of those type of situations.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1109.573

Now, here's another question. Unfortunately, when they get bullied and they get this kind of pressure, Sometimes they go into that dark side and a lot of people don't realize this, but suicide is the second most leading cause of death among autistic people around the world. Do you address that at all in some of your studies to help them for their future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1160.546

Well, talking about it is a start. It has to start someplace because people have to understand and know, especially the autistic children, because females tend to mask more than when they don't fit in, they start going into a dark place. That's when tragedy can happen. So it's a good thing that you're at least talking about it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1207.057

Absolutely. It's a tough subject, but it has to be done. You just brought up your staff. How many people are on your staff?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1225.645

How many hours do you spend with each child that you see?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1232.451

I'm curious. Have you seen where two hours just isn't enough sometimes?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1274.229

Yeah, that's like the private ABA therapists that go out. Insurance will allow them, like you said, 26 to 40 hours to go into their home and help them out. So yeah, it definitely is a job. Have you had any that you've worked with that no matter what you tried, unfortunately, it just didn't work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1294.147

How do you approach that? I mean, you're trying to do everything you can do to help this child. For whatever reason, he or she is just not absorbing it or understanding what you're trying to put across. How do you handle it so that you can keep persisting and maybe break that wall down a little bit so eventually it can work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1344.87

Yeah, that makes sense. Now, you just brought something up that I think we need to touch upon, and that's the parents. Unfortunately, when an autistic child is involved, the parents stress out. They start pointing fingers, blaming each other, not getting along. The divorce rate is very high. Do you have instances where you have an autistic child they're bringing in for you to work with them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1372.644

Do you find yourself working more to comfort the parents than you actually do for the child at times?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1476.553

Now we've covered a lot. Is there anything that you want to talk about your university that we haven't brought up yet that you think might be important for everybody to hear?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1514.451

I think that's great. Needless to say, it's a work in progress for everyone that's involved in this. So that's a great statement.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1525.778

Yeah, they do. I think it's like 70 to 90% of autistic people are either unemployed or underemployed. So it's tough.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

154.764

Well, that's great. Once you got into this and started learning yourself, what path did you take? You're now working for a college that is all about teaching and learning about all the autistic traits. How did you interact and how did you expand that so that you could get to where you are today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1546.988

I appreciate it. I have learned everything that I know, which isn't enough from everyone that's been on this podcast. So it's been just great having everybody on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1569.028

I find that most people have very similar stories. The difference is where they live, how the government handles it. When I hear people talking about their children, we still talk about being bullied. We still talk about ABA therapy. We talk about a lot of different things. So there's a lot of things in this world that are very similar.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1592.179

But the biggest difference, I think, is where they live and how they interact with their government and their insurances that they deal with. It's tough all around the world. It's a global thing. And a lot of people don't realize that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1606.718

Well, this has been a very interesting conversation. I've enjoyed it. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1618.729

Thanks. I appreciate it. It's been my pleasure having you on. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

1652.533

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

212.466

Yes, unfortunately, so true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

249.949

Yeah, that's great strides. One of the big things I continually hear is how long it takes to get diagnosed and get into the pipeline for any type of help that they can get. You are so right in the fact that the paperwork takes what seems like a lifetime for them. But meanwhile, the parents have to deal with this because it's a daily thing for them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

269.341

What do you see as the best pathway for them to expedite things and get some much needed help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

330.407

That makes total sense. Your clinic can do a variety of different things. Do you focus on any one thing or do you spread it out to try and help so many different people on different levels? What's your plan there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Lisa Kuntz, Director of the Pierce Autism Center at Toro University in Henderson, Nevada.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

364.448

Now, different states have age-out limits of 18 or 21. If it's 18 or 21, what's the process there for you? Because as everyone, well, if they don't know, autism is not something that's cured at any certain age. It's a lifelong thing. For the listeners that don't know, in certain states, at 18 or 21, they'll age out and can't get help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

390.56

What do you do for those that are aging out, yet they still need help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

435.386

I've heard that analogy so many times.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

459.443

Yes, it certainly has been tough for a lot of people, especially the older ones. I spoke with a lady. She was just about to turn 60. She had been diagnosed in her 40s, late 40s. Then she said that by the time she figured things out, she was always the weird one during high school.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

478.839

But when she figured it out, her 50s, she thrived and everything just turned around and her life was just so much better. I think because now we've got more information and we're starting to see this, it's hopefully going to help those kids that are in the high school and all that now have a better life because they can be diagnosed and they can get the help that they need.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

506.37

It's a total different life now in a span of less than 30 years.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

542.512

Right, right. I remember speaking with a lady. She was a speech therapist for autistic children. She said that when she went to college for autism and what she was doing, she had one class, one semester that was on autism. And that was it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

563.74

Now you fast forward 30, 40 years later, you've got classes upon classes upon classes about autism and the needs that they have that they didn't have and didn't talk about 30 or 40 years ago in college.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

601.881

Absolutely correct. They're all over the country, all over the world. We just need to learn how to understand what happens when they have different problems. For example, most people don't recognize the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown. How do you teach that? Because that is something that's very hard for anybody to tell. So how do you address that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

64.559

She will recount her personal journey from her early days at the university with limited knowledge of autism to her growth and development of significant relationships. We are delighted to have her on the show. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

655.726

Right, I can't disagree there because people are very quick to judge now. They don't realize that it's not bad parenting, that the parents are actually doing what's right for the child.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

702.739

Absolutely. I think that's just great. Parents need a parent's day out for sure. What is the situation that you had that when you looked at it, you thought it was going to be a complete disaster? Then all of a sudden, after a little bit of time, things just worked out and it was a complete success.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

776.495

That's amazing. That's not the first time I've heard something along that line. That just goes to show the old saying that when you've seen one autistic person, you've seen one autistic person. When you see someone that's struggling, you don't think they stand a chance of doing something, and then they do. It's just a huge achievement and great goal for them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

78.557

Oh, it's my pleasure. How did your journey start into the autistic world working at the college?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

816.178

Yeah, that's just so good that they can feel independent like that. Now, did you do anything with the first responders? There is such a need to create that bridge between the autistic world and the first responders.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

863.855

Yeah, that's great. We just need more of it. I think one of the biggest things we have to do is education, understanding. Those two things are so important when it comes to our first responders. because they only have seconds to think sometimes of what to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

883.403

They have to assess it, and if it seems confrontational, if they seem aggressive, if they seem like they're going to hurt themselves, if the police don't know or the first responders don't know how to handle that, it can turn into a tragedy. We just need to find ways to get more information, more education, more understanding,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

907.594

And then hopefully, after a period of time, things will just get better for everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

945.143

I can understand that. I had a parent that I was talking with. He had a very fun-loving autistic child. Just loved everybody. He was so happy. The police saw him walking down the street. They thought he was high. So they handcuffed him and took him to the precinct. They then called his dad, who came down, explained the situation out to them. Luckily, it turned out good. They released him.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

968.691

Everything was okay. For everyone that's like that, there's others that don't turn out that good. That's why we need the education and the understanding.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lisa Kuntz: Transforming Autism Support – From University Role to Global Advocacy and Awareness Efforts

982.236

Yeah, and it's not the policeman's fault. They deal with, unfortunately, the seediest side of life. Not all the time. So they have to look at things that some things could turn dangerous in a blink of an eye. So they have to be on their guard at all times.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1111.653

Yeah, that's very interesting. So tell me, what have you found that mimics autism, where people think they might be autistic, but in reality, they're not?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1213.037

Wow, that's pretty interesting. So is there anything else that can mimic autism within adults?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1322.455

What other information could you give us for any parent that may be thinking their child might be autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1394.556

Yes, I can understand where knowing yourself and understanding yourself might really make a big difference. Unfortunately, they think they can outgrow autism, and that's just not the case.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1487.079

That's great. I think that's good for everybody to know. Now, there's one last thing I wanted to mention. I've heard that it's tough to diagnose the difference between autistic people and some of those people that might be gifted.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1547.725

Yeah, I can just imagine. How do people find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1555.831

Well, this has really been great conversation and great information. So I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1566.773

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

159.752

So do you specialize in any one thing with your psychology or do you expand into other things as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

1600.136

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

193.522

Sure, because many times you'll see an autistic person that is also diagnosed with ADHD.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

203.489

So what's your process when a parent brings a child to you not knowing what's going on? What are the steps that they have to take to find out whether it's autism, ADHD, or whatever else it might be?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today we welcome Sanam Hafiz, a renowned pioneer in neuropsychological assessments with expertise in trauma, learning problems, ADHD, and autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

367.757

Okay, that was my next question. What's the difference between a five-year-old, a 15-year-old, 25-year-old, or even a 35-year-old that may come to you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

475.432

When a parent comes to you with their child, you see that they are really struggling, not knowing exactly what's going on. Their child has meltdowns that happen from time to time. They have all the markers that point towards their child being autistic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

493.133

How do you define those markers so they can go to their local charity or their local community so they can search out and find the help that they need to get them through this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

621.067

Once you diagnose them, you find them to be autistic, ADHD, or whatever the case may be. Do you help them find other areas that can help them expand, learn, and evolve so that they can keep moving forward with their life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

65.385

As a trusted media expert, she has received multiple honors, including faculty appointments, and is on the New York City panel of medical experts for the court systems. Since founding Comprehend the Mind in 2006, her organization has experienced continuous growth. It's an honor to have her with us today. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

755.739

That's so very true. I've said right along that the reason why some charities have a difficult time raising money is because it's a mental issue that can't be seen. With that said, what can we do to help people and help change that dynamic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

847.513

Wow. That is just such a great idea and such a great story for people to hear.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

87.834

Oh, it's my pleasure. So if you would, give us a little background on how you started and what led you to do the work that you do today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

910.074

So you diagnose. Once you have your diagnosis complete, do you follow through with them or do you direct them to other people that can help that may be closer to them where they live? How do you get that network together so they have that safety net in place to help them through any particular crisis just in case something doesn't go as planned?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

955.629

Yeah, that makes sense. So now... It's the big unknown. When a parent brings their child between four and eight, or eight to 10, or even as much as 12 years old, it's the big unknown. They don't know what's going on. They're confused. They see all these things that it could be. They hear all the stories. They hear everything.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Sanam Hafiz: Unfolding Neuropsychology – From Holistic Profiling to Navigating Adulthood Challenges in Autism and Giftedness

977.748

They're just really totally overwhelmed because the biggest fear and unknown is that most people, when first introduced to autism, they just have no clue as to what it is and what it's about.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1069.85

I noticed you write a lot of posts, a lot of articles, a lot of blogs. Is this something you write for yourself or does this reflect on Fish in a Tree and what you're trying to do there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1145.444

What are some of the things that you've encountered that you're trying to work past so you can get to a better ending to continue what you're trying to do with your charity?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1228.717

Yeah, I think that's the best way you can do it. Keep working every day diligently, step by step. Then after a period of time, you look back and you'll see a good body of work that you've created. The best fact, you're helping people. What would you tell our listeners that they need to hear and understand about what you're doing and how you're trying to help people with your programs?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1415.264

Yeah, I think that's a great message. The only thing that we can do now is have some hope, help each other out, and do our best to be kind.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1446.571

Absolutely. Great comments. This has been a great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you coming on the show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1456.789

Yes, it's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

1490.002

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

306.473

That's great. Once you had it started, what came next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Joining us today is Bridget Hampstead, founding director of Fish in a Tree, an organization dedicated to supporting and championing neurodiversity in New Orleans and surrounding areas.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

379.28

When you started, what were some of the first challenges you faced in getting this going?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

544.83

What were some of the things that you found that you had to do so you could get the word out there so people could see the difference in what others do compared to what it is that you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

627.529

Sure. Now, I've seen where you've done quite a few things yourself. I think I saw that you was activist of the year in 2023. I see where you were involved with the UN last year. Can you expand on what that was about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

69.301

Prior to Fish in a Tree, she was awarded Activist of the Year in 2023 and became U.S. Representative to the U.N. for World Autism Awareness Day 2024. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and we are honored to have her on the show. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

776.351

That's rather surprising. That's a big issue. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among autistic people around the world. So that does kind of surprise me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

811.828

Well, that's good. At least some positive came out of it. Now, when you speak at a forum of that magnitude, it gives you the opportunity to network. Did you find yourself having the ability to network with people that you just didn't realize that you'd have the chance to in any other situation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

891.081

nice that's always great to meet new people and network so that you can grow your initiatives of what you're trying to do so what's next you've done all this advocacy you've started fish in a tree what's next on your agenda what do you see in your future well you know that's a great question i think when i was planning on

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love

91.817

So can you tell me, how did you get involved in what you're doing now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1007.16

So the book's been written and it's ready to go. When is the release date for it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1021.27

Oh, that's great. So where do you see this going? What type of person do you anticipate is going to be the ones to go out and purchase this and read it? Because you've got all kinds of stories with different issues that people have gone through. So what are you anticipating on that front?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1210.408

There's only one person who can do this, me. That's such a great story when we think of mental health. We think autism, ADHD, bipolar, and all those things. Yes. We don't think about mental health being just the everyday burdens of life that some people have to go through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1262.481

Yeah, stress and outside burdens like that put so much on a person and that can affect their mental health just like anything else can. It comes down to, like you said before, how they view themselves, how they view the world, ultimately how they view themselves in that world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1282.276

Hopefully, stories like that that you're telling and they're reading will give them the inspiration to change their lives as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1315.219

Yeah, absolutely. Now, you've been on TV, you've been on radio, you've done all the press and all that. Have you done book signings where people have come up to meet you, where some of the people that told their stories that made it into the book, you got to meet face-to-face?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1358.9

Yeah, that's pretty awesome, actually. I think this will be a completely different scenario for you because you're going to get a chance to meet some of these people that will give you a completely different perspective rather than reading something that you see in the forum. Yes. Or from the ones that called in. I mean, you can feel the pain through words.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1382.892

You can feel the pain through them calling in. This time, it might be a little bit different because you'll actually see it in their face as they tell you their stories again. Yes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1420.441

Yeah, yeah, I get that. You know, people are all the same. It doesn't matter whether they're from the US, the UK, Europe, Australia. People around the world are pretty much the same. They are. People don't realize this. They think they're different because they're from someplace else, but they're really not. They may speak different. They may have different things they do from day-to-day life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1446.705

Pretty much, no matter where we're from, we're all the same. We all have the same problems. The only difference is the location that we live and how the country handles it. Yes. Yes. The beauty of this book as I see it is that it has common sense practices. You give great ideas and great resolutions. People have the same problems worldwide.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1469.578

So hopefully someone reads this no matter where they live, gathers something from it, and it helps them so that they can move forward with their life wherever they are.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1566.474

Oh, that's just great. I mean, that's really great. What do you see for yourself in the next three to five years? What's your future hold? I would like to develop more on this book.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1633.304

I think it's good. Oh, absolutely. What would you like to leave us with that we might not have touched upon?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1670.461

Absolutely. I like it. This has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

1681.709

I've enjoyed it too. Thank you for the excellent questions. It's been my pleasure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

284.246

When you hear people that call in, they tell you about their lives, they go into different things that happens during their life, how do you react to that? I mean, you've got an unknown person calling in, bearing their souls to you of their deepest heartfelt feelings and emotions. So how does that affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Manter. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Join us today as emotions expert and author John Rushton shares his experiences from over 40 years of global travel, revealing that people from diverse backgrounds face remarkably similar challenges.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

343.098

That's very interesting. I think I'm going to have you expand on that. Because when people are having problems within their lives, they either go to a therapist or close friends. And then sometimes the best therapy they can get for their mental health is talking with someone just like yourself that they don't know, but have respect for what you've done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

365.255

And then they tell you their stories where they have their emotions on their sleeves, as they would say. And then you react, give them information, and then hopefully it's helped them to move on with their life. That's absolutely bang on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

423.982

Have you had any people that have contacted you? You listened to their problems. You listened to what they had to say. Then you kind of thought that maybe they had more issues than what you wanted to deal with. But you kept working with them, talking with them. And then all of a sudden, things just changed. They changed their way.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

448.556

which made you feel like you had really helped them move forward with their life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

529.191

Yeah, right. That's so true. Have you had anyone that's come to you where you just thought, I don't know what to do with them. They are just so far off center. They really, truly needed some professional help. How did you handle that if you had a situation like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

688.134

When you've been on the radio, you've had people call in. Have you had instances where you could actually hear the pain in their voice, in what they're going through, and you could tell that it was real and so real that you had to just take a deep breath and stop for a second to formulate your answer so you didn't push them over the edge and you could still help them? I have.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

69.424

He has recently completed a book featuring a fictional character named Antti Bromwen, who provides a safe space for individuals to express themselves candidly. The book, entitled The Anthology of Auntie Bromwyn, explores a wide range of thought-provoking topics. His stories are remarkable, and we're just so glad to have him on. Thanks for coming on. My pleasure, indeed.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

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So you've created this online form where they can send you emails and questions for the show. Yes. Do you find yourself getting a wide range of questions that will be asked to you? Because in the States, we have a Dear Abby. This was questions and answers that was in the papers where they send in questions and then Dear Abby would give them advice on what she thought that they should do. Yes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

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She passed away and then her daughter took it over. And I still believe that it runs in select papers across the country. So do you see a similarity between Our Dear Abby and the one that you created in the UK? Quite similar. Quite similar.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

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How long have you been doing this online form as it is today? On and off about 10 years. In the 10 years that you've been doing this, what kind of changes have you seen from when you started to the way it is today and the way they form and phrase the questions that they ask you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

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It's my understanding that you've written a book. Yes, yes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: John Rushton: Navigating Human Emotions and the Power of Storytelling

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Can we get a little insight on your most recent book and what it's about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Can you expand on this bill that you brought to the legislators and what it does?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Thanks for your kind words. I really appreciate you taking the time to be with us today. It's truly inspiring to see your impact as a mental health advocate and your leadership across various boards. Can you share with us your journey and how you reached this point in your career?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Yes, I've heard that the prisons are exactly that, the largest psychiatric hospitals in the country. And it's up to them to take care of them. And they really don't know how to take care of them, which ultimately create more issues.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Many prisons aren't equipped to handle inmates with mental illness or medication needs. Guards often lack training to recognize these issues, mistaken genuine distress for defiance. This can lead to inmates being denied proper medication, escalating problems, and ending up in solitary confinement.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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How do we create a better system so that some of these people don't fall through the cracks and wind up in places they don't need to be? Because it may just be a medication issue rather than a personality issue. What do we need to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Now, you said that you were involved in some type of legislation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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What type of legislation are you trying to get changed or improved upon that needs to be under the microscope and you think is just really, really important?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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That sounds like a great piece of legislation. What do you see coming out of this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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It seems that if you get this passed through, this would be a good bill to take to the House and try and make it national.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Yeah, I definitely agree. Now, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think they really need to know about what you're doing and, of course, what you're trying to do with legislation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Yeah. Well, this has been great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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So going over everything that you've done so far, what was your next step to finding more information?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Can you expand on why that is?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Wow, that's awesome.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis Special Event. Today, we're joined by Dr. Gillum Biswas, a board-certified adult and forensic psychiatrist.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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When do you get involved with a patient that's been incarcerated? Do you step in before they enter the court system or only after they're already in it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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When someone comes to you, tells you they need someone evaluated, what does that evaluation process entail?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Once you determine what you think is happening, what is the next step after that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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How long does it take from the initial meeting with a patient to assessing their condition, making a diagnosis, and prescribing medications or other treatments they might need to move forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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She is the director of the Psychiatry, Law, and Society program at Brigham and Women's Hospital and co-director of the Harvard Mass General Brigham Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. She chairs and contributes to numerous psychiatric forensic and medical committees at both state and national levels.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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When you're involved with the legal system and the court requests an evaluation of an individual, do they provide enough time to conduct a thorough assessment? This would help explain why the person acted as they did, allowing the court to make an informed decision about their next steps or the necessary actions that they may need to continue.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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Her research focuses on improving mental health laws to better support patients and families while advancing criminal justice reform. With her expertise in mental illness, risk assessment, and more, we're thrilled to have her share her insights with us today. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom

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When you conduct an evaluation and propose a hypothetical treatment plan, but the individual is placed back in an environment where they regress, how do you support them to regain stability? If time constraints or unaddressed issues lead to new challenges surfacing, how is that situation managed to help them get back on track?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, that's too bad. I really hate to hear that. What about friends? Have you had friends that have stuck by you throughout your whole life or has that affected that as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, that can be so true. I was talking with a person the other day. You brought it up and it's perfectly stated. Unfortunately, here in the U.S., we are so caught up in everything that we're doing. Unless something affects our family or us personally, it's not a crisis. And then when it does, it is a crisis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Okay. All right. What's your performance schedule look like overall?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Some of the things that are needed, in my opinion, is for people to understand more about the autistic community, what their needs are, so that everybody can work together to make the world better. So how do you think, as a society, we can get that understanding to get the neurotypical world to understand the neurodiverse world so that we can make it a more inclusive world for everybody involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Absolutely. I think you're definitely spot on. Now, what's on the horizon? You have a CD coming out. What do you see in the next three to five years for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Okay. Yeah, that's nice.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I get that. Social media can be so complex and hard to deal with.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, you have to create your own network and hopefully get them to help you. It's tough.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I understand that completely. I've done that many times. With you performing and traveling, you're autistic. How does that affect you when you're traveling in varied places around the world?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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That's a great area to help because that is so needed for the autistic community for sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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That's just so good. Education, understanding, and helping others is really a good way to go.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah. And I definitely understand what you're saying about Europe. I've spoken with many people from around the world on my podcast. And it's amazing how different countries look at autism. And in some cases, they don't look at it. It's tough for a lot of people, unfortunately. Yeah. I had a lady that just reached out to me from Bulgaria.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Her niece and her autistic son moved from Bulgaria to different parts of Europe and then ultimately wound up in Belgium. She sent a message to me on Instagram telling me of her journey from Bulgaria to Belgium. The travels that she had and the experiences she had was told to me of how... the European countries look at autism and some were night and day difference.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, I'm sure it was. But the main thing is that you did get through it. Man, this has been really great. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Oh, it's my pleasure. It's been a great conversation. I really appreciate it. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I can just imagine the airport has overwhelmed me several times. So when you're performing, how does that affect you? You have the audience there, a lot of outside interference and people getting ready for all that, for the show and everything. How do you handle that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I get that. What are some of the small things that can build up that could affect you before the show?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Sure, I understand that. A lot of hustle and bustle going on before a show. Now, do you have a band or do you perform solo?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lady Miranda, a multi-award winning singer-songwriter who excels in multiple genres. She is dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive music community.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Okay, when you're on stage and you're doing a live thing, you've got three or four musicians with you, what goes through your mind? You're listening to the sound, you're listening to the band, you're trying to make sure that everything's just right because you're trying to get your music out there for people to hear.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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What goes through your mind during that process and how do you contain it so you can put out the music that you know you can do and you can be proud of?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, that's a very, very good plan. And the main thing is it works for you. What about after the show? You've got the fans coming up to you. They want pictures. They want autographs. That can be very hectic as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real life people who will inspire, and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I totally get that. I've been to a lot of after parties and I'm with you. As soon as I can get out, I do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yes, I totally get that completely. I'm glad you brought that up. What do your meltdowns look like now? You've gone through them, you've aged with them. Do you know they're coming? Can you feel them coming on?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I've talked with a lot of people that tell me that most meltdowns last 15, 20, 30 minutes. How does yours work? And how long does it take before you're back to feeling better about yourself again?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Okay, that sure makes sense. How old was you when you was diagnosed autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Additionally, she shares her insights on autism and her personal journey as an autistic singer. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Okay, that makes sense. And you're right about the females. They do mask a lot more than the males. What led you to get a diagnosis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Sure. Now, when you got your diagnosis back, confirmed you were autistic, what went through your mind?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Tell me a little bit about yourself and what you're doing now.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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That makes sense. I spoke with a lady. She didn't get diagnosed until she was in her late 40s. Then when she did, same as you, she looked back and everything made total sense to her.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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She's a musician such as yourself. She does a one-woman show. She told me that once she had figured it out, once she got it all together, that the next 10 years were the best, most productive years she'd had. As it turned out, it was the best thing that she ever did by getting diagnosed because it changed her life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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I spoke with another guy over in England. He's six foot one, 225 pounds, looks fit. He says that when he tells people that he's autistic, they don't believe him. He made a great analogy. He said, If I told them that I had cancer, they wouldn't question it. But yet I tell them something very personal like this about his autism, and they still don't believe it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Has it affected your relationships at all through your life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, good point. Now, you just brought up your family. When you did get diagnosed, what was their reaction to it? Did they support you? Did they help you? What was the reaction when you gave them the diagnosis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Lady Miranda: Harmonizing Inclusivity and Autism in Music – Navigating Performance, Relationships, and Societal Norms with Resilience and Insight

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Yeah, that's great. It's always nice to have new music coming out. When you're performing and recording, do you prefer any particular style?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Nice. Now, we've covered a lot of things that are extremely good. Yeah. Autistic people are known, unfortunately, for some of their meltdowns.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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When they're put in a situation like this, does it lead to anxiety or sensory overload to where they might be worried about their performance or any possible mistakes they might make? How do you get past that so that they understand that it doesn't really matter? They're doing it for the fun of it and just get out there, enjoy what you're doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

1254.339

Okay. Now, in any play, you've got different ages, you've got males, you've got females, all interacting with each other on the stage. Autistic people are fairly well known for a lot of things will go past them. For example, flirting, that type of thing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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So when you have a situation where they have to take and make a certain body movement or interact in a certain way, how do you get that across to them so that it gets across to the audience so they understand exactly what's going on within the play?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Yeah. Now, we've covered a lot of great things. I think one of the most important things here is you're putting together a group of autistic people that are creating this body of work. As everyone knows, you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person. What can you tell us about how they've interacted with each other, what they've learned from each other?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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What led you to start the theater?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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I think the most important thing is what have you learned from it? What have you gained from it yourself?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Oh, that's great. I love it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Yeah, so in closing, have I missed anything that you would like to tell us that you think is important for the listeners to hear about your theater?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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How do people find you and how do they contact you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Yeah. Yeah, that's great. This has been a very good conversation, great information. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

1656.709

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

198.567

That's great. So when did it start?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Nice. When you started it, you had this vision of what it could be.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Has it evolved to be bigger than you thought it would be? And if it has, how did that happen?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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When you start something out, you always have what I like to call little bumps in the road, so to speak. Sure. Sure. some things just do not go as first planned. What were some of the first struggles that hit you? Then once you got past those first struggles, what happened then to help it evolve to what it is today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Hopefully, you'll gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Joining us today is Dr. Blythe Corbett. She is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

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Autistic people tend to be very focused. You brought up the fact that sometimes the improv could be of an issue. Have you had any challenges with them doing improv because sometimes that can take them outside of their comfort zone? So have you had any issues with the improv side of it because of that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

548.585

Absolutely. What style of theater are you doing? I mean, there's just so many variables that can be done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

67.07

She's here to discuss Sense Theater, a peer-mediated theater-based intervention that has contributed to significant improvements in social functioning in individuals with autism. It's a pleasure to have her here, so thanks for joining us.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

695.56

What age groups are involved in this theater that you're doing now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

723.274

Oh, that's great. How often do they get together for rehearsals?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

749.747

Oh, that's great. How many plays have you done to date?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

778.502

How long have you been doing it at Vanderbilt?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

795.037

What's the reception been? I mean, you started it and had to wait and see, let's see what happens. Then it started working, started growing. What's the reception been, not only from the autistic community, but those outside of the autistic community that would come to see what you're doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

83.099

Oh, it's my pleasure. So tell us a little bit about yourself and what you're doing for the autistic community.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

930.607

Okay. Now, how do you find the talent to do this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Blythe Corbett: Pioneering Autism Communication through Theater and Fostering Inclusive Expression

999.56

Is this being planned to go nationwide or maybe even worldwide if you could?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1002.738

So when she hit 60s, she said life was just great. You also brought up another interesting topic. Do you have any issue with textures? I know a lot of autistic people have either food textures, clothing textures, that it just really doesn't work with them. Do you have any of those issues at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1037.21

Okay, that's great. So what about food textures? Does that bother you or her?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1067.625

Yeah, sure, sure. Now, what about meltdowns? Does she or you have a problem with meltdowns? I know you mentioned that you'd get upset in the corporate world. Was that a meltdown or were you just getting upset? It was like a low scale meltdown, I think.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1139.873

because she's got supportive people around her. She'll grow. She'll learn that she's autistic. And the people won't mind because they understand her. And she won't mind because she understands what's going on. And it'll just make a better environment for everybody involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1176.542

Absolutely. I don't think things have changed that much. One of the biggest things that I hear from all the parents is how their kids still, unfortunately, get bullied. The second thing that they fear is the females masking it and trying to fit in because that makes things very, very tough for the girls as well. I think the one good thing is that she's being raised properly.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1202.783

You've been through it. You understand it. And that gives you the opportunity to help her get through it as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1224.67

Yeah, absolutely. So now that you've adapted, you understand what you have to do, you understand who you are, what do you see for yourself over the next four or five years? Do you see yourself still growing, evolving, and building upon what you've already accomplished?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1308.465

Yeah, that makes absolute perfect sense. When you get ready to do these big events that have thousands of people and you have to take and meet and greet them, do you feel any anxiety prior to it, during it, or even after you've had the event?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1367.898

Right. So that actually requires a lot of energy from you where other people could slide in and then slide out and leave and not feel the effects. Many might not realize talking with people, shaking hands, meeting, greeting requires so much energy from you to do an event like that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1416.434

Yeah, absolutely. You just brought up an interesting topic. You mentioned that you would see others laughing at a joke possibly, and you'd laugh along because others are too. I've spoken with several autistic people that when they're around people one-on-one, and they're joking and carrying on like that, they have a hard time processing it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1440.993

Do you have that same hard time, difficulty in processing somebody that's trying to be humorous in a one-on-one situation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1459.353

Yeah. How do you handle something like that? I mean, you just brought up the fact that you like to get away if you can, and you have a linear way of thinking in most cases like that. Then they're making their movements or facial expressions or whatever they're doing to put the joke across. How do you process it? And what do you do so that you can get through a situation like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1493.149

Yeah, I get it. You do what you have to do and that way you can move on. So now your daughter's seven. What do you see for her in the next five years? She's still learning, adapting. How do you see her evolving over a period of time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1545.65

Yeah, that's a great idea. So what would you tell a parent or someone like yourself? They're living their life and then all of a sudden they're getting diagnosed. What would you tell them now that they're just finding out that they are diagnosed autistic? What advice would you give them to help them through their journey?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1600.056

Yeah, I think that's great because one of the most common things I hear is when a parent first finds out that their child may be autistic is they are thrown in this world that they know nothing about. They have to kind of learn it as they go because there's no real manual that they can learn and then come back and use.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1619.545

They have to live this every day and start their journey worrying every day about their kids. And it's tough.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1636.092

Yeah, absolutely. There's always a path. They just have to find it. So what would you like to leave us with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1665.692

Exactly. Yeah, that's a great thing. Well, I really appreciate you coming on. I think this has been really, really interesting, a good conversation, and I think people are going to enjoy it. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Oh, it's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1689.359

We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

1719.713

and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

235.566

I get that. A lot of things happen that same way in the music business here in Nashville. So was the Forsaken your first book that you released?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

270.702

That's just so good that it happened that way. And then from there, you started putting more product out there and really started flourishing as a writer and getting well known around the world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

310.453

So did you ever in your wildest dreams think that with everything going on, that your work would rise to this level of success? No, because, you know, everybody kept telling me you can't make a living doing this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

34.918

Hopefully, you'll gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantra. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. We're honored to have J.D. Barker, renowned New York Times and international bestselling author, joining us today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

384.162

43.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

384.762

Okay. So you're doing everything right. The books are just flying off the shelf. Did you have that feeling that something just wasn't right? You got a late diagnosis for autism. So what happened that made you decide you had to check it out to see what's going on?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

485.02

So once you started working with your therapist and you kind of figured out what was going on, how long did it take you to get your actual diagnosis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

499.488

All right. So once you was diagnosed, you really didn't know that much about autism and what it's all about. Like you said, the main thing that you knew about autism was Rain Man. Right. How did your perception change once you was diagnosed? Then what did you do to find out more about it and understand the autistic community so that you could thrive in it and help others as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

580.854

Yeah, I find that pretty interesting. I've talked with a lot of autistic people over the last several years. Most of them will talk slow. Some are a little bit faster in speech than others. Very rarely do you have anyone that's actually a fast talker. What did your therapist think that could have caused your fast talking?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

64.07

He will share his personal journey of discovering his autism diagnosis and how he leverages his platform to challenge societal stereotypes and foster greater understanding of autism through public engagement and interviews. Welcome and thank you for coming on. Thanks for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

642.651

Okay. Yeah. I mean, that makes total sense. So you mentioned briefly that you was focused on things. That's one thing that autistic people that I've dealt with had in common is they become very focused. And when they do become focused, they tune out the rest of the world and only focus on that one thing. Did you find that that was what you'd been doing pretty much all your life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

728.898

Yeah, that is just so good. I talk with so many people that have kids or they've been late diagnosed like yourself, and they often refer to their autism as their superpower. And I think that's just great. So once you started putting it all together and you started understanding what you had to deal with, you kind of knew something wasn't right, but you didn't know that it was autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

