How to Start your own Autism Support Group and Community Autism Event (and Podcast Introduction)

Help for Special Educators

Welcome to the first episode!! I am publishing this on the first of April and April is Autism month. So to kick the month off, I had a conversation with Tiffany Manha, a speech teacher, and autism mom, about how she started an Autism Family Support Group in our town about 8 years ago, which is treated like being invited to a birthday party!! You will love her story of how it happened and how it has grown to where these kids ride on floats in parades (yes, some even have extreme autism). She will give tips on how to start and run your own group, print out a copy of the show handout to take notes on, which can be found at https://lisagoodell.com/1/. Plus, she explains how their group puts on an Autism Night for their community and surrounding area! I hope you love this episode as much as I do.
Please listen to the end of podcast for information on you can hear YOUR voice on the show!
More information about my guest, Tiffany Manha:
I was born and raised in the small town of Kerman, CA. I was a first grade teacher for two years and had a degree in Speech and Language Pathology. I went back to school to get my masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology and have been a Speech and Language Pathologist now for 16 years. I am the mother of two amazing boys. My oldest son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3 1/2. I feel that his diagnosis shaped me as a Speech Therapist and has helped me connect with the families that I work with. I was inspired to get families together and form an Autism group after meeting families going through similar struggles, feelings of isolation, and feelings of being left out of life. I like being the one who can now offer families hope and show them that they are not alone. If you feel inspired to start a support group in your district I encourage you to do so. It's amazing what bringing together families will do.