Dr. Roger Jou, 230 S Frontage Road, New Haven, CT (2026)

Q: What is the website?

https://www.meetup.com/ProjectCASY/

05/20/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to announce that the ninth presentation in our "Autism in Africa Series with CHIP International" will be given by Bronwyn Hendricks who hails from South Africa. Come join us online via Zoom on Thursday, July 16 at 12-1 p.m. EDT (9am PDT, 4pm GMT, 6pm SAST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. To access Zoom link, please join our Meetup and RSVP https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/314876308/
Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1990005509047/
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TOPIC: Bronwyn's Journey: From Quiet Child to Public Speaker. A Story of Resilience.
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DESCRIPTION: Bronwyn shares their journey of "rebuilding" after a lifetime of navigating a world not designed for them. They will discuss the reality of growing up as an undiagnosed autistic child, where struggles were met with interventions that lacked a name for their experience.
Bronwyn will touch on: the "lost" years - growing up quiet, navigating school with a single best friend, and the intense anxiety of being misunderstood.
Workplace friction: the challenge of entering the professional world, where open-plan offices and social "teamwork" led to frequent overstimulation and shutdowns.
The turning point: how a formal diagnosis at age 30 finally provided the tools needed to lead an improved quality of life.
A new chapter: their success in returning to university to study neurodiversity, turning their personal hardships into a master’s thesis aimed at improving workplace rights for the autistic community.
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BRIEF BIO: Bronwyn Hendricks is a 34-year-old master’s candidate at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. Diagnosed with autism at age 30, they spent most of their life feeling "different" without knowing why.
Growing up in the small agricultural town of Caledon, they navigated school with sensory sensitivities and selective mutism, eventually moving to Cape Town to pursue their studies.
Today, Bronwyn is a scholar, a small business owner, and an autistic self-advocate who uses their own history to help others find community and justice.
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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
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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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).
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CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership, activities and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and the research of Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

05/10/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Cecilia Hernandez, LMFT-A on Friday, June 26, 2026, 3-4 p.m. EDT (2pm CDT, 12pm PDT, 1pm CST/MDT, 9pm ART/BRT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://tinyurl.com/marianismo-mu
Free meeting access also available through Eventbrite https://tinyurl.com/marianismo-eb

TITLE: “𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘵𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢́𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢”: Navigating marianismo as an Autistic woman or AFAB individual

DESCRIPTION: What happens when cultural expectations of womanhood clash with neurodivergent identity? How does the Latine ideal of marianismo—with its emphasis on self-sacrifice, modesty, and caretaking—shape the experiences of Autistic women and AFAB individuals?

This presentation explores how cultural gender expectations—particularly marianismo, the Latine ideal of self-sacrifice, purity, and family devotion—intersect with the lived experiences of Autistic women and AFAB individuals. Drawing from psychological research and lived experiences, the session examines how marianismo may influence masking, identity development, and mental health within this community. This session also reframes self-care as an act of reclamation and liberation—a way for Autistic women and AFABs to resist restrictive gender expectations and embrace authentic self-expression. Attendees will gain insight into the complex ways cultural values impact autistic expression.

BRIEF BIO: Cecilia Hernandez, LMFT-A, is a licensed marriage and family therapist associate and professor of psychology. She is the founder of Hasta La Raíz Neurodiversity Psychotherapy and Support PLLC, a private practice dedicated to creating inclusive, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and affirming spaces for neurodivergent and culturally diverse communities. With over 15 years of experience across educational, clinical, and community settings, Cecilia integrates both professional expertise and lived experience into her work. Her teaching and research explore how culture, gender, and neurodiversity intersect to shape identity, authenticity, and well-being. Learn more: www.hastalaraizneurodiversityaffirming.com | Facebook https://tinyurl.com/hsrpfuew | Instagram www.instagram.com/hasta_la_raiz_therapy

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

04/15/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY) is delighted to welcome Sanjay Kumarendran, BSc on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 12-1 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. CDT, 9 a.m. PDT, 4 p.m. GMT, 5 p.m. BST, 6 p.m. CEST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/314161091/
NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986893505962/

TITLE: Sensory Processing and Irritability in Autistic Adolescents

DESCRIPTION: Irritability is a concerning problem for autistic adolescents, and can result in behaviours which are harmful both to themselves and others. It is crucial to understand why autistic adolescents experience heightened irritability. In this way, researchers and clinicians can develop more effective interventions which meaningfully address the root causes of distress, rather than merely suppressing disruptive behaviours. Sensory processing atypicalities are potentially relevant, as irritability may constitute a ‘protective’ response to the distress which sensory stimuli can cause for autistic people. Highlighting these challenges could prompt researchers and policymakers to create more supportive environments for autistic youth, and encourage researchers to develop novel neurofeedback methods to endogenously mitigate sensory distress.