756.219

So when you met with your therapist and was diagnosed as autistic and you were living the way that you lived, so once you got that diagnosis, how much did it change your lifestyle and the pattern in the way that you live today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

795.6

Right. As they say, autism is a lifetime thing. It's not just part time. So how did it or did it affect your circle of friends once you got diagnosed and found out that you were autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

83.282

So if you would, give us a little background on your writing, how it's developed over the years to ultimately get you where you are today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

861.141

Yeah, that's a great way to look at it. That's a great way to handle it. I spoke with an autistic guy that was married to a neurotypical woman. They had a very inspirational way of looking at it. They looked at it as two different people from two different cultures living in the same house and learning how to adapt to each other. And it's been extremely successful.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

908.57

Okay, so how is she handling it? Is she thriving and doing good or is she having some difficulties dealing with it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

J.D. Barker: From Aspiring Writer to Bestselling Author and Autism Advocate

981.57

Yeah, I spoke with a lady that kind of thought the same thing as you just brought up. She felt like she was the odd person out and got pushed over into the corner, just as you spoke of. She found out that she was autistic in her late 40s. She said that she feels like she lost four decades. Her 50s was just fabulous because she knew how to work around and what to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1016.654

Yeah, I get that. Completely understand. Now, what about your girlfriend? Did she know before you got together that you might have been autistic? Or was it after you got together that the autism came about? Can you expand on that a little bit?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1103.407

Yeah, that's great. Great attitude to have. Yeah. Now, did you ever get truly diagnosed, or did you just believe that you were and just went self-diagnosed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1151.059

I totally understand that completely. How long have you considered yourself autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1185.883

Yeah. So basically you're creating your own comfort zone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1207.231

Yeah, so what's your goals now? Where do you see yourself in three, say, five years from now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1341.728

Yeah, absolutely. Change is not always bad. Now, what would you like to tell our listeners that you think is important for them to hear about what you're doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1470.006

Yeah, yeah. When you look back, you can always say, oh, I should have done this or I should have done that. Is there anything that you look back on now that you would change? You would say, I should have done this instead of this, or I should have done that. Or are you happy with the journey that you've taken to get where you are now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1576.385

Yeah, that's a great message. This has been a great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on. Yeah, thanks Tony. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me. It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

1607.31

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

217.921

So how did you approach that? Because social... is sometimes very tough for an autistic person.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

326.863

Yeah, that's pretty understanding there. What type of modeling did you do? Did it require a lot of changes in clothes? All modeling does.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

34.941

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Joining us today is Stephen Waddell. He's a model and a blogger specializing in writing about his health and wellness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

342.02

Did you have any issues with texture of clothes? I know some autistic people will have issues with texture of clothes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

381.112

With all of this happening, how did you come out of your shell? You're introverted. You was doing a lot of masking. Did you have to force yourself to get that unmasking, so to speak? How did you handle that? How did you approach it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

470.695

What did you do to change so that you could move forward in a different direction?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast. Hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA. Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you cry. Real life people. who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

549.284

Yeah, that does seem tall for a model.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

590.396

Did that help you move forward with that industry?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

63.318

He joins us today to discuss his experiences with autism and how it has impacted his life's journey, as well as his strategies for managing it and his career choices. He has a unique approach and will undoubtedly share valuable insights with us. Thanks for coming on. Yeah, no, for sure, man. So if you would, give us a little information about yourself.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

681.152

What about sensory overload? Did you have any instances where that happened to you during all the things that you was doing in your daily life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

739.884

Yeah, that's good. Whatever it takes, right? What about meltdowns? Do you have any issues there? Some autistic people have meltdowns, some don't. How are you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

777.875

Sure. Now, what about food? I know a lot of people have issues with certain food textures. They don't like it. They can't eat it. They have to find something that's different that they can like. How does that affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

807.526

That's really good. Now, you said that you're trying to move on from the modeling and get more into the world of charity and nonprofits.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story

948.731

Sure, that makes total sense. Now, what about friends? Since you've been trying to expand a little bit, have you come out of your shell or do you still have a small circle of friends and keep it very close to what you feel comfortable with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1020.618

Yeah, I think that's awesome. How has it affected your family? Have they accepted it or are they learning and growing right along with you on it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1087.31

Unfortunately, it's the big unknown. It's the big misunderstanding. So many people do not even understand what autism is. So because of that, They only have their perception of what it is, which is Rain Man. I had a person tell me one time she told a person that she was autistic and the comeback was, well, you don't look autistic. Because of that, she wished that she hadn't told her.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1118.467

The unfortunate part is the understanding is just not there yet. So we just need to keep pushing all the information we can, and hopefully people can get more knowledge and understanding about autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

119.784

Yeah, that was Tori.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1224.982

Absolutely. People have to understand that some of the most intelligent people in the history of the world were autistic. So you're right. Perception is everything in the dynamics of what people see and what they understand about autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1299.406

Yeah, absolutely. You should be. And I love the shirt that you have on. People can't see it, but it says, I woke up with autism today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1362.074

born anxious so yeah I think it's just once you start to speak to people as well who are no divergent or just have an understanding it just it makes you feel like you're not on your own kind of thing absolutely that's actually part of my intro and outro for my podcast is that you are not alone in this world what would you like to tell people that you might want to express to them about how you feel about the autism and the community

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

137.199

Yeah, I get that. And I'm just really glad that you came on. So when you get that kind of attitude with them saying that you're not autistic, how do you deal with that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1432.728

yeah i stay away from facebook i find facebook i don't really like that instagram i like instagram linkedin you know linkedin is a great one for connecting with people globally yeah there's a lot of good ones out there i like facebook i get a lot of interaction on it instagram is pretty good for me twitter not so much LinkedIn is good, of course.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1453.915

So yeah, it's just a matter of using all of them and getting the most out of it that you can so that it does what you need it to do. And that's really all that matters.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1484.392

Yeah, I totally get that for sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1497.956

Yeah, for sure. I think that with social media, it's kind of like the real world. You have to block out all the negativity and just only deal with the people that are giving you the positive vibes that you're looking for in real life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1538.089

Yeah. I totally agree on that. Well, it's been a great conversation. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1552.559

How do people find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1568.732

Well, that's great information. It's been a great conversation. And again, I've really enjoyed this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1582.563

Yeah, I agree. It's been great. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

1615.684

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

198.8

Yeah, that's a great attitude to have. That's one of the biggest issues that I think I have talking with people is the ability for others to understand what autism actually is. Really, until I started this podcast a couple of years ago, I was one of those people. I didn't know what autism was. It wasn't in my family. I didn't have any friends that were autistic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

221.405

But after having this podcast and listening to people tell their stories, such as yourself, it hopefully is going to open up more dialogue where people will start understanding. And hopefully it's just going to make the world just a little bit better.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

329.659

Yeah, I can't disagree there. So how old was you when you was diagnosed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Today's guest is Dez, also known as Love Art Pics, an award-winning multimedia artist and X5 award finalist. He is currently working on a documentary in production and serves as an art focus consultant.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

384.855

Now that you've been diagnosed, what were some of the things that led you to believe that you needed to get checked out and ultimately get your diagnosis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

614.785

How have you changed your thought process and your daily routines from the point of where you thought you might be autistic until the time that you did find that you were autistic? So how has that changed for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

70.149

Dez is also autistic and has joined us to share his story. We definitely appreciate his participation. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

767.719

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. One of the things that I like to do in my podcast is to have conversations like we're having right now. I feel that if the people that are listening hear a good conversation, they're going to follow and understand what you're saying and be more engaged because it just seems more natural to them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

792.285

Add to that that you might give me an answer that leads to another question and then it expands the conversation and things just get better from there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

842.881

Absolutely. When did you start your artwork? Is this something you've been doing recently or all your life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Loveartpix: Overcoming Autism Stigmas, Embracing Artistic Expression, and Advocating for Neurodivergent Inclusion

911.396

Yeah, I think that's just great. Is art your main focus now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1015.658

Now, what about electronics? Do you have a room focused on that as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1089.949

That sounds like a really great environment. If you would, expand on the duties of the staff members and how they interact with the members.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1193.915

That's a really impressive statement. What areas do you usually find a clubhouse?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1266.441

Yeah, and that makes great sense. Now that brings up another question. How long have you been with Clubhouse?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1286.285

What are your projections for Clubhouse's growth and expansion over the next three to five years? Do you foresee it becoming significantly larger than it is currently?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1470.389

That sounds really, really good. Now, we've covered a lot of things. But what would you like to tell our listeners that they need to know that you think is very important for them to understand about what you're trying to do with clubhouses around the world?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1605.701

Can you tell us a little bit about your website and what they can find on there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1674.713

Yes, absolutely. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1688.142

I certainly will. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

1721.019

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

202.358

Yes, that sounds really good. What else do you help them with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

269.386

Do you find the participation to be good with all the members?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Today we're joined by Joel Corcoran, Executive Director and CEO of Clubhouse International, a global network of over 370 clubhouses across 32 countries.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

401.949

How long has the clubhouse been in operation, and what's its history of development and growth?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

496.291

you kind of beat me to the punch. My next question was, is it regional, national, or international? So you've answered that, it's international. So can you expand on how many there are and where they might be?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

523.106

That's great. That's really good to hear what an impact you are making. Now, are all the clubhouses around the world modeled in the same way? And of course, the way that they work with the people that are members?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

634.124

When someone says they need help, what's the process to bring them into your supportive environment and setting up resources to help them rebuild their life and pursue the vision they originally had and hopefully can attain again for their future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

71.01

Clubhouse International provides individuals living with mental illness a supportive community, offering opportunities for friendship, employment, housing, education, and access to medical and psychiatric services in a caring, safe environment. Joel is here to share insights about this transformative organization. Thanks for coming on. Sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

806.826

Are there any accommodations at the clubhouse where if someone is in dire need of a place to stay, that there's something temporary for them, like if they're going to school or anything along that line?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

897.546

Sure, that makes sense. So could you describe when a member first walks through those doors, what do they see first? How is the clubhouse laid out? Can you give us a little bit of a visual on how the clubhouse is laid out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach

93.754

Could you give us an overview of your organization, your responsibilities, and the goals you have?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1015.768

Yeah, that's so true. I think that's awesome that you help out and do that. As you know, the autistic community is either unemployed or underemployed. It's not good.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1048.533

Yeah, I think that's really good. How many people do you have working for you now? I mean, you've got eight different locations in several different states. Do you have a lot of people working at your organization?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1086.388

Wow, that's great. Now you're in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Florida.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1094.515

Now you're thinking of expanding from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1114.039

Yeah, I think that's a great thing to think about doing. It will help a lot of people. Plus, it didn't take you long to get to the eight states. So I don't think that's anything that's out of the possibilities of happening. I think that's great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

116.642

Which one come first? How did you develop it and evolve from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1163.434

Well, that's definitely a good thing to know. What do you do in a case where someone might call you? You're not in that state yet. So do you refer them to someone else? What do you do in a case like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1200.967

That's a great thing to know. You said it takes sometimes two to five years. These people can't wait two to five years. Is there a quick thing to where you can help them or do they still need to find others? What do you do in cases like that where they just don't have the time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1285.466

Yeah, that's where we need to get the federal government more involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1290.348

Like a national health service that would cover a situation just like you're talking about.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1339.275

Yeah, that's very, very important for sure. One of the biggest things that I find out because of the people I speak with is they are just so overwhelmed when they first find out and they just don't know what to do at all. They don't know what's available out there. They don't know what service, what agency. They are just so overwhelmed with their child and trying to help them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1363.267

The states don't need to make it easier They need to make the process quicker so people like yourself can get out there and help those that really need it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1435.64

That's such great information. How do people get in touch with you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1469.4

That's great. I think everyone will appreciate that. So what is your website?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1483.592

That's great. Then from there, they can go into your website, figure out which state that you're in and they're in, and contact you from there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

150.464

Wow, that's great. What kind of a process was it to get that started and then expand it to all the other states that you're in currently?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1523.567

I think that's great. A lot of information, a lot of things that people can contact you about. Anything else that you'd like to say?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1558.891

Oh, that's really awesome. Really, really good. I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1565.574

Oh, the pleasure has been all mine. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

1597.93

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

181.187

One of the things that I hear from several different people is autistic children, the autistic community, pretty much all across the country, have the same needs. Unfortunately, it's the way the different states operate that causes some issues. So how do you handle that with the way that you do business?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

271.792

When you deal with people that have issues with the state and they're autistic and their family's struggling, do you find that the state will give you what you need or do you still have to fight for the client to get them everything that they need to move forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mentor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Gabriella Salcido, who established the Roman Empire Agency in 2010 to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

362.313

Absolutely. I've heard that many times. What ages do you find yourself working with most of the time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

392.984

Yeah, that's good to know. I found that one in seven people around the world either know someone or has someone that's autistic in their family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

419.554

Yes, absolutely. Change is definitely needed. Now, in some states, they age out at 18. In other states, they age out at 21. What do you do to help those that have aged out? As we all know, autism does not stop at 18 or 21. It continues, so they still need help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

487.063

That's great. What's first then?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

521.16

That makes total sense. What's next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

576.006

Now, I'm sure the next step is when they turn 18 or above. What's next then?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

631.73

Yeah, and that's a very scary thing for the parents. Now, do you help in that at all with the transitions like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

67.913

Currently operating in eight states, she is striving to expand her services nationwide. Welcome to the show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

691.492

Yes, that's very important for both of them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

720.066

Yeah, that's very important things for people to know. Do you come to them or do you go to them? How does that work out for your company?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

740.908

Okay, that makes sense. Now, when you take on a new client, you decide what they need. Do you go to their homes to help them or do they come to your office to decide what is needed to move forward with your company?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

759.591

All right, so you actually go to their homes, look at what they're doing, diagnose what's going on, and then formulate a plan so that everything can get better for them with your services.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

77.386

Oh, it's my pleasure. How long have you been working with autism, mental health, and the special needs community?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

806.226

Yeah, that sounds like a tremendously good plan. Now, once you have that laid out, you've done your diagnosis of what the family needs, then you lay out what they need to do to accomplish it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

817.295

Have you had situations where you look at everything, you have your reservations if this will work or not, then you get working with them, they're following through, you still have your doubts, but then all of a sudden, it just works out. Have you had that happen?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

882.807

That's great to know. What are some of the steps that you do to help that transition? I've heard from several people, and there seems to be a big gap. There are several charities trying to build that bridge between autism and the first responders. So do you do that collectively or individually?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

951.809

Yes, that's so right. The education part of it is just so tremendously important. Have you ever had anyone that you've worked with that did so well that after you got them through it, they went in, they studied, they went to school, then all of a sudden they became therapists and came to work for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Gabriela Salcido:Creating Lifelong Pathways for Autism Services Across America

99.183

Oh, that's perfect. When you started your company, is that the Roman Empire Agency? Yes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1005.339

Yeah. So how did that affect your mental capacity? I mean, you're dealing with pain. You're dealing just so much discomfort. You're dealing with so many things that will actually throw you out of your normal routine. So how did that affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1072.298

How it affected you? Oh, well, yes. Because when you're hurting, it can be depressing. So how did you react to that depressive state because of the pain that you was going through?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1130.211

the broken bones, everything that you've done is your body of work. And unfortunately, it can be the depression as well. That led you to be an ambassador for mental health of America, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1142.707

So what do you do to put that out there to help others and coordinate everything all in the package that you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1185.566

Oh, that's no problem at all. So that ultimately led you to starting your own charity.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

119.198

That makes total sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1222.256

That's great. So is this a charity that just focuses on your local area or are you trying to branch out and create it to go nationwide?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1347.492

Yeah, that's a great story. And it's just awesome that you was able to get there to help those people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1397.539

Sure, that makes sense. So how do people get in contact with you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1447.725

Yeah, that's great. Let's talk about your book a little bit. Can you give us a little information on how that came to happen?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

149.26

Yeah, I think we all can relate to that in some form.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1527.408

100%.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1529.009

So what's the name of the book? The name is called Bulletproof, ironically, right? Yeah, that's a great title. So how do they find it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1549.824

Well, that's great. I really appreciate you coming on. This has just been a fascinating conversation and I'm hoping that everybody that listens to it is going to get as much out of it as I did. Thanks again.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1593.465

Yeah, I am. And I really appreciate you saying that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1610.239

Absolutely. And I think that's what we have in common is that you're trying to do the same thing as well. So again, I really appreciate you coming on. It's been great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1621.649

It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

1653.752

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

166.116

Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. So at what age, I guess, did you start feeling like you was maybe different than the rest or things weren't falling in line like others?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

216.169

Yeah, that's a tough thing to go through as a kid.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

235.692

Yeah, I get that. I mean, my podcast that you're on now is mainly focused on autism. It covers, just like you're saying, the varied ways that people deal with it and find out. And I think the most important thing that we're getting out of this is that mental health is very important no matter what it happens to be.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

254.726

Just like you were saying earlier, mental health issues, no matter what it is, have not been talked about and have not been brought to the forefront. So with that said, you brought up your friends and family. How did that affect them? How did that affect you? Did you have bullying or do you have issues in school because of it? How did you work your way through that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today marks a special episode, our monthly bonus installment. I'll be engaging in conversation within the mental health sector that's outside of the autistic community. This will provide valuable insights which will enhance our understanding.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

341.099

So when you had your first episode, everybody was kind of shocked and didn't know what to do. How do they handle it? If they're not used to it, they don't know what it's about. They're confused. What was their dynamic in the way that they approached to make it better for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

422.282

Oh, yeah, yeah. In the autistic world, when a kid hits their teens, it's a huge change with all the hormones going on. So if you stop and think about it, it's tough for the neurotypical world. So just imagine adding autism, bipolar, or any other special needs situation to the scenario.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

451.224

Yeah, absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

463.307

Yeah. So when you were going through your changes during your teen years, did it affect your ability to relate to the other kids? Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

517.722

Yeah, right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

542.094

Yeah, I mean, that makes total sense. Now, what I find really interesting is that you had all these things going on in your life. And later in your teens, you got into racing. So with everything that you had going personally, emotionally, and to get into racing, which has a huge adrenaline rush. So how did all those scenarios and dynamics mix?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

662.703

Okay. So now there's a point in time, and you'll have to clarify this for me because I don't know the timeline, but evidently you had a time that you was feeling your lowest and you drove to this mountaintop

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

679.611

with the whole idea of ending your life and then all of a sudden it didn't happen right okay so first what led you to that and then second when it didn't happen what led you to put the gun down and say you know now's the time i have to make a difference i haven't had that question

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

71.784

This discussion aims to shed light on how we can collectively create a more inclusive environment for everyone. Justin Peck joins us today to discuss his daily approach to maintaining mental wellness and resilience. Thanks for joining us.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

726.394

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

87.629

I see you're an advocate for special needs, autism, and mental health. What led you to be an advocate for all these people that ultimately need this help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

874.115

Wow. That's truly an amazing story. I'm glad it worked out the way that it did. So how long after that was it that you got into racing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

895.37

Wow, that's awesome.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

919.708

Yeah, that was a tough few years.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

946.86

That's great. So of course, with racing, everybody thinks what?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

952.424

So what kind of racing is it that you are into? So for the people that are listening can look it up and hopefully follow you on what you're doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Justin Peck: Racing to Resilience – Transforming Bipolar Challenges into Mental Health Advocacy and Community Support

994.027

I'm glad that you brought that up because actually that was my next question. It says that you have like 84 broken bones in your body.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1141.106

Yeah, when I spoke with Temple Grandin, she said, give me a pilot's checklist. I'll get it done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1337.372

Yeah, yeah, that's true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1339.993

I've said that in the neurotypical world, let alone the neurodiverse. To me, it just makes no sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1347.957

I agree.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1360.623

Yeah, exactly.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1362.644

What is very important to you that you need to let our listeners know about the journey in what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1505.171

Yeah, it's sad we have to compare like that. Like you said, everyone's different.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1607.08

Yeah, I agree 100%.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1610.225

Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1626.737

100%.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1639.233

Exactly.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1667.58

It'd be boring too.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1690.838

Absolutely. This has been a really good conversation. I appreciate you coming on my show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1725.64

That's great. That's great. Well, this has been good. Very, very informative.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1748.137

Yeah, you were so correct there. Again, I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

175.324

What were some of the things that you noticed he wasn't doing that you thought he should have been doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1758.739

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

1792.42

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

304.869

That must have been really frustrating to deal with when you know what you know as a mother. So how did you handle it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Meet the World. Joining us today is Teresa Haskins, an educator, researcher, and notably, a mother with an autistic child. Her journey began seeking answers. which led to providing those answers by immersing herself in learning.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

412.13

With all this happening, what was your next plan of action?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

519.434

With all the emotions going on, the ups and downs, researching seemed to be a good thing. Where did that path of research lead you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

660.888

That's a great question. What are you implementing to try and hopefully change some of this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

71.341

This led to her teaching others how to help themselves find success and achieve their full potential in a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable world. It's a pleasure to have her on to share her expertise with us. Thanks for joining us.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

729.491

Yeah. When you meet someone for the first time, you're trying to explain to them what you just explained to me. How do you get that across? There's this big mystery in some people's minds on what autism is. For example, when I first started my podcast, I knew nothing about autism. Zero. Now, a year and a half later, I've gathered enough information where I can understand what people are saying.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

758.817

I can follow along. A lot of people out there, when you mention autism, they think Rain Man, which is so far from the truth. So how do you try to create that bridge so the gap between the known and unknown is a little bit better for those that don't understand autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

91.597

If you would, let's just tell people what you do and how you got there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism

967.647

That's a great point. How do we move forward from that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1132.132

Exactly, exactly. And I think that your travels from Bulgaria to now into Belgium, I think that's really good that you've built that kind of following, but also that you've built a good life, getting along really well and things are getting better.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1228.388

Yes. So are you still in school doing this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1243.197

Once you get your master's, then you can go out and get work. Is this what your plans are to help autistic people with your designs?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1272.597

Yeah, good. How far along are you in the book?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1300.265

That's good. What would you like to tell people that are listening to this that might be in Europe or wherever they might be? What would you like to tell them so that they can have a good feeling that things can go better and they can still move forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

133.6

As he got older, did he get to the point where he started to talk more? How did that work out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1402.347

It's been awesome. I really appreciate listening to your journey and everything that you've done from Bulgaria to Belgium. So thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

1436.147

Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

243.942

Did you implement what you were doing into the school system since that's what you did was teaching?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

330.225

With all that happening, what did you have for plans that could help Roddy with his autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Today, I'm joined by Tanya and her niece Dara, who share their remarkable journey from Bulgaria across Europe, culminating in their relocation to Belgium with her autistic son, Roddy.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

480.854

Yes, that's definitely a concern for most parents. What kind of changes have you seen for Roddy since you made the move from Bulgaria to Belgium? Has there been anything noticeable that you see as far as the way he handles himself?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast. Hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA. Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

553.467

You're Roddy's cousin. What led you to leave Bulgaria to make the move to Belgium along with them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

588.502

Now you're a teacher, you have an autistic son. Do you work with other autistic children teaching them as well as you do Roddy?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

648.601

I think that's great. What kind of changes or differences have you seen since moving to Belgium? What's the difference between Bulgaria and Belgium in the way they work with autistic people?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

68.59

They initially reached out to me via Instagram to share their experiences traveling across Europe while listening to my podcast. It's an absolute pleasure to have them as a guest on today's episode. Welcome.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

735.542

Did he have problems with bullying or any situations like that while he was in Bulgaria? How did the other kids treat him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

83.225

It's my pleasure. You traveled all the way from Bulgaria to Belgium for your son. Tell us a little bit about him, if you would.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

865.242

So did you leave behind a large family? How did that work with you leaving Bulgaria to move to Belgium? Because ultimately you thought it would help Friday. How did that work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tanya's Journey Across Europe for Autism Advocacy and Inclusive Education

902.628

Do you get a chance to get back to Bulgaria from time to see your family? If you do, how does the interaction go since you moved and how does Roddy get to see and be with relatives?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1101.458

Now, you wrote a book. In that book, didn't you address some of these issues with the families and how things could be adapted to help them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1305.521

I'm sure because people know what you're going through, what you've been through, they probably reach out to you for advice.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1405.76

That must give you just a great feeling to have the ability to help some of these people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1536.604

What about the economics and how it affects people?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1591.32

Yeah, that's a great point. If we can just get that stigma away from it so people can embrace it and find ways to help. I was speaking with a guy. He says, if I tell people I'm autistic, they question him. Yet, if he was to tell them that he had cancer, they would say, oh, that's too bad. How can I help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1611.389

So ultimately, we have to get that cohesiveness so everyone can find it within themselves to reach out to people, whether it's autism, mental health, doesn't matter what it is. They have to find it within themselves to offer their hand and help. That's right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1691.463

Absolutely. What is it that you would like to tell the listeners that you feel is very important for them to hear concerning all the work that you're trying to do to help those that need our help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1831.536

Yes, that's amazing that you brought up the part about work. I had Temple Grandin on the podcast. One of the most important things that she focused on was getting people back to work. She mentioned creating a pilot checklist for them to follow, getting them to the workforce where it would create a win-win situation for all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1885.194

That's all right. It's about anything that can help. This has been a great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1920.117

Yeah, I really appreciate that. It's been a really great journey for me working with as many people as I've worked with. Yeah, I'm very fortunate indeed. Yeah, it's great. It's great. Well, again, thanks for coming on. It's been great. Thanks so much, Tony. It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1947.887

We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

1978.228

and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

284.27

Yes, it's tough to get the support sometimes on something that is just so important.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

35.132

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs special event. Joining us today is Patrick Kennedy, a retired American politician and mental health advocate. He was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives who served from 1995 to 2011.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

399.229

When you was in Congress, you got several things done. How did you go about accomplishing that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

463.809

Yeah, absolutely. Over the last 20, 30 years, the perception of autism, mental health, it's changed. It still has a long way to go, though. There's still a certain perception that people have that is not true, yet that's what they think is true. So that's what we're stuck with.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

481.391

What can we do to change that so that people still have the opportunity to get help so they can get out there, work, have a family, and contribute the way they initially thought that they could?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

6.004

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Maitour. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

71.903

As the youngest son of Senator Ted Kennedy and nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and former Senator Robert Kennedy, he joins us to share his journey of becoming a mental health advocate. We are honored to have him join us today. Thanks for coming on. Oh, thank you for having me. It's my pleasure. You've written a lot of bills while you was in the House.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

748.59

How do we get this turned around so that we can get the action and the focus on what is needed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

921.471

Yes, I 100% agree. We definitely need to find a unity so that everyone can be helped. Unfortunately, in our country, we live in a society, if it doesn't affect us, it's not a problem. But then when it does affect us, it's a huge problem. Congress is exactly the same way. They live their lives just like everyone else.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

93.964

What kind of strategies went into formulating those bills to try and get them passed so the outcome is, of course, helping the people that need it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change

940.839

How do we get the point across to them that this is an issue that has to be addressed so that everyone in our country can live a fulfilled life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1062.381

Yeah, that's real tough. It's situations like that, along with other things with people that have severe mental health, that creates this stigma that no one really wants to talk about. And I find a lot of people do not want to accept that it's actually there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1079.537

It seems like it's always going to be until people start getting a better understanding about it that the whole perception they have will still be there. How do we beat that? How do we create an atmosphere where it's not something that people are afraid to talk about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1095.252

Then, of course, if something does happen, we have to make sure that it doesn't get overblown so it doesn't create a situation where nothing can get accomplished.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

115.388

What led you to get into this line of work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1208.948

I think what people need to know is for every bad situation out there, there is a good situation that happens that they need to hear about. If they can hear the good things along with the unfortunate bad things, like you said, be real with the truth of the good things that happen as well as the bad, maybe that can help build that pathway forward.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1230.825

to ultimately build that bridge to show that a bad situation with a person can be overcome and turn it into good.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1276.072

With everything that's being said here, I think, and I think you'll agree, that this has to be addressed on a national level. That way, there's at least a certain set of rules that they have to follow. Then, if the states decide they want to do more and make it better, that's a good thing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1314.879

When you say track, can you explain and expand on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1332.401

Yeah, it seems like there's something around every corner that is preventing you from moving forward to help these people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1398.297

It's kind of sad. I think people have a perception in their mind of all these people and the issues that they can have because they see it on TV or in the movies. Like I tell a lot of people that I work with here in Nashville, it's not like the movies.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1418.53

What would you like to tell people to give them a realistic view of what they need to know if they were ever to encounter something like this that we're talking about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1437.543

It can be either one. The main purpose of this podcast is for people that might not know anything about this. Then hopefully they can get a little understanding and information about what we're talking about.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1559.443

This is definitely a subject where people need to get a better understanding. So to make things a lot better for everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1605.772

Yeah, and then when he does get sicker, it's at the end where he could have been helped.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1618.612

Right, right. We definitely have to get more knowledge and more help out there to better help those people that need it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1745.157

Yeah, and that's very sad. Well, this has been great to have you on. Lots of great information, great conversation. I truly appreciate you taking the time to come on my podcast.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1768.017

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

180.621

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about that. That's a tough thing to take. What led up to this? What did a psychotic episode look like for your son?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

1801.046

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

221.113

It's my understanding that one in eight people around the world have some sort of mental disorder. I also understand it doesn't happen overnight. It often takes a while before it actually surfaces. Now, looking back at your son, is this something that developed over time or did it happen quicker than you expected?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

338.786

Once all of this had started, what was your pathway to try to get him back on track for better mental health?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

479.676

What were some of the things they tested him for to create that diagnosis that they ultimately gave you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

welcome to why not me the world podcast hosted by tony mentor broadcasting from music city usa nashville tennessee join us as our guests tell us their stories some will make you laugh some will make you cry real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world. Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

51.613

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Geri Clark, Resource and Advocacy Manager for TAC, the Treatment Advocacy Center. She's here to discuss her role and what led her to work with the center. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and we're pleased to have her on the show. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

537.554

Once you got past the ghosting of it all, what was the next step to try to get around that obstacle?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

636.144

I spoke with a lady just the other day. She brought up the same term that you just mentioned. If I remember correctly, I think it took her about three and a half years to get her son treated in such a way that there were no reoccurring issues that popped up.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

653.855

i believe it's been about a year now he's been really good with his medication what's the process to get that treatment and find it so they can take advantage of it so ultimately it can help them then after a while they start coming back to maybe not exactly what they were but better than they are at this point in time

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

75.68

Oh, it's my pleasure. Can we start off with what you are doing now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

772.744

So how do we change that? It only makes sense to me that sometimes we have to use common sense and that doesn't get used much. It's kind of like the police saying, well, we'd love to help him, but we can't because no crime has been committed yet. However, we know that that path is where it's leading to. So how do you get that involuntary help so that person doesn't create a problem?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

805.08

So that way he avoids the law and ultimately gets the help that he needs.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerri Clark: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy

889.85

So now with that said, you are working for a company that is advocating for some of those changes to be made. What are some of the things that you do, if not daily, weekly, or whatever the time frame may be, to work on getting some of those changes done so it's better for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1114.495

What's really sad, I've spoken with many people the thing that they say, we need to get it changed on the state level. Then I'll talk with others. They say, we need to get it changed on the federal level, because then the federal level will dictate what the state level actually does. However, that's not always the case. Getting anything changed at either level is like climbing Mount Everest.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1140.102

I spoke with a legislator on the national level. If it wasn't for his name and connections that he had, which allowed him to get his bill on another bill that was already happening, if not for that, it wouldn't have happened. He worked very hard to get change. So we need more like him that will try to get some things going for everyone's benefit. So how do we get past this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1166.343

Because it seems like the paperwork is just getting overloaded while people are still getting thrown in the system that just don't belong there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1274.275

I've always been a believer, a firm believer, that if you want to get something done, you work hard enough, it can get done. With that said, when you get into legislation, you get into the political side of things, and then all the parameters of it You just brought it up. Everyone's busy doing their own thing. They're focusing on one case at a time. When that's done, they move on to the next one.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1298.645

There has to be a way where someone can get across to these people, make them realize not only are they saving millions of dollars, but they're saving themselves time and they're helping people along the way. I hate to say that it seems hopeless, but boy, it almost seems like you're a novice mountain climber looking at Mount Everest as your first mountain to climb.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1423.962

Yeah, there's a certain amount of the population that will never, ever get better. Unfortunately, they seem to be a lost cause. You just mentioned the homeless. They're not a lost cause. They don't have the knowledge. They don't have the money. They just lost their direction. They have the stress. Some of them are autistic, have sensory overload.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1447.256

It just throws them into a world where they just don't know what to do. Then they have those that push back, telling them they can't do it, which takes away their hope in trying to do it. Ultimately, we have to get across to the legislators, both state and national, that this is something that absolutely has to be changed to make things better for everyone. How do we do this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1547.189

Absolutely. So in closing, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is important that they hear about what we've been talking about and, of course, what you're doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1633.148

Yeah, so true. Well, this has been a great conversation, a lot of great information. I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1642.914

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

1675.912

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

225.782

Yeah, I can understand that for sure. Is the criminal justice system really set up to handle mental health or autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

341.685

Not a problem at all. Now, you have been on both sides as a prosecutor and as a defender. What do you see the differences, the way they approach it as a prosecutor and as a defender? How can we help get more understanding for the prosecutors, the judges? Get them to understand that people with autism or mental health issues are not just sitting down and planning out how to commit a crime.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

35.129

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. We are joined today by Brian Schrader, a seasoned criminal lawyer with a distinguished career in the legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

370.968

They are doing things that they just don't understand themselves, which puts them in a situation where they're faced with the legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

527.026

Yeah, absolutely. I think you hit it spot on. I've talked with so many people regarding this subject matter. I've talked with attorneys such as yourself. I've talked with judges, psychotherapists, CIT trainers. They all have similar thoughts such as yourself. Now, I've seen where mental health issues are 1% of the population. The autistic community is 1% of the population.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

553.068

They are a small minority, yet their numbers... are staggering with the legal system. Because of that, you would think they would put their heads together, come up with a plan that will help these people. There's a retired judge in Miami that's created a 218,000 square foot facility because he sees the need.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

577.077

How do we get other people, other judges, to join this initiative where it can help all these people around the country?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

6.004

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Maitour. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

66.781

Initially, he served as prosecutor since 2008 and briefly participated in the Mental Health Diversion Program. Subsequently, he transitioned to criminal defense after leaving the state attorney's office. We are fortunate to have him share his vast expertise on our show. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

666.917

I recently spoke with a former police officer. He trains other police officers around the country about autism and how to interact with them on a call. He gave me an example that he uses in his class. It shows how a qualified and highly trained police officer can misinterpret the actions of someone that may be autistic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

690.405

The officer did everything by the book and everything he did would have been correct in most every situation except for that one. He had not had any training of autistic people. This autistic person was just stemming and he took it as a drug issue. Everything the autistic person was doing mimicked what a person on drugs would have been doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

717.034

The person did tell the police officer that he was stemming. Unfortunately, the officer just did not understand. He treated it like a drug issue, handcuffed the man. As luck would have it, the mother was close by, explained everything, and it worked out all right. Now, if the mother had not been there, this would have turned into a legal situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

742.542

I realize that there needs to be more training on the first responders, which a lot of people are doing and a lot of the first responders are getting now. My opinion is the ADA, the DA, judges, anyone involved in the legal system has to get this kind of training. I realize there's not any ongoing training that the legal system has to have,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

766.699

Yet this is so crucial to getting the understanding of autism and mental health issues out there so that the legal system can better serve those that need it. How do we get that done?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

86.8

Thanks so much. Can you give us a brief introduction to what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

892.473

Yeah, which is sad. What you just brought up reminds me of a conversation I just recently had with a retired judge. He was sent to a prison. He was 17 years old at the time. The inmate was being treated for schizophrenia and given multiple drugs. As it turned out, he wasn't schizophrenic at all. He was autistic. By seeing that, he remembered it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

916.963

When he became a judge, he tried to use empathy in the way that he treated the people that came in front of him. He found by putting them in places they could get treatment, They didn't show up a second time, which saved taxpayers millions of dollars over a period of time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

935.812

So if one judge in one part of the country can figure this out, why can't we get other judges across the country collectively together so that it could save taxpayers millions and millions of dollars, plus help the people that actually need the help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

107.495

He continues to advocate for those with serious mental health challenges, bringing tremendous insight to his work. It's truly an honor to have him here, generously sharing his deep insights and remarkable journey with us. Thanks for coming on! No problem. Let's tell us a little bit about your story, because it's a pretty fascinating story of what you've done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1103.741

So I guess the big question is, you've been very fortunate that you found the book. You did your due diligence. You figured it out. And you've been able to work it through so that your life can be what you'd hoped it was in the earlier life. Now, how do we help those that they don't have that deep dive ability?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1124.56

They're just relying on doctors or they're just relying on psychiatrists or medication to stop it. How do we get it out there so that we can help the greater amount of people that need the help rather than just a select few that might do what you did?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1174.295

The only way to get changes like that sometimes is through legislation. And even that can't help that part of it because you're talking about doctors and the way that they treat people and help them and continue to try to help. It seems like the dog chasing his tail here. How do we figure this thing out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1233.246

Wow, that's not good because they're the ones that are supposed to give you support and help. I've talked with several different people and they went through 10 years of hell, you know, basically figuring this thing out. But then once they figured it out, got the right medication, got the right treatment, They've gone on to have very satisfying lives.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1252.454

So we need to get that out there so that not only the doctors and the mental health institutions know and promote it, but so that it can help take the stigma away from people that don't understand it. Because I think one of the biggest challenges that we have is the average person like myself that don't understand everything about it because we haven't been around it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1273.72

So we've got to get the masses to understand that just because some label is put on somebody, it doesn't mean it's a death sentence.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

128.588

What started your getting in to support the NSSC?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1313.262

Yeah. Because there's this big dark cloud hovering over it and stopping people from understanding that it's not the end of the world. It just means that someone has to take and help these people so they can get back on where they were and start creating the life that they would hope that they're going to have.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1404.298

So, wow, I just didn't realize it was this deep. How do we get there? I mean, because there are so many layers to this. You've got the legal system, which we always worry about. We've got the medication to get them at least to get it to stop. And then you've got the knowing and the things that you've just gone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1421.45

The one thing that kind of connect all these things together are the doctors and the nurses and all that that are supposed to help. So if they're a challenge, how do we get this to the point of where we can get those people that lessen that challenge and actually get into the ditch and help dig the ditch and help the people that need to help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1542.442

Yeah. Wow. So in closing, you've covered a lot of things, and I think it's really good information that people need to hear. What would you like to say that you think is the most important thing for people to understand in the closing statement here?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1576.553

Yeah, it's been great. A lot of great information. I really appreciate you coming on. Thanks. Glad to help. Thank you very much, Tony. It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

1602.328

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

228.984

When you first sit down with a new group, what is some of the things that you do, say to them to make them realize that they are not in this by themselves? They have someone that will help and definitely know that they are not alone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

267.92

Okay, so everyone that has this illness is affected differently, of course. then you have to approach it and focus on the things that are most important to them and their lives. What do you find that are some of the more important things that people will bring up to you that they may not know or they may just need more clarification about it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Daryl Herman. He's a retired U.S. Army captain and computer programmer from a small family farm in Weston, Kansas, about 30 miles east of Dodge City.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

363.638

It's an illness, just like any other. I think that's a great thing to point out. Now that you've addressed that, I think it needs to be more focused so people do realize that it's not their fault. Sometimes people with psychosis, because of the stigma that's attached with it, think that they're bad, but they're really not. They just need some help. So how do you address this with people?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

386.846

so they can realize that they are not these demons people think they are. They just need some help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

538.857

Yeah, I think you had in your writing, you had something that was pretty impressive in the fact that a lot of people might not realize this or think about it, but you just touched on it just slightly there. I'd like to expand on that. And that's the fact that after they get the medication and it helps them, they still have the memories of what they thought happened, what they went through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

560.546

How do you get past that? Because some of these memories can be very delusional, as you were saying, and not real. So how do you get past that with the medication so that you can separate the two so you can still move forward and not let the past memories affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

632.764

Okay. So when that happens, is it medication and therapy of just talking it out that will help them at least better understand what they've been through so they can move forward and have that better life that they want to have?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

692.808

When you had the groups that you had, did you go into those kind of topics or what kind of conversations did you have within those groups? And how long did that usually last as far as the group time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

73.976

Specializing in field artillery and nuclear weapons, his military career ended after he sought treatment at an army hospital, believing he was being drugged with experimental medicine. Doctors recognized his delusions and emerging psychosis, leading to his discharge.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

765.627

When you experience that that's not real, in your mind that it is, how do you help Or how do you get the people that are around them to understand what they need so that they can still help them get through what they're going through? And then eventually, hopefully, they'll take and get a better side of where they were.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

90.067

He later earned a college degree and worked as a professional programmer, but job stress triggered mild delusional thinking, prompting him to go on disability. Since then, he's found purpose in volunteering, speaking to patients, and writing a book, Straight Talk About Living With Severe Mental Illness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

903.501

When you first started having these issues... Was you aware of it, that it was going on? What was your thought process to get to that point of where you realized that, okay, this isn't real and this is?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

973.65

Okay. So with the fact that no one told you and you had to do it on your own, there's a lot of people out there, unfortunately... they're not going to have that mindset to actually dig, find, and try and work it out. So what would you give people that when they start having this, I mean, it's the big black hole, it's unknown. So anything unknown can be very scary.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Darrell Herrmann : Straight Talk About Living With A Severe Mental Illness

997.87

And when people get scared, they will do things that they normally wouldn't do to compensate for it. How do you tell them where they can take a deep breath and relax a little bit to take and balance that so they can figure out what's going on and what they need to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1067.387

Yes, that's very true. We've covered a lot of great things here. The last one, I think, is the judges. There are a few out there that are trying to make some changes. There's a lot that aren't. Sometimes the prosecutor, the defense attorney will come up with something. The judge will say, no, that's too lenient. That's too harsh.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1088.405

How do we get them to be more empathetic and understanding of what autism and those with mental illness need so that we don't overload our prison system Because I've heard many times, prison system is not a hospital.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1208.943

Absolutely. So in closing, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they need to hear about what you do and what we've been talking about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1332.395

Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I mean, it's a tough situation for those involved. Many times, people like you and I are talking about it. We can say, well, we'll do this, we'll do this, this is what you need to do. When you're actually thrown into that situation, it is truly just overwhelming.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1348.563

Not only for the person that's going through it, all the people that went through it with them, the family, the lawyers, the judges, even the first responders that were there from the very beginning. It's just a tough situation for everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1391.041

Yeah, yeah, that makes perfect sense. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I'm sure we missed a few things. We covered a lot of important topics. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1405.125

It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

1437.147

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

175.427

Okay, let's expand a little bit on your forensic work. When people hear the word forensic, I'm sure they have different ideas of what it could be. It's probably quite different from what they think it is to what it actually is. Could you expand on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

273.277

I'm intrigued about the legal side of it. Most people that I know who do not have autism or mental health in their family, they just don't understand it. They don't know how the autistic brain works. They also don't understand how those with mental illness, how their brains work either. They don't realize that many autistic people look at things in a different view than they do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

297.88

So when they wind up on the wrong side of the law, it's my understanding that many of those in the legal system have the same challenges. They don't understand autistic people or those with mental health. So my question is, how do you address that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

35.081

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Hand Cuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is John Poles, a psychotherapist who is a licensed clinical social worker and a master certified addiction professional.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

398.527

So this goes deeper than just the legal system because the first responders that are the ones that see them out in the streets. I've had the pleasure of talking with several different people that work between the autistic community and the first responders.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

415.296

A lot of people will throw darts at the police, putting the blame on them when they don't realize they've only got seconds sometimes to make a decision whether a person is going to be trying to hurt themselves or trying to hurt someone else. How do we change that so that the first response hopefully is the last response and it doesn't wind up going past that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

5.953

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

560.757

Let's take it to the next step now. Let's say the first responders show up. Unfortunately, it gets out of control. Now they're faced with the legal system. Depending on the situation, that can be a very huge cost Not only are they faced with an overwhelming situation, now they're faced with, who do we call? Who will understand that their son or daughter is autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

586.342

How do they go about finding someone that knows something about autism and can help them through this most terrifying situation that they're in?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

66.888

He'll be sharing his journey of how he helps others in need. It's a pleasure to have him here today. Thanks for coming on. Of course. Thanks for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure. If you would, give us a little insight on what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

687.102

Yeah, that's a good point. Now, my next comment, and feel free to tell me if you think that I'm wrong in this, you're standing in front of that judge. It's tremendously overwhelming. You only have a certain amount of time to make a presentation to the judge and get a lawyer. Just like when the parents first found out that their child was autistic, it was the big unknown.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

709.117

Now they're standing in front of a judge. It's an even bigger unknown. A lawyer is definitely crucial at that point in time. So how does that get put in place?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

785.868

Yeah, it is. My next step, I think I want to go to the end and then we'll work our way back. They go through this whole process. They wind up incarcerated. Now we have another whole different level of people that truly do not understand the autistic world or those with mental illness. So for a perfect example would be an autistic person goes into sensory overload.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

809.205

The guards, unfortunately, just do not understand what they're going through. How do we help those that work in the prisons so that something like this wouldn't happen?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

931.01

Yeah, that's great advice. Now, let's go to the prosecutor. They're the ones that are trying to put them in jail. How do we get across to them? Because many of them do not understand autism or mental illness. They're out to get a win. Not all of them, but they just don't understand it. If you don't get someone that has a little empathy on that side of it, it is a very tough battle.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System

954.555

How do we win there? We need to get a point across to them that is not all people belong in prison. How would you address that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1085.647

That was really good for him to have that discussion with them on the situation that you were in. What did he advise them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1147.829

Okay, well, that definitely makes sense. Once you were in the hospital, how long did it take with the treatment they gave you for you to get back to a path to where you are today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1414.053

In your mind and in your parents' mind, you'd lost a decade. Now you've changed your medication. How did that affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1623.361

Absolutely. Now, you went from this stellar person in high school to a decade of lost time and finding yourself. Ultimately, you did find yourself. Now, there's this bridge. You've been on one side of it for 10 years. On the other side of the bridge are people that will accept you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1643.766

Unfortunately, we live in a world of people that look into your past of what you've done rather than looking at what you probably can do. How did you work with those people to ultimately get them to accept you and to help get you to where you are today? Wow.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1779.163

That's awesome. This has been a great conversation, great information. Thanks for coming on. Thank you, Tony. I appreciate you inviting me to be on. It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

1805.057

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

252.137

You left high school. You stopped playing music. What changed for you to do this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Eric Smith, a nationally recognized mental health advocate, public speaker, and consultant.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

344.787

Not a problem. Music is a very powerful instrument. It can bring back the best of memories. It can bring back the worst of memories. So I totally get that. What happened that got you off track for everything that you were doing at the time? You mentioned psychosis. With that said, what path did your journey take you to next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

408.46

With all this happening, what did your parents and teachers come up with? Did they get any answers?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

473.561

That's an interesting point of view for your age. What did he have to say?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

554.041

You made that choice. That happens. The other part of this is your doctor brought up bipolar and mental health illness in the future. That wasn't your choice. What happened next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

65.356

He is a commissioner with the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health and is the founder of Eric W.T. Smith Consulting, LLC, where he provides invaluable support to families and individuals affected by serious mental illness. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, we're grateful to have him here today. Thanks for coming on. Hey, Tony, how's it going? Going great, thanks.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

685.751

That's a great thing to do. Now, you brought up the FBI and other agencies. Can you expand on that and what part of the journey that was for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

87.646

Can you give us a little background on how your journey with mental health started?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate

877.592

That's an interesting story. Was you in full-blown psychosis at that time? Ultimately, how did they handle it from that point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1166.405

beaten up because he's fat or because he doesn't talk as well as others because he walks funny it's all wrapped up into the neurological differences that's so true i've heard so many stories on how children have been bullied at school they almost always will try to mask it they try so hard to fit in yet they still have that very, very tough time that really affects them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1190.607

What can we do to get everyone involved so we can make that change that is so drastically needed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1324.679

Yes, absolutely. What are some of the other things that you think are very important for the listeners to hear to help keep them away from the legal system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

137.279

You've been in this business for a long time. How did you become an advocate for autism and mental health within your practice?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1431.992

In closing, what would you like to tell the listeners that you feel is very important for them to hear concerning the legal system and what they need to know if they ever find themselves in need of a lawyer?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1703.488

That's just great information. With all this information that you've given, it gives the listeners a chance to learn. Hopefully, they'll never have to use it, but it does give them ammunition to advocate for more change across the country.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1792.832

Exactly. I really appreciate you coming on. Great conversation, great information.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1799.274

Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

1831.045

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis Special Event. Joining us today is Mark Mahoney. Since the early 80s, Mark has been among a select group of top criminal trial lawyers in Western New York.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

344.219

What do you think can be done? to get the judges, the DAs, and the defense attorneys all on the same page. I've talked with judges. I've talked with lawyers. I've talked with therapists. I've talked with so many people within this business. They all have their ideas. How can we get everyone to put their heads together to make this a better system for everyone?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

373.832

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

376.414

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

527.465

You bring up the word global. I speak with people all over the world on my podcast. Everyone has the same issues, no matter where they are in the world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

629.966

How do we change this mindset so that it gets better for everyone?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

69.419

He is currently the only lawyer in North America and possibly worldwide, who dedicates his practice almost exclusively to represent individuals with autism spectrum disorder. He possesses a vast knowledge of information to share with us today. It's both an honor and a pleasure to have him here. Thanks for coming on. Yeah, it's an interesting project you've got there. I appreciate that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

758.058

How do we get past the feel-good part of it and into the doing something about it part?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

850.967

What would you give them for a definition why autism is different?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

882.512

That must be a tough situation for the prosecutor. They're trying to get the win, yet the people that work around them and the general public just do not know or understand autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

92.448

If you would, give us a little information about your practice.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

944.287

How do we get the politics out of it? You just mentioned the DA running for office. The people that are running against him will be saying that he's not tough enough on crime, etc. ? So what's the answer to get the people that are in this political arena to put their heads together and understand that not all people are the same?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice

965.3

Sometimes they will have some autistic people in front of them that just need a little empathy.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1006.755

That was my very next question. And it is twofold. One is the police have such a burden put on them with situations that they don't know and understand or know how to handle yet. And that gives them a very stressful situation. The second part is how are you finding now that you're working on legislation to make it more inclusive for all the people involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1030.443

How are you finding the reception from the police precincts with the people that are trying to help them and inform them to make a better situation for everyone?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1113.308

Yes, I agree 100%. It doesn't matter whether it's cancer, autism, mental illness, one thing in common, it does not discriminate. It affects everyone, young, old, and everyone in between. The only way that we can make this better is what this month is all about. Awareness, acceptance, and understanding. The more we get people to understand this, hopefully the better society will be.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1183.786

Absolutely. The one thing this country is, unfortunately, is if it doesn't affect us, it's not a problem. When it does affect a family, it does one of two things. It either separates people or it brings them together. The good thing here is it brought your community together and good things came from it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1208.447

Yes, that's a testament to where you live, 100%. Where do you see yourself, let's say five years from now? You're advocating, working on legislation. What's up next for you since you started on this legislative journey?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1297.599

Yeah, that's just so good that you're doing this. What would you like to leave our listeners with? Things that you think is important that they hear so they understand what you've been through, what you're going through, that just might help them if they ever have to go through this themselves.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1354.787

Absolutely. So many people do not understand autism or serious mental illness. They think it's a death sentence. It's not.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1479.242

Absolutely. That makes perfect sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1508.649

The problem as I see it is that everyone looks at schizophrenia as Norman Bates. They look at it as the worst possible situation. To be truthful, when I first started this, there was a certain amount of stigma that was with it. I questioned myself, do I want to do this? Now that I've done it, I'm understanding it more.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1528.606

I am able to have conversation with the people that don't know and explain it more than I ever have in the past. Unfortunately, people often fear discussing what they don't understand, relying on misinformation, and they just listen to the talking heads here on TV. If they dive a little deeper, they find these conditions don't define a person.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1548.184

Once they do that and share the knowledge, hopefully a lot of people will help break down that stigma.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

161.658

Wow, that's pretty scary. What did you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1649.281

Yeah, that's so true. A lot of people, because they hear this and we're advocating for change, think we're against the police. And I think they need to understand that we're really not.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1727.293

Absolutely. Well, this has been great. Great conversation. Great information. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1747.65

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

1780.982

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

264.308

After all this happened, what was next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

34.926

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining me today is Denise Paley. She will share her son's experiences with the legal system, which inspired her to advocate for legislative reform in her state. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

369.153

With all this that was happening, what was next? You have doctors, you have psychiatrists. How did you handle it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

409.452

Yes, I'm familiar with it. Can you explain it for our listeners?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

478.557

That's just hard to imagine. So what happened next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

532.651

Was there any type of medication that he could have been given that would have helped him through all this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

645.459

What's the reasoning behind that? Do they give you any inclination at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

71.371

And can you tell us a little more information about your son?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

712.85

What's your lawyer saying about this? Is he giving any input at all? No.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

786.334

Wow, yeah, that has to be just so tough. Because of this, you've become an advocate for legislation to help others, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

851.877

This is one thing that I hear all across the country and around the world, that the police force really needs help and better understanding to deal with situations like this. A good thing I'm hearing is a lot of charities and organizations are trying to work with the police to help them out, to better inform them so they can have a better understanding.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

871.675

Unfortunately, there is a downside and that's called it takes time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

102.906

I imagine you come across a variety of topics in your work. Can you expand on how autism became a big part of your workload?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1101.518

How challenging is it to help parents and families shift their approach and mindset when adapting to these strategies?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1218.536

In the autistic community, there's unfortunately a high rate of family breakdowns, where husbands and wives struggle to understand each other and end up separating. I believe the divorce rate is around 70-75%. Do you often see autistic children coming from those broken families?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1237.59

And when you begin teaching them and implementing your strategies, have you noticed any positive impact on the family unit? Have you observed any changes in that regard?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1356.901

That's awesome.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1401.653

When a child becomes involved with a legal system, particularly the court system, it can be a frightening and overwhelming experience for the parents, often even more daunting than when they first learned their child was autistic. What advice would you give to parents to help them understand the legal process and what potential outcomes they might expect if the situation is managed well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1425.719

What do you think is important for them to hear?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1601.506

Yeah, that's great information. This has been really, really good. I appreciate you taking the time. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1620.654

Yeah, that sounds awesome. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

1654.061

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

189.693

So what developed from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

321.326

Oh, I think it's quite a great story, actually. It seems like a lot of times some of the things that are meant to be fall in our laps and we just move forward with them. Sounds like that's what happened to you and it also sounds like that's what you're doing. So how has it evolved from when you very first started to what it's become today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Judge Sonny Bailey.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

441.826

I've spoken with several judges across the country. They've expressed a clear need for support given situations involving autism, mental health, all within the judicial system. Given the groundbreaking work you're doing, have any judges, legislators, or other officials reached out to you? Are they curious on how you're developing this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

466.108

And are they curious on how they might integrate it into their own efforts in their local areas?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

551.772

When you're working with an autistic child, what are some of the steps you can take to guide them effectively, helping them understand what they're doing and how to adjust their behavior? One key aspect of autism that people often overlook is autistic individuals may not process or express emotions in the same way as neurotypical people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

573.118

So how do you communicate when they've done something wrong and need to make changes to better adapt to society? What practical steps can you use to support them and how do you help them shift from their current patterns to ones that will work better for them in the future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

62.13

In 2018, Judge Bailey established the Detention Alternative for Autistic Youth Court, a groundbreaking diversionary program to provide services that help youth with autism spectrum disorder stay out of the criminal justice system. It remains the only program of its kind in the nation dedicated to the youth with ASD.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

683.991

You mentioned a 90% success rate, which is outstanding. So it's clear these methods you are doing are having an impact What happens next? After going through your system, what kind of progress do you see in these individuals? Are they able to achieve the goals that everyone strives for, like getting a job and finding success in the world?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

706.252

Or is it more about gradual progress, taking baby steps towards bigger outcomes? How do you measure their success as they move forward through your system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

787.648

It's very well known that males tend to be diagnosed autistic at a rate higher than females because females tend to mask their symptoms and go undiagnosed so to fit in in society. Because of this, do you see more males in your courtroom than females that would go along with this scenario?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

84.577

In May of 2023, Nevada became the first state to pass legislation creating a specialty court for youth in the delinquency system who are diagnosed with or suspected of having ASD. We're thrilled to have her here to share her story. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

846.861

Despite autism becoming more prevalent and recognized over the past 30 years, it still remains relatively misunderstood. Society still struggles to grasp what autism is and how it affects individuals differently. What are some of the ongoing challenges this lack of understanding creates, particularly in terms of perception?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

869.432

And how can these challenges be addressed to better support those with autism within your system? What kind of challenges have you been seeing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

984.603

You are on the cutting edge of innovations that other court systems across the country haven't yet implemented. Are you still exploring new ideas and approaches to improve your system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Soonhee(Sunny) Bailey: Breaking the Cycle and Creating America's First Autism Court Program

996.675

If so, what are some of the innovations you're considering or starting to work on, perhaps ones you're gradually introducing, that could expand and strengthen the system you already have and make it even better for the people you're serving?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1017.016

Okay, so how can one be delusional and competent at the same time? Somehow, this just doesn't make sense to me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1048.476

No, it's not. I've heard that the biggest institution for mental health care is like the L.A. prison.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1056.283

So that's a problem. When you hear things like that, that is a huge issue. Unfortunately, the prisons are not adapted to be a medical facility. So this story and journey that you've told me seems to be one that is very common all across the country.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1079.083

So that tells us that we really need to find a way to marry the legal system and the medical system together so that we can get something that works to put these people that have these issues in a place where they really need to be so that way they get the right help that they actually need.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1133.726

So what happened from there? You've got all these people realizing that there is an issue. He has a problem, yet nothing seems to be happening. So what was next on the journey? Has he gotten any help at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1175.345

So now that he's out, is he getting the help that he needs? Has he settled down at all? And how's he doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1206.205

So what's the answer? He definitely needs some help. He definitely needs his medication so they can get back to a more livable way of life. So what's the answer? How do we get there? How do you get there so he can live a better life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1263.43

Yeah, that's a very tough situation. Now, I've heard that they've got alternative medicines now, like a shot that can last up to 30 days or more.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1296.158

Yeah, I've talked with several different people, and they tell me that when they've gone through psychosis and different things of that nature, that they've lost a period of time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1320.902

Yes, I talked with one gentleman. He said that he couldn't remember what was real and what wasn't. The only way that he could actually figure out what might have been real is he looked at it, and if it seemed logical, then he would go with it. The rest he would just cast aside.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1366.596

Yeah, for sure. You bring up Daryl. He's been on the podcast.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1371.437

Yes, he had a lot of great information, and I hope that people get a lot from what he had to say.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1390.529

Yeah, he's been on, and he, like you said, had just superb information. So in closing, what would you like to tell the listeners about what you're going through, but not only that, information that others might be going through that they just need to know?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1465.919

Yeah, so about three years ago. That's a lot of grief, a lot of time, a lot of money that could have been put into other areas for sure. Yeah, hopefully this will help get the word out there because the biggest thing that I see is the misunderstanding of it all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1485.049

People that don't understand psychosis, when they hear about it, they think that it's just someone being bad, when in reality, it's someone that's doing some things that appear to be bad, but they don't think that it's bad. That's why they need help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1506.679

Yeah, so hopefully we can get more education to the judges, the lawyers, the DAs, the people that need to know. So that way, the money that's being spent when these people go in front of them is being spent on different alternatives, which actually would help the person that needs it the most.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1537.253

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1541.192

Yeah, right. Well, this has been great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1563.201

Well, thanks for your kind words. I appreciate you coming on. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

1591.525

Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

169.949

Okay, so when your son first started having some of the issues that he was facing, how did you handle it? I mean, when people first encounter psychosis or anything along that line, it's the big unknown. They don't know what to do. They don't know what to expect. It's just a very scary time for them. So with all this going on, how did you handle it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

285.549

Yeah, I have heard that from a couple of different sources. So he was 20 when this first started. So what happened from there? He was starting to have some symptoms. So what happened that led you to get more information to try and get more diagnosis of what was going on so you could get this under control?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Laura Krachuan. She's a passionate mental health advocate collaborating with organizations like the National Shattering Silence Coalition.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

405.157

Yes, I've heard that from many others, that if there's not an immediate danger to him or others, that they turn away. So what was your next step? I mean, he may not be harm to himself or others at that point in time, but over a period of time, it could be a day or an hour or a week, it could develop. So what did you do to try and get it more under control so that he could move forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

463.84

What happened next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

568.388

So with all this happening, how was he surviving? How was he getting by day to day with all these thoughts going through his head? Because evidently he was still in psychosis. How did he get from point A to point B 10 months later without some sort of intervention to help him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

651.184

Okay, so you just brought up the fact that he thought he was the creator. Can you explain anisognosia and what that is so that the listener can get a better grasp for understanding this whole process that he's going through?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

70.717

Today, she's here to share her son's journey with serious mental illness, offering valuable insights to support others that may be facing similar challenges. We will also discuss assisted outpatient treatment laws and the rising issue of cannabis-induced psychosis among teens and young adults. She has a wealth of information, and we're pleased to have her here to share her story with us.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

733.951

So when that happened, what was your next step? You knew he needed help. So what was your next step to help him, even though he thought in his mind he didn't need any help at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

785.925

So when he would get in front of professionals, he would put himself in a situation so they would diagnose him as being okay. But ultimately, seems like they would see through that eventually.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

814.935

Right. So in that case, what do you do? You have all these things lining up that tell you there is a problem and it definitely can get worse. How do you handle that? How do you get it across to these people, therapists, the psychotherapists, the doctors, everyone that's involved in diagnosing him? How do you get them to step up and say, look, we need to help him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

867.819

Okay. So what happened next? I've heard that people in psychosis will do something and then ultimately it lands them within the legal system. Once they get in that legal system, sometimes they'll get the medications that they need to at least tamper it down. So did that happen at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

96.696

Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Laura Craciun: A Son's Mental Illness and a System That Failed Him

99.718

Oh, it's my pleasure. Now, I understand that you're part of a charity that supports mental illness. Can you expand on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1080.598

Well, I really appreciate that. I think you're doing a great thing. So many parents have so many questions that need to be answered. My podcast started just because of that. When I first heard other podcasts out there, they were just so clinical and so sterile. I just imagined if I was a parent just finding out my child is autistic, I would have been more confused than I was before I started.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1104.815

So this podcast is just about information, just like you're giving. And the fact that you're giving so many people information is just so good. That's what people need. They need the support. And I think that's just great that you're doing it. It is just so needed.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1273.612

Perfect. Yeah, that's so true. You brought up a point about fear. Two questions. What was your initial fear when he was about five, six years old? Now let's fast forward. What is your fear today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1363.26

Unfortunately, you are correct there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1378.049

Unfortunately, that is so true. That's the fear of every parent, I'm afraid. You brought up a very interesting point. You questioned yourself what you did. Did you do everything right? That's what I've heard from just about every mother I've spoken with. They have to learn how to look in the mirror, realize that they didn't do anything wrong, everything they did was right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1398.8

The fact that they have a child that is autistic does not fall upon them. I think you're 100% correct. Do not blame yourself.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1493.942

Yeah, unfortunately, I've heard that from so many. How do people find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

152.858

You say that your life changed. How did it impact you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1533.254

That's awesome. I really appreciate it. Is there one last thing that you'd like to leave us with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1589.141

That's just so awesome. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great topics, great information. I really appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1634.704

Yeah, me too. I really had a great time. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

1669.301

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

278.064

Yeah, that's so rewarding. Now, did you say that you have a child that's nonverbal?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

298.069

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me The World. Today we have the privilege of hosting Dr. Tina J. Ramsey, who has an incredible story and journey to share. As a respected author, podcaster, and TV show host, she has accomplished a great deal.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

417.735

How old is he now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

420.137

Oh, okay. Now that we know that he's 18, what did his formative years look like? He was nonverbal at five. Now at 18, he is. How did he get through his teen years and evolve to what he is today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

494.082

Yeah, that's really tough to take. Now, you got him through up to the 18. Neurotypical kids have a tough time during the teens with the hormones raging and all the different things that's happening. So it's even tougher a lot of times on kids that are neurodivergent. How did your son handle that time in his life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

615.984

Well, that's really good to hear. Now that he's 18, is he going to college? What's his life look like now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

68.099

Most notably, she is here to discuss her personal experience with her autistic son. It's an honor to have her on our show. How are you doing today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

727.749

Yeah, that's very important. Lots of times parents feel alone and every bit of help they can get is just so important.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

79.963

Well, even if we did complain, it's not going to do us any good anyways. I appreciate you coming on. If you would, tell us how you became an advocate for autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

802.657

Absolutely. One of the biggest fears that parents have is when they find out their child is autistic. It's the unknown. They don't know what to expect. They don't know what to do. They don't know who to contact. There are just so many questions. The biggest thing that you said is just so important. Don't be afraid to ask questions because you're advocating for your kid.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

921.618

What are some of the things that you do now, not only for those that actually need the help, but for those that really need more understanding?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dr. Tina J. Ramsey: Transforming Challenges into Advocacy – Navigating Autism with Resilience and Community Support

953.058

Wow. That's great. How big has it grown for you, this community?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1094.611

Yeah, right. The interesting part of all this is I have been doing this podcast about a year and a half now. Mm-hmm. I've heard autism, ADHD, autism bipolar. I've heard so many different autism co-occurrences that did not surprise me. This is the first time I've heard of autism developing into schizophrenia. I know.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1123.97

So now to hear autism could develop into that between 5% to 35%, that's a huge number.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1257.546

And plus, as much as I hate to say this, autism and schizophrenia have a tremendous amount of stigma that goes along with it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1266.955

And again, as much as I hate to say it, schizophrenia is probably even more misunderstood than autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1274.143

When people think about schizophrenia, they only think about the worst case scenarios.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1304.059

I spoke with a judge the other day. I asked him, what can we do to get this across to other people, other judges, DAs, ADAs? How can we make this better so we can get better treatment or better sentences received? with treatment so they don't wind up in the general population of a prison. He took about 45 seconds to a minute thinking of his response. After that, he told me two words.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1338.454

Those two words? Common sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1451.481

Well, autism was first diagnosed in the early 1900s. They described autism as a symptom of child schizophrenia.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1465.748

You would think, here we are, 2025. Since 1910, we've come a long way. Things have gotten better. Medication, understanding's coming along. We're still not there yet. You would think the justice system would work with the states, the counties, the Congress to make things better so that, in the end, it's a win-win for everyone involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1738.402

How do people contact you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1786.703

Yeah, absolutely. This has been great. I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1795.049

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

1827.827

One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

215.113

Yeah, that's pretty sad to hear. You say you're working for change in your county. Now, does that include involuntary help as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

246.459

Now, you have to go to the court system in order to do this. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

256.672

I was talking with a lady just the other day. Her brother is living with her sister. He's having some severe emotional issues. I believe he was one of the people that you were talking about that just does not want any help. They felt he needed help. He didn't. There was nothing they could do. They could call the police. They would come out.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

279.47

However, the police couldn't do anything unless he was a threat to himself or a threat to others. Ultimately, they just wound up leaving. How does this get changed? They couldn't help him unless they went to court. If you go to court, sometimes it takes a long time. Then because of it, the issue could develop into something much, much more harmful.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Ruth Johnston.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

435.135

That makes complete sense. Your son was first diagnosed autistic, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

441.946

Then as he got older, his psychosis started developing over a period of time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

490.196

So was that crisis deemed anosognosia?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

494.18

Can you expand on what that is to the listeners for us?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

577.409

I've heard from several different people this can take a long time before it develops into something so that you know that there's a serious problem.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

588.218

So it could take three, four, five, six years before it actually shows itself as a problem? That's right. If it takes that long to develop, how can you figure it out so you can handle it better and hopefully nothing bad happens?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

61.686

She will share her personal experience with her autistic son who subsequently developed schizophrenia and discuss how this led to her establishing AOT for Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. I'm delighted to have her join us, bringing a wealth of knowledge on this topic. Thanks for coming on. Thank you. It's my pleasure. Can you tell us about your autistic son?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

682.114

Absolutely. You've got such a wide spectrum to use the autism analogy. You can have someone having a psychotic event and it could be a mild one compared to someone having a very severe event happening where they could be seeing things such as you described. They do bad things because they think they're actually helping the person that they're hurting.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

748.88

Sure. Now you're trying to get change in your county. What kind of steps are you taking to do that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

822.943

That's one thing autistic people are very well known for, and that is they are very structured.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change

984.11

That's very interesting that she contributed. What were some of the findings that she talked about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1055.495

So in the next three to five years, what do you envision on the horizon for the future, whether it's personal goals, society changes, or broader possibilities?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

106.05

It's my pleasure. Would you give us a little background on what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1131.823

When you stand in front of people, do you try to express yourself in a way that lets them see what you've been through, how you've responded to it, and who you are now? That way, hopefully you can shorten their journey by showing them that no matter what they're experiencing, there's always hope that things can change for them in their future.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1246.144

Yeah, I think that's a great message to put out there for everyone. I think you've got it right there. I've spoken with several people who've faced challenges lasting anywhere from a year to 10 years. While the duration varies for everyone, a common thread stands out. There's hope.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1267.595

On the other side of that journey, you can address your struggles, refine your approach, create a plan to improve things. Each person I talked to, even when they were at their lowest, when others looked at them and thought they were finished, incapable of bouncing back, they refused to give up. They pushed through, survived, and now they're thriving.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1289.434

So the real question is, how do we overcome the stigma? How do we help people see that, yes, mental health carries a certain stigma, but it doesn't have to be purely negative? How do we highlight the positive that once people navigate their challenges, they can emerge stronger and show the world what they've overcome?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1417.33

Okay, that's a good point. We've covered a lot of good things here. What would you like the listeners to know that you think is very important about mental health and the challenges that they face?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1509.716

I think that's a great statement. This just highlights the need for more understanding. Since everyone has different issues and deals with them in their own way, just because one person handles a crisis a certain way doesn't mean everyone else will be the same in the way they handle their crisis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1576.232

You just mentioned something that I think is important to talk about. Some people don't have the touch of empathy. And since they haven't walked your path, they don't fully get it. Without meaning to, they say things that sting, not seeing the weight of their words. You've been through it, you've lived it, and now you're moving forward.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1598.832

You've changed, evolved, you're not the same person you were. How do you deal with those who, in their ignorance, can't see the depth of what you faced?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

171.601

I think that's great you've written a book. Anything you put out there just helps others. Can you give us a little bit of background on what led you to believe that you had some mental health issues?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1718.547

That's a great point. Well, this has been really good, great information, great conversation. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1730.614

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

1763.757

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

221.805

Once you got out, what was your focus to get you back on track, a steady path from what you were to what you became today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

302.225

So during that process, it took you about a year to get fully on track. Were there any down days? Did you ever have moments where you thought, what am I doing? Or is this even working? What was your mindset like as you progressed from point A to point B to where you are now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Meet the World? Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Cohen Miles-Rath, a powerful voice in mental health advocacy. Cohen's journey is one of resilience.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

443.365

That's impressive. You should really be proud of your accomplishments. You got through and managed to accomplish what you started out to do. Now, after navigating all of that, what inspired you to pursue social work and dedicate yourself to helping others?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

537.901

Yeah, that's true. Success is basically what you are happy doing and continue to do. So what led you to shift your career focus from becoming a substance use counselor or therapist in social work and transitioning to advocacy? How did your graduate school experience influence this decision?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

632.91

Looking back on your journey, now that you're an advocate, you've experienced all the ups and downs that come with it. Was there a single moment that stood out, a turning point that lit the way forward? Something that reassured you that things were falling into place, confirmed you were on the right path, and then fueled your ambition or ability to create even more?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

68.339

After battling untreated schizoaffective disorder, he survives a life-altering psychotic episode that nearly ended in tragedy and led to his incarceration. Today, he's an author, speaker, and educator, sharing his story to break the stigma around mental illness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

713.905

That's really good. I'm glad that you've been able to do that. Can you give us the name of your book?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

723.275

When you wrote your book, I have some friends of mine that are writers. They've said that once they start putting those old-fashioned words to paper, it often takes over and seems to write itself. So my first question is, did that happen to you? Did you start writing and suddenly find it just flowing out? And when it did start flowing, did you begin looking at it and tweaking it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

749.885

Then what emotions came up as you read what you had put down, realizing this is me, this is my life, this is what it's been. How did that affect you? What type of emotions went through your mind at that point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

86.243

With a focus on community, policy, and political action, Cohen facilitates mental health training and influences change, inspiring others with his message of recovery and hope. He's a beacon for those that are navigating their own struggles. It's a pleasure to have him here today. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

860.731

You do a lot of public speaking, and you just mentioned that you feel comfortable sharing your experiences with others. What's it like to tell your story to a captive audience, what goes through your mind as you speak, and then afterwards, when people come up to you, eager to learn more because your words have touched them in a way that could help them move forward in their own lives?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

884.606

How does that make you feel?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Cohen Miles-Rath: How One Man Transformed Crisis into a Call for Change

974.008

Do you still engage with or advocate for changes in the legal system? If you do, how do you approach it? What personal experiences or perspectives drive your stance so this can be a better system for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Why Not Me the World Humanity Over Handcuffs the Special Event for April

0.129

Hi, I'm Tony Mayantour. Imagine a world where the rules don't bend. Where justice feels like a maze with no exit. For autistic people navigating the legal system, this is not imagination. It's reality. Picture your autistic son or daughter tangled in the legal system. or an officer at your door because a meltdown was misunderstood.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Why Not Me the World Humanity Over Handcuffs the Special Event for April

21.721

Imagine a loved one walking through a park having a meltdown, which is mistaken for something much worse, a drug overdose. This Autism Awareness Month, we're bringing you a bold, electrifying, special event. Why Not Me, The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event will sit down with judges, lawyers, CIT trainers, therapists, legislators, and more.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Why Not Me the World Humanity Over Handcuffs the Special Event for April

46.606

They will share gripping stories that will hopefully ignite change. Understanding can rewrite justice. Join us. Help us. Whatever you do, don't miss it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1028.979

Yeah, that's so true. Now, when it comes to elections, does it get to the point where they just get put in?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1061.232

Yeah, that makes sense. Let's say you're running for a judgeship. You put it out there that you're trying to help people. You're not the hanging judge like they see on TV. So many people, if they don't know autism or special needs or mental health, they'll see something, not understand it, and say, put them in jail and throw away the key, which is not right. the right thing to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1083.541

They have to understand that in the real world of the legal system, it's not like the movies or TV. How do you get that across to them so hopefully they understand more about what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1134.96

Yeah, that's tough, especially where people don't really understand how the legal system actually works. How do we educate them and get them at least headed in the right direction so they can see how the judicial system works and then follow it and hopefully get a better attitude for it moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1196.181

When did you start it? Why did you start it? And how has it changed the perception, either positive or negative, in what you're doing with it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1311.629

What kind of results have you seen come from this? You started it because you had to. Now you're keeping it going. And of course, there are people out there that love it. There are people out there that hate it. Sure. How have you seen it change? Or have you seen it change the dynamic within your courtroom since you started doing this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

137.685

So as a judge, you have two different points of view. Of course, you've got the prosecutor that's trying to get his point across. Then you have the defense attorney that's trying to get his point of view across. One tries to paint it as the worst thing in the world. The other tries to paint a picture that is not as bad as it looks.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1387.654

I think it's just great that because I never thought of it from that angle, that showing this, that other people could use it as a tool to show their son or daughter or relative that, hey, look, this is what this person's going through. You're doing the same thing and you can't use your ADHD or whatever as an excuse.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1437.573

Well, this has been great. So, of course, now this podcast is about autism and mental health and all that. What would you like to say regarding your courtroom and the mental health and autism that you think that people listening to would benefit from hearing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1544.727

Yeah, yeah, I think that's great. Many people have forgotten the definition of the word patience.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

156.977

So being the judge, you have to commit at some point to making a decision. What goes into your process after everything is said and done to making that decision so that it can be hopefully good for everyone?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1601.021

Yeah, that's a great model. And hopefully many people around the country catch on to that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1636.729

You know, that's fantastic. I really appreciate it. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

1671.109

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

174.421

Yeah, that sounds good.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

182.924

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is the Honorable Judge David Fleischer, who currently presides over Harris County Criminal Court No. 5 in Houston, Texas.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

351.699

Yeah, that's a tough situation. So how did you get that changed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

449.204

Yes, that's pretty amazing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

522.04

One of the things that I hear very consistently is that if you haven't been in a court, you just don't realize how overwhelming it can be. That comes from people that, quote, live the normal life. Now you add autism or any other mental health situation that can affect how they act or react, it can turn something that's just stressful into something that's insurmountable.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

550.046

So how do we help those people that really need the help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

610.36

You've got, let's say you have an autistic person that comes in front of you. They're wired differently in the way they think, the way they process things.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

622.634

some some will come across that they don't have any empathy about things that they've done when they really do it's just that they don't understand because to them if you cut your finger what's the problem you cut your finger you know so how do you how do we help people like that that don't understand the system they can't really afford

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

645.083

you know, they're going to have to go with a public defender, you know, which I'm not saying anything bad about public defenders, but they just sometimes don't have the time to learn about the affliction that that person they're defending might have. And then they've got the ADA that's trying to prosecute.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

663.916

How do we go about helping those people so that we can get more empathy towards the person that's really not violent, but they just need help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

68.37

His focus is on reforming the court and ensuring all defenders receive fair and equal treatment. We are honored to have him join us today. Thanks for coming on. And can you tell us a little bit about what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

772.062

Yeah, that's all you can do. Now, as a judge, you're always trying to show that you're impartial. Now, how do you get it across to the ADA and, of course, the defense that you're showing compassion because they may be autistic or have some other issues, yet you're being fair with the judgment that you give?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

859.144

You're the third judge that I've spoken to. The others have the same philosophy as you. They want to get them through the system. They don't want to see them come back again because if they get them help from the outside, then chances are they won't come back. I'm sure there are many other judges around the country that feel exactly the same way you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

881.931

Unfortunately, for every one that wants change, there are many out there that want to keep the system status quo. How do we get them to change their outlook so ultimately we can get the legal system

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

958.663

Now, there's an oversight committee on judges, correct? Of course. Is there any way that the oversight committee, the judges, the other people that might be involved could sit in a room and talk it all out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment?

978.351

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1023.254

So how did that work out from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1197.75

What's the legal end look for you now? What type of lawyer do you have? Is it a specialty lawyer, public defender? What kind of lawyer is helping you through this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1325.976

Sure, that makes perfect sense. It's always good to have an advocate on the outside. Now, what about your sister? Is she part of the conversations as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1369.035

Now, how is he compared to when he first went into the hospitals and the jail system? Is he better, worse? How is his mindset now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1428.631

Well, at least that's a good thing. Now, what would you like to tell our listeners that you think is very important that they need to know about the situations you're going through so if anyone else is going through the same situation, it could help them a little?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1549.758

Yes, absolutely. And when you get thrown into it, sometimes it can seem like it just happened overnight when it didn't, but it can be the big unknown and you just don't know what to do. It can be so overwhelming to the families and the loved ones that's trying to help them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1632.284

Yeah, absolutely. Well, this has been great. Good conversation, good information. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1642.166

Absolutely. It's been a pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

1675.534

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

171.96

Wow. So what's happening now moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

219.507

That's a very tough situation to be in with a sibling.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

282.975

So what's his age now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

296.875

What were some of the events and developments that led you to believe that he needed help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're joined by Jessica Ferguson, who will share the deeply personal story of her brother's struggle with mental illness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

455.304

After that happened, when did you get involved again and trying to get some say on what needed to be done moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

599.133

So what happened at that point? Was there any change?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

66.638

She'll take us through the challenges of supporting him, the events and circumstances that ultimately led to his incarceration, and the family's ongoing efforts to advocate for mental health awareness and reform. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

743.486

So with all this happening, not knowing what to do, what were the next steps for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

779.255

Wow. So this is the third time that he's been in this type of situation. What were some of the next steps that you took to try and help him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

83.286

Can you give us a little background and what led your journey to supporting mental illness?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

858.91

So when he got out and ultimately he was accused. So what happened then? Now you're dealing with the legal system. That's a completely different system than dealing with the hospitals.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

954.191

That sounds a little better. So how did that work out? And what was the journey like from that point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1089.485

You brought up many parents do not tell their family that their son or daughter is in the legal system. They may be very embarrassed by it. I could be wrong. It might go well past just being embarrassed. Their son or daughter is caught up in the legal system now. The prosecutor is trying to paint a picture that their son or daughter is this horrible person, which they know is not true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1115.678

That can be so overwhelming and mentally challenging for the parent as well. How do you help them get past the emotional part of their trial in order to get them to be more objective about what's going on? That's a very hard thing to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1303.534

So there's a huge difference between a civil, local and federal court system. Yes. It can be very, very intense in federal court. Yes. Add to that, it can be very, very costly. How does the average person that's just barely getting by, struggling to take care of their kids, how do these people get to a place where they can be on a level playing field with a prosecutor?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1330.416

with all the things that can add to the financial burden of defending their child.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1470.11

This has been a great conversation. A lot of really, really good information. What do you feel that's important in closing to tell our listeners on what they need to know on what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1565.955

Yeah, that's really great advice. I really appreciate you coming on. Great conversation, great information. Thank you, Tony. Appreciate it. The pleasure's all mine. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

1592.053

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

212.099

Yes, that's so true. This is a great thing you're doing. What led you to get involved like you are?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

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When you started, what were some of the first things that you did? When you look at it, you have a big mountain to climb. Many times, the only thing that you can do is inch by inch, foot by foot, with hopes of climbing the mountain all the way to the top.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

567.62

That's really good to hear. How far apart were these cases that you did this for?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

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Joining us today is Brian Kalmar, who will share his inspiring journey with his autistic son and the legal system, which ultimately led him to establish D3, Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities. It's an honor to have him on the show. We're grateful to have the opportunity to amplify his story, sparking hope and driving meaningful change. Thanks for coming on. Sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

632.526

Yeah, that's really good work. I've been doing this podcast for about a year and a half. I didn't even realize the situation was a situation. I spoke with a judge. He was just 17 years old. He told me the same story that you just said. He went into a prison situation where an autistic person was given medications. It actually made the situation worse. That was over 40 years ago, maybe even 50.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

658.355

So how have we not figured out how we can help these people that end up in the prison system so they can be treated, hopefully to have a much better outcome for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

745.333

Absolutely. I think that's very important. Understanding is the key for everything. This podcast is about understanding and trying to get the stories like you're telling now to the people that need to hear it. You've accomplished a lot in Virginia. What's the next step to get it to a national basis for everyone? This is happening across the country and of course around the world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

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How do we get this from a local scenario to a national scenario?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

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If you would, tell me a little bit about your organization.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

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When you have a family, they just find out their son or daughter might have legal issues. It's kind of like when they first found that their son or daughter was autistic. It's the big unknown and it's very, very scary. What do you do to help take away that fear they might have? After all, it is the legal system. It can be very scary.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism

968.54

What's the first steps that you do to guide them through that process so they can better understand what needs to happen? After all, it is the legal system. A lot of stress accompanies it, and it can be very, very intimidating to them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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If he could have gotten the help and treatment and support to get him back on track, the outcome could have been a much different outcome that would have benefited everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Absolutely. So it still comes back to education.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1141.576

Most organizations seem to have opportunities, whether it's events, discussions, informal gatherings, where people can come together, connect and hopefully get more information on how your organization can help them. Now to take it a step further, how do you extend that engagement beyond just your organization?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1164.127

Because in my mind, and correct me if I'm wrong, it feels like there is just not enough organizations out there doing this. How do you see that expanding and evolving?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Does your company primarily operate on a regional level or does it have a national presence?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Yes. How much outreach do you have working with first responders so they can identify themselves at the initial point of contact? The more training they have, of course, to gain a better understanding of the situation, they only have seconds at times to react.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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So this gives them a chance to quickly assess whether it's an autistic meltdown, a mental health crisis such as psychosis, or something else entirely different. First responders often don't have time to sit down for a lengthy discussion, so we need to equip them with the tools to evaluate situations rapidly and accurately.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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As you know, this can de-escalate the situation effectively and prevent it from becoming a bigger issue.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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I've heard police precincts often have limited time and budget for training officers. Despite these constraints, have you noticed an increasing willingness for them to invest in CIT training because they've recognized its necessities?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1386.421

Now, let's take it past the first responders. Many times before the police get involved, there is someone that's on the other end of 911. Now, they need training just as much as the police so they can get as much information as they can from the phone call to give to the police while they're in transit.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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This way they know whether it's an autistic meltdown, a serious mental health issue, or something else. Are they included in this training along with the police?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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That's a good thing to know. I think a lot of people don't even realize that that number even exists anymore.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Yeah, and I think many people fail to recognize that an individual's struggles, such as autism or serious mental health challenges, extend far beyond the person themselves. These conditions impact entire communities, families, friends, law enforcement, health care professionals. There's such a web of people that it extends to.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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I think we have to acknowledge and tackle that broader ripple effect, not just the individual experience. Because again, this is a situation that just impacts so many people in the community.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1511.494

This has been a great conversation with a lot of good information. Now, in closing, what would you like to tell people that you think is very important that they need to know that can help them moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1579.096

Yes, hope is very important. I've spoken with several people who have faced overwhelming challenges, yet somehow they've managed to turn their lives around and are now thriving, proving that it's absolutely possible to live a normal life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1611.825

Do you believe that boosting advertising efforts across TV, radio, the internet, Facebook, various other platforms might enhance public engagement, complementing the strategies already in place? Do you think any of these things would help improve the situation to get it to the next level?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1654.895

Yeah, I believe the most critical step that we can take is to explore every possible avenue, every nook and cranny, as the saying goes, to uncover and share vital information. This way, we can empower people who might not have even considered the issue before, sparking some awareness and hopefully making some meaningful change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Yeah, absolutely. Well, this has been fantastic. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Oh, it's my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

1736.823

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

179.389

How would you approach reforming the legislative system, given that we recognize the need for change to improve conditions for everyone? Change takes time. So what initial steps would you take to kickstart the process and encourage more constructive discussions so we can create a win-win situation for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

318.021

Yes, I totally agree with you. Things do need to change. Attitude is a big ingredient of helping change. In circumstances like these, it's a regrettable reality that as a nation, we frequently fail to acknowledge the gravity of an issue until it directly impacts our own families. Only when it strikes close to home does it rise to the level of a pressing priority. The challenge, then, is this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

34.929

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Leslie Carpenter, co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy and a dedicated lobbyist for her state legislature.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

347.683

How do we bridge the gap in understanding between those who remain untouched by these experiences and those who deal with them daily? We need to find a way that we can bring our collective minds together to drive bigger, meaningful change on a national level. What's the best way that we can go about getting this accomplished?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

457.93

You're absolutely right. I recently had a guest on my podcast, a great guy from London, big, healthy, autistic and ADHD. He made an interesting point. When he tells people he's autistic, They often look at him and strangely say, you don't look autistic. He went on to say, if I had told them I had cancer, their response would immediately shift to, oh, how can I help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

484.461

How do we help people understand that everyone needs support and empathy, even when their struggles aren't visible? What can we do to encourage others to ask, how can I help no matter what it is they may be dealing with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast. Hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA. Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

542.982

You're right. It is. I think a big thing is getting more information out there that shows them if someone has a psychotic episode, that it doesn't mean that it's a death sentence. They can get help, turn it around, and have a fulfilling life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

585.859

If we reflect on how our understanding of autism and mental health has evolved over time, back when autism was first identified, I think that was around 1910, it was seen as a psychotic disorder and the treatments were often harsh because people didn't fully grasp what it was.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

605.845

By the 50s and the 60s, we started to see some shifts in perception, but it wasn't until the 90s and beyond that things started to change. I see a similar pattern with mental health. Over the last 20 or 30 years, we've moved away from just labeling someone as the odd one out toward recognizing they might need support.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

628.467

Now, what have you seen since you've been doing this in the last 20 or 30 years where you've seen changes making you feel we're headed in the right direction?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

69.222

She also serves as a legislative advocacy manager at the Treatment Advocacy Center. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, we're thrilled to have her here. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Well, that's very good to hear. Now, one of the things that I hear consistently from varying people that I speak with is the person could have a brother, a sister, a son, a daughter, whoever it might be that is having some serious issues and they might know they're not completely right. yet they would not allow them to take them to the hospital, to a doctor to see what's going on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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How do we get that changed so that if a person needs to step in to help someone, they can actually do it without having anything that comes back at them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Can you tell us what led you to get involved in what you're doing today as an advocate for mental health?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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In a society where perception drives so much of our response to behavior, how do we tackle the challenge of reforming the legal system to better address someone with a mental health crisis. Specifically, when someone is experiencing a psychotic breakdown, the knee-jerk reaction from many, based on fear and misunderstanding, is to see them as dangerous or bad, pushing for jail,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

885.76

or lifelong incarceration. Basically, throw away the key. How can we bridge the gap between the public perception, encouraging a legal framework that prioritizes understanding and treatment so we have a better situation between the legal system and the people that are facing the legal system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

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Unfortunately, the next step often comes when someone acts in a different way that draws legal attention. I've spoken with several people who tried to involve the police. Police either couldn't or wouldn't step in. Then after hours or even days or whatever the time frame may be, that person winds up committing a crime. In one situation, a person stabbed a lady in the leg.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle

993.377

It was just serious enough to land them in the criminal justice system, and from there it spiraled downward. How do we make the point that, yes, he did something wrong? yet it stemmed from mental health struggles and a need for medication.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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That's a tough situation. And they only have seconds sometimes to make a decision on what to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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Yeah, absolutely. Now, you're not the only officer that has had an autistic son or daughter in their family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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I've spoken with many that have. Do you have officers in your travels that you found do have autistic children? They just wanted to hear another perspective that just happened to be yours.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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Yeah, I get that. Now, where it all starts is in the communication center, 911.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

1246.999

Do you work with them as well? So when they take a call, they can ask some questions and get a better understanding from that. I realize they only have seconds themselves sometimes because they have the other person panicking on the phone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

1260.867

But if they could ask a couple of questions, then they could give a little more information to the responding officer that might just make his job a little easier.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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Yes. And emotions are running high at that point.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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Well, it's the adrenaline and it's just pushing them to another level.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

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Yeah, that's a great thing. And if they didn't do it, the opposite could happen. Unfortunately, it could be a tragic ending.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

1547.932

Yeah. So what would you like to tell the listeners that you feel is important that they need to hear?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

1706.061

Yeah, that's just great advice. This has been really good. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on this show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

1724.834

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

1757.904

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

177.947

I think that's a great mission to have. So you kind of got trained by your son and now you're helping others because you're finding out that you didn't know exactly what you thought you knew. Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Join us today as we host Jerry Turning, a 12-year veteran officer and respected canine handler and trainer in the police force.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

375.982

Yeah, that's great. Yeah. Now, once you get that across, the next step is how do you differentiate between those two situations? For example, I spoke with a father. His son was very outgoing, happy kid, walking down the street, singing, having just a good time. Police drove by, questioned him, thought he was high, took him to the precinct. They contacted his dad.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

403.886

He came down to the precinct, explained everything, smile. They left, no problems. Now, unfortunately, there are some cases that don't turn out that good. How do you get that across to the police officers you're speaking with so they can make that decision as quickly as they need to sometimes so that it ends in a good situation for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

553.605

Don't you wish that you just had a piece of paper that you could hand out? Then say here, this is it. This is all you have to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

66.191

His life took a profound turn with the arrival of his autistic son, prompting him to establish Blue Bridge Autism Training. This organization provides autism response training to police, first responders, and search and rescue professionals around the world. We're delighted to share his inspiring story on the show. Thanks for coming on. Oh, it's my honor. Thanks for having me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

689.046

Absolutely. I can see that. Now, I've got a reason for asking this question. What were some of the things that your son was doing or not doing which led you to get him diagnosed for his autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

762.116

Yeah, I hear that story a lot with parents. So it's very common. The reason why I asked you this question is, do you use this in your presentation to your fellow policemen?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

86.697

Oh, it's my pleasure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

895.682

How do you tell them to handle that? I've got a lot of friends of mine that are first responders. Among them, a lot of them are police. They tell me one of the most dangerous situations they go into... Domestics. Yes, domestic violence. Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

911.67

So when they go into a situation like that, that's called in as domestic violence, but it's just an autistic meltdown. It can get violent, of course, but it's still just an autistic meltdown with a kid that can be six foot, 250 pounds, that can make the house look like a tornado just went through it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap

933.231

What type of approach do you tell them to do so when they do go into it, they don't treat it like a normal domestic violence situation that got out of control?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1065.788

That is indeed a ton of money. I guess my next question is, is it working and helping the ones that need the help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1173.048

Yes, I have them coming on a little later this month. You're right. They're great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1292.507

And that's the story. So if you had the job where you was overseeing this whole thing that's going on, What would you do to make it smoother? Mental health has such a wide umbrella, and a lot of these organizations, for lack of a better term, they just don't play well together.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1310.864

How can we get these organizations, which aren't coordinating well, to come together with our legislators under a wide enough umbrella, creating a unified force they can't ignore, rather than going it alone, so this whole effort flows more smoothly?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

144.747

As a state senator, how did your experience differ between the state senate and the House of Representatives, especially in your goals of improving mental health?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1516.532

Yeah, I think you're right there for sure. I spoke with a lady the other day from Allegheny County about making some changes, and we went through the whole process. It was almost like some of the things you just mentioned. So I'm wondering, should this start at the federal level or the local level? So many people aren't sure where to begin to push for this change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1662.547

So in closing, what's one key thing you think the listeners need to hear about what they should be doing to make things better for all families?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1750.913

Yes, absolutely. This has been great. Great information, great conversation. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1761.315

Yes, me too. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1794.115

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

213.032

When you refer to trained providers, could you provide more detail about what specific qualifications, expertise, or roles you have in mind?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

293.321

Yes, insurance is certainly a challenge, and releasing them back onto the streets often does more harm than good. Were you able to identify or develop any alternative solutions that could better support these individuals?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're joined by Tim Murphy, a former American politician and psychologist who represented Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

350.743

What do you do in that case? They need help. They don't want help. Yet, if they don't get help, they never get better. Add to that, I think I've heard there are groups out there that support them not getting the help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

479.358

Given that there are numerous hospitals distributed across the country, are there enough facilities with adequate resources to effectively support those in need? How does the availability and the capacity in these hospitals influence the broader situation, particularly in terms of accessibility, quality of care, and overall outcome?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

584.878

Access to that kind of information could enhance a physician's ability to provide effective care. Are there any exceptions or methods to circumvent those restrictive guidelines, or are the medical professionals bound to adhere to them in all circumstances?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

657.146

Those sound like really great ideas. Was there anything else that you could add to it or that you did add to it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

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from 2003 to 2017. A lifelong advocate for mental health, Tim authored the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, a bill that passed the House with an overwhelming 422-2 vote in July 2016. With his wealth of expertise, we're truly honored to have him here to share his insights with us. Thanks for coming on. Yeah, sure, sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

766.88

Earlier, you mentioned homelessness and how that overlapped with mental health and schizophrenia. Can you expand on that some?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

852.997

Do they have any assisted housing or anything that can help the homeless that might have some mental illness happening to get them off the streets?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

917.921

That seems like it was a real good program. What came from that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

92.842

You've served in both the state legislature and the House of Representatives, and throughout your career, you've consistently supported mental health initiatives and efforts to help people. What inspired you to create the bills that you've worked on?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform

986.758

That's sad to hear. So in your opinion, what needs to change and how can we help these people that need the help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

153.034

That's a list of very important things for people to have access to. Now, what are some of the common dynamics that can happen when police respond to a call involving someone this autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

215.097

So how do families seeking support wind up battling the legal system What happened? What caused this outcome to escalate into something they didn't plan on having to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

250.191

So when a family calls for help, they do it for the right reasons, but then it can go in a way that they never saw coming.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

313.664

I speak with families across the country consistently. And unfortunately, this is not a regional situation. It's a national one.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis Special Event. Joining us today is Christine Vester.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

354.235

If after everything is said and done, an arrest happens, what are the things that the family will be facing when all this starts?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

416.681

From what I've heard, the court system sometimes gives the autistic individual a real disadvantage. It can feel very punishing and, of course, very overwhelming to them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

461.923

This can be so overwhelming for the parents involved. Where do you step in with your charity to help those families?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

493.075

So even though you're trying to help the families get through this whole ordeal, you're still out there working to try and actually reform the whole legal system itself.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

516.193

I use the word perception a lot in my business because perception is everyone's reality, whether it's true or not. So what's true is that in the legal system, an autistic person is completely different. And because of that, needs to be treated as such, can't be treated the same way as others.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

564.898

Let's focus on something that's a little more concerning to the families, and that's incarceration. What are some of the challenges an autistic person faces when they're incarcerated? What are some of the difficult situations they might come into while they're in there? And then how is it to interact with not only just the prisoners, but the guards that are there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

62.066

She founded Humanity Over Handcuffs with the initiative of breaking the silence on the crisis facing autistic and neurodiverse individuals in the justice system. Through expert insights and a call for compassion over punishment, she is leading the charge to transform lives and systems. She joins us today as we explore her mission to put humanity first and why her work matters to us all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

637.267

Yeah, and I've also heard that sometimes they can be put into solitary confinement. That must really affect them as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

653.878

What about the staff and, of course, the other inmates as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

670.41

I've heard that the prison system is very, very rough on autistic individuals. So can you expand on some of the things that affect them, and even after they're ultimately released?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

725.832

Yeah, that seems like a very, very tough situation. It almost seems like it's a second sentence in a very different way. Yes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

758.228

Now, I know you have a website. Can you expand and give us a little more information on how people can find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

784.073

That's great information. It gives the person an avenue to look for help if they need it, and hopefully they never do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

877.438

Yes, I agree. Common sense is very important. Now, in closing, give our listeners something that you think is very important that they need to hear about what you're trying to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

88.171

Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

91.392

You're the founder of Humanity Over Handcuffs, a national advocacy effort focused on protecting autistic individuals in the justice system. Can you share what the movement is and why it was so important for you to create it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

937.841

Yes, I agree 100%. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

959.235

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles

992.106

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1035.077

Yeah, one of the good things that you are doing right now is that you are talking about it. Sometimes just having that ability to talk about it can relieve some of that stress so that you can cope some. Oh, yeah. And then you add to it that you're writing a book to help people. So that's at least getting some of that emotions out for you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1059.198

There's no instant gratification on writing a book or doing a blog. But the one thing that you can know is that you are helping people in many different ways. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. That's a good thing you're doing. So you just got to keep, as they say, one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1114.011

Yeah, so many people do not get the process. They just think that if they don't have a good day every day, they think that they're falling backwards, and they're not. It's just getting through that emotional crisis at that point in time, so that way they can move forward some. You just have to take it day by day, step by step, so that each day hopefully gets better.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1138.769

