Autism Labs

Where will my profoundly autistic adult child live when school ends and nothing nearby fits? Host Mike Carr speaks with Debra Caudy, founder of 29 Acres, an intentional community just north of Dallas-Fort Worth where about a third of clients have high support needs. They talk about mixing support levels, Texas waiver funding, staffing and training, and giving a nonverbal adult real choices. Questions this episode answers Where will my profoundly autistic adult child live? How to find residenti

What does real independence look like for adults with autism? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Emily Ricketson, Executive Director of AIM (Adults Independent and Motivated), a program in Austin, Texas that is redefining autism adult services. Unlike traditional residential models, AIM focuses on independent living in the community, where adults with IDD live in apartments, hold jobs and build meaningful relationships with the right level of support. Emily shares: • ...

Most families don’t go straight from home to residential care and they shouldn’t. In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr sits down with Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of High Point Village, to break down one of the most important (and often misunderstood) steps in autism planning: the transition from home to independent living. The key insight? Respite is not just support for families, it’s the foundation for long-term success. Nathan shares how structured respite experiences help indiv...

What happens after age 22 for individuals with autism? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas. Nathan shares his unique journey from law school to ministry to leading a nonprofit serving adults with autism and how his personal experience as a father shaped his approach to care. Together, they explore what effective adult services can look like, especially for individuals with higher or profound support ne...

Sudden Autism Behavior Changes? It Might Be Catatonia What happens when your child, teen or adult suddenly changes? Increased aggression, freezing, loss of communication or unusual behaviors can feel like regression or “behavior issues.” But in some cases, it may be something far less recognized: catatonia in autism. In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr shares a deeply personal perspective as a parent of a 36-year-old son with profound autism. Drawing from real-life experience and r...

Sleep challenges in autism aren’t just difficult, they can be life-altering. In Part 2 of this Autism Labs conversation, Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a neuroradiologist and father of a profoundly autistic son, shares the real-world impact of severe sleep disruption on behavior, caregiving, and overall quality of life. From melatonin and pharmacological interventions to the emotional toll of chronic sleep deprivation, this episode explores how families navigate one of the most common and least understo...