Episodes

Not all autism programs are built the same and choosing the wrong one can have lasting consequences. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with autism consultant Johnna Oppermann to explore what truly defines a high-quality autism program. From intake and transition planning to staff culture and retention, this episode breaks down the critical factors that influence whether individuals with profound autism succeed or struggle in a program. You’ll learn why fast ...

What actually makes an autism program safe, sustainable and trustworthy? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Johnna Oppermann, a leading expert in residential and day programs for individuals with profound autism. Drawing on decades of experience, Johnna explains why culture, not facilities, funding or programming, is the foundation of effective autism care. For parents navigating the transition to adulthood, this conversation addresses one of the biggest fears: What happens...

Sleep is one of the biggest and most exhausting challenges for families living with autism. In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr shares 8 real-world strategies that have helped his son sleep over the past 30 years. This isn’t a clinical checklist. It's a lived experience. From physical and mental exhaustion to sensory tools, supplements and unexpected approaches like letting your child self-regulate at night this episode explores what actually helps (and what doesn’t). If you’re rai...

In Part 2 of this powerful Autism Labs conversation, Mike Carr sits down with Glenn Carter (Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 15+ years of experience) to explore one of the most complex topics in autism care: the relationship between medication, behavior, and everyday life factors. Many families rely on medication to manage aggression, focus, or sleep challenges. But as Glenn explains, without clear data and defined goals, medication can become a cycle of side effects rather than solutions. ...

What Happens After ABA Ends? Real Strategies for Autism Adults Most autism therapy is designed for children,but what happens when those services end? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Glenn Carter (BCBA, 15+ years experience) about the critical transition from structured therapy to adulthood, especially for individuals with profound autism and high-support needs. Glenn shares practical insights from working across the full autism lifespan, from early intervention to adult ...

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...

Communication with a nonverbal autistic child can feel overwhelming, confusing, and at times impossible. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a powerful and practical framework that shifts the focus from speaking to listening, specifically, how we listen. Drawing from the concept of adaptive listening, Mike explains how communication in autism extends far beyond words. For individuals with limited or no verbal language, meaning is often expressed through body language, facial express...

Most autism parenting advice focuses on behavior strategies, therapy plans and routines. But what if the biggest transformation begins with mindset? In this reflective solo episode, Mike Carr, co-founder of Autism Labs and father to a profoundly autistic adult, shares a powerful perspective shaped by years of caregiving and lived experience. Drawing inspiration from timeless wisdom principles, Mike reframes them through the lens of autism parenting and caregiving. He explores how humility, grief...

What if the biggest breakthroughs in autism therapy aren’t happening inside the therapy room? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with Diana Danu, an autism parent from Bucharest, Romania, to explore what truly drives progress for children with autism and what many systems overlook. After years of navigating therapy, education, and limited resources, Diana shares the turning points that changed her son Gabi’s development. From discovering the importance of joint attention and ...

What happens when an autistic child is receiving therapy, attending preschool and following a treatment plan, but the skills aren't transferring into everyday life? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Diana Danu, a mother from Bucharest, Romania, about her 8-year-old son, Gabi and the lessons their family learned navigating autism diagnosis, therapy, school, parenting and support services. Diana shares what happened after Gabi was diagnosed around age three and how her family i...

You can have strong, caring support and still feel like things are falling apart. In this episode, Mike Carr shares a lesson that took years to fully understand. It’s not just about building the right team. Even the best caregivers face limits. They get sick. They move on. They can’t be there all the time. So what happens next? Mike talks about why families need more than good people. They need systems that can adjust as life changes. You’ll hear about: Why caregiver turnover keeps happeningT...

Autism transition to adulthood isn’t just about leaving school. It’s about what comes next and whether a young adult is ready for it. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Will Renfro, who leads transition services for more than 70 students, and Patti Cole, a veteran special education teacher known for her creative, individualized approach to learning and independence. They share real-world strategies that go beyond standard transition plans. The conversation focuses on how indep...

Autism Transition Starts Earlier Than You Think When should autism transition planning actually begin? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr sits down with Will Renfro, Transition Coordinator, and Patti Cole, special education teacher, from Round Rock ISD to break down what families need to know about preparing autistic teens and young adults for adulthood. They share real-world insights from working with over 70 students across different levels of support, including those with higher nee...

Raising a profoundly autistic child comes with some of the most difficult questions a parent can face, especially when school-based support ends and adulthood begins. In this episode, Mike Carr, founder of Autism Labs and father to a 36-year-old son with profound autism, shares the five most common fears families experience: loss of services after age 21, long Medicaid waiver waitlists, confusion around SSI and SSDI, guardianship decisions and lifelong care planning. But the conversation doesn’t...

Raising a child with profound autism can teach parents lessons they never expected to learn. In this personal Autism Labs episode, Mike Carr reflects on five lessons he learned while raising his son Michael, an autistic adult with complex support needs. Mike openly shares where he struggled as a father, including times when he avoided difficult caregiving tasks, became disconnected from therapy and daily routines, reacted inconsistently to behavior, and relied on rationalizations that placed ...

What happens when a profoundly autistic child becomes an adult and the services their family needs aren't readily available? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with Joel Wood, a father navigating the complex process of developing long-term support for his autistic son. Joel and Mike discuss the realities of finding qualified and committed caregivers, creating residential programs, building relationships with other families, and developing support systems that wo...

What happens when a profoundly autistic young adult reaches the end of high school? For Joel Wood and his wife Martha, that question has become increasingly urgent as their 20-year-old son William approaches adulthood. William has autism and apraxia and is largely non-speaking. After years of limited communication, his family's work with spelling revealed abilities and thoughts that challenged some of their previous assumptions about what he could understand and accomplish. In this episode of...

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 an autistic child ages out of school? For families supporting autistic teens and adults, especially individuals with profound autism or significant support needs, the transition beyond school can create major challenges around life skills, respite care, adult services, behavior support, community participation, and independence. In Part 1 of this Autism Labs conversation, Mike Carr is joined by Sharon, an autism parent and community advocate, and Allie, a Board Certified Beh...

Most autism families don’t struggle with commitment. They struggle with coordination. After decades of clinical experience, pediatric neurologist Dr. Dilip Karnik saw a consistent gap: parents are left to manage complex care systems without the tools or support they actually need. In this episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr sits down with Dr. Karnik and his team to explore a new AI-powered platform designed to centralize autism care and support decision-making in real time. This conversati...

Autism housing is one of the most complex and emotional decisions families face, especially when supporting individuals with high or profound support needs. In this continuation episode, Mike Carr and Ann Hart (former President of the Autism Society of Texas) explore real-world housing options for autistic adults, including State Supported Living Centers (SSLCs), group homes, ICFs and waiver-based systems. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, this conversation focuses on how parent...

For families supporting an autistic child with significant support needs, planning for adulthood can bring difficult questions: Where will they live? What services will they need? How will those services be funded? And what happens when the school system ends? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr speaks with Ann Hart, a longtime autism advocate, past president of the Autism Society of Texas and mother of a 40-year-old son with severe autism. Ann brings decades of experience volunteering wit...

What if AI could give families supporting someone with profound autism an extra set of eyes? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr explores how emerging AI and smart-home technology could support parents, caregivers and families caring for autistic children and adults with complex support needs. From AI-powered cameras and smart-home routines to personalized video modeling, Mike looks at practical ways technology may help with safety, behavior, communication, therapy, daily living skills ...