The main thing is to try and be as positive as we can, because when it comes to mental health, we can talk ourselves into having a very bad day. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. When that happens, you just have to find a way to talk yourself out of that bad day so that you can turn it around so that at least you're having a better day by digging yourself out of what could have been a whole lot worse.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1200.723

Unfortunately, that's so true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1226.351

Yeah, that's so true. Unfortunately, life is sometimes just not fair to us. Yeah. So what we have to do is find a way to justify things so that we can keep moving forward and taking steps to a better path to feeling better about yourself and the situation that you find yourself in. Absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1372.31

Yeah, it's a situation of where sometimes you think you know everything, but you don't.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1380.174

And then sometimes you don't think you know, but you do. Yeah. It's just living. It's just embracing what you can, kicking out the trash that you don't need around you, and hopefully building a situation to where it's tolerable and you can keep moving forward. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1401.225

So in closing, what would you like to tell people that might be going through some similar situations or have been it but still haven't coped yet? What would you tell them just so that they can kind of understand that it's not the end of the world? They can still survive and thrive and have a good life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1467.153

Yeah, I agree because you can talk yourself into being as depressed or as happy as you want to be. You've just got to get that correct mindset. It's like the guy that goes out every day and if he's constantly complaining, he's constantly talking, he's actually just talking himself into worse things. Whereas if he looks at things, realizes that stuff happens in this world, you just deal with it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1493.553

Then the next day hopefully is a little bit better and you just keep moving upward and just keep building to what you hopefully can be down the road.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1554.486

Absolutely. Great thoughts. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1566.712

Nice to meet you, and thanks so much. The pleasure's all mine. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

1595.251

Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

162.258

And yeah, that's me. Wow. That must be just so hard to deal with. With that said, needless to say, it affects the family, affects you. How did you deal with it? Can you give us a little bit of insight on what you went through going through these tragedies?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

306.625

Yeah, I mean, if you stop and think about it. We, as we grow up, will have something happen to us and then we'll completely push it down in the surface where it's not seen. And then five, 10, 15, 20 years later, whatever that timeframe may be, all of a sudden it just resurfaces. It can be from a smell, it can be from a song or anything that opens that trauma up and then you're back into it again.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

424.617

So how did you get away from that? What did you use for motivation to change your path? Did you have an idea or a plan to get away from that so that you could actually finish your grieving and then get into living your life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

welcome to why not me the world podcast hosted by tony mentor broadcasting from music city usa nashville tennessee join us as our guests tell us their stories some will make you laugh some will make you cry real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world. Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

51.67

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis Special Event. Joining us today is Jason McKenzie. He's here to share a profound moment of reckoning. After losing his wife to suicide and his daughter to mental health struggles, he faced a turning point four years later.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

575.174

And the bigger question is, how did it affect your kids? You were going back and forth with what you was processing while your kids had to go through that same grief and moving on. So how did that dynamic work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

682.093

Now, how old were your daughters again? They were six and five. Six and five, okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

693.177

Okay, so now your daughter, the one that unfortunately passed away, how old was she when that happened? She's 19.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

704.619

Wow. So that was another tragedy that you had to go through. Then add to it that your daughter had to go through it as well. So how did the both of you get through that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

73.377

A heavy day of drinking led to a heart-wrenching wake-up call from his nine-year-old daughter who voiced her disappointment in him. In that moment, he saw a man consumed by fear, doubt, and insecurity. To become the strong, courageous, and wise father his daughter respected, he knew he had to overcome and confront his inner demons.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

827.872

But sometimes you just have to let it all out. Yeah. Sometimes you have to let it all out just so that you can get that opportunity to start over. Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

870.447

Well, everyone grieves differently, and there is no right or wrong way. It's just how you deal with it, and then, of course, how you deal with it as a family so that you can move forward in life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

886.138

That's right. So now I think you said she's going to college. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

894.202

So with the pressure that comes with the first year of college, then you add the pressure that she's going through because of the loss of her sister. How is she handling that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

918.173

So now that you've gone through some of the healing that you've processed, what are your plans now moving forward? Do you have any particular ones etched in stone? So what's going through your mind in deciphering what you need to do so that you can move forward in life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jason MacKenzie:Healing After Unimaginable Loss

94.387

He's here to tell his heart-wrenching story with us and give us insight on his continuous work to overcome his grief. He has tremendous insights and a lot of great information. It's a true pleasure to have him join us today. Thanks for coming on. My pleasure. Yes, mine as well. If you could, give us an overview on what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

144.063

Exactly. So what... And it's always nice when you can use your platform to help others.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

165.222

Yeah, and autism is so misunderstood with so many people that we need events like this not only to help them financially, but to help get the word out there about what the challenges are that they face on a daily basis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

246.661

yeah and it's always nice to when you're working on a project or going doing a show you can go up there in front of 5 000 10 000 people whatever the number may be and it's enjoyable and you put on your show and people enjoy what you do but there's a different sense of of value when you do something like this when you know that the people are there to support

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

271.873

autism part of it and you're there to support the autism so it's a completely different feeling in what you're putting out yeah and we're all there for the common goal and the common good of helping those in need It just feels like you've accomplished something. At least when I'm working on a project and it's a music project, it's like I feel good that I did it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

295.686

But when I'm working on a project and it's finishing up like an interview with an autistic person or whatever, it feels like I accomplished something.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

305.191

Completely different thought process.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

308.872

So how many songs are you doing tonight?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

310.954

Three, okay. And anything that you want to tell the listeners that you think is important that they hear about what you're trying to do with the autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor, and welcome to today's episode of Why Not Me? The World. We're recording live at the Nashville Palace for a special remote podcast, unscripted, unedited, and full of heart. Tonight's episode supports an acoustic evening for autism, a show happening right here this evening.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

369.822

Well, good. Well, I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

373.563

Yeah, thanks. Okay, I'm here with Minnie Murphy, and she's one of the performers tonight for Autism. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

387.023

What led you to do this show for autism tonight?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

418.517

So you say that your son is autistic?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

423.519

And how old is he?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

425.52

Oh, okay. All right. With that said, it appears that you're getting a lived experience of this. So this way you can not only help people, but you can also bring more understanding to them about it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

519.511

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

526.998

Absolutely. And that's really what it is. The biggest thing that I found while doing this podcast is the misunderstanding of what people think autism actually is. The closer we can get to people understanding, and that's what this show does. It helps raise money to go to the Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt to help better understand autism and help people get that understanding.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

553.988

So I think this is a great thing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

611.883

Absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

628.796

Yeah, that's great. And I heard a great song.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

633.263

Yeah, yeah. And that's the beauty of being able to get up on stage and do something like that. Because it's your talent that that brings it and also platform you have that can open other people's eyes to what autistic people have to go through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

73.396

We're thrilled to bring you this country experience, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we're enjoying sharing it with you. We've got two fantastic guests joining us tonight. This is week number three of three that I'll be featuring two guests per episode to dive into everything we're covering right here tonight. Thanks for tuning in. Okay, I'm here with Jamie O'Neill. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

730.695

And the great thing is that you both get to learn together. So it's something that you can embrace, you learn together, and you can go down that journey. Because autism is so much more than what people think it is. Because back in the day, they thought it was a death sentence. And it's not. It's just something that people have to learn from and build.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

760.635

So from what I'm hearing and seeing, I think you're in a really good place.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

791.518

Exactly. And it gives you a different perspective as well. You might see something a little different than you see what they see.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

809.667

Absolutely. So what would you like to leave the listeners with that they should know about tonight?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

880.087

Absolutely. Well, I appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

893.615

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

923.484

about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause

98.655

So tell me, what is your journey to get to this show tonight for autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1076.175

That's amazing, but I'm glad it worked out. Now, once you contacted the doctor and he was going back and forth, how long did it take before the procedure actually came to happen?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1094.922

Once the procedure was completed, how long did it take for the effects to kick in? Or was it something that developed gradually over a period of time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1130.239

Oh, so it was a year ago that this procedure was done?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1135.875

Less than a year. Okay. Have you noticed any changes at all in the past year, or is it still something that just takes time before you find out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1152.762

Has it been positive changes?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1209.215

What do you see for him in the next year or two? Do you see him getting better? Or do you see him, unfortunately, one of those that have to have a watchful eye on him for the most of the time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1231.664

I suppose my main question is, after everything you've been through, your son's 35, navigating the jail system, enduring trials, working through the legal process, consulting psychologists... even pursuing this brain trial. What's your greatest fear now as you look ahead to his future and the possibilities that lie before him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1311.871

I think you raise an important point that we should address. With so much stress at home and the uncertainty surrounding everything, how do you manage it? How do you cope? What strategies do you use to cope with the unknown?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1336.468

I totally get that. I really do. What's his lifestyle look like right now? Where's he living and how's he getting along?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1371.767

Now that a little time has gone by, he's got out of the court system. How has his life changed? Has he stayed fairly straight so that he's been able to stay away from the legal system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1441.613

So in a case like that, we're talking interaction with the police and ultimately interaction with the legal system. Did they work together well on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1474.321

Yes, that's a very tough situation. Lots of times, if a police officer comes into a situation that they don't know, they have to make a decision in seconds. Sometimes it can be the right one. Sometimes it can be the wrong one. If they're not trained, it could easily go the wrong way, which is very unfortunate.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1510.87

Sure. Sure. Absolutely. It's a tough road for everyone involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1516.857

People have to understand that not everyone handles the situation perfectly, which can make things challenging to navigate. The key is finding ways, hopefully, to improve it so that everyone involved can emerge with less harm, fewer problems, and the ability to move forward more easily.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

154.738

Okay. Do you see him getting this under control with the doctor's help? What's the overall outlook from the doctors on what his future can look like?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1564.454

Yeah, it's a very tough situation. The average person has no clue of what people go through on a daily basis because they're not associated with it. So it's really tough for sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1623.96

I agree. Things do need to change. The biggest thing I think is understanding. I think all the people within the legal system and not in the legal system need to understand what's going on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1684.005

Yeah, yeah. I mean, any time that a person has an event, when they lose control of their focus and their mind, it's really tough on everyone involved. So bringing more attention to it, raising awareness, and hopefully fostering a better understanding could make a difference. With that said, this has been a great conversation, great information.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1707.791

I really appreciate you taking the time to come on and talk with us.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1713.436

Oh, the pleasure's been all mine. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

1746.973

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

222.82

Yes, I totally understand that. Just like with autism, that is something that some people think can be cured when it ultimately cannot. So autism and serious mental illness can parallel each other for that. I think you said he showed signs of this around 17?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

251.17

When you describe him as psychotic, what were some of the behaviors or actions he exhibited that made you realize he was struggling? What events led up to that point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

332.784

So after going through all of that, what did you do next? How long was it before you decided to seek a doctor's evaluation to get a diagnosis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantua. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis Special Event.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

397.601

Well, that does make a lot of sense. At what point in time was it that he wound up getting involved with the legal system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire, and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

517.734

Actually, that was my next question. Did you follow through on that? And what were the results?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

554.557

Now, once you followed their recommendations and that process played out and he was actually incarcerated, what was the next step of the journey?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

59.676

Today, we're honored to be joined by Colleen Scott, a resilient mother whose son has endured a profoundly challenging journey with schizophrenia, marked by countless obstacles in the pioneering trial brain operation. She's here to offer an in-depth account of her experiences, bringing a wealth of knowledge and perspective that promises to enlighten us all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

698.537

Okay, so once you went through all that, jumped through all the hoops, did he actually go to trial? And if he did, what were the results from it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

787.429

Okay, so what happened after all of this? Was you able to get anything changed or is he still in the system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

83.464

We're truly privileged to have her share her story with us. Thanks for coming on. Yeah, well, thanks for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure. I believe you said your son is 35 now. Is that correct? 35, yes. How's he doing now? Is he holding up okay? And what does his daily routines look like?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

839.272

That's very interesting. Now, once you got through all that, jumped through all the hoops, what happened after he got released, even though he's still in the system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

944.521

Okay. Now, you mentioned something about a study that was performed. Can you elaborate on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Colleen Scott: One Mother's Journey Through Schizophrenia

998.413

That's interesting. What was that called?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

104.142

Well, I appreciate it. So we're here at the Nashville Palace, and we're going to do a concert tonight for autism. What led you to be part of this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

175.393

Well, that's great. You know, we are unfortunately a country of if it doesn't affect our family, we don't get involved. And learning about autism and how it affects people, it's something that needs to get out there for people to learn and understand that it's something that we all need to help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

242.594

You know, I found that when I first started this podcast about autism, I didn't know anything about it. And now, over the last year and a half, I've learned so much. And it's just those things, the stories that you hear from people that are living it, that go through all the challenges, and you sit back and go, you know, we complain sometimes every day, but we don't have to deal with some things.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

269.036

So it's good that we can help out when we can.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

321.846

Yeah, you know, that was going to be my next question for you. Is this one thing when you're when you're doing bars and clubs and across the country, but then when you elevate yourself with hit records and get to the point of where you can go out and do concerts, then all of a sudden your platform can help so many people just by using your voice, by just telling people you need to help people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

34.92

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor, and welcome to today's episode of Why Not Me? The World. We're recording live at the Nashville Palace for a special remote podcast, unscripted, unedited, and full of heart. Tonight's episode supports an acoustic evening for autism, a show happening right here this evening.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

390.109

So it's a whole different world when you get into helping people like that, because, because people don't understand the challenges that you have to go through in order to help. Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

450.906

uh maybe getting some sponsors on the corporate level oh nice that'll be huge for us yeah and then the good news is is we'll do the right thing with it yeah you know um it's the one great thing about about doing this is like like when i'm when i'm doing when i'm in the studio doing production work and everything i finish it up i feel good that oh man this is good but when i finish an episode on my podcast and i'm talking with autistic people and the challenges and i finish it editing it feels like i've accomplished something

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire, inspire, and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

542.933

Absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

548.418

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Well, I tell you, I really appreciate you coming on. I'm looking forward to your show tonight. Thank you, man. And I'll have to get you back on my real podcast.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

563.892

Yeah. All right. Well, I appreciate it. Thank you. All right. Okay, we're here with Dylan Massengale. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

571.747

So, tell me a little bit about your story and how you came to be doing this show tonight.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

612.962

Good, good. Now, where are you originally from?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

618.767

Okay. What made you decide to move to Nashville?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

638.013

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

658.413

Yeah. So now what are you doing musically?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

683.421

That's all in the family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

73.399

We're thrilled to bring you this country experience, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we're enjoying sharing it with you. We've got two fantastic guests joining us tonight. This is week number two out of three that I'll be featuring two guests per episode to dive into everything we're covering right here tonight. Thanks for tuning in. Okay, I'm here with Daryl Worley. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

815.626

So how many songs are you doing tonight?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

845.578

Yeah, and that's great. Well, good. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do, and... We're going to have to get you on to my normal podcast and get a full episode in for you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

895.445

Well, great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

901.448

Well, you need to, and I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

912.711

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism

943.865

The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1048.929

Yes, for sure. It's what I call the big unknown. it is i use that because i talk with a lot of people that are in the autistic communities yes and the thing that they go through is when they first find out their child is autistic it's the big unknown they don't know what to do who to call they are just totally confused and afraid of what to do i see those with mental illness are the same

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1076.992

they are in the unknown and not sure what to do, facing a scenario that they never thought they would ever see. So with that said, what would you tell those families that are just first finding out that their child may have some mental illness? What are some of the basic steps to start?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

110.345

Yes, unfortunately, that does happen. Can you expand why it was that you got into this business?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1217.441

Yes, the best thing that people can do is reach out to all these organizations and find out as much as they possibly can about it. You had mentioned your son. Can you give us a little information on him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1280.675

So in this situation, what can you do? You've tried everything. You've thought about everything. You look back and realize that everything that you've done has been for him. What's the potential for the future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1402.652

Judges, lawyers, everyone involved in the legal system needs to have a better understanding of mental illness and how to work within the system, but still come up with something that's going to help people. So the more knowledge they have, hopefully the better off we are.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1450.433

Yeah. So in closing, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important for them to hear? Some may be going through similar situations that you have seen. So what do you think is important for them to hear?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1578.499

Yes, that's huge. I think that's a very good thing for people to get together, tell their stories. This way they know they're not alone in their fight. The one common thing I hear from most everyone I speak with is how they think the system is fractured and it's just a nightmare to navigate through the whole thing for their children.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1707.625

Yeah, exactly. Well, this has been a great conversation and a lot of great information. I do appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1723.489

Well, just trying to take and do my part to make a difference if I can.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1732.739

Yeah, well, thanks for coming on. Like I said, I appreciate it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1737.081

Oh, the pleasure's been all mine. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

1770.852

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

192.87

Yes, unfortunately, there is a definite stigma that goes along with anything that's associated with mental health. So how do we change that? What are some of the steps that you've taken? What have you seen that actually works to help us achieve what we're aiming for? How do we get to a place where people will focus on the individual and offer help rather than getting caught up with the stigma?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Sylvia Mignon. She is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, LICSW.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

376.648

How do we bring everyone together when each person holds their own views and ideas? Often it's just a matter of perception. People see things a certain way, even if that's not the full picture. So how do we shift that outlook and show what's really going on? And how can we encourage the bureaucracy to ease up a bit and be a little more open with what can help the people that need it the most?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

601.98

Yes, unfortunately, I've said many times, this country is a country that it's not a problem until it affects our family. How do you think we can change the mindset of those that don't see the urgency or the need? Sometimes people have to realize it's not about our kids having mental illness. It can be the ones that surround them. It affects our families in so many different ways.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

633.416

With that said, it actually affects our whole community in ways that we don't see it sometimes. What kind of proactive steps do you think we can take to make a change that ultimately will help everyone?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

68.57

who specializes in clinical work with mental health clients, abuse survivors and individuals with substance abuse disorders and correctional population. She is also the author on textbooks with topics including substance abuse, treatment family violence, child welfare and mental illness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

790.595

What were some of the things that you saw during your son's stay at the hospital?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

86.408

With her extensive expertise, we are thrilled to welcome her and look forward to her valuable knowledge she will share with us. Thanks for coming on. Can you give us information on what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

939.639

Well, at least we are getting some people out there that continue to try and do what they need so they can help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child

949.043

The bottom line is we just need people that are willing to get out there, step up and help any way they can.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

103.092

Yes, it is.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

134.95

So this is your number two, right? Second annual, yes. So what kicked it off? What started it all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

164.491

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

249.048

Yeah. Yeah. And it's going to what the Kennedy Center in Vanderbilt.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

253.692

I've dealt with them. They're nice. They're terrific.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

256.655

Yeah. That's great. I mean, so it's it must feel good to be able to put something together like this because a lot of people don't realize the hours and the and the and the legwork that it takes to put together a showcase like this with so many different people involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

287.895

Yeah. Nice.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

312.944

Well, it's a need because... I was telling some people just the other day that up until I started this podcast, I really didn't know anything about autism. And now in the last year and a half, I've learned so much. And we don't realize what they go through and what they have to deal with every day. And it's a struggle for a lot of people. So it's a good thing you're doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

34.916

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor, and welcome to today's episode of Why Not Me? The World. We're recording live at the Nashville Palace for a special remote podcast, unscripted, unedited and full of heart. Tonight's episode supports an acoustic evening for autism, a show happening right here this evening.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

362.623

are dealing with this yeah it's amazing the numbers it is it is so uh so we just wanted to help yeah well i think it's i think it's a great thing you're doing so what we'll have to do later since this is just a preliminary to get you get everybody knowing about what you're doing prior to the show going on we'll have to get you back onto my podcast to do a full episode i'd be thrilled well i appreciate it absolutely all right thank you sir okay thanks

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

388.55

Okay, I'm here with Devin O'Day, and she's going to be the emcee tonight. So nice to have you here.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

486.054

Well, you know, it's interesting because for the longest time, we always thought that just the odd man out was just the odd man out. And the odd man out could have been autistic. And with all the people that I've spoken with, it's everyone is different. You know, you've met one autistic person and you've met one autistic person. Oh, that's a beautiful way to say that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

509.882

Yeah, and it's like, the sad part about it is that we put a stigma to it, like it's a bad thing. And it's really nice to have people like this coming out tonight to do this show to help support them because they need a lot of help that we don't see. Yeah. So how did you get involved with this particular event?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

595.757

Yeah. Well, you know, one in seven, they say that one in seven people around the world either know someone who has someone that's autistic in their family. That's pretty huge numbers. That is. That is.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

607.905

And, you know, I interviewed one autistic gentleman, and he said you could walk into a pharmacy, you know, with a pharmaceutical company where they're working and doing the microscopes and doing all this stuff for medicines and all this. He goes, throw a pebble because you're probably going to hit someone that's autistic because they're that brilliant.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

631.971

The sad part is that we only see the worst. You know, it's like there are unfortunately there are some of those autistic people out there that that don't function well. And they're in their 30s and they've got a brain capacity of like an eight to 12 year old. And that's what we see. We don't see the other ones that thrive. And so we just need to get that word out there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

703.597

Nice. That's nice.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

710.244

Yeah, I think we will at some point. It's just unfortunately, we as a country. It's not a problem unless it affects our family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

73.388

We're thrilled to bring you this country experience, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we're enjoying sharing it with you. We've got two fantastic guests joining us tonight. And for the next three weeks, I'll be featuring two guests per episode to dive into everything we're covering right here tonight. Thanks for tuning in. All right, I'm here with Doug Mathis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

739.716

Right. Yeah, we've just got to take and find a way to hopefully get people to show more empathy towards others no matter what it is. And then if we get to that point, then we're winning.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

760.613

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

764.365

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

777.336

Oh, my story is interesting. I did a song right after when COVID was happening, and I wasn't going to put it out. My promoters that I work with in New York, Nashville, L.A., and London said, oh, you've got to put this song out. I said, no, I'm not getting back on the road. I'm not doing any of that. So long story short, I put it out and I did a video supporting our first responders.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

802.419

And then after that was done, I had a lady call me up and ask me if I could do something like that for them. And she was a therapist for autistic children. So from that, I did a I did a video called Why Not Me Nashville. And I had local people here in Nashville that there were special needs and autistic in it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

821.436

And then from there, I just started working and growing and developing this podcast and now it's almost two years old.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

831.752

Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

857.132

Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

918.919

That's an amazing story.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

936.329

That's awesome. Well, I'm looking forward to, you know, listening to you tonight and tell your stories as MC. And it's been a great pleasure having you here.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

955.419

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com, contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

97.027

So tell me a little bit about what you're doing tonight.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness

986.485

The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1006.932

It sounds like you were doing your best to consider every possibility, so I don't think second-guessing yourself would have made any difference at all. So looking ahead, what do you see now? What do you think you have to do, and what can help him to get a better stable life for his future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1139.48

Right. There's not much more you can say on that. So what advice would you offer to others who might be facing the same struggles you've been through? How would you guide them toward finding even a small sense of peace in their lives so they're not left carrying the weight of self-blame or trapped in that pain? Because as you know, it's a very painful journey.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

122.984

When did you first notice something was off with him? I'm curious about the very first moment you realized he was dealing with some personal issues that just needed attention.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1291.391

Absolutely. From a parent's perspective, it's all about wanting the very best for their child. It can be incredibly hard to even think about heading out to a party when you know your son or daughter is struggling. That's a deeply emotional thing for any parent to work through, and it's completely understandable to feel that pull on your heart like you just mentioned.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1319.87

we have to do for ourselves we just have to detach so what is it we detach with love you know you're so right keeping our own peace of mind is essential because if we don't stress can creep in and affect us in ways we might not even expect

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1358.255

apartment finding or what have you I want to be there for him but I also you know I want to be there for him but I need to be here for myself and do those things that make me happy now absolutely I think that's tremendously important well this has been great great information great conversation I really appreciate you taking the time to come on thank you thank you for having me oh it's been my pleasure thanks again

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1390.287

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

1420.157

about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

182.011

When he was a senior, you mentioned getting a diagnosis. Once you received that diagnosis, what steps did you take to manage it and improve the situation, even if it wasn't fully under control?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

228.583

When someone hears schizophrenia, they often assume the worst. So during the process when he was on his medication and things were relatively stable, what were you going through to help keep him on that positive path?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Meet the World? Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we are joined by Carly, a clinical social worker who is stepping away from her professional role to speak to us as a mother. Carly's child lives with a serious mental illness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

352.886

So how is he doing now? Is he better? Is he worse? Is he still the same? What's his situation look like now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

454.187

I've heard that can be a challenge. How did that go?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

505.168

Did that help him at all? How was his situation in the hospital?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

556.448

That kind of surprises me that they was going to let him go that soon. So how did you handle it? What was your response?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

595.729

I have a tough time with that word too. I think it's anisognasia.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

659.34

This is definitely tough on him with what he's going through. But how was you handling it? It's just as tough for you seeing your son go down the spiral. So how was you handling it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

73.919

She brings a wealth of personal experience and insight that she will share with us. We really appreciate her taking the time. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

867.677

With all this happening between the lawyer and the judge and everyone that was involved, what was the next step? What did they tell you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

90.562

If you could, give us a little background on what you do and your journey in what you've been trying to accomplish.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

921.534

Now that you've been through this, 20-20 hindsight is always perfect. Looking back over the years you've been doing this, do you see anything that stands out? Something that could have changed? Or was it just destined to turn out the way it did for him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever

964.153

It seems like for every solution offered, he raised another obstacle. So I believe he did everything you possibly could.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1000.185

Yes, absolutely. I have a judge coming on the latter part of this month. He started a 218,000 square foot facility. It covers a lot of mental health issues, along with health, dental, and many other things. He found by diverting them to this, as a rule, you don't see them the second time. It also saves the taxpayers hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1028.903

Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1035.81

Yeah. Unfortunately, we're in a situation where this country and the judicial system for autistic people has lost control. It's sad. We have not been able to make things better. But here we are, 2025. Another sad thing. I heard the other day that the country's biggest health care facility is the L.A. County Prison. And that shouldn't be.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1069.238

So true. So if you would, tell us a little bit more about what you do with your charity in trying to bring this to the attention to the people that need to hear about it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1190.126

Yeah, unfortunately, it is just so out of control. It's kind of like when a kid does something bad, you don't say anything. 30 days later, you start to reprimand him for what he did. He doesn't understand it. He's really confused about it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1206.838

So to put that into our court system, we've let it get so far out of control that now you can't go back and slap them on the wrist because it's just out of control. Somehow we have to get the judges, the lawyers, the DAs, we have to get them educated about autism so that way they can look at it different and then show a little compassion and empathy towards the victims.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1299.25

Exactly. I hear that comment so much.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1326.252

Yeah, I think that's a huge issue. The public just does not understand. I started this podcast less than two years ago. And up until that point, I knew absolutely nothing about autism. Now that I've learned more and understand it more, I look at things completely different than I used to.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1345.751

There's enough information coming out now so that if people would actually dig into it a little bit, they would find that autism is not the perception that they once thought it was.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1379.784

Yeah, that's a great thing that you're doing. So what would you like to tell the listeners that you think it's very important that they need to know about what you're doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1434.019

Yeah, I absolutely agree. Well, this has been great. Good conversation, good information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1446.069

Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

1478.04

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

182.781

How old is he now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

231.554

So he was able to work then?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

262.182

How long ago was this, that this happened?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

333.597

So it's pretty obvious they didn't give the attention to his autistic diagnosis that they probably should have. Did you get any reasons for that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Carol Nistakis, vice president and co-founder of D3, an organization devoted to supporting autistic individuals navigating the complexities of the legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

384.93

So once the verdict came down, what was the result from that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

411.549

So before that, you said he was in the Special Olympics.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

415.89

What kind of competition did he do with that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

440.919

That's great that he enjoyed that. So now that he had to take that plea deal, what happened then? I'm sure that changed the whole landscape.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

485.219

That's pretty sad to hear.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

546.139

Sure. I mean, that sounds really tough. So what happened next?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

573.58

After this, I think you got more intense in advocacy, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

612.982

So how did you move forward with that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

640.348

How did that go, working by yourself?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

690.051

Yeah, and not only that, but if it's taken a toll on him, it's taken on the family as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

72.617

Her journey began with her son's challenging experiences within the justice system, which exposed the unique struggles faced by autistic individuals and their families. These deeply personal encounters inspired her to advocate for systematic change, provide resources, and offer guidance to others facing similar obstacles.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

738.869

Yes, I've spoke with several people that their sons or daughters have ended up in the prison system, and it's not a pretty sight at all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

752.768

With everything that you've been through, now you're looking back at it. Is there anything that you see that now you might have done a little differently that might have changed the outcome?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

830.367

So how do we get them educated? They go to work every day. They do what they do. Like you said, they're out there to win. But sometimes compassion has to come into the picture. They have to have a little empathy towards the people they're prosecuting. And it's not like the majority of autistic people are out there just trying to figure out how they can be bad. Sometimes they're the victims.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

856.078

So how do we get that across to them so that they can better understand? And then with all of this together, it's a win-win for everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

913.578

Yes, I agree. That would help tremendously. It totally amazes me. My podcast this month and next month is having 61 straight episodes about autism, mental health, and the legal system. My first guest this month was a judge in Las Vegas. She runs a court system that diverts the kids out of the legal system as much as possible. It's the only one in the country that does this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

94.412

She's here to share how her experiences shaped her family's path and fueled her commitment to transforming the legal landscape for autistic individuals. It's a pleasure to have you here, Carol. Could you tell us how these events sparked your journey and led to your advocacy?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

941.905

It just shocks me that if she can do it, no one else is trying to do it either. It didn't start out that way, but it just turned into one then another. Now she's the only court system in Las Vegas and the country that does this type of legal system for autistic children. My issue is if she can do it, others around the country should be looking and saying, why can't we do something like this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System

995.671

Millions.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1003.789

And the first week of the certified peer specialist training was like a Dale Carnegie seminar catered just for people that have a brain disorder like schizophrenia or major depression. And it really helped me connect because. Even though I was starting to respond to medication, my social skills had really atrophied. So like the second week is a lot of like stuff on advocacy.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1028.968

But the first week was extremely helpful just teaching me because I didn't realize how it was coming across. And that really helped me. And also, it helps my self-worth because I had to study for the test and pass the test. I'm currently working as an employment specialist. I just started a new job.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1050.007

I'm going to be helping people with brain disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder find work. And that's something that's very important because there's a risk of me going back to the hospital if I get really stressed out. But feeling worthless and not being able to participate and be a part of society is also stressful and can also lead to me going back to the hospital.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1073.877

So it's one of those things.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1098.167

A lot of it was just trial and error. Okay. A lot of it was trial and error. And one thing that I was very blessed with is I've always had stable housing. I've always, my home, the home I grew up in has always been there.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1112.879

So even if I move out, I remember I called my mother when I was working another job and I was like, I also go to a 12-step program for drinking and I called my mother and I was like, I gotta move back home. I'm gonna relapse if I keep doing this job. I gotta just go home and take a break. And she was happy to have me. So I think I've always had where if I don't succeed, I will be on the street.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

113.805

Well, thank you for having me. I love doing advocacy, and I love talking about my book, so it's a win-win.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1153.944

My father passed away in 2003. And we were very lucky in that he had a very good job at Lockheed Martin. We were basically my mother. And even though she has two children that were disabled, we're still able to keep our house. And my mother has always been supportive. She's always been encouraging me to do stuff. In fact, let me see if I could find it here.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1178.645

The first part of my book is actually a picture of me and my mother at my graduation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1185.369

And I have a nice tribute to my mom. Yeah, and that's one thing I think is vital. And I will say this, though. My church was very vital, still is very vital to my recovery. And my supportive family is very vital to my recovery. But if I had not been paid early on to be in that clinical trial study, it wouldn't, I don't think it would have made that much of a difference.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1206.852

Because even though these things are important, the anosmosia, the lack of insight, even like say you could have the most loving family in church. I know, I know people that have had different experiences. with schizophrenia-related disorders in their church or other house of worship. But I've been overwhelmingly supported and welcomed. And that's something that has been, like I say, vital.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1231.408

And even at other people's churches, I've been invited. Other people would invite me to things, not just mine. So I feel like the faith community of Woodstock has been very, very welcoming to me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1260.629

I honestly think, you know, how do I word that? That was a big reason, not just the money. I don't blame anyone, but I was saying things and just the way I was acting was making people understandably, understandably so very uncomfortable. And the clinical trial program not only paid me a small stipend, but they were really friendly.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1282.919

So there was a time when I didn't have a single friend in the whole wide world. And going to treatment was my only like social interaction. And I was too, at that time, too paranoid to even leave my house. So I feel like being that going every two weeks for treatment was a very, was something I looked forward to.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1321.951

After I was on medication, I started to, on the older medication, I started to venture out a little at a time. I was very lucky that I had a brother who worked for a, I think it was a company that contracted with United Airlines. So I had standby tickets. Part of what I did, I was very nervous about going out in public where I lived, but I flew to California where I have family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1349.233

and I was a little bit braver going out there where I didn't know anyone. Well, that was a nice segue going out there and socializing with my cousins and then coming back and trying to apply what I learned. But I was very nervous and I did it a little at a time. I didn't do it all at once and it helped when I started being on medication that alleviated my symptoms.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

136.723

Well, as a child, I enjoyed writing and I kind of somewhere along the way lost. I stopped doing it for some reason. And then after I quit drinking, I didn't know what to do with myself. I felt powerless. I have a brother who was refusing medication for schizophrenia at the time. And I felt so powerless to help him. And I was talking to all these families in that situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1375.459