BRIEF BIO: Sanjay Kumarendran (they/them) is an autistic autism researcher, activist, and philosopher. They received their Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Bath in 2023, and are currently working towards completion of their Master’s in Developmental Neuroscience, jointly awarded by the Anna Freud Centre and Yale University. Diagnosed as autistic at the age of 2, Sanjay benefited from extensive therapies and interventions, which their parents administered to them alongside a team of psychologists and behaviour technicians. Since then, Sanjay has become committed to ensuring that autistic people everywhere can access evidence-based and compassionate interventions, just as they did. Learn more: .bsky.social | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjay-kumarendran/

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

04/06/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Dr. Adam “Dutch” Hazlett on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 12pm EDT (11am CDT, 9am PDT, 4pm GMT, 5pm BST, 6pm CEST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/314138277/

NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dr-roger-jou-29692014305

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

03/26/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Candice Christiansen, LCMHC on Tuesday, May 5, 1-2 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. CDT, 11 a.m. MDT, 10 a.m. PDT, 6 p.m. BST, 7 p.m. CEST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome.

RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/313951948/
NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dr-roger-jou-29692014305

DESCRIPTION: In her #1 bestseller, 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙎𝙚𝙭, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙢, licensed clinician Candice Christiansen challenges one of the most pervasive myths about autism: the misconception that autistic adults are not interested in, or capable of, love and intimacy. In her work, she welcomes a more honest conversation that centers one radical truth: Autistic individuals are capable and deserving of love, healthy s*x, and intimacy where they feel safe to be themselves. As part of this truth, though, many autistic adults also face real-life intimacy challenges—from experiencing differences in neurolove languages and sensory issues in the bedroom to navigating out-of-control s*xual behavior and betrayal trauma. Join us as we explore the full picture of intimacy on the spectrum and create space for a more informed, empathetic understanding of autistic love, s*x, and connection.

ABIOUT: Candice Christiansen LCMHC is an adult-diagnosed cisgender Autistic female, licensed clinician, Autism specialist, neuro-inclusive consultant, author, and presenter with over 20 years of experience providing therapy, coaching, consultation, and advocacy to highly traumatized neurologically different adults. Candice is a national and international presenter on topics related to providing accurate Neuro-Inclusive therapy and support to Autistic adults struggling with intimacy and out of control s*xual behavior. Her Neuro-Inclusive healing center, Namaste Center for Healing is internationally known for providing neurologically different adults and mixed neurotype couples with intensive therapy, coaching and consultation related to a variety of s*x and intimacy issues. More information on Candice’s work is available online:
https://www.candicechristiansen.com
https://www.namasteadvice.com
https://autismandintimacypodcast.com

For Candice’s previous CASY presentation, please visit https://youtu.be/OmDHvGuGg4E

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

03/17/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Ariel Cascio, Ph.D. on Monday, March 30, 2026, 4 p.m. EDT (1 p.m. PDT, 9 p.m. BST, 10 p.m. CEST) for their ongoing discussion series on Zoom. There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/313809081/
NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985344700443?aff=oddtdtcreator

DESCRIPTION: Living Ethics Hangouts with Ariel Cascio. Ethics refers to the study of good and bad. Key ethics questions include “what is the good life?” “How do we achieve a good life?” “What do we owe one another?” and “What should we do?” To answer these questions, we can think about things like values, preferences, harms, and benefits. There are often no easy answers. In these ethics hangouts, we will chat informally about everyday ethical issues that impact autistic people. Each hangout will center around a specific topic and meeting times will vary. Playlist of previous recordings https://tinyurl.com/livingethics

Vote for topic(s) using this Qualtrics link
https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg7Atj1I5ZhVWMC

You can always bring up anything that interests you at a hangout, even if it is not voted as the key topic. Whatever is not the topic for this hangout might be a topic at a later hangout. Keep suggesting!

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The topic for 3/30/2026 will be "healthcare for us." Things we might discuss include:
What makes a good healthcare visit?
What things, people, places, or timelines make a healthcare visit good?
What makes it easier to make decisions about your healthcare?
What makes it harder to make decisions about your healthcare?

Some people prefer to show something than to talk, or to show something and talk about it. If you want to, please bring something for show-and-tell:
Something that makes it easier to make decisions about your healthcare OR
Something that makes it harder to make decisions about your healthcare

For example, Ariel might show a copy of their state's law regarding the designation of a patient advocate (like a medical power of attorney) and talk about their experience with that process.
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BRIEF BIO: Ariel Cascio, Ph.D. is joining us from the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples, the land also called Michigan. Dr. Cascio is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Bioethics and Social Justice at Michigan State University. They are an anthropologist who studies social and ethical issues around autism and neurodiversity in Europe and North America, especially Italy. Their research projects largely center on the questions “what does autism mean?” and “how do groups account for the neurological diversity of their members?” You can read their research at https://arielcascio.wordpress.com/

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund and Dr. Roger Jou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

