Dr. Roger Jou

09/26/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Bridgette Hamstead, MS on Monday, November 24, 4-5 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST, 1 p.m. PST, 9 p.m. GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/311233360/

TITLE: From Advocacy to Activism: Galvanizing a Neurodiversity Justice Movement

DESCRIPTION: This session will explore how 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲: 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺 and its partners and collaborators are galvanizing, organizing, and leading the shift from individual advocacy to collective action and activism for neurodivergent justice in the U.S. Drawing from lived experience, disability justice, and the neurodiversity paradigm, the session will examine how neurodivergent adults are joining forces, driving policy change, and creating community-led systems that move beyond inclusion toward liberation. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how grassroots organizing and cultural leadership are shaping the future of neurodiversity justice in America. Learn more www.fishinatreeGLOBAL.org

BRIEF BIO: Bridgette Hamstead, MS https://tinyurl.com/2e5nv8vr is the Founding Director of Fish in a Tree: Center for Neurodiversity Education, Advocacy, and Activism in New Orleans. An autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) educator, writer, and speaker, she is Chairperson of the Board of the Neurodiversity Coalition of America and host of the Neurodiversity Justice Bookshelf, a global book club centering intersectional neurodivergent voices. Bridgette has delivered keynotes for Global Neurodiversity Pride Day, the United Nations World Autism Acceptance Day, and numerous national and international conferences. She is the author of the forthcoming book 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦-𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘶𝘋𝘏𝘋 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 https://tinyurl.com/mr32jvxs

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/26/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Nathan Spoon on Tuesday, December 2, 3-4 p.m. EST (2 p.m. CST, 12 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/311233433/

TITLE: Engaging Autistic Creativity

DESCRIPTION: This talk will explore connections between scientifically-supported ways of increasing creativity and the notions of “creative imagination” (Ibn 'Arabi) and “creative intuition” (Jacques Maritain)—and how these connections are relevant for autistic people.

BRIEF BIO: Nathan Spoon Âû is an autistic poet and artist. Author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙗𝙡𝙚-𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 (Nine Mile Press, 2025), his poems and essays have appeared in numerous literary publications and anthologies. He lives in the forested hills of the Western Highland Rim with his spouse, Jamie, and their pet cockatiel, Cookie. Learn more at https://nathanspoon.com/ | https://tinyurl.com/2b6462xx | https://youtu.be/LzTeAnZd8Q4

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/24/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Christopher Cosby on Monday, December 8, 3-4 p.m. EST (12 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/311205173/

TITLE: The Panic of Being Misunderstood

DESCRIPTION: For many autistic people, the fear of being misunderstood is a constant, embodied panic. We carry the memory of words being twisted, intentions erased, and clarifications dismissed in our bodies at all times, often anticipating and bracing for it before we even speak. This session will trace how misunderstanding becomes panic, how discounting deepens harm, and how autistic modes of communication create their own counter-practices of trust. Drawing on research on invisible chronic illness and invalidation, we'll examine how these experiences compound for those with co-occurring conditions like fibromyalgia, EDS, MCAS, and POTS. Recognizing that the risks of being misunderstood fall unevenly across race, gender, and class, we will also discuss some of the ways privilege and intersectionality shape these experiences

BRIEF BIO: Christopher Cosby is a PhD candidate in applied anthropology at Oregon State University. Their dissertation explores how invalidation and validation affect the well-being of late-diagnosed autistic adults in the U.S. Grounded in disability studies, Black feminist scholarship, and applied medical anthropology, Chris approaches research as a practice of care and accountability https://tinyurl.com/58jvvpw6

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities https://portal.ct.gov/ctcdd (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/22/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Dr Liliya Bakiyeva Wheatcraft on Friday, October 31 at 3-4 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT, 7 p.m. GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/311120183/

TITLE: The Simple Solution to the Complex (Double Empathy) Problem

DESCRIPTION: This presentation introduces “The AUTISTIC First Principles Conceptual Framework,” an adaptable modular system for understanding neurodiversity across the lifespan; synthesizing decades of clinical expertise, lived experience and research evidence.

BRIEF BIO: Dr. Liliya T. Bakiyeva Wheatcraft, MD, MSc Cantab, DCH, ECFMG, MRCPsych is a British psychiatrist, former Clinical Skills Tutor to University of Oxford medical students and junior doctors; graduate of Cambridge University (inaugural Gates Cambridge Scholar); author of the AUTISTIC First Principles Framework which won her a nomination for Gates Impact Prize 2025. Self-described as a “classic non-binary AuDHD square peg,” learn more at www.autismdoctor.org

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/14/2025

CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (the ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) resumes its popular series led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes herself. This one takes place on Thursday, November 20, 12 pm EST (9 am PST, 5 pm GMT). Like all CASY offerings, there is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/311031561/

TITLE: Toward a New Autistic Physics: A Fun Series Engaging Philosophy, Thought Experiments, and Interdimensionality.