And, but it was, it was very hard. It was very hard in the beginning. Like I remember working at Wendy's and it was very scary for me. Very, just very scary. And, um, even going to church for a time, I wouldn't even go to church, um, because I was too, too nervous. And there were, there was a long time where I would just not go anywhere.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1397.392

Another problem I had is I was so flat, I didn't really do anything for fun so that when I didn't really have the desire to go out, even when I wasn't paranoid, I didn't really have as much of the desire to go out and because I didn't do anything for fun, it was kind of like, what am I going to talk about if I go out? At the time, I was watching a lot of cable news.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1420.736

I mean, just go talk about the news. Or sometimes I used to just talk about my symptoms. Like, we'll talk about, like, having a schizoaffective disorder. Like, that's how I'm going to go. And you can't always do that. You can't just go. I mean, people with other health problems don't go out and do that. Which is part of the reason I love creative outlets. Because I love just talking about my art.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1445.048

I love talking about, like... comedy or talking about my book or having things that are more topical other than just, Hey, I have schizoaffective disorder.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1457.754

I'm taking a break. I'm taking a break. I'm open to doing it in the future, but I enjoy writing more. And that's something that I would like to, in the future, like I said, I like my favorite movies or movies about the creative process, like Birdman and movies like that, like Black Swan. Black Swan gave me a lot of anxiety. It's just about a woman with anxiety.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1483.57

But anything about the creative process. So I like doing stand-up about being a movie extra. And I don't know. I could see just doing stand-up about self-publishing. But right now my focus is writing. And I'm taking a screenwriting workshop in late January and February. So, yeah. So having a, who knows, maybe I'll write something about, like I said, the creative process of self-publishing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1517.589

Oh, well, thank you. My book, I got sober for this with the ellipses. Eric, E-R-I-C, J, Eric J. Diaz, 1981 at gmail.com. And I would be happy to respond to emails. And that is something that when you self-publish is kind of, I'm doing everything. Yeah, like I said, I would seriously love to hear from anyone who's read my book or has any questions.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1552.771

I think a lot of times, like with my book, I didn't know the distribution tools available to self-published authors. And I was like, why am I writing this when no publisher was going to want it? Well, I don't... Publishers can't reject it if I don't write it. And there were a lot of times when I was hopeless. And I'm like, why am I doing this? Like, nothing good is going to come of this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1579.597

And sometimes just... Just keeping hope, keeping hope, keep going, keep going, and just don't give up. Because a lot of times, like when I respond to medication in my 30s, like what's the point? My life's over. Well, now that I'm 43, hearing my 30-year-old self saying that, I think it's just silly. And just keep going and keep hope alive.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

161.09

And I was just writing was just it was just therapeutic. It was I enjoyed doing it. And I felt so powerless at writing. I controlled the page completely as mine. So it was empowering to write and tell stories. And part of the idea for the book was in 2018. There were two inmates at the ICE Detention Center in Stewart County, Georgia, at the Stewart Detention Center.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

1610.066

Just keeping hope, keeping hope, keep, keep going, keep going. And just don't give up because a lot of times, like when I respond to medication in my thirties, like what's the point? My life's over. Well, now that I'm 43, 30, hearing my 30 year old self saying that, I think it's just silly. Like, you know, and just keep going and keep hope, keep hope alive.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

187.237

There were two inmates with schizophrenia that completed suicide. And I was kind of like, hurt my interest, like, that's out in the middle of nowhere. That's nowhere near where I live. It's nowhere near Atlanta. It's nowhere near Macon. And then I started doing research, and I was like, you know, a lot of families have loved ones with untreated schizophrenia, largely due to lack of insight.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

209.358

But I was kind of like, what's their story? Maybe, like, how did they wind up down there from other states? They weren't residing in Georgia when they were detained by ICE. And just telling the story of Carl Betancourt, the protagonist, his life intersects with a lot of different people. They have a common connection. But it's people that wouldn't otherwise know each other.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

243.844

Well, my book is, of course, it's a book, work of fiction, and it's a novel, but it's mainly about the main protagonist and just him. He doesn't want his children, he's afraid his children might wind up developing schizophrenia and being like some of the clients he takes. He's a recovered alcoholic lawyer. And my brother was a big inspiration for a lot of the chapters in the book.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

269.782

And just stories of people I know and stories that I've read about, just people that are powerless. Like you have people that are marginalized, that don't have a lot, and you have people that are wealthy, and they're still powerless to help their loved ones. We kind of all were in this together. And also, writing the book was also just, I like storytelling.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

291.962

I used to do stand-up comedy, and I would tell stories about being a movie extra. which is very common in the Atlanta area. I was on disability for most of my adult life for schizoaffective disorder. Being a movie extra is a common type of employment for people on psychiatric disability around here. So it's very common. You work a couple of days a week and it doesn't affect your disability check.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

314.777

And because it's under the amount, something we're lucky because not everyone has that as temp work, but in Georgia, we're lucky to have that.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

329.685

Yes. And I'm not sure. I know I am schizo. I have schizoaffective disorder. And I believe, I say schizophrenia, but I'm not sure his exact diagnosis. I know early intervention was key to my recovery. It was absolutely key. And being paid to participate in a clinical trial study at Emory University was vital because I did not believe I was sick. No, I did not believe I was sick.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

359.248

I knew with absolute certainty that there was nothing wrong with me. I knew with absolute certainty that everything I was saying was true. There was no... There was no if or maybe. I knew. But I also had the reality slapping me in the face and being paid to participate in this study. And they were very nice to me when I went down there. Got me on my medication.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

379.395

Even though I was still in psychosis... Psychosis, in my view, is always toxic. I don't view it as ever being good. It's a disease to be treated, not a right to be protected, but it was manageable. Like I could kind of, I could go out a little bit. I wasn't always saying things that would get me in trouble because I wouldn't even know why people were mad.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

403.459

I was under the care of a psychiatrist that we knew because my brother is older. I was under the care of a psychiatrist and seeing a social worker regularly. And I believe, I don't know, because I was very much out of it. I guess the best way to describe it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

418.886

I began taking medications my senior year in high school that are for schizophrenia, but I originally started seeing the psychiatrist and social worker for depression.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

431.357

I was having symptoms, but I was only forthcoming. I still had a filter. I think it's called double booking. I knew how bad, how bizarre the things I was thinking sounded. So I was able to keep it to myself, but it was still making me very depressed. I was able to, once for a short, I took the medication right off the bat. I just took it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

452.661

I was raised that when you're prescribed something, you take it. But the side effects were so bad, I discontinued it. And then for about, I would say if I guess, I don't remember everything exactly. It's hazy. But I would say about close to a year, I was just no medication, period. Just not taking my medication. And

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

475.56

What was so great about Emory University and the clinical trial study was that they never tried to make me admit I had schizoaffective disorder. It was just, come in, tell us how you're doing. And like, here's your prescription. And it was very funny because I still very much believe things happened in the past. But they weren't ongoing now in a way that was threatening to me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

496.711

It was just things that had happened. And I still had a lot of symptoms, but I wasn't employable at that time in my view. But I was able to kind of go out to a restaurant because there was a time when I couldn't even leave my house. I was so paranoid.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

546.175

That's partially true. The medication was able to keep me out of the hospital, but I still couldn't do a whole lot. So my current medication, I believe I've been on since 2011. And then I added a medication about four years ago. When I was on the older medication, I kind of had a grieving process because I couldn't do the other stuff the other young men in their 20s were doing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

572.271

I was in a program for the cognitive symptoms of like this memory impairment and just not being able to, I was in a program for special needs adults at Goodwill. And I was placed in a job at Wendy's where all I could do was make fries and clean the lobby because my short-term memory was so bad and I was so dense that I couldn't really do anything, do a whole lot.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

596.271

And it was very lonely and isolating. And then when I responded to medication... I was very happy that I was able to get my GED and go back to college. I went to a junior college. My church was vital in me being able to go back to college because a man at my church who was retired helped me get caught up. So I could, at the junior college, I needed a lot of one-on-one tutoring.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

620.073

But it would have been different if I had been diagnosed. I then, as a teenager, I then, when I was 20, gone straight on the medication I'm on now.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

640.349

I don't believe it did because I believe maybe so. I mean, it would have been better to have been diagnosed sooner. But I believe that the medication I'm on now wasn't on the market. If I had had that medication I'd started taking in 2011, say in 2001, it would have been a lot different. But the whole gaining 100 pounds on the medication thing,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

665.349

having the cognitive problems, being emotionally flat. It was pretty much, it was keeping me out of the hospital, but I could survive and not thrive. So I'm very grateful that there's newer medication out so that if you don't respond, I don't like to say the names of medication because I don't want to promote.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

687.366

But even if you don't respond to the medication I'm on, there's a lot of newer medications out there. And the reason I don't say what medication I'm on is I've had friends see how well I'm doing. And the majority of doctors want their patients to participate in their treatment. But when people come in there and say, Eric is my friend, Eric's doing really well on this medication.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

709.224

I want to be on it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

710.825

A lot of them did not do very well on that medication.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

714.528

So I'm very hesitant, even though I love, I mean, everyone's body is different, even though my body really responds to this medication. Like I said, there's newer medicines out. So hopefully everyone, everyone will find the right medication that works for their body. Right. Where they can go out and live a healthy, productive life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

742.626

Um, well he, um, he at right now, because he was off his meds, he was off his meds for a long time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

750.814

And he is not, he's like the person you were talking about. He missed out on a lot of stuff. I'm currently employed and like, he's, he's trying to go back to work, but like I said, I'm reluctant to talk too much about him.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

769.434

But yeah, as of right now, I'm able to do a lot of things that he is currently not able to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

810.271

I have not. My brother has had a couple. But me, I honestly, I've had my experience with the police has, for me personally, has been mostly positive. Oh, that's great. In that I was afraid to leave my house. So, like, I would venture out at, like, 2 a.m. And I'd go to, like, IHOP and Steak and Shake, Waffle House.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

834.122

And I'd just kind of hang out at night because there was less people and I felt safe. And of course, like whenever the cops would come in, they were always friendly. And yeah, and I would say my personal experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

869.755

Well, let me tell you a story. I had an emergency with my brother at my house. I was very afraid to call law enforcement. And when the deputy came, I was basically telling the 911 operator, there's no guns in the house. I'm only concerned for my brother's safety. And they're like, okay. And she's like, I told the police.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

891.613

I'm telling them to take the silent approach, but they have, anyway, the cop parts a little bit up the street, no siren, didn't have his headlights on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

900.817

And then when I went to tell my brother that he was here, because my brother sometimes was doing the same thing I was doing back when I was having symptoms, going to like the gas station and like say Waffle House late at night, him and the cop already knew each other. So it was very helpful.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

918.313

It's very helpful when the cops like are part of the community and they, so it was very much like, I don't know if it would have been different if they didn't know each other, but like they recognize each other and that was very helpful.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

948.055

Well, it took, it took, it happened in stages. I went from completely refusing treatment to being just well enough to not go to the hospital, to taking a different medication. where I was able to get my GED and take some classes. And then I took the medication I'm on now. And it took a lot of this tenacity and trial and error. But to answer your question, a lot of it is just keep going.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

973.777

Like 2011, there's been a minor adjustment to my medication.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Eric Dias: Hope, Recovery, and Finding Your Voice with Schizoaffective Disorder

977.72

four years ago but it took it took a long time when your life is delayed like that like going to a four-year college and like just giving someone who's 30 medication and saying hey you're you're good now there's still a long road to catch up and there's still it takes a lot of just learning and one thing that was vital to my recovery that I want to talk about is I am a certified peer specialist

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1035.806

Yeah. But sometimes you just have to put it out there what needs to be said.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1043.328

You can tiptoe around it. You can have diplomacy. I mean, you can be as diplomatic as you want to be, but it's like the old saying goes, don't take my niceness for weakness. Yes. Sometimes you just have to step up to the plate. Say, I've been trying to be as nice as I can and you don't accept it. So you just blast them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1081.306

Yeah, absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1126.747

That sounds like it was really a positive thing to do for you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1173.868

It's amazing one of the things you just said. I have five judges coming on my podcast over the next couple of months. I asked one of them a question. He took about a minute to think it over. And then his answer that he came back with, common sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1223.376

Yeah, the good thing is they're not all that way. My very first episode for this month was with a judge out of Las Vegas. She has a court system that is the only one in the country. And I just have a hard time believing that there's no other court systems in the country that's like this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1244.795

What she tries to do is divert all the young kids out of the court system so if they follow the rules, they have a good chance of having a future with their lives. She does have an autistic child, but it didn't start because of that. It started because she had an opening and they had an autistic person that needed some calmness, so they put that kid in her court. Then another person saw that

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1272.879

and wound up getting another autistic child in her court. And then it just evolved from there into a system that is unlike any other court system in the country. So if she can do it, why aren't others? Unfortunately, this just leaves us a huge hill to climb for those that are autistic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1325.839

It saves the taxpayers huge money.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1379.646

Yeah. And unfortunately, the more issues a person has, the worse that it gets.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1423.086

Yeah, that's so true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1437.395

So with all the pressure you have, the ADHD, anxiety, my question is, how do you cope?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1480.501

Okay, in closing, what do you think is the important thing that listeners should hear and understand about what you're trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1570.802

Yeah, yeah. Well, it's been good. Good conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1584.205

Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it. Well, it's been great. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com, contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

1619.098

One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

171.356

Wow, that's too bad. That's just really unfortunate. What happened from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

195.107

So what were your thoughts now that you was involved in the legal system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

229.319

Wow, that's just overwhelming.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

254.229

With the information that you're finding out, what was your next steps from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

288.246

That's a great story. Now you mentioned writing. Are you still writing? And if you are, how is that going?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're thrilled to welcome Rita Williams, a distinguished strategist and consultant dedicated to empowering mission-driven organizations.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

346.497

Yes, you just never know what the future holds for you. Now, you mentioned autism. What brought up autism? Why did you focus on that so much? Is there a reason that that means a lot to you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

433.28

Okay, so a little birdie told me that you attacked something or really went after it. They said it was quite the firestorm. Can you elaborate about that? If I remember correctly, it was something like they said, you can't do anything about it. Then you just said, watch me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

461.27

Yeah, me too.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

543.475

Yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

543.896

That's great. So now that you've done that, what has happened since? Has it opened doors to other things for you as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

612.563

Absolutely. Now, has that opened up the legal system more to you, like lawyers, judges, even legislators? How do you find that now moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

69.278

Rita excels in crafting bold, data-informed programs, policies, and campaigns that are deeply rooted in lived experiences. Her expertise lies in designing trauma-informed, equity-driven initiatives, leading DEI transformations through justice-informed leadership training, and championing second-chance hiring strategies.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

691.145

Yeah, yeah. Well, when you get someone going to see a legislator, They sit down with them, tell them their stories. They feel bad. But then right after that, they have another person coming in telling them their story. They feel bad. What they really need is a group of people sitting down with them, almost grabbing them by the throat and telling them, hey, look, we need some change here.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

746.055

Yeah, I definitely agree. And I can testify to that. So what do you see happening for you in the next few years? What's your plans and what's your ultimate goals?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

811.1

Yeah, I agree. I speak with a lot of people about change. I always bring this up. You want change, you have to understand everyone wants change. The only problem is when you're dealing with legislators, you're dealing with a group of people that go back and forth on different things. And the big problem, it takes time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

867.608

Yeah, I agree. If you can get your point across. So what are some of the ways that you've been creative to get your point across? I read or heard that one person said that you couldn't do it. You couldn't get your point across. Then you went out and actually blogged and did your things and got your point across. Then they said, well, I guess we picked the wrong person to go after.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform

92.245

She also provides strategic guidance on evidence-based policy, grant development, and stakeholder engagement. With a compelling personal story and a wealth of insights to share, Rita is here to inspire and inform. So if you could share some of your experiences and your journey on how it led you to where you are today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1082.355

Yeah, I think that people that are in the general population, if they don't have anyone that's autistic or anyone that has any mental health issues such as serious mental illness, They just don't understand it. I was one of those. Before I started this podcast, I knew nothing about any of this. How I've learned is learning on the job, so to speak.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1106.857

I've learned by listening and hearing the stories. So if I didn't know that this was a problem, the general public definitely does not understand what's going on. They think that autism can be cured, serious mental illness can be cured. Take a pill and everything's okay, and sometimes that's just not the case. So how do we make this better?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1128.21

How do we get people to understand so we can have more empathy for those that are going through this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1228.759

The slogan for my podcast is awareness, acceptance, and understanding. I love that. Yeah, I tell people, you can be aware of something, you can accept it because you're aware of it, but until you understand it, you absolutely know nothing about it or what that person is going through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1249.192

I think a big part of why many diagnoses are coming out now is because the medical association is learning more because they're getting more clinical. They're doing that deep dive. Years ago, they didn't have that knowledge and they just put somebody as quirky or just strange. I know there are a lot of theories out there for many different things.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1275.354

I just think that we're becoming more defined and we're getting a better, greater understanding of people and the issues that they may be going through.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1394.767

I read autism was first discovered in 1910. At that point in time, they didn't know what it was, so they called it a mental issue. Then they treated it with electrotherapy and put people through just tremendous pain. And here we are 100 plus years later, they've separated everything when I truly believe that it needs to be more inclusive so that way you can help everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1424.372

Yeah, that's just my opinion as an outsider, just looking at things differently. So what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is important they hear, important they understand of what you're trying to do and accomplish with your advocacy?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1495.72

I definitely agree. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1547.802

Yes, I think he is 100% correct. Well, again, thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1555.525

It's been great. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

1588.617

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

224.36

So with all this happening, what were your next steps?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

256.519

With all those challenges, what were the next steps you used and how did it progress?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Stephanie Bylin, a licensed independent clinical social worker with over 40 years of experience, including 32 years in a public high school.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

345.683

I can only imagine how stressful that situation was. So what happened from that point moving forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

457.398

Yes, I'm aware of it. It's unfortunate it wasn't available for you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

486.189

Law enforcement and legal professionals are focused on doing their jobs, but sometimes lack the training to handle these situations effectively. Police in particular are forced to make decisions, sometimes in seconds, which can lead to misunderstandings or escalation. How was the interaction with the police during this whole process with your son?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast. Hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA. Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

562.222

Navigating the legal system after a police encounter can be really tough, especially when judges, district attorneys, ADAs aren't well-versed in mental illness. Then you can add that some defense attorneys are not well-versed either. This gap often complicates things and makes it rougher on people such as your son. Did you run into any situations like this with him?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

677.182

I've been talking with people around the country. Recently, I learned about forensic therapists. Up until then, I really didn't know what they did. Are there any in your area who can advocate for a defendant such as your son or whoever it may be at the time to explain to the DA and the judicial system what's going on in their mind and why they're in their current situation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

69.833

where she coordinated services for students with social, emotional and neurological challenges, creating collaborative teams to support teachers and staff in meeting the needs of this integrated, vulnerable population. She's also here to share valuable information about her son, who came to her with racing thoughts and having difficulty processing information internally.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

797.088

In the 70s, autism and other mental health conditions were poorly misunderstood, often leading to people being dismissed as weird or quirky without a proper diagnosis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

808.76

Now, fast forward 50 years later, we should expect judges, DAs, ADAs, defense attorneys to recognize and not have that they should know better attitude because they should know better that a person's actions can be shaped by their mental capacity and may not be able to manage a situation that they find themselves in.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

890.772

Now, you're working with several organizations to bring more awareness and get legislative change. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

916.075

I've been broadcasting my podcast for almost two years now. I had one episode about a year ago that covered training for police officers that would come in contact with those that would be autistic. Even then, I really didn't think there was a huge problem.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

93.63

This experience led to her navigating the legal system, and now she shares her insights on what happened and her efforts to support her son. It's a pleasure to have her here. Thanks for coming on. Thank you so much. The pleasure's all mine. If you would, give us a little background on yourself and how you became an advocate for mental health.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

933.098

Now I'm doing the Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event, and I'm finding there is a huge issue, as I have had people sharing stories of their loved ones, sons, daughters, spouses being incarcerated due to a lack of knowledge or misunderstandings. After hearing these stories, I believe this initiative needs to be scaled up significantly.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

957.21

Not just training judges, police, DAs, ADAs, defense attorneys, but the public as well. If I wasn't aware of this problem, considering I'm talking with people in the autistic and mental health communities, the general public is likely even less informed. We need to do everything we can to share these stories to foster greater empathy and move beyond the black and white thinking.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

102.753

Now, if you would give us a little update on your daughter and her journey that she faced with the legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1066.738

So do you think that the time that you spent up there was productive and did you walk away happy with it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1096.684

Right. That makes a tremendous amount of sense. So you got to see Senator Cruz and talk with some of his people. Did you get a chance to see anyone else?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1135.273

That's great to hear. How did everything turn out at the meeting once you arrived?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1226.077

Yeah, we definitely don't want that to happen. So what's your next steps? What are you doing now? Are you following up the calls that you had? Have you got any calls coming in?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1289.098

I can certainly understand your logic there for sure. Now, what about your family? How has that affected them and how are you doing on that front?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1321.417

Well, that's good that you think that way. So what's your next step now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1397.574

Very slow. Very slow. I think this is going to make a great episode because you have explained the steps that you took. I hope anyone listening, especially those who fortunately aren't in a situation like this, can gain some valuable knowledge from it. Unfortunately, if they are in a similar spot, hopefully they can follow your steps to gain and find success like you have too.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1498.006

What is it that she might be doing that they think is a little quirky?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1518.837

Yeah, that's real tough. What would you like people to know that you think is very important for them to hear and understand?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1556.983

Yes, that's a common thing that's been said about autistic people. Well, this has been a great conversation, great information. I hope it helps a lot of people that are listening. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on my podcast.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1580.828

Yes, absolutely. Agree with you there 100%. Well, thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

1616.467

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

172.812

So can you explain, was she in jail for three years before she got the verdict? How did this three-year period come about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

189.5

So it took three years from the time that she was arrested until she finally got the verdict. That took three years to do this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

206.755

When the sentencing occurred, I believe you said the judge made a notable remark concerning autism. Can you provide more details about what was said? Additionally, can you elaborate on her journey after the conviction was finalized and the challenges she faced along the way to her final destination?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

322.665

Wow, that's an immense physical and emotional toll she endured throughout this ordeal. It's hard to imagine the strength that she had to summon just to get through this. Given her medical needs and challenges she faces, I think you mentioned the possibility of getting a compassionate release.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

394.056

Well, that's sad to hear that the judge dismissed her compassionate relief request. His remark that her Asperger's diagnosis was overstated and that all prisoners have medical issues feels dismissive of her unique struggles, adding insult to an already painful situation. Now, how did you feel witnessing this response from the judge knowing the extent of your daughter's suffering?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

509.422

So who did you go to for the simple things like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

564.16

What was the response when you brought things up that she needed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

60.01

Joining us today is Joan Lipinski, who has graciously agreed to share her deeply personal and inspiring story to navigate the complexities of the legal system on behalf of her daughter. a journey that led her all the way to the halls of power in Washington, D.C., where she courageously advocated for change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

633.421

So what happened after all of that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

685.691

So where is she now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

736.625

Now, this whole process we've been talking about is over the last year?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

742.27

Okay, and there was three years before that. So how long is her sentence that's remaining?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

750.978

So what about the first three years that went by?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

760.322

So now she's been in there a year. Technically, she has four more?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

765.403

Okay, so what are you doing now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

81.899

The challenges she faced have been formidable, forging a path marked by resilience and determination. Through it all, she's gained invaluable wisdom and perspective, making her extraordinary voice in this conversation. Truly grateful to have her here with us today. Thanks for coming on. Thank you so much. Oh, it's my pleasure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

833.3

Okay, so in trying to get clemency, what are the steps you had to take to get this started?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

843.772

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

854.243

All right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

871.721

Yes, he's been on. Very good episode. How did he help you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

899.167

Okay, so once you did get the clemency papers filled out, was you able to get them to D.C.?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

929.039

Well, that's unfortunate that you actually couldn't take it over there in person. I always thought hand delivering it sometimes would make a difference.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

945.888

Good for you. What were your plans?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Joan Lipinski : Battles for Her Autistic Daughter's Freedom

997.143

So your next step was Washington, D.C. How did it go when you went up there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1068.154

I guess the big question is, how is he doing? With all this bouncing around, has he gotten any better?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1117.412

What's the reasoning they wouldn't give it a shot and at least try it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

112.271

If you could give us a little background on your son and some of the struggles he had and how they evolved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1136.351

With everything that you've been going through and he's been going through, what do you see that needs to be changed so that this can get better for not just yourself, but for everybody involved in this system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1309.566

This is a frequent thing that I hear from everyone I speak with. It's a really tough thing to deal with. I don't know how you do it. What are your thoughts on how this can be fixed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1428.006

What do you propose in a situation like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1477.728

That makes perfect sense. What are your plans from this point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1509.827

That sounds like a great idea. I hope you can get the meeting. You've covered a lot of great things. What do you think is important for our listeners to hear to know what you're trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1607.588

Great points of view, great conversation, and great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1619.117

No, thank you. I appreciate you coming on. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

1652.135

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

178.313

Is this something that affects him even today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

322.398

With all these things happening, what were the next steps?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

423.721

Was he in any programs at the time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

485.982

What happened from that point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world hopefully you gain more awareness acceptance and a better understanding for autism around the world

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

51.488

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Jack Wood. He's a passionate advocate dedicated to being a strong voice for individuals, families, and organizations affected by severe brain disorders, including schizophrenia, psychoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and more.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

568.482

Something just doesn't seem right about that. What were your options at that point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

654.297

This is just too incredible to believe. What happened?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

78.928

His mission is to drive meaningful change, aiming to end Florida's catastrophic and inhumane outcomes for those with severe mental illnesses. Jack focuses on improving conditions for groups of people rather than just individuals.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

787.194

Wow, that's unbelievable. So what did you do from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

888.937

With all the traveling you had to do, going back and forth with the jail and everything was going on, what was your next move?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

94.473

He will also tell us how his son's struggles reshaped his perspective, inspiring him to leverage those lessons to advocate for better laws and support systems for everyone with mental illness. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform

958.246

This sounds like it didn't help your son at all. where he was bouncing around from place to place. Add to that not getting the medication that he needed to get better.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1002.369

What topics are typically discussed after your classes to improve the interactions between the autism community and the first responders?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1119.286

Absolutely. How do people contact you so if they want to get some of your videos or your written material, they can order it or find it? How do they find you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1159.281

Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Now, is this something that you're going to continue to do? Is this an ongoing thing? What do you see over the next few years for your company and what you're trying to do with autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1229.835

Yeah, this isn't something you take a pill for and it's gone. It's a lifelong thing. People have to figure out how to handle it and work through it so they can do what they want to with their life in society. This way they get to live a fulfilled life without hopefully ever having an issue with the legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1282.275

Yeah, that's for sure. I wish it was. Now, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they need to hear about what you're trying to put across?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1388.012

Absolutely. Well, this has been great. Great information, great stories. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1402.882

Well, it's a work in progress for all of us. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

1437.243

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

179.016

So this ultimately led you to start researching to find more out about it, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

223.985

So once you started digging, what path did that lead you on to start helping the autistic world?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

288.348

What kind of understanding did that help you with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Dennis DeBott.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

351.804

Now you've written some books and different things for police. What led you to get involved with helping the police and the first responders identify get a better understanding about autism and how it affects the kids and the people that they would come in contact with.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

422.987

You've also worked with a lot of well-known police precincts across the country as well, correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

471.775

Now, you've done several books, but you've also done some films and videos to help them as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

508.991

Do you do one-on-one in a police department where you have a group of police that are there and you talk with them about someone they may come upon that might be having a drug problem or they might be autistic but merely look like they're having a drug problem? Have you had those kind of conversations with them in some of your presentations?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

539.741

Yeah, I think that's a good thing. I spoke with a presenter the other day, and he told me of an officer that was highly trained in drug enforcement. Came across this person, had all the characteristics that he was high on drugs. He did everything by the book. Unfortunately, this person was autistic. Now, he was unaware. And he was in the process of actually arresting this person.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

569.912

Thankfully, the mother was close by, came over, was level-headed, told the officer about the autism that her son had. Everything turned out all right. In any other situation, this could have gone the opposite way.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

61.768

Dennis has been a pioneer in addressing autism-related police issues since the early 1990s, authoring over 40 books, reports, and training videos on the subject. He has trained with NYPD's emergency services, consulted on the Chicago Police Department's autism training, and appeared in major outlets like the New York Times, the Associated Press, among others.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

716.32

In your travels, have you come across police during your training that they're listening to you talk about autism? And then after your class is done, they come up to you and they have more to thank you about other than just the training because they have autistic children as well. So you not only help their fellow officers, but you help them and their children as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

762.881

Yeah, that's true. What are you finding as far as their response? For the longest time, autism had a stigma attached to it. They didn't know much about it, so they didn't believe it because they didn't know it. Now they have someone like yourself with lived experience that's worked with other police precincts around the country. Now they understand that it is real.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

790.281

So what's the response that you've been getting from them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

797.829

Anyone that you've been training or otherwise that just didn't realize what autism is.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

84.708

We are excited to have him share his insights with us. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

854.011

Yeah, that's something that we hope never happens, but unfortunately it is a very real thing that can happen. So have you had training situations where you've gone through your program, officers have listened, then they walk away not fully understanding everything because there's a lot to understand.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

875.037

Then at a later date, you may hear from them or hear from their precinct that what you trained them actually worked. And the response from it was just they were really glad that they had taken your class on autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.

95.717

Well, thanks. I appreciate your kind words. Can you give us a little insight on your journey to doing what you're doing today?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1015.965

So true. Law enforcement officers often have to make quick decisions about how to handle a situation. The more they understand the context, the better equipped they are to respond effectively. That's a big part of why it's valuable for them to see someone like you who has faced these kinds of challenges and come out on the other side.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

103.541

Oh, it's my pleasure. Glad to have you here. I understand that you do a lot of writing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1036.375

It demonstrates that people have the ability to take a difficult path, turn things around, and make something positive out of it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1071.792

Did the legal system provide the resolution or the support you needed to navigate your situation and emerge successful as you hoped that it would?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

115.693

What led you to get into writing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1169.087

What happens when you encounter people you've mentored or guided through tough times who just didn't seem to grasp what you were saying or take it in? Maybe they even pushed back a bit? How did you manage to break through that resistance and help them understand so they could still move forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1221.938

Have you ever felt like things weren't going well? Like you weren't sure if you were getting through to someone? Then one day, it's like the light switch just turned on. Everything clicked. And from there, you were able to keep nurturing that relationship to guide them towards a better place for themselves.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1282.89

That's great. It's always nice to have a success story. So what are your goals now? What do you see yourself doing in the next three to five years? How do you make this bigger and better for yourself and the ones you're helping?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1336.783

I think that's great. Creativity can always help people feel better about themselves. So that's a great thing. Now, how many organizations are you working with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1348.949

Do you see yourself growing within either one of the organizations to a higher level of service?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

135.821

So once you got into that, that actually led you to writing a book about schizophrenia.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1414.937

Have you had anyone that's questioned you? You tell them what you went through, you tell them what you're doing now, and they question you saying, well, yours wasn't as bad as mine. And they're really not comparing apples to apples on the diagnosis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1431.732

How did you put it across to them to get them to understand that it doesn't matter which one was worse? They can only focus on the now and focus on working towards a better life for themselves.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

146.636

I think that's really good that you did this. What events, if any, led up to you actually sitting down and writing the book?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1492.079

What's one of the craziest questions you've been asked? Then you had to turn it around for them because what they were looking at and what it really was was not the perception that they actually thought it was.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1562.131

Yeah, that's really good that that happened for you that way and you was able to handle it. Now, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they need to know about what you're doing with your journey?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1638.223

Yeah, that's a great message. It sure is. Now, tell our listeners how they can contact you and find you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1664.349

That's awesome. This has been a great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1674.876

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

1707.867

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

180.017

You say recovery. Can you explain or expand what you mean by recovery?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

200.133

What led to your diagnosis, and which condition was identified first, given that some of your diagnosis seemed to overlap?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Ashley Smith. She's an advocate, an author, and a speaker. In 2008, she established the Overcoming Schizophrenia blog. It offers her a candid journey of recovery.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

348.476

After receiving your diagnosis, how did it impact your mental capacity and overall cognitive functioning? What thoughts or emotions surfaced as a result? And how did you approach the process of rebuilding and starting new?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

414.218

Now that you're doing well, you've taken steps to help others and share valuable knowledge. Beyond writing your book, what are some of the specific actions you've taken to share your story, inspire people, and demonstrate that even when life takes a difficult turn, it's possible to overcome challenges and lead a very fulfilling life?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

533.502

So is your blog one where people can reach out to you and comment? Or is it just a blog for people to read and just learn from your writings?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

565.362

Yeah, I get that completely. There's no instant gratification from blogs or podcasts or anything like that. But every now and then, you'll get someone that will reach out to you and tell you how you've helped them or how your blog made a difference in what they're doing with their life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

582.286

When you get something like that, it makes a difference in your life because you know what you're doing is helping.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

609.28

Could you expand on what the Curious Foundation is and what you do with it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

656.955

So I'm sure that by doing this that you are learning a lot of things yourself. You're seeing things that you wasn't sure of. Can you give us an idea of what it is now by doing this that you learn and in turn it helps you evolve even more?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

72.597

She then went on to self-publish her first book, What's On My Mind?, It's a collection of blog entries for overcoming schizophrenia. Recently, a popular review recognized Ashley's blog among the top 20 schizophrenia blogs and websites to follow. Ashley continues to show that schizophrenia is not going to stop her from being a voice to help many people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

826.638

Your blogs often address topics like schizophrenia, ADHD, and other mental health conditions, which carry such a heavy stigma. Many people don't fully understand these conditions as you said. Their perceptions can be skewed. What changes have you observed in how people view these issues through your work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

848.174

How can we further break down that stigma so others can see what you're emphasizing, that it's not the end of the world, it's about getting the correct medication, gaining control, and showing people they can live fulfilling lives they might not have thought possible?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

96.335

She's here to tell us her journey, her experiences and it's a pleasure to have her here. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

960.761

How has the police responded to your initiatives and the goals you're striving to achieve with your work? Are they embracing what you're trying to do, or have you faced any pushback with your efforts?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1022.944

This sounds like you have just such a great model to go by. You have the clinical side, you have the prosecutors, the defense, of course, the judges on the bench. How do you get this from being a local to a state to a nationwide process where it helps everyone across the country?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1080.328

I think that you're correct. It certainly is very doable. The hard work you're putting in is just outstanding. It must just give you inner comfort knowing you're working on a project that when finished will change so many lives for the better.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1218.607

You've had a tremendous amount of success in your area. You're working on the new facility, trying to work with the legal system across the country. What are some of the hurdles that has been presented to you that you see that you've got to either go around or jump over so that you can make a difference, not just in Miami, but across the country as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1311.641

Now, let's just take this in a slightly different direction. I see where you got a medal from the Pope. Now, that's pretty cool.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1413.12

With everything that you've done, the medal you received, the facility you've been working on, what's next? What do you see coming in the next three to five years that can add to all your accomplishments? This new journey is just underway.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1427.928

You've got so many things to do with getting the lawyers, the judges, the police, getting everyone on the same page to make a huge difference for all these people that need help. So what's coming in the next three to five years for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1578.374

Yeah. In closing, what do you feel is important that the listeners need to hear so they understand exactly what you're trying to do across the country?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1818.88

Absolutely. I totally agree. This has been a great conversation, great information. It's been a pleasure having you on. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1850.11

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

1881.162

The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

193.453

Wow, that's amazing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

198.328

What was the next step when this came to your attention?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

254.056

That's really good that you could help him. How did that affect you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

331.117

Did you have any single case that stands out in your mind? You now look back on it and it was the beginning of your journey of helping those with autism and mental health?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Judge Stephen Leifman. He was first elected to the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in 1995.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

468.032

What happened from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

526.144

That's great that you have such supportive people around you. Now, I understand you are starting a crisis unit or a facility along that line.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

648.749

That's very interesting. When you got the numbers back, what did they tell you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

66.284

In 2007, he served as a special advisor on criminal justice and mental health for the Supreme Court of Florida. He has received several awards, including one from the Pope. It is truly an honor to have his honor with us today. Thanks for coming on. Sure. Thanks for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure. You've been doing this for a very long time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

721.778

Those are just totally amazing numbers. What's this facility going to look like when it's up and going?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

806.004

That's great. My next question actually was, this looks like it's a facility where you're helping people, they're getting back on their feet. Because of this, it should help the legal system that they don't have to see these people multiple times.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

85.795

What led you to become an advocate for people with mental health and autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

852.102

Now, as a judge, you have certain things that you can do. Of course, you have certain limitations that you have to adhere to. How do we get the empathy from the DA side working with the defense lawyer so they can help these people rather than being focused on the number of convictions that they're able to get?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice

953.12

I've been talking with several different people. They actually go into precincts, work and train with the police. So I'm hoping that's going to help out a lot as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1000.431

Wow.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1003.753

Right, right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1024.269

Right. And of course, we need to be concerned about the youth that's between 17 and 25 with serious mental illness, because that seems to be the age group that that's most common in. So how do you incorporate this all together? I mean, you've got a bigger, wider world of people. You're not just... dealing with one type of person.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

104.535

After that, she ran for sheriff and won. She's here to tell us her story and what a story it is. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1045.86

And of course, there's no way of making everybody happy because that's just totally impossible. So how do you get people to look at this and say, whoa, this is working?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

113.98

Well, it's my pleasure. And yes, very important conversation. Can you give us a little background and more about your journey on becoming sheriff of your county?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1212.273

Yeah, absolutely. Now, when you were elected, how did the people that were there accept what you wanted to do because you wanted to come in and make some changes? And as we know, most people in most places, the one thing they hate is change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1236.929

Yeah, that's right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1311.829

Now, the system that you inherited, it did not have some of the changes that you have going on now when you first came. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1400.163

Okay, so now we've covered a lot of things. We've covered the people that work with you and for you. Now, what about the inmates themselves? Of course, there were some that were there before you got there. And then, of course, you've got newer ones coming in. Did they see the differences that you brought? And I guess the ultimate question is, how did they adapt to the change?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1435.53

Yeah, sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1604.847

Yeah, that's great. Well, this has been really good. Great information and information that people really need to hear. I've had a lot of people come on my podcast. I don't believe I've had anyone that has focused on this part of the system as you seem to be.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1652.731

Yeah. Well, this has been great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on and share everything you're doing with us.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1672.122

I certainly will. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

1705.18

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

246.841

Well, some things are just meant to be. What was your legal expertise? Was it defense or prosecution? What was the transition for you from legal to sheriff?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

288.132

Sure, that makes sense. Now, as I understand it, in your county, the sheriff doesn't actually do a lot of patrolling, if any at all. The sheriff actually maintains the jail system. Can you expand on how that works for your particular area?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Sheriff Donna Buckley. She has proudly served as Barnstable County Sheriff since January 4th, 2023.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

378.944

Okay. Now, it's amazing that you bring that up. I have spoken with several judges around the country, and we all seem to come back to funding paid by taxpayers.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

394.164

Many judges are trying to divert the people that come in front of them with serious mental illness away from the prison system because they find that that usually means the prison is actually being the hospital and that's not what it was intended to be. By doing this, it can potentially save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, in incarceration fees.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

420.659

Now, with that being said, how do you see this working within the system that you do every day?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

488.631

Yeah, I've heard that said many times.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

582.614

All right. So it seems to me from speaking with the various people that I've spoken with, that if the sheriffs, the legislators, the judges, everybody that's involved within the legal system was to get together and sit down with the legislators and say, look, we have a problem here. We need to tell them we can send the families here one by one or we can collectively get them together.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

610.17

But we have a problem and you have the power to collectively change that. Common sense tells me that the people that have the power could get together, form a way of fixing this and helping for everyone involved. How am I missing this point?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

68.405

She's the first female sheriff in Barnstable County's 333-year history. She began her career as the in-house counsel for the National Association of Government Employees International Brotherhood of Police Officers.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

761.303

Yeah. Now, the unfortunate part is some of these jails, prisons, they have some people that are very bad people in it. They don't have serious mental illness, autism, or anything. They're just bad people in general. So unfortunately, sometimes you have situations where all these people get put into the general population. Then you have the worst of the worst.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

786.961

You have autistic people, serious mental illness. You've got all them together, and that's a bad mix. What's the best way to handle something like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

82.739

After running her law office for nine years, she worked at the Massachusetts Teachers Association, delivering legal services to the members of the teachers' union in the areas of collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations, and employment disputes. She also taught criminal law and related courses, and in 2018 became the general counsel for the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

864.891

Okay. Now let's focus on your deputies. How are they trained and how are they incorporated in the changes that you have been trying to make?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

876.38

Okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

943.992

There's a judge down in Miami. He's opened up a 218,000 square foot facility that incorporates everything that people need. I think he focuses more on serious mental illness than anything else, but that's his priority. The facility's got dental, it's got medical, it's got beds. It seems like it's a really good situation for those that need help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

969.371

He also says that by doing this, the judicial system and the court system sees less repeat offenders. So it kind of sounds like you are doing almost the same thing as he is.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Sheriff Donna Buckley:How One Sheriff is Reducing Recidivism Through Compassion

988.564

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1027.451

Yeah, I agree. Compassion is something that's needed.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1033.197

How do you see making the legal system a little more tolerant? You've been tolerant. You know judges that have been tolerant. How do we expand that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1126.515

Yeah, I definitely agree with that. The world has become smaller, so it's one of those things where we have to take and learn from other people.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1170.745

Yeah, I agree. That comes a lot from understanding. I think more that we put out there so that people can understand, hopefully the more people will change their attitude and be willing to help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1198.649

What would you like to tell people that they need to hear about autism, about the legal system? Some of the things that you think are real important that you've done or others have done that people should hear.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1284.11

Unfortunately, we are a country. It's not a problem until it's a problem for our family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1290.695

Unfortunately, that's the way a lot of people think. We just have to find a way to get them out of that mindset.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1321.569

Absolutely. Autism can happen to anyone's family. It can be rich, it can be poor, it doesn't choose.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1331.32

Before we close this out, I'm curious on how you actually got involved in a legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1377.952

When you graduated law school, did you go directly into the court system or did you start a private practice?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1451.463

Wow, that's a great story.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1468.871

Yeah, absolutely. Plus, you have an autistic son. That gives you actual insight on what people go through on a daily basis.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1510.282

This has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1526.596

Well, you never know about that. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

1561.212

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

196.612

Wow, that's pretty serious. What'd you find out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

312.355

That sounds great. What does it cover?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Judge Kim Taylor. She began her career in private practice before running for a judicial position.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

394.013

That's good to hear. Are the first responders the ones that still seem to be out there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

410.159

Yeah, that's great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

429.167

Yeah, I agree. I've spoken with two former House of Representatives. They say national legislation is needed.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

437.35

I think there's a state senator in Florida that's trying to get some local legislation as well. I do agree with you, though. We need more national legislation so that way it's not just local spots around the country.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

471.887

Yeah, absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

479.051

Yeah, that's what this podcast is about. It's about talking with people like yourself, judges, lawyers, and anyone that works within the legal system. It's not about pointing fingers at anyone. Just trying to give information so it can be better for everyone and make the system work that much smoother.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

532.848

Yeah, yeah, that's a good thing. The more people know, the better things are.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

541.184

So are you still active? I know that you're an emergency judge still. Are you still involved with all these agencies that you was working with to help the autistic people?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

564.839

Sure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

604.192

Yeah, the internet has definitely made the world a lot smaller. Sometimes that's good. Sometimes that's not so good. But as they say, it's better than nothing.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

619.406

Yeah, I talk with a lot of people across the pond.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

648.489

Yes, I get a chance to talk with people from all around the world. I had a lady ask me just the other day, of all the people that I talk with, what do I find that's different from country to country? My answer was pretty much nothing. Everyone has about the same story. The only difference is in the place that they live and how their countries or areas support autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

66.864

Notably, she was the first woman to run for that position. After believing that she had lost the election, she discovered the next day she had won the election by a mere 75 votes over four counties. As a mother of an autistic son, Judge Taylor is a passionate advocate for autism support. It's an honor to have her share her inspiring story with us. I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

684.477

Yeah, this podcast has worked out well. Now, since you started as a judge up until now, what are some of the things that you see different in how people are handling autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

762.188

Yeah. Now, you had compassion as a judge because you lived it. How do you think we can get across to other judges, district attorneys, ADAs, so that we can show them that this is not just a black or white situation? There's a lot of gray area in the middle, and they need to help figure this thing out for everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

852.707

Right. I've heard that before. There's a judge down in Miami. He just retired. He works with a facility. It just happens to be very large. His opinion is if you can take and put them in a facility where they can get treatment, the chances of that same person showing up in front of a judge again...

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

876.71

So he believes that this is the best way to work the system is by helping them and diverting them to care facilities.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

908.64

Do you see or have you seen the judges in your area starting to see what's going on and want to help some of these people that need the help such as autistic people and those with mental health issues?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

91.892

Can you tell us how you came to help autistic people when they came in front of you during your sessions at court?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

944.537

Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

954.257

Yeah, absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism

977.446

Yeah, exactly. What do you see happening now? You've been on the bench. You still are on the bench, even though it's an emergency judge. You see all these things that are happening in the country with autism and mental health. What do you think actually needs to happen for everything to take a turn and start to change?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1056.84

That's definitely a sad situation. You sent me a video of him singing on stage. The audience seemed to really love it, which feels like a bright spot for him. Can you give a quick rundown on how that came about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1159.955

Yes, that's a very tough realization to have. I talk with so many people in how they try and work with their child. And the fact that you brought up the thirds, that does make sense in a lot of things. You have different levels in autism. That's why they call it the spectrum. You have those that struggle. You have those that can be very successful in life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1184.417

Then you have those that will always need help for their whole life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1189.571

There's a lot of similarities in autism and certain mental health issues. In both cases, the child has difficulties. The parents, they have that big black hole, the big unknown. They don't know what to do. So lots of times, they're learning at the same rate that their kids are learning.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1314.867

Yes, unfortunately, that's the one thing that mental health has to fight, as well as autism, is the stigma of it all. People that do not understand it sometimes rush to judgment because they have a perception of what they think it is, rather than the reality of what it actually is.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1402.328

It's very hard to accept because a parent only wants what's best for the child. If they can't give it to them, they think they failed, which in reality, they haven't failed. The one thing that you just brought up, which is common with everyone I speak with, is they are so fearful is what happens to my child if I'm not here.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1489.517

Yeah, unfortunately, you are so correct there. The only thing I can say about that is at least you have someone that's stepping up and trying to at least help. Right. The beauty of what he's doing is he's doing exactly opposite of what we hear a lot that makes the daily news.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1591.96

Yes, there's definitely a lot more that we need to learn. What would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important they hear about what you're doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1790.228

Yeah, that's so true. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, tremendous information. I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1810.691

Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

1847.648

about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

275.21

What happened next? Did a doctor finally see him and hopefully get it under control?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

310.714

Wow, yes, that's very tough to take in for sure. What happened from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

Hopefully, you'll gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

388.14

Yes, he's been on the podcast, which was a great episode. Once you were in the system, what unfolded from there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

432.059

This whole journey with your son got you into writing this book. Once you got it all put together, then you found there are others out there that are going through the same things that you went through. What was the next step on this journey that you found yourself on?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

531.42

I agree with you 100% on that point. I've heard cases where the legal system told parents they couldn't act until something happened. Sadly, involving the system often led to bad outcomes. Not all of them, but a lot of cases.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

59.406

We're joined by Pete Early, an accomplished author of 22 books, including four New York Times bestsellers, with a 14-year journalism career, including six years at the Washington Post. His book, Crazy, chronicles the personal events that led him to advocate for mental health reform. Pete's here to share a wealth of insights. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

648.804

I've spoken with advocates who train police and first responders to better support individuals with autism and those facing mental health crisis. It's a start. It's a good start. However, it'll take time to foster the trust and awareness needed for officers to understand what these individuals experience during such encounters.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

808.051

I can imagine that must be really, really tough. What kind of things did they tell you that needed to be done to accomplish this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

85.901

Absolutely. I know so many people that say your work is amazing. Your name's everywhere in writing and blogging. What sparked your passion for mental health advocacy?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

1222.566

Right. The main thing we're trying to do here is to create a very comfortable interaction to where nothing gets out of control, everything is handled so that that autistic person doesn't wind up being detained down at the precinct.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

1277.566

Right, exactly. Now in closing, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they hear about the things that you do with the police and the autistic world trying to make that bridge so that no escalation happens and it just creates a better situation for everyone that's involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

1491.638

Yeah, that's great. Well, this has been simply tremendous conversation. I appreciate you coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

1500.485

It's been my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

1532.403

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

225.292

Yes, that is so very true. Now, you are creating a bridge between the autistic community. So when they do engage with an autistic person, they have a better understanding on how to approach them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Trish Irasi. She founded a company named TIA, which stands for Teaching Individuals About Autism.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

611.26

When you interact with police and train them, are you working with local police, state police, or do you cover other states? How wide a scope do you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

673.871

What's the biggest challenges that you have come across in getting the police to open their doors so that they can interact and learn more about what you're trying to train them about autism?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

69.872

She possesses invaluable insights, and we are truly honored to have her on the show. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

696.3

Have you had instances where you've gone into a police station, tell them what you do, explain what you're trying to accomplish, yet they don't feel like there's a huge concern in what they're seeing out there at that time?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

730.396

I've talked with a couple of people that do exactly what you do. The biggest issue they run into is they want more training at longer periods of time because a 10 minute roll call just doesn't get it across.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

78.296

So if you would, tell me a little bit about what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

813.069

When you do find that time that the officers can be available, you start telling them some of the things about autistic people and how they act and react. How have the officers been? Because a lot of officers, as well as just regular people that don't understand autism,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

833.021

They really can't tell the difference between an autistic person that might be having a major meltdown, whereas another child might be neurotypical and is just having a tantrum. They could have a hard time telling the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

960.279

Okay, let me give you a scenario here and see how you would handle it or how you'd tell the police officer to handle it. A child has a meltdown, but this child just happens to be about 6'1", 350 pounds. He's gone through the house just like a tornado would go through the house. Some things are destroyed. Some things are just not good. He's calming down.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions

984.261

and getting back to more norm, the police show up. They see the end of it, not the full force of it. How would you tell them to handle that so they don't put him back into sensory overload and then his meltdown starts engaging again and it starts becoming a tornado all over again? How would you tell them to approach a situation like this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

101.151

It's my pleasure. Glad to have you here. So how did you get started in this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1112.422

That totally makes sense. What's next on the agendas? Policy is one level. Second level, I'm going to give you three of these. The second level is social.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1218.703

Yeah, yeah, that's a very good point. I appreciate you telling that story. It's a very personal one. Were you able to get past that so you could look at your mother the way that you hope to?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1239.534

I think that's really good. You was able to get past that so you could move forward with your life. Now, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get past that? I mean, this was embedded in your mind for a very long time. How did you find that change so that you could breathe and move forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1327.463

Yeah, that's just really nice to say. I think this story is just so good. It's one that a lot of people can relate to. Hopefully this story will resonate with people and it can help them as well.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1342.853

Now, you've started this grand challenge. It's been going about four years now. What do you see in the next five years? Let's not go 20. What do you see happening to help you get towards that goal you're trying to accomplish?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1446.727

Yeah, I think that sounds like a really great idea.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1497.196

I believe that's a promising idea, though the challenge lies with the insurance companies. While we might evaluate it from a policy perspective, they prioritize their company's financial bottom line. Right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1532.864

Yeah, that's very, very true. What would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they need to hear about what you are trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1623.108

Yeah, that's tremendous information. I've had the opportunity to speak with several people that have had mental health issues, drug issues, just all kinds of things all across the board. The common thing that they said is it took them 10 years to get their life back.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1643.069

We just have to find a way that we can get help for them, and then they can be on a good, steady course to get back to a life that they've always wanted to live so that that way they can thrive. That's right.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1698.547

Yeah, that sounds really good. Well, this has been great. Good conversation, great information. Thanks for coming on. I've enjoyed it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1706.612

So do I. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Tony.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1715.818

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today on We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com, contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

1748.873

One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

264.818

I think that's a great goal. Now, you used the word challenge. I think that's the perfect word. When you start these grand challenges, what are some of the challenges that you have to face?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

Hopefully, you'll gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Seth Kahn. He is a renowned strategist and expert tackling complex global challenges.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

351.127

The big challenge I had was when I first started my podcast, I knew absolutely nothing about autism or mental health. If I heard the words on TV or radio, I just had my perception of what it is. I was totally wrong. Now after doing this, I realize that education, understanding is the key to erasing the stigma. A big part of my learning is because of this podcast.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

380.197

Not everybody gets the information like I do unless they're dealing with it on a daily basis. Then they have no choice. If someone sees a person having a psychotic event, they don't understand this person might do something bad, but ultimately they're really not a bad person. It's their mind that's telling them things that they don't understand.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

402.643

How do we get the average person that doesn't have these issues to give some empathy by learning more about what it is? Autism and mental health is a perception. So how do we change their perception?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

496.761

Yes, that's a great resource. One of the most common issues I hear is police do not have enough training. So when they come into a situation with someone that's autistic or having a psychotic event, sometimes things can get out of control when they really just don't need to.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

564.826

I love that story. That is just a great way of handling it. I had a CIT trainer on. He told me a story that really tells it all about police. In some cases, they only have seconds to react. He uses this one video that shows this policeman that did everything by the book. Everything he did was absolutely correct, except this one time. He came in contact with a young man that he thought was high.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

594.713

Didn't understand what he was going through and had all the appearances of being high. Except in this case, he was autistic. He eventually had him on the ground with handcuffs on. As luck would have it, his mother showed up, kept a very level head, explained to the officer what was going on, and everything wound up being okay.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

613.951

This is just an example of why we need more officers out there that can understand those type of situations with autism and, of course, mental health issues. It's getting better. Unfortunately, change takes time. And when that change happens, it'll be better for everyone involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

645.464

It's just unfortunate that change is a very slow process.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

651.771

Earlier, we were talking about an online program that you were developing. Can you expand on what it is, what it entails, and what your hopes are for it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

67.748

With a background at the World Bank and extensive experience, he pioneered frameworks for addressing grand challenges to tackle pressing global issues. Known for uniting diverse organizations and driving systematic change, Seth focuses on creating social movements and mobilizing collective action. He has such an incredible story to tell, and we're happy to have him here. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

772.838

That's a lot of great information. When you start a grand challenge, what's your process?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

900.606

I think one of the most important things you said, it takes time. It won't happen overnight. With that said, what kind of time frame do you have in order to get the results that you're looking for?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

959.008

Yeah, I think that's a good approach. If we look at autism, back in the 90s, there was still a lot of unknown about it. Now we fast forward to today, there's still a lot that's misunderstood and the stigma still is there. We can look at autism and still see that it's not where it needs to be yet. Definitely a lot of it is improving. Now, if we look at mental health, the same thing can be said.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

986.472

So how do you tweak it or fine-tune it so that you can get the information out there and hopefully be on track to hit your 20-year goal?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1011.688

How do you get the points across that you feel are most vital for them to remember and That way they do not forget it because as we know, it's the most important things that they remember, even if they forget some of the little things that hopefully they retain that could be most important to having a much better outcome than what it could have been.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1276.389

Yeah, that's great. Perfect, actually. There's a wide spectrum in autism. However, there's also a wide spectrum in how we treat people with autism. The key is how we bridge that gap between autism and the first responders. The first ones that respond is always thought of as being the police. So it's very important that we do bridge that gap for sure. Hypothetical here.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1301.149

What happens if they have a knife? Not a gun, just a knife. They're not showing real aggressive behavior. It's a dangerous thing to have for sure. What do you advise them to do so in the end, the outcome is one that everybody is happy with?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1616.059

Absolutely. In closing, what do you feel is important that the listeners hear that needs to be covered in what you do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1783.081

Good. I appreciate you coming on. Great conversation. A lot of great information.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1798.248

I appreciate it. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

1830.875

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Bart Barter. He is a retired law enforcement commander with over 31 years of experience.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

354.699

When you have a class, what does your audience look like? Is it police, firefighters, EMTs, operators from the 911 comm centers, or do you talk with each one of them individually as a group?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

466.371

what's the first thing that you tell them to start your class off they are sometimes going into the unknown they don't know whether it's autism or another mental health issue it could be adhd bipolar schizophrenia or anything else mental health related with the police sometimes they only have seconds to make a determination so how do you tell them to approach it so the situation does not get out of control so it can be handled

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

495.33

in a very good way where everybody walks away knowing that they did their very best to ultimately have a satisfying conclusion?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

66.117

He joins us today to discuss his company, Autism Safety 101, whose mission is to provide first responders with the necessary tools and tactics to achieve optimal outcomes when interacting with individuals on the autism spectrum. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and we are just so delighted to have him on the show. Thanks for coming on. It's a pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

795.714

Do you tell them about your son in their training?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

87.185

Oh, it's my pleasure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters

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When you first start talking with the officers, it's like anything else. It can be two hours, four hours, six hours, eight hours. At the end of any conference, whether it's two hours all the way up to eight hours, there's going to be certain points that they remember. There will be certain points they will forget.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1074.591

Yeah. Now, you were a part of the Mental Health Diversion Council, correct? I chair the Mental Health Diversion Council in Michigan. How does that approach some of these issues? I think it goes in line to what you've been talking about. Does it give a bigger audience to the issues that we've been talking about? Yes, definitely, because we have stakeholders.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

111.945

Thanks for coming on. Well, it's been a passion of mine for some years now, so we're making progress. Yes, it's a great passion. Can you tell us why it became a passion of yours?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1184.082

Now, does the counsel work with the legal system, like lawyers, DAs, that type of people, so that they can get more information about what needs to be done to help these people? Yeah. It's my understanding that once a person gets in front of a judge, that's when the legal system, judges, lawyers, DAs, even some defense, don't understand the mental health situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

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Have you had situations where you sit down with some people, tell them what you're trying to do, yet they're just still not getting behind you? While you're talking with them, you think it's going to be an upward battle. They're just not getting what you're trying to put across. Then the more you get into it, the more you show them the facts, how they can save money.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

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Most importantly, how they can make it a better system for everyone involved. Oh, yeah.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

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People eventually see it. You are so correct there. The police officer is the first one most times that they come in contact with. The unfortunate part is sometimes the officer has only seconds to make a decision on what to do. The more we can get them to understand, the better situations we can have.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

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So when they do come in contact with someone that has a mental illness, they might be able to have a better outcome.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1471.041

Yeah, I think he's got a 218,000 square foot facility that he's opening up. I've been down there and checked it out. It's quite an operation. Yeah, it's great. I think that's what we need is more people like him, yourself, to show people that change can be made.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1489.6

Not only does that change help loss of people, it also saves tremendous amount of money and time within the legal system that can be better put to use for other things.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1513.659

Absolutely. Now, what would you like to leave with our listeners that you think is very important for them to understand on what it is that you're trying to do to help people? Well, we need to intervene early.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1563.986

Absolutely. Well, I definitely appreciate you coming on. Great information, great conversation. All right, thanks a lot. I appreciate you doing this. It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

1591.045

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

252.455

Yes, I've heard that from several people. What approach did you take that you thought might work for change?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're thrilled to be joined by a truly remarkable guest, Judge Milton Mack.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

447.715

Wow, that's amazing. So what was the next step to make a change? We have changed the standard for intervention.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mayator. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

602.128

These all sound like they're great ideas that you've been able to accomplish. Have you had any bumps in the road in doing some of these things that you're trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

64.13

Judge Mack brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, having served as the state court administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court and as chair of the Governor's Mental Health Diversion Council. He's also held the role of Chief Judge of the Wayne County Probate Court and worked as a consultant and advisor for numerous advocacy groups.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

731.741

I've talked with a few judges that are just like you. They want to make change. How do we get this across to other judges around the country? There's a couple of things I think that are very important. One is of course you're helping people. Two, along with helping them you're saving taxpayers millions of dollars by keeping them out of the judicial system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

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What's our best pathway forward to get this across the country?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

84.575

In 2017, his groundbreaking policy paper, Decriminalization of Mental Illness, Fixing a Broken System, played a pivotal role in the creation of the National Justice Task Force to examine state courts' response to mental illness, where he served as co-chair from 2019 to 2020. With his deep expertise and passion for reform, it's an absolute honor to have Judge Mack with us today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare

961.725

Yes, I've heard that term many times in my travels with this topic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1014.785

How long has it been established and actively making an impact, and how have you seen it grow?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

103.096

With all the different things that you've accomplished, what led you to advocating for autism and special needs?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1030.123

So having the platform you have, you likely have countless people reaching out to you. What are some of the challenges you've encountered while working with them? And what are some of the successes you've achieved in helping them along the way?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1081.534

One of the things that we lightly touched upon is, just as you recently mentioned, is the geography of things. Do you talk with or do you have people that are advocating for legislators to make change so that we can turn this into a national rule of law rather than just a regional one?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1131.963

That's just so good to hear. Now, a lot of people do not understand or realize how difficult it is to get a bill through the House or through the Senate. I have a couple of former House of Representatives coming on my podcast later this month, Tim Murphy and Patrick Kennedy. They both talk about how they got bills passed through and how difficult it was in getting that done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1160.259

It's a real tough issue to get these people to get this done. So how do you tell people or inform people on what to do to put the pressure on these representatives to help get this passed, to help the people that need it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1223.092

Yes, that totally makes sense. I've also heard, and I'm sure that you've probably helped people on this as well, I've heard that if one person goes in to see their representative, they tell them their story, then they leave, the representative says, oh, that's nice, we'll see what we can do. But...

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1245.538

When they have people that show up in groups that continually keep it in front of them and they're consistently hearing about the issue at hand, then that will keep it on their mind more often than not and consider helping. So do you put together groups like that or do you help put together groups like that so they're more informed on what to do with their representatives?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1282.942

That's really good to hear. Now, are there other things that you do as well to help these activists or people in general so they know the direction to take?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1315.151

I'm curious if you also assist with fundraising ideas, as that's one of the biggest challenges I hear about from various organizations. They often struggle to raise funds because, unfortunately, conditions like autism and certain mental health issues aren't visibly apparent.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1333.744

People tend to donate more readily when they can see a physical disability, like with Down syndrome, compared to supporting someone who doesn't outwardly appear to have a problem but is dealing with brain function challenge. Do you offer help in this area as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1396.152

Oh, I agree that they need support and it will not stop some from supporting them. I've just heard from organizations that it has been tougher because one person told me that he had an autistic child and another one that was autistic with Down syndrome and the money came pouring in for the one with Down syndrome more than the autistic one. So unfortunately, that's just one challenge they face.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1424.411

So now I understand that you also do a lot of public speaking.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1430.418

When you travel to different places and do your speaking, what are some of the common things that people will talk to you about after you've finished?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1459.378

So what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they need to know about what you do and what you're trying to do to help everyone you can with your foundation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1522.391

Absolutely. Do you have any events coming up in the future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1564.868

That's awesome. I think that's a really good thing you're doing. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

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We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

161.928

How old is your son now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

1620.771

and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

167.446

So along this journey, how has your approach evolved as you've navigated the unknown, learned, and grown over the years? What significant shifts have you observed in your perspective, methods, or growth along with working with others compared to where you first started?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

248.451

What were some of the initial challenges you encountered? How did you tackle them and eventually overcome them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

338.695

So with all those challenges, plus with the input that was coming to you, what was the next thing you did and how did you address it from that point on?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're joined by Areva Martin, a passionate, outspoken, and insightful leader who's making a significant impact in media.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

416.994

From what I understand, you've also written a book that delves into this journey and its many facets. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

466.946

Sure, I think that's great. Now, with all those powerful tools and resources right at your fingertips, have you found ways to harness them to advocate for your autistic child and extend that support to others across the spectrum as well?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

534.258

I'm hosting a special this month featuring 30 straight episodes on autism and the legal system. It features CIT trainers, judges, former legislators, of course this episode. It's a silent crisis. Many do not realize the immense legal challenges faced by autistic individuals. Have you encountered this at all?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

566.072

Sure. I've had in-depth discussions with numerous parents who've recounted the profoundly distressing and often traumatic experiences of their autistic children becoming entangled in the complexities of the legal system. Many ending up incarcerated and enduring an excruciating and traumatic ordeal. They've expressed to me with...