02/24/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Mark Dooley, MA, MES, LMHC, CMHS on Thursday, March 19, 5-6 p.m. EDT (4-5 p.m. CDT, 2-3 p.m. PDT, 9-10 p.m. GMT, 10-11 p.m. CET). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/313424213/
NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dr-roger-jou-29692014305

DESCRIPTION: Autism Discovery. Mark will be facilitating this Autism identity workshop on discovery, phase one of his DAIE model. Expect an interactive, free-form group conversation about individual experiences and shared phenomena of learning our Autism, from which we may illuminate common and unique themes of Autistic identity for sake of CASY’s ethnography. Mark’s future workshops will follow with the phases of acceptance, integration, and expression. For Mark’s previous CASY workshops and presentations visit https://tinyurl.com/3n2e4s2e

BRIEF BIO: Mark Dooley is an autistic psychotherapist. He received his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Seattle in 2002, and earned a Master’s in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College in 1993. Mark is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Child Mental Health Specialist, WA State Approved Clinical Supervisor, WA State Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs Provider, and a Neurodivergent Affirming Clinician. In 2026, he surpassed 32,000 hours of direct psychotherapy https://markdooley68.com including psychiatric inpatient, intensive outpatient, integrated healthcare, wilderness, in-home, and private practice settings.

Since 1986, Mark Dooley has worked and studied in the fields of advocacy, social justice, ecology, and mental health. Along with his clinical training and experience, Mark’s therapy utilizes graduate research on mutually healing relationships with nature, and is informed by mindfulness, travel, friendship, and family. To learn more about his work, please visit him at https://www.consultautism.com/

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

02/24/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Dr. Ali Perkinson on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 12-1 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. CDT, 9 a.m. PDT, 5 p.m. BST, 6 p.m. CEST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://tinyurl.com/454y47n5
NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://tinyurl.com/5n85cc9e

TITLE: Unmasking Together: Identity, Burnout, and Autistic Partnership

DESCRIPTION: Autistic and ADHD adults often find themselves navigating the complex terrain of masking, burnout, and identity while also building relationships, families, and careers. This session explores how neurodivergent adults experience partnership — in love, in community, and in culture. Drawing from both clinical expertise and lived experience, Dr. Ali Perkinson will share strategies for supporting identity development, reducing masking costs, and honoring autonomy in neurodiverse relationships. Participants will leave with practical tools for understanding executive function, communication differences, and the cultural contexts that shape autistic adulthood.

BRIEF BIO: Dr. Ali Perkinson is passionate about social cognition, language processing, executive functioning, and building meaningful relationships across romantic, friendship, and family contexts. She describes herself as an interpersonal detective, identifying patterns that increase connection in relationships, workplaces, and parent-child dynamics. She is both a Speech-Language Pathologist and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a doctorate in educational leadership, with additional coursework toward licensure as an educational psychologist. Her work is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed lens, shaped in part by her doctoral research on the dating experiences of autistic adults. She believes social support is a biological necessity and is committed to helping neurodivergent individuals achieve holistic, sustainable communication. Learn more https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alexandra-arena/
View her brief talk for our 2025 Summer of Self-Care https://youtu.be/U1eXUoaFAGs

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

02/23/2026

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Chelsea Verrette, M.S. on Friday, May 1, 2026, 3-4 p.m. EDT (2 p.m. CDT, 12 p.m. PDT, 8 p.m. BST, 9 p.m. CEST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP online though our free Meetup group https://www.meetup.com/projectcasy/events/313440440/
NEW: Free access now available through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1983590436392/

TITLE: The Community Impact of High-Pressure Advertising

DESCRIPTION: Advertising doesn’t just sell products—it shapes the pressures we feel and how we use our money and energy in the consumer marketplace. This session shares research on how Autistic and non-autistic adults respond to high-pressure advertising tactics like urgency, fear, and seemingly exaggerated promises. Findings show that Autistic participants reported higher stress and were less likely to recognize these messages as advertising, raising important questions about ethics and inclusion in the marketplace. Together, we’ll explore what this means for Autistic well-being and how Autistic consumers can engage with these tactics in daily life.

BRIEF BIO: Chelsea Verrette is a PhD student in Curriculum Studies at Texas Christian University and an Autistic researcher focused on advertising as a form of public pedagogy. She also holds a Master of Science in Strategic Communication, which informs her work at the intersection of media, ethics, and equity. Her research examines how high-pressure advertising affects neurodivergent consumers and argues for ethical communication that values equity over manipulation. Chelsea’s work has been published in the 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, and she partners with organizations to design messaging that is inclusive, accessible, and aligned with community values. Learn more: www.yourpinkeasel.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseaverrette/

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, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: 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 Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy

Dr. Roger Jou

05/20/2026

05/10/2026

04/15/2026

04/06/2026

03/26/2026

03/17/2026

02/24/2026

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02/23/2026

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