DESCRIPTION: Come join us for a mind-expanding discussion series about holographic theory, morphic resonance, autism in multiple dimensions, monotropism and liminality, and wherever our minds take us, in a warm and fun atmosphere. You don't need to be a "math person" or someone with a classical physics background -- these ideas are more in the realm of imagination and thought experiment! View past meetings at https://tinyurl.com/mrxv3d7r

BRIEF BIO: Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an interdisciplinary anthropologist whose work, in addition to studies of animal social systems through the lens of morphic field theory, has explored the intersection of theoretical physics and culture generally. She currently serves as Co-Chair for Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY).

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/12/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Becca Cook on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 6pm EST (5pm CST, 3pm PST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/310899918/

TITLE: Plant Band: A Bio Music Experiment

DESCRIPTION: What happens when you start a band with your houseplants? This talk blends humor and curiosity to explore the connections between music, art, and nature through the perspective of an autistic artist. By tuning into the frequencies that link creativity with the living world, it asks how even houseplants can become collaborators in expanding how we understand expression and connection. Learn more at https://youtube.com/

BRIEF BIO: Becca Cook is a self-taught multimedia artist based in North Carolina. Her work, spanning painting, doll-making, and mixed media, explores themes of spirituality, mythology, technology, and esoteric symbolism, drawing on lifelong interdimensional experiences. Cook’s practice functions as a channel between the subconscious and the collective consciousness, creating spaces of connection and recognition through archetypal and otherworldly imagery. Learn more at https://www.instagram.com/beccacookart/

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/12/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Dr. Adam “Dutch” Hazlett on Thursday, December 11, 2025, 12pm EST (9am PST, 5pm GMT, 6pm CET). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/310899976/

TITLE: The PBJ Ethic: Reimagining Self-Care and Community Connection

DESCRIPTION: Dr. Adam “Dutch” Hazlett brings together his lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic professor with his scholarly work on micro-accommodations and universal design. He has been exploring the intersections of disability advocacy, relational ethics, and community care for more than two decades, unfolding the complexity of neurodivergence, identity, and belonging. His curiosity has shaped the PBJ Relational Ethic—Predictability/Patience, Balance, and Joy—as both a personal practice and a professional framework. In this presentation, Dutch explains how he has turned his own story into a trajectory of advocacy, emphasizing self-care and community connection as the foundations for human resilience and collective thriving.

BRIEF BIO: Dr. Adam “Dutch” Hazlett holds a Doctor of Arts in Humanities (2016), a Master of Arts in Humanities (2012), a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature (2002), and a Bachelor of Specialized Studies in Liberal Arts (2001). He also earned a Graduate Certificate in Disability Inclusion and Equitable Design (2022) and a Professional Certificate in Neurodiversity (2024). He is a professor of humanities, writer, and advocate whose recent scholarship centers on micro-accommodations, universal design, and neuro-affirming education. His work includes contributions to the Detroit News and national academic publications, alongside his public-facing project NACHOS: Neuro-Affirming Conversation Hour for Outreach and Support. He also serves as Public Relations Director for Self-Advocates of Michigan. Learn more at www.humanities101.org

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/11/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Ombre Tarragnat Tarragnat on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1pm EST (10am PST, 6pm GMT, 7pm CET). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/310996141/

TITLE: Autism and Animality

DESCRIPTION: Based on their recent article for 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦: 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯-𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 https://doi.org/10.23984/fjhas.144936 Ombre will examine some of the key questions raised at the intersection of autism and animality by introducing their concepts of ethodiversity and ethodivergence. This more-than-human framework helps us highlight the animal roots of autism and neuronormativity, reclaim our divergent (hum)animality, enact solidarity with nonhuman animals, and explore the naturecultures of animal neurodivergence.

BRIEF BIO: Ombre Tarragnat (they/she) is an autistic PhD student in philosophy. Their doctoral research examines the intersection of neurodiversity and animality by exploring topics such as the co-construction of speciesism and neuronormativity and the relationships between autistic people and nonhuman animals. They conceptualise neurodiversity as a fundamentally animal, rather than human, phenomenon. This leads to a redefinition of neurodivergence in new biological and existential terms and opens the way to a discussion of animal neurodivergence. Learn more https://ombretarragnat.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/thesweetdarkness/

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/10/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Drs. Valéria Aydos, Luana Adriano, Luiz Henrique Magnani, and Gustavo Rückert on Monday, November 10, 2025, 12-2pm EST (9am PST, 5pm GMT, 2pm BRT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/310972101/

TITLE: Translate Yourself: First-Person Autism in Brazilian Academic Practice

DESCRIPTION: At this CASY meeting, we will present the study and research group we are part of in Brazil, as well as some of our joint productions. The project "Translate Yourself: First-Person Autism in Academic Practice" is currently a network of more than 40 autistic individuals interested in academic careers and/or developing studies and research on autism and neurodiversity. The members who will be attending this meeting are currently university professors in various academic fields (anthropology, law, linguistics, and literature), and regions of Brazil. They have produced research, outreach initiatives, and collaborative writing with an emancipatory focus.