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

589.696

frustration that the judges, attorneys, and the entirety of the judicial system appeared utterly uninformed and ill-equipped to understand the nuances of autism, leaving their children to flounder helplessly through an intimidating, relentless, and unforgiving process. Have you come across anything like this in your journeys?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

651.403

What are your thoughts on navigating a situation where legal issues arise, especially regarding how we can improve the perception of judges and the ADA and the district attorney's office?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

663.547

How can we foster a better understanding that when someone with autism engages in certain behaviors, it might not stem from criminal intent, but rather from a lack of understanding or a belief that the behavior is normal? What steps do you think we can take to shift that perception?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

67.341

She's a CNN contributor, an award-winning civil rights attorney, a civic leader, and a television host. Areva is also a prolific writer and best-selling author with notable books like The Everyday Advocate, Standing Up for Your Child with Autism, and Make It Rain.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

750.995

How can we effectively expand awareness and understanding of autism, especially regarding legal challenges? There was an incident where an autistic young man was nearly arrested in a park due to an officer mistaking his behavior for drug use.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

767.968

So how do we get the information and education out there so that we can drive systematic change, influence national policies, and create a meaningful impact across the country?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

84.051

She's here to share her personal story about raising her autistic son, as well as details about her foundation and upcoming speaking events. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, we're truly honored to have her here with us. Thanks for joining us. Oh, thank you. Thanks for the invitation. Oh, it's my pleasure.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

855.325

Yes, they certainly do. In Las Vegas, there's a judge who has a system in place that is the one of a kind. There's no other one like it in the country. This court system effectively diverts young children away from the legal system. I'm truly puzzled as to why she's the only one doing this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

877.23

What can we do to expand this approach, ensuring that those who don't belong in the system are redirected, and how can we help other judges recognize the value of this method that she has put in place?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

925.78

I'm really glad you brought that up because you have a tremendous platform. What are some of the things you do? I know you've written a book. So what are some of the things you're doing to bring more awareness and help these people out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate

990.756

I'm glad you brought that up. I'd love to dive into your foundation. What's it called and can you expand on what you do to help people within your communities?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1039.577

I was told that 1 in 7 people around the world either know someone or has someone that's autistic in their family. I've also been told that 1 in 8 people around the world have some sort of mental disorder. And that varies, but they still need treatment. So when you have 1 in 7 and you have 1 in 8 around the world, that's a big number.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1062.972

That means they could be walking down the street, come in contact with someone, and there's a huge chance they're either going to talk with someone that's autistic or someone that has some mental illness. I would think that with those kinds of numbers that's happening all around the world, that people would have more empathy for them and come out to try and help them

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1085.399

give them a chance to have a normal life, which isn't happening yet.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1098.932

Okay, that makes sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1221.371

I spoke with a mother. She lived in a small town, had a young son, and then all of a sudden, overnight, he suddenly had some issues, kind of like we were talking about before. Of course, the police didn't believe her. They just thought it was a kid being a kid. Unfortunately, he did wind up in jail.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1243.081

The very good part about this is because she was living in a small town, the support she got from her friends, family, and just the town was actually quite touching. Can you relate to that when you were having issues with your son? Did you have people around that were supporting you, helping you, reaching out?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1264.501

As we've talked about, the stigma of psychosis versus autism is a completely different situation. So how did they treat you? Did you feel like you was a cast out or did you feel like the community was trying to help and support you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1406.203

That's the reason they didn't help, because he wasn't suicidal?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1436.218

Is the law going to have to be changed so that the parents or the family can intervene and get that help? Is that what it's actually going to take?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1496.791

Is that like a class people could take? And is it online?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1562.762

So is that something that you're trying to get changed where something like that would be the criteria to actually get him outside help?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

158.695

Was that the House and Senate of Arizona or the House and Senate of the U.S.?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1616.826

Yeah, that's a good point. Now, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they need to hear about what it is that you're trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

165.911

Okay. All right. So I think for everyone to understand, there's a difference between psychosis and then you have, I believe it's called anosognosia. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1725.636

Yeah, I think that's great. There's definitely a lot of tragedy that happens because of this and we definitely need to get a better handle on this so that it can get under control or at the very least give people an option to do the things that they need to do so they can have a better life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1787.774

they didn't put him in a suicide watch room and he committed suicide yeah that's a very rough situation to deal with well this has been great conversation great information i really appreciate you taking the time to tell us your story i appreciate you i really do i appreciate what you're doing well it's been my pleasure thanks again

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

179.542

Yeah. Okay. Can you tell the difference between the two so everyone can get a better understanding of what we're talking about?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1815.236

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

1845.109

about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

318.25

So when he saw them, was he around other people like yourself, or was he all alone by himself? If he was around you, how did you handle it so that way it would not get out of control?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Meet the World? Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Crystal Fox.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

381.505

So, in other words, this was something that he just believed, but it actually really wasn't true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

424.921

Now, it's my understanding, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm just learning on this. With schizophrenia, part of how they diagnose it is to differentiate between their delusions and if they are on drugs or any other kind of medications.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

444.627

Do they do blood samples to eliminate the possibility of being on drugs?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

511.744

Okay, so you're experienced in this because you're a nurse. You understand these situations. How do people that don't know anything about this, like me, learn and understand about this? It's my understanding that this is a slow, gradual process that takes time. And while it's happening, you don't see it until, boom, it happens and you're confronted with the situation.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

618.129

Ironically, I think the first known diagnosis of autism was around 1910. Back then, they had no knowledge on it, didn't understand it, and they looked at it as a psychotic event, and they fixed it by using electrotherapy. Yep. So it is really pretty amazing that we've learned and changed. Unfortunately, it's taken us so long to do this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

62.07

She's the co-founder of Arizona Mad Moms, which is a place for mothers, caregivers, and family members of loved ones with degenerative brain illnesses causing psychosis. Join us as we explore her journeys, their advocacy, and the unbreakable bonds that drive this community forward. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

643.385

If it took that long for autism from the 1910 to the 50s, 60s, and here we are, 2025, how do we get a better path for schizophrenia so that we can expedite the help they need?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

739.673

Yeah, I was talking with a judge, and about 50 years ago, he was in his teens, he went into this institution. They were dealing with this young kid that they'd gone through all these different things and thought that he was ultimately schizophrenic. As it turned out, they were treating him for schizophrenia, giving him all these kinds of medicines, and ultimately he was autistic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

762.423

That was over 50 years ago. Here we are in 2025, and we're still trying to figure things out.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

83.717

Oh, it's my pleasure. Now, I understand that you're one of the co-founders of the Arizona Mad Moms. Is that correct? That is correct. Can you expand on when you first started your organization?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

830.871

Yes, in the last year and a half, I've spoken with several people. A lot of them are autistic. Some are ADHD. Some are bipolar. Some are autistic and bipolar. It does seem to cross over and overlap quite a bit. That seems to be a very similar thing that happens around the world. The issue that I see, and this is just one of many, is the perception of it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Crystal Fox: One Mothers Journey Through Tragedy

857.39

Not just the autism, but schizophrenia as well. They all seem to have that stigma attached. How do we change people's perceptions? How do we get them to understand? These are not people out there just trying to see how they can be bad. They don't have a well thought out plan on how to be bad. They just need help.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1038.437

Yeah, I have spoken with several different people, both on the mental health side and the autistic side, that have tremendous success stories. How do we get those success stories to these people that might be questioning it because of the stigma? And there's nothing better than showing somebody a situation to where it had the worst case scenario with no hope.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1069.025

but yet it succeeded and this person went on to do really good things, not only in just a local area, but statewide in some cases and some cases even beyond that. How do we get through to them that, hey, don't look at just the negative, look at all the possibilities.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1221.923

How do we get more people like that to get in front of people to tell them their stories?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1294.764

Yes, I can understand that for sure. There is a certain perception of it and people don't get it. When I first started my podcast, I was one of them. The more people that I spoke with, the more people I had on my podcast, the more I started understanding what their lives are like every day. One of the big things that I did find is that everything I thought was completely wrong.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1319.833

The same thing can be said about mental health because there's a lot of things there that people just do not understand either. So the people that lived it every day are the ones that taught me what I know today. Sad part is bad things happen. We don't understand it, and those that do not understand it make judgments of toss them in jail, throw away the key, when that's not the answer at all.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1346.009

What they should know is help them into a facility that can work with them every single day to give them a chance of having a better life.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1514.255

Absolutely. The one thing that I've learned doing this podcast from so many different people, they found out later in life they was autistic. But before that, they were either ADHD, bipolar or whatever it might be. And then many times they were autistic and found out later on they had one or two different diagnosis that would overlap each other.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1580.788

Yeah, absolutely. In closing, what would you like to leave us with that you think is very important for them to hear and understand?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1660.089

Yeah, great. Well, I really appreciate you coming on. It's been great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1665.673

Absolutely. The pleasure's been all mine. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

1698.793

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

214.113

So can you tell us what the ARC actually stands for?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

314.127

You said this started 11 years ago, correct? And where is the home base located?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

332.731

How long have you been with them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

338.129

In the 29 years since you very first started, what are some of the changes that you've seen that's taken place that you can say, this is really good, it needs to get a little bit better, but what we've done is working?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Humanity Over Handcuffs special event. We are delighted to have Leanne McKingsley join us today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

460.421

When you start on a new chapter of your initiatives, especially with legislation, what do you do to try to get more legislation involved so that everyone from the judges down can get a better understanding of what's needed to give a better outcome for everyone involved?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

60.548

She serves as Senior Director of Disability and Justice Initiatives for the ARC and oversees the ARC's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability. a clearinghouse for research, information, evaluation, training, and technical assistance for criminal justice and disability professionals. She possesses a tremendous amount of knowledge and we are grateful to have her join us today.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

611.929

I've been told with legislators, you need to sit down with them, throw away the emotions, give them facts and figures on how they can save taxpayer money by doing something or changing some of the things that are being done. Now, I think on the judges, it has to be a little bit more emotional. Still have the facts. Get them to look at the person that's in front of them.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

638.614

Hopefully have a little empathy towards them. Use the knowledge of what you did with the legislators and the emotions to get across of them that they might be able to help that person have a better life by doing something a little bit different than they would have done.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

747.594

I've heard that one in seven people around the world either know someone or has someone that's autistic in their family. I've heard one in eight people around the world has a mental disability of some sort. Those numbers are pretty staggering. With those kind of numbers, the possibility of you coming in contact with someone that has one or both of those scenarios

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

775.785

Now, those people can be law enforcement, DAs, ADAs, judges. It can cover the whole judicial system and beyond. Because of that, what seems to be the issue to why we can't get them more involved even though it is getting better in some areas?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

82.961

Thanks for coming on. Thank you so much, Tony. Oh, it's my pleasure. So if you would, expand on how you got into what you do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

909.272

Yeah, that makes sense. When you meet with a person for the first time, it can be a judge, a DA, anyone within the legal system. You tell them what you're trying to do. What's your approach? You don't know where they stand. You might know a little bit on where you think they stand. Sometimes your perception is not always correct.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled

929.901

What's your approach in talking with them, discussions, trying to show them? that they hopefully will look at it in a different view than what they might have.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1038.766

That's awesome. Documentaries are just so good. Can you expand on those documentaries a little?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1098.522

So have you seen being in both these documentaries have had an impact on your life? Have you noticed other people looking at you, giving you more credibility because of this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1137.566

Absolutely. And it's amazing how you've made your mark in Miami. Now that you've expanded to the national stage to help people, what do you envision for yourself over the next, let's say, three to five years? How do you see your role evolving and what changes do you hope to inspire with your work?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

114.87

Yeah, it's always great to help others. Can you give the listeners a little of your background so they can understand what led to this path that you're doing?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1210.72

Those are great points. As you said, some of those can be implemented. Unfortunately, some won't. How do we elevate this to a level where there's a stronger presence addressing the needs of not just autistic individuals or those with mental health challenges, but the entire spectrum? Mental health is a broad umbrella. It covers many different conditions.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1236.201

So how do we get all these entities to collaborate effectively and work with people like you who can share real lived experiences? How do we help those sitting behind desks understand what you're trying to convey about the realities faced by people living on the streets?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1296.144

It's amazing that you just brought up what you did. I was speaking with a judge from Texas just last week. He took a minute, thought a little bit, and then his answer was common sense. It just shows how important common sense is to so many different people at so many different levels. So how do we bridge the gap and connect with people who only see the stigma?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1323.374

How do we reach those who haven't had the lived experiences like you have? If we can meet them on their level and show them we're all just regular people, maybe we can break through those misconceptions. So how do we get past the barriers and help them see a different, better perspective?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1419.128

Absolutely. I think that's the most important message that we can put out there is that we need to learn and we need to adapt to each other in all our differences. We need to find a way to share your story with people so they'll listen and learn from it. Hopefully, that can help break down the stigma.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1439.704

Once someone hears what you've been through, the challenges you've faced, how you've overcome them, and where you are now, they should be inspired. They should be standing in awe, welcome you, rather than casting judgment or turning away.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1489.858

Yeah, absolutely. And to kind of further what you just said, I think one of the biggest challenges after speaking with doctors and lawyers and judges and all the legislators is the big unknown. For people that's never dealt with anyone that's autistic or has mental illness, they just get scared by it. And unfortunately, because of that, they can be very judgmental

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1515.723

I think you earlier said getting everybody at the table. I think that's a great idea. Unfortunately, some of those people that will be at that table are some of the people that I just talked about that could be very judgmental. How do we get them to be less judgmental?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1531.672

Because if they see what you've done and people that you've helped have done, it just shows that it can be so much better than what they think it is.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1583.817

Yes, I totally agree with you. So in closing, what would you like to tell the listeners that you think is very important that they just need to know on what you're trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1626.157

Yeah, I totally agree. Well, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on. Thanks Tony. I really appreciate you having me on the show. It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

1657.734

If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

171.525

During your time of incarceration, Was there a pivotal event or experience that occurred which fundamentally altered your life, compelling you to recognize the necessity of personal improvement and inspiring you to leverage the insights and knowledge you acquired to positively impact the lives of others?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

284.835

Everyone has their own unique style when it comes to helping others. Some lean towards a more aggressive approach. Others take a gentler, more passive tack. And then there's everything in between. What was your style like? How did you go about supporting those who needed your help? And how does your help affect them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Justin Volpe.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

363.301

Wow, that's a great description of what you do. I think that's going to help a lot of people understand it. Now, what about CIT training? Do you do anything like that to help police navigate situations?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

403.086

Yeah, that's really, really good. Now, what about the communication centers? When we think of first responders, we always think about police. Yet, before the police get there, you've got 911. Do you do any work with them so they can get the information needed to hopefully send a CIT-trained officer to the scene? Have you worked with the 911 operators?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

458.334

Okay. Have you ever been involved in a crisis situation where you've witnessed and assisted both the police in managing the scene and the individual in need?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

492.431

Okay, suppose you arrive at a scene where someone has experienced psychosis and facing serious challenges. The responding police officer hasn't received CIT training yet. You're there to assist. What would your approach be? Police officers often have only seconds to react to a situation, and the goal is to prevent it from escalating into something harmful for anyone involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

518.227

How would you de-escalate the situation, help the officer understand what you're doing, yet supporting the person in crisis so that ideally things resolve peacefully and don't take a turn for the worse?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

582.705

Dealing with situations like psychosis or a major meltdown in autism can be challenging. These conditions often present complex symptoms that are difficult to diagnose, especially when you only have a few minutes or seconds to assess a situation and determine the best way to manage it so to prevent it from escalating to a situation that gets completely out of control.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

62.381

He's a certified recovery peer specialist and a shining example of how individuals living with mental illness can play a vital role in collaborating with law enforcement, service providers, and anyone in need of support. Justin has trained over 2,500 police officers, through a crisis intervention team program and continues to make a national impact by helping others.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

681.095

Yes, there are definitely a lot of good people out there doing their jobs, and they deserve recognition as well. How does the training you provide to police officers intersect with the role of the specialist who supports individuals navigating the ongoing court process?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

699.025

particularly given that not all individuals involved have consistent police encounters, and considering the officers you may train may not directly correlate with those responding to specific calls.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

739.548

Okay, that makes sense. Now, do you help them when they get into the legal system, or do you help them before they get into the legal system, or do you try to do both?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

797.136

Okay. Did you ever have a situation where you was trying to assist someone, yet in spite of all your efforts, it didn't seem to click for you? The more you both tried, the more you felt it wasn't going to work. And then after some time, whatever that was, it came together. Have you ever experienced something like that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

88.601

He's here to share his inspiring story and wealth of knowledge. It's an honor to have him with us today. Thanks for coming on. Yeah, thanks for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure. You're a mental health advocate. Can you tell us what led you down this path?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

905.494

Can you tell us about the company that you're working with now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

923.086

Yeah, that's a tongue twister for sure. So are you in Virginia now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

981.98

I think that's awesome. Now, when you first started, you was just in Miami and Dade County. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives

990.368

So when you started out, you was working within the legal system, people on the street, trying to help them in that way. Now you're working with state legislators and people of that nature. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1084.388

Yeah, absolutely.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1145.635

Yeah, that's good. Now, you mentioned your business. You started this business with the sole purpose of creating an environment for those with special needs that need help and need work. Can you expand on that a little?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1461.107

Correct.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1461.767

So what you're doing is open the doors for so many people and that's just a great thing for everybody.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1522.294

Yes, and it's very inspiring. People like you hopefully will show others that this can be done. And if you can do it, it's the old saying, I can do it if you can do it. So let's hope that this catches on in a very big way. With that said, I really appreciate you coming on. It's been great.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1566.851

Yes, I truly believe so. And again, thanks for coming on. It's been great. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

1595.85

Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

217.228

That's tough to hear for sure. So once you heard that from the doctor, what was your next steps?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

34.921

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World. Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Mike Gesser, co-founder of Clean Logic.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

388.464

That's a great story. Now, you mentioned school. Was she in private school, public school? How did you set that up so that she was able to integrate with other kids so not to be in isolation because of her situation?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

446.932

That's interesting. Was there a specific reason why you moved to Philadelphia?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

498.996

That's a great thing for sure. How is it working for your daughter? When schools integrate autistic people, people with mental health, disabilities, anything like that, it really is confusing for some of the kids and even for some of the teachers because they don't understand it. But the kids definitely don't understand sometimes. And that can create some issues within the classroom sometimes.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

525.04

So how is that working out for her with how you've handled it so far?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

591.276

Absolutely. I think that's just a great way to look at things. Unfortunately, we don't live in a society that accepts that the way it should.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

600.625

But it's something that definitely needs to be taught for sure. I agree. The school system actually is the perfect place. If they work together, show these kids that anyone with disabilities are exactly the same, they just handle things a little bit differently, they could create that bridge for future change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

61.726

Driven by his daughter Rosie's neurodiverse experience, Clean Logic has developed a commitment providing inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities. His story is captivating and I'm delighted to have him on the show. Thanks for coming on. Sure. What started your journey of helping autistic people and special needs?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

640.689

Absolutely. It sounds like to this point, everything has worked out pretty well for her.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

649.605

When we have programs out there, we lay it out. We try and make it as comfortable, easy as possible with a good transition. But real life says there's going to be bumps in the road. What have you come across with bumps in the road that you didn't expect?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

668.55

And then when they came up, what was your resolution to them so that the people listening can hopefully gain from some of the things that you went through?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

776.556

Yeah, completely. You just said it. We take things for granted. Here in the US and in places around the world, we go about our lives not thinking about anything. Unfortunately, we don't think about it until it affects us. Then when it affects us, we are more compassionate and more understanding. But unfortunately, it takes that to happen to us before we start taking action.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

805.979

Then when it does affect us, the world becomes very scary. We don't know what to do, what to do next, how things go, the process. It can be very scary. What would you tell a parent that's just finding out that their life is going to change? They have a child that's just been diagnosed and it doesn't matter what the diagnosis is. It could be autism. It could be mental health. It could be

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

834.418

bipolar, it could be Down syndrome, MS, anything. Anything like that is very scary. The parent has to collect themselves, get their heads together, know what to do, and it's a tough road. What would you give them for advice so that they could kind of map out what to do that best helps them and helps their child?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

981.385

Absolutely. That's a great point. Now, she's 11, right?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

BONUS EPISODE: Mike Ghesser: A Father's Mission to Transform the World for Neurodiverse Individuals

987.044

What do you see for her in the next five years? She's going to be going through her teen years, which is tough for even neurotypical people. So what do you see for her through her teen years and then past that once she gets out of high school? What's on the horizon for her?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1130.225

Yeah, that makes total sense. And you're correct. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among autistic people around the world. I've spoken with many autistic people. They definitely do not get social cues. I spoke with one person and she was a musician. She had several people talking to her. One guy was flirting with her.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1151.249

And then her friend come up to her and said, you knew he was flirting with you, right? And she didn't have a clue. So how do we get the prosecutors to understand most autistic people do not understand those social cues like neurotypical people do. They need to understand and have a little more empathy to help these people out to get to a better solution for everyone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1349.378

Yes, I've spoken with several judges about this topic. They say the same thing. I spoke with one that he's starting a huge facility down in Miami. He retired from the bench and is starting this huge facility, I think 218 beds, and it's going to just help everybody so that they don't wind up back in front of the judges again.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1375.717

I believe it covers anyone that needs help. I'm not 100% sure. The one thing I do know, he says that by doing this, it will keep people from showing up in front of the judges for a second or third or fourth time. It also contributes to saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers' money for being in the legal system.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1401.834

So if they can get it in Miami, we should be able to find a way to make this happen all across the country.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1516.56

Absolutely. Interestingly, the first term autism was introduced in 1911 and associated with schizophrenia. Then in 1943, it was diagnosed in children. The way that we looked at it and treated it was not always the best. So in the last 25 or 30 years, it has gotten better, but we still have a long ways to go. We really do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1539.208

So in closing, we've talked about several things here, which is very important. What would you like to tell the listener that you think is very important that they hear regarding to what you do and what needs to be done in the future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1691.874

Yeah, absolutely. Wow, this has been great. Great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on and talk with us about this.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1706.481

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

1739.267

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

218.918

Wow, that's pretty interesting. When did you start doing the filming?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

289.778

What happened? With what you're telling me, I'm sure it must be pretty good. I met Mark Mahoney, actually. That's great. He's actually been on the podcast.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Minotaur. Welcome to Why Not Me the World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Doug Passon. He is a seasoned criminal defense lawyer with over 30 years of experience.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

421.502

Yes, absolutely. I did talk with Mark. He brought up the fact that he thought that some lawyers, unfortunately, just did not want outside help, and that sometimes could hurt the case. How do we get past that? Just like you said, we need lawyers out there that understand the situation of the autistic people. Okay. There's no shame in asking for help, especially when your client may need it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

520.6

Another thing Mark brought up, a lot of autistic people can speak with you, speak with anyone like a Rhodes Scholar, yet they are still autistic. Sometimes they lack the process of that critical thinking, which is what you brought up earlier, where they put themselves in a situation not fully understanding they're getting themselves in a situation. How do you help them through this?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

548.021

They're thrown into the legal system, which is very scary. It's the big unknown to them. What's the first step that you offer or take to help them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

603.268

Okay, that's definitely interesting. Can you expand on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

67.063

He's an award-winning documentary filmmaker recognized by the Wall Street Journal as a pioneer in the use of video in sentencing mitigation. He is a gifted storyteller and has joined us today to tell his story of advocating for autism in the legal system. Thanks for coming on. If you would, give us a little information about yourself.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

734.052

Can you expand on those terms so the listeners can get a better understanding of what you're trying to put across?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

893.863

No, this is great information, not a problem at all. So what are some of these things that lead to these issues you was just referring to?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

976.443

Yeah, unfortunately that happens with a lot of kids. It's just life in today's world, I think.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes

991.448

That's quite all right. It's your son. There's no reason to not feel that way.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1073.803

What's some of the biggest challenges you may come across when you go out to speak? Various rallies that you might be doing when you're speaking at it. What's some of the challenges that people might ask you that you have to explain to them because they just don't understand?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1091.295

They might not have it in their family or they might just be starting to address a situation that just developed in their family.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

114.492

What is your focus on Rikers now? You've worked there and then you left. Then once you left, you became a whistleblower to tell everyone some of the things that was going on in the prison. What's your focus now on what you saw, what they do and what you think needs to be changed?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1173.907

Do you help people? So when they do get out, they might have a chain of people that they can work with that can help them make that transition from prison life into society.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1231.764

Okay, you've pretty much done it all. You've worked with people before they go into prison. You've worked with them when they've been in prison. And then you've worked with them after they've been released from prison. With everything that you've done, consisting of all three phases of it, which one was most fulfilling for you?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1331.598

That's really good that you love what you do. That's just awesome. You brought up a change that happened in Rikers because of what you had done. Is there anything that you see on the cusp of change that you've been advocating for?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1409.36

That's right. Nothing in the legal system of legislation will happen very quickly.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1506.046

I think that's a great thing that you're doing. Now, what do you think is important that the listeners should know about everything that you're trying to do now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

154.033

It does make sense for the short term, instead of just closing it, trying to address some of the things that do need to be changed so things can be better and restructure it so that it can still be a facility that is used, but one that is done in a better situation for all involved.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1599.73

Yeah, that's so true. All we have to do is speak up loudly. This has been awesome. A lot of great information, great conversation. I really appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1621.442

Yes, I agree. That's what it's all about is education. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

1651.027

Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

256.144

Yeah, that makes sense. So what are you doing now to support all that and reintegrate anything that's changed since you left there?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

34.929

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantra. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World's Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're joined by an incredible guest, Justyna Roszynski.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

346.852

Yeah, yeah. The one thing that I have heard talking with various people about mental health is the prisons should not be the hospitals for the people that are incarcerated there. They need to be in places where they can get their medications as they need it and hopefully reform in such a way so when they do transition into the public that they are actually ready for it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

396.149

I know that you was working at one time with people as they come out of the legal system. Are you still doing that or have you transitioned into something different? What are you doing now?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

452.182

When you give them the outside resources, is that for the mental health issues that they're facing? Or is that for lawyers that can help them? What kind of outside services are you providing or suggesting for them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. Real-life people who will inspire... and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

513.17

Sure, that's good. What's the feedback that you're getting?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

519.264

Well, the Rikers situation is certainly part of that. Also, the speaking engagements that you're doing to help promote what you've been advocating for.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

589.033

That's good to hear. Now, anytime you go into something, you always have your goals that you want to accomplish there. In the time that you've been there, what are some of the things that you've accomplished that you, in the back of your mind, thought, man, I probably might not be able to get this, but you did?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

63.858

With over a decade of experience working with populations impacted by the criminal legal system, Justyna is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and a dedicated force for meaningful change. She's here to share her inspiring story, and I'm thrilled to have her on the show. Thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

664.813

Wow, that's certainly very good. Now you made that impact. What are some of the other things you are trying to accomplish? I mean, that's a tremendous amount in just that short period of time. What are some of the other things you're trying to get out there so people can understand what you're advocating for and what's going on? And that way you can hopefully make a dedicated change.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

742.897

You work with a lot of people that are schizophrenic. Is that correct?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

747.84

Now, schizophrenia has a stigma attached to it that some people just do not understand. They think that if they hear about someone that's schizophrenic, they think about the movies, which just is not true.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

762.308

How do you change that perception when you're talking about schizophrenia? And unfortunately, when you're dealing with schizophrenia, you have some of the worst case scenarios. They do some really bad things, but then they get on medications. They understand what they did was wrong. And now they're a totally different person from what they were.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

784.799

How do you change the perception of those people when you're talking with others that don't understand because they look at it as they did something bad, put them in jail, throw away the key?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

85.051

Oh, it's my pleasure. If you would, could you expand on what you're doing now since you left Rikers Island?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

920.717

Yeah, and a lot of these people are in their late teens or mid-20s. They're just developing it. I was told the other day that it's from 12 to 24 that it first starts to show up with these individuals. A lot of them aren't even on medications because they don't even realize that they have a problem yet. So how do we get it across to people? Like you said, this is not something they decided to do.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons

951.963

This is something that evolved as they grew older because sometimes it takes years for it to come out. And then by that time, it's developed into, unfortunately, a real problem.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1053.021

We have different areas of the country that look at things completely different. That could be Florida, Connecticut, Michigan, or even out west in California.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1062.649

How do we get something that's more concrete, that's more of a national standard, that gives the opportunity for people to change some things a little bit more, makes it a little bit less complex, even though it's going to stay as complex as it probably is,

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1081.323

Yet it makes it a little easier for people like yourself to talk with a prosecutor that gives the opportunity for compromise, allowing a lighter sentence and giving the opportunity for that person to be defended a little bit easier and then hopefully giving them a better life because of what you did.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1354.575

Now, many times I'm sure you will have people that have co-occurring situations going on They could be autistic, ADHD, autistic, bipolar. There are just so many different variables that could be happening at any given point of time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1372.566

Now, as a defense attorney, how do you talk with the prosecution to give them the understanding that there are several different things that are happening here, which might have led to the situation that they're facing today in court?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1451.085

We've talked about so many great things, and I'm sure there's so many things that we could have talked about. What would you like to tell people in closing that they need to hear, that you feel is very important for them to hear in case they ever might see themselves in a situation where the legal system might be part of their life going forward?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1629.611

Yeah, that's great. Now, I've got one last question or statement in question. I spoke with a judge that told me if the defense and the prosecution could put their heads together, compromise, come up with a solution that could help that person either with meds or whatever the case may be, that this just might lead to where he would not see that person a second time.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1661.704

What's your opinion on how we get that message across the country so that people can have more empathy towards people like this so we can divert that incarceration?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1700.566

This has been a great conversation with a lot of great information. Thanks for coming on. I really appreciate it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1712.914

It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

1745.94

One more thing we ask, tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World. The conversations we're having. and the inspiration our guests give to everyone, everywhere, that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

198.027

Since you didn't know a lot about mental health and autism when you first started, What are some of the things that you find they do that people, mainly judges, district attorneys, don't understand? How do you approach that so you can help them understand what your client's going through so it can make a better outcome in the end for them?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

387.458

When a parent finds that their son or daughter has a legal problem, it's a lot like when they found that their child was autistic or had mental illness. It's the big unknown. That's very scary and they just don't know what to do. What do you give them for advice when they find that they're going to be thrown into this big scary cavern and that's called the legal system?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

490.769

Yes, that shows that there certainly are many layers to figuring this whole thing out. With that said, what's their first steps? What would you advise them to do to move forward so that hopefully we can have a good outcome?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

5.782

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real-life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

59.891

Today's guest is Elizabeth Kelly, a renowned criminal defense lawyer with a nationwide practice specializing in representing individuals with diverse issues, including autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, dementia, and schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and intellectual disabilities.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

655.563

We have so many people out there around the world that just don't get it. Unfortunately, it's not just the justice system. They have a lack of understanding about autism and of course, serious mental health.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

672.702

When we have that kind of an issue that goes here in the States and around the world with just everyday, normal, average people, how do we get the justice system to catch up on what these people are going through with the struggles that they face on a daily basis?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

83.601

She is licensed to practice before the US Supreme Court, has written several books, lectures across the US, as well as abroad on representing people with mental disabilities. It is an honor to have her on the show. Thanks for coming on. Can you share with us how your journey in this field started?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

880.794

I think you brought up a great point with the definition of the terms that we're using with the innocence and, of course, the varying degrees of that. How do we paint a better picture to the judges and of course the prosecutors for that? Some prosecutors are looking for the win and the judges are trying to be as impartial as they can to create that verdict.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective

905.554

How do we get that definition of what you just said to the minds of the prosecutors so they can have a little bit more empathy towards the accused with hopefully a better outcome rather than a negative one where they could be facing incarceration.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1047.766

Okay. Now, let's take the noise to a different scenario. They're hearing noises, which may be voices, that they're hearing that we don't hear. Mm-hmm. How do you help settle that down? Because they are hearing it in their mind. However, the other person is not hearing it. What are the steps you might need to take to help them on that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

105.373

Oh, it's my pleasure. If you would, tell us a little of your journey on how you became this author, speaker and mental health advocate.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1087.219

Sure, that makes sense.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1144.13

Yeah. And then, Chris, sometimes it takes a period of time to find the right medication to work. It does.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1167.663

Yeah. I spoke with one person. He said it took him 10 years to figure it all out.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1173.026

Yes. There was one particular medication that sounded very similar. The doctor said, let's try this one. He said, no, I've already done that one. The doctor said, this is the one that you've used. This is the one that we need to use.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1189.342

He tried it. It worked really well. He said, this is my magic pill.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1217.815

So what's up next? Are you writing a new book? Is there anything else that you're thinking about possibly doing in the future?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1301.732

So if you could expand a little bit on the different voices that you just brought up. You are saying that the voices differ. So how can you tell? How do you tell them this is what you're hearing or this is what you could be hearing? Can you tell us the difference between the two?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1415.475

Yeah, sure. So do you have the opportunity to do many live events where you get to be there in person, get the stories from people, get a chance to interact with them? There's nothing better than getting stories from people that follow you and of course have read your book. They then can share their personal experiences and really relate to what you're trying to put across with it.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1461.929

Yeah, I get that. I mean, podcasts are good and so are the online things. In the end, all that matters is you're getting your point across and helping people. Now, how do people find you? For those who want to follow you, reach out to you, what's the best way for them to do that?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1495.556

So in closing, what do you feel that's important for the listeners to hear that they just need to hear on what you're trying to do?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1565.273

Yeah, yeah, that is great information. This has been really good. Good conversation, good information, a lot of good things for my listeners to hear. So thanks for coming on.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1587.879

Oh, it's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to tonymantor.com. Contact, then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

1620.872

One more thing we ask, tell everyone, everywhere, about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having, and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

164.519

You mentioned in your background that you drew inspiration to write about your journey. What's the story behind that? When did you get the first idea and when did you finish your book? What's been the response and how has it been going since you finished it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

256.727

Since you mentioned you're writing a book based on your lived experience, how did that process influence your thoughts as you put some of those moments on paper?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

313.163

Once you finish writing the book, what were some of the responses that you were getting? In this particular situation, writing your book is almost twofold. One, you have the lived experience. However, you're also writing it for some of the people that might be going through some of the things that you've gone through, which shows people hope because if you can get through it, so can they.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

338.837

How have they reacted to your book since you released it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis Special Event. Joining us today is Katie R. Dale, an author and blogger who fearlessly shares her journey in her memoir, But Deliver Me From Crazy.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

409.736

Sure. Now, you've mentioned two or three different things. What was the diagnosis that you got that actually led you to writing the book?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

437.176

While you was going through this, did you have a support system that helped you get through it?

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy

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Yeah, absolutely. I think what it does, because yours is such a success story in itself, now you're writing books, you're blogging, and people can see that. I think one of the good things that's really coming from this is You got through it. Now you are in a position where you can advocate and help others. This way they realize that they are not alone.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World

Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy