Day Programs & Employment Episodes

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: • ...

How do you actually find reliable caregivers for profound autism? For many families, this is the single hardest part of the journey. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr, father of a 35-year-old profoundly autistic son shares over three decades of real-world experience navigating one of the most difficult challenges in autism caregiving: Building a dependable, skilled support team. From aggressive behaviors to nonverbal communication and medical complexities, Mike explains why transition...

What happens when someone is labeled “unemployable”… but given a chance anyway? In this episode, Mike Carr continues his conversation with Tom Landis and Jeff Schiefelbein of Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, a company creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with special needs. They share powerful, real-world stories of autistic adults who were once overlooked but are now thriving in structured, supportive work environments. The conversation explores the gap after age 22, the lim...

Finding meaningful employment for autistic adults is one of the biggest challenges families face especially after age 18 or 22 when services begin to disappear. In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr speaks with Tom Landis, founder of Howdy Homemade Ice Cream and Jeff Schiefelbein, to explore how businesses can successfully employ individuals with autism and other special needs. They discuss how structured environments, checklists and consistent coaching help individuals thrive and why t...

What happens when an autistic child ages out of school but still needs significant support? In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr continues his discussion with Sharon Holloway and Allie Langan about respite care, adult autism services, community inclusion, and preparing autistic adults for greater independence. The conversation explores how meaningful respite programs can support both autistic adults and the families who care for them. Mike shares lessons from his experience with Michael ...

What happens when a profoundly autistic young adult ages out of the school system? For many families, the transition to adulthood can mean losing familiar school-based supports while facing limited options for adult autism services, employment, community participation, and meaningful daily activities. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues the conversation about transitioning to adulthood and aging out of the school system. Drawing from his family's experience raising a severely ...

What role does fun play in the life of someone with profound autism? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr explores why meaningful, enjoyable experiences should be an intentional part of autism care, especially for people with profound or severe autism and significant support needs. Mike shares a personal story about his son Michael and his love of being on the water. What may look like a simple boat outing actually requires extensive preparation, physical assistance, supervision, and saf...

What really helps autistic people, especially those with profound autism and significant support needs? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr looks beyond theory and shares what his family and J13 have learned from putting community-based experiences into practice with autistic adults. Their summer camp brings participants into a variety of real-world environments, including climbing gyms, trampoline parks, farms, bowling alleys, horseback activities and Morgan’s Wonderland. Mike shares a pa...

Parent and Founder of John 13 Community Mike Carr chats with parent and BCBA certified Mark Garcia about their search for a program for their children, and what makes John 13 Community Program different than the other programs they’ve seen, including the staff, structure, and social benefits of the program.