BRIEF BIOS:
Valéria Aydos, PhD in Social Anthropology and a professor at Federal University of Pampa, in Brazil. Her recent research focuses on the intersectional violence suffered by Black autistic women, especially regarding access to diagnosis and its influence on educational trajectories.

Luana Adriano, PhD in Law, Professor at the Regional and Urban Planning Research Institute at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Research at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Her recent research focuses on biosociality, identity, legal personhood and political representation of autistics in Brazil.

Luiz Henrique Magnani, PhD in Applied Linguistics, is a Professor in the Licenciatura em Educação do Campo (Rural Education Teacher Education Program) at the Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM). His recent research focuses on the intersection of language, compulsory able-bodiedness, and autism, as well as on the authorial production of autistic people, particularly in non-hegemonic contexts.

Gustavo Rückert, PhD in Literature, is a writer and professor at the Center for Literature and Communication at the Federal University of Pelotas. He coordinates the research project "Spinning Words: Autistic Poetry in Motion," which seeks to understand and disseminate autistic poetry produced in Brazil.

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: In collaboration with Traduzir-se Autismo . The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

09/03/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to announce that the seventh presentation in our "Autism in Africa Series with CHIP International" will be given by Claris Angafor (AC Mbeng). Come join us online via Zoom on Thursday, September 18 at 1-2 p.m. EDT (10am PDT, 5pm GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. To access Zoom link, please join our free Meetup and RSVP https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/310853132/

TOPIC: Bridging Worlds: How Parenting an Autistic Child Led Me to Speech & Language Therapy

FROM THE SPEAKER: Hello, I’m Claris Angafor, Founder and CEO of Autism Acceptance at CAN–Abilities Foundation. I’m a mother, a Speech and Language Therapist, an author, and an advocate committed to promoting love, understanding, and inclusion for autistic individuals and their families.

My journey began with my son, whose autism sparked a deep desire in me to learn, support, and uplift others walking similar paths. That passion and grief led me to write Grief To Grit, train professionally, and work both in the UK and Cameroon, including placements at Mbingo Baptist Hospital and CBC Health Services, where I deepened my commitment to culturally responsive care.

Through The Nsangli Show and annual birthday fundraisers, I’ve reached global audiences and supported children with disabilities in Cameroon with resources, training, and celebration. From the Pan African Congress on Autism (Kenya, 2019), to community events, my mission remains the same: to amplify voices, dismantle stigma, and build inclusive communities wherever I go.

Statement from CHIP International: Child Health Improvement Program International (CHIP-I) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to awareness and training regarding autism and special needs in Africa. CHIP-I has operated in Ghana and Senegal since 2011 and has also developed associations with autism and special needs institutions in many other countries on the continent. We believe that children with autism and special needs in Africa, like everywhere else, deserve the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Learn more at www.chipinternationalusa.org

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund and the research of Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

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09/02/2025

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Isha Sarah Snow on Friday, November 14, 2025, 2pm EST (11am PST, 7pm GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. For this and future events, RSVP by joining our free Meetup group online at https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/310839926/

TITLE: Healing the Colonized Mind: Tools for Autistic Liberation

DESCRIPTION: Colonization shapes how we think, feel, and relate, often in ways we don’t notice. This talk offers practical, trauma-informed tools for dismantling internalized oppression and building emotional resilience. Rooted in decolonial and systems-based approaches, it’s about transforming both personal and collective well-being. We will explore how colonization shapes our thinking, emotions, and relationships, leaving behind internalized oppression that impacts both autistic and non-autistic people. Participants will leave with practical tools to build relational resilience, challenge harmful narratives, and foster healing-centered change.

BRIEF BIO: Isha Snow is a sociologist, neurodivergent scholar, and trauma-informed systems theorist currently studying at Washington State University in Vancouver. Her work bridges emotional healing, structural justice, and relational transformation. She integrates critical theory, systems thinking, and somatic knowledge to create tools for decolonial, healing-centered social change. Isha’s research and teaching focus on transforming institutions from systems of harm into systems of care, making liberation not only political, but deeply personal and relational.

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation https://djfiddlefoundation.org/ Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou