November 17, 2025 • 36 mins
Author, speaker, and founder Karla Chinen, a Latina powerhouse, invites us into a life shaped by resilience: parenting two autistic kids, discovering her own late diagnosis, and building Empathy for Autism California so families aren’t reduced to numbers or left out by language and culture.
We talk about the moments that matter: a mother demanding a same-day diagnostic letter so early intervention could start within weeks; how autistic girls often mask and get overlooked; and why empathy isn’t a personality trait, it’s a teachable skill. Karla breaks down practical systems—sensory-informed outings, meltdown playbooks, and one-on-one time for siblings—that protect joy and strengthen marriages under stress. She’s frank about leaving a slow, political 9–5 to create a mission-led nonprofit with bilingual resources, sensory-friendly events, and trainings that rehumanize organizational practice.
You’ll hear a blueprint for action: push for timely evaluations, ask for services you’re eligible for, and partner with professionals who learn your child’s name before their case number. We also spotlight Karla’s podcast, Voices Beyond the Spectrum, where families and experts share travel tips, education advocacy, and underused supports many don’t know to request.
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Look up, and let's elevate!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:14):
It's gender builders.
SPEAKER_00 (00:16):
And of course.
SPEAKER_01 (00:17):
And welcome everyone to Take the Elevator.
SPEAKER_00 (00:20):
Yes, welcome.
SPEAKER_01 (00:22):
It has been quite a morning.
It's one of those mornings whereeverything could go wrong.
It did as far as the recordingof this, but we're back.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
It's perspective.
SPEAKER_01 (00:33):
We're doing persistence and resilience and
just saying we're going to dothis.
SPEAKER_00 (00:37):
No, it's just perspective.
It's how you look at life.
You know, sometimes you look atlife as you're winning, and then
sometimes you're looking at Igotta catch up to win some more.
SPEAKER_01 (00:48):
Yes, I got catching up to win.
Okay, let's catch up.
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
So this weekend, we we ventured into something that
we haven't done in quite awhile.
And before I go into thatcompletely, I just want you guys
to know if you hear a littlebackground laughter and some
little chatter here and there,we have a special guest, an
amazing guest, and I can't waitto announce it.
But we've got to talk about thisreal quick.
We ventured into something wehaven't done in quite a while,
(01:17):
right?
And that thing is singingtogether and playing music
together.
For those of you that don'tknow, of course, I'm a musician.
I talk about that all the time.
But Jen is a musician as well.
She plays the piano very welland has trained for many years,
but she has put that aside for awhile.
SPEAKER_01 (01:38):
And speaking of uh coming back and winning, yes,
yes.
I for years I didn't think wewere ever gonna sing together
again.
Corey does beautiful harmony.
We've always done it as part ofwho we are.
And uh long story short, I had asurgery that really changed my
voice, and I didn't like theregister I was in.
(02:01):
So um I thought for sure it'sdone, right?
Um, but it's come back.
And I not just that it's comeback, but the joy and the
fulfillment that I get fromsitting behind the keyboard and
getting this thing with youagain has been everything and uh
something new for us.
We're starting to write musictogether.
SPEAKER_00 (02:22):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (02:23):
So more to come from Jenco on that.
SPEAKER_00 (02:26):
Indeed.
But today, guys, I want you tosit back, relax, put your
seatbelt on, because we're gonnago for a wild ride.
We have a special guest, and umthis is actually take two.
So I get an opportunity toreally drive this announcement
and hype her in so she can comein the way she deserves to be
(02:46):
announced.
So this is a woman who is anauthor.
She's a podcast host, she's afounder, and the founding
business uh that she uh isoperating and director, and the
one that she's operating iscalled Autism Sympathy for
Autism.
Um she's a coordinator and anauthor, uh a speaker, a public
(03:10):
speaker, and she's just soincredible.
I've I've done some research onher, I've looked her up, I've
heard some videos, I've heardsome wild stories, and maybe we
can get into that a little bitlater.
But let's welcome into theelevator, Miss Carla Chinnan.
SPEAKER_02 (03:29):
Thank you.
Hi, hi, thank you very much,both of you.
Um thank you again for forwelcoming me to your podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (03:36):
Absolutely.
So, Carla, give us a little bitof an introduction for you, for
yourself, and uh tell tell theaudience what you want them to
know out the gate.
SPEAKER_02 (03:46):
Um I think if anything, I am resilient.
I think.
Um obviously I I've had mychallenges through my path with
my children, my personalexperience, but I think the
biggest thing is empathy cameout of the the organization
(04:09):
Empathy for Autism Californiacame out of um a need that I
found within our community.
And you know, I'm blessed to behere, I'm blessed to be able to
provide the knowledge I have toother families as well as even
to professionals, and to be ableto help the community more than
anyone else.
SPEAKER_01 (04:29):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (04:30):
So that's that's what I want to do.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
Love it.
And behind every goodorganization, there is a good
story, and that I know reallyspeaks to people is why would
she do this?
What there's gotta be somethingin this from her and for her and
her family that exists.
So can you give us the sparkthat started all of this?
(04:53):
Definitely.
SPEAKER_02 (04:54):
Um it's it starts from my childhood, and as we go
on with this podcast, we'll gointo more detail of that.
Um, but um growing up as animmigrant in in this country and
my mother not knowing thelanguage, and my brother
actually is also autistic andhaving more substantial needs.
(05:16):
I I had to take that additionalum parent role with my brother
and be the translator and theinterpreter for my mother.
So I saw where the need wasnecessary for our Hispanic
community, where they're notgetting the resources and
they're having to have theirlittle six, seven-year-old child
outcome and translatedocumentation for them.
(05:38):
So I I saw the need there withwith my Hispanic community and
Latino community.
And then um, from there we cango ahead and go into more detail
about other stuff that hashappened with the organization
and my children and my ownpersonal journey.
SPEAKER_01 (05:54):
Absolutely.
So, empathy, I I love to talkabout that word a little bit
because this is what you'venamed your organization.
There's so many amazing words,and we believe in the power of
words and the intention andpicking it.
So, talk to us about empathy forautism, California.
What about that word reallyspeaks to you?
SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
Um, that's actually a question that comes up a lot.
Um, I think it's I guess aunique way to spin that word in
an organization title.
Um, for me, it's genuine.
It's I think empathy, a lot ofpeople assume people are born
with it, and that's not thecase.
I think empathy is a skill thathas to be developed and can be
developed.
(06:36):
And that's what my organizationis about.
Not only developing that skillwithin our own community with
our parents, but also developingthat bridging that gap between
professionals and families to beable to bring in that empathy
also into the corporate and theorganizational world that
sometimes gets a little bitdehumanized with calling a
(06:59):
client by a number or callingthem clients, period, instead of
family, instead of humans.
So I think it's bringing thatlevel of empathy and
understanding, you know, intoorganizations as well.
SPEAKER_00 (07:12):
Yeah, I I really appreciate you um emphasizing
that.
Uh, the client or the number.
How about a name?
You know, a lot of times we justforget to call people by the
preferred name that they've beengiven by their own mothers.
And so that that plays a bigpart.
I was looking up the wordempathy, and you're right, it is
(07:33):
a uh skill set that has to bedeveloped because it says the
ability, and to have an ability,you have to acquire that.
And it says the ability tounderstand, share the feelings
of another.
And so um in your in yourbusiness of empathy for autism,
(07:53):
how has it affected your yourfamily?
And and can you introduce someof the things that you've
learned since um your familydynamic?
And I want you to be able toannounce that.
I don't want to tell that story.
SPEAKER_02 (08:06):
Oh, of course.
Um, well, uh obviously mypassion is with autism.
I have two autistic children,Ada and 12.
He has a more substantial uhsupport needs, and then Sophia,
she is um 10, and her supportneeds are not as um expensive,
(08:26):
and she's also gifted on top ofthat, which adds another layer
when it came to getting herdiagnosis.
Uh, because sometimesprofessionals assume that an
individual is not competent withthe autism diagnosis, and it's
not the case.
A lot of autistic individualsare extremely competent.
I myself am autistic, you know,I got a like diagnosis, and it
(08:50):
was out of um, I I went to thedoctor to get uh an anxiety
diagnosis because I, you know, Ineed I wanted to take a
medication to kind of help mecope with some of the emotions I
was feeling.
And I came out of there with anawesome diagnosis.
But then after that diagnosiskicks in, I see my daughter, and
I'm she's a carbon copy of whatI used to be as a kid.
(09:13):
It's just my situation's verydifferent to hers growing up,
having to be that I had to bethat glass child.
And I speak about that in mybook, you know, um, that I wrote
of the the different roles thatan individual has to step into
when a diagnosis impacts thefamily household.
(09:37):
So that's that's that's the bigreason behind this whole autism
and empathy-driven umorganization and cost for the
community.
SPEAKER_01 (09:48):
Yeah.
So can you tell us a little bitmore about when Adrian and
Sophia were diagnosed and whatthat experience was like because
we really want to bring up theunderstanding, and and I think
part of that understanding comesfrom hearing about experiences.
SPEAKER_02 (10:06):
Yeah, definitely.
Um, well, I had Sophia uhSeptember, I mean I'm sorry,
July 13.
So five days later, I have myson's um autism diagnosis
appointment.
And with that being said, uh myI had to have my mom take care
of my daughter because shecouldn't go into the hospital
(10:28):
yet due to the lack of vaccinesat that time.
So then we my husband and I, weeither go take Adrian to get
evaluated.
I had already heard of thisdoctor taking a year to give
that diagnosis letter.
And I was not about to wait ayear for early intervention for
my son.
So what I had done prior to thatis I scheduled all of her team
(10:49):
specialists, occupationaltherapy, speech, physical
therapy, all the specialists youcan imagine, they all pointed to
autism.
So when I stepped into heroffice, she asked, Um, well, why
are your concerns?
I'm like, here are the lists ofbehaviors I see that are not um,
or not behaviors, just signsthat I see of things that are a
(11:10):
little bit off with how atypical kid that is 21 months
old should be behaving or shouldbe doing in skill sets.
So, with that being said, here'smy list.
Here's also all the reports fromall the specialists you're gonna
send me to stating that it'sautism.
I love this.
(11:31):
Yes.
And then she looks at me, she'slike, Are you a doctor or a
teacher?
And I'm like, No, I'm aconcerned parent.
And I've done my set of researchwith you, and I need that letter
today.
I'm not gonna wait.
So when I leave here, I wantthat letter with his diagnosis
so I can move forward with thenext steps that I need to to get
(11:51):
him the therapies he needs to.
And she's like, Okay, well,let's go over the reports, and
that's I think where the momkicks in instead of the
advocate.
You know, I'm sitting therelistening to all the things that
uh are highlighted to show thewhere where my de my son is
deficit at.
(12:11):
And already she's settingexpectations for him ten years
from now in that room of whathe's not going to be able to do.
SPEAKER_01 (12:20):
So she's not only confirming the diagnosis, but
now listing the the things hewon't be able to do, the things
he won't be able to experienceas a normal child.
And and you're receiving thisnews for the first time as mom.
SPEAKER_02 (12:38):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (12:38):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (12:39):
So yeah, so yeah, I I'm sitting there and I and he's
comparing to typic uh atypicalchild's, you know, growth spurs
and and and and and you know, atthat point I'm just processing
things.
And then she goes and says, Oh,and if you plan on having more
kids, just you know, keep inmind that autism is there's a
(12:59):
probability that it is genetic.
And I'm thinking to myself,whoa, my five-day old daughter
is at home.
So I guess I'll have to keep aneye on her.
And then with her, the diagnosisis different, and most of the
time it is with all girls,because women and and girls, we
are raised culturally to abideby different standards than a
(13:26):
male or a boy.
So therefore, we become reallygood at masking, masking what I
we feel, what we do, making surewe control the stems and things
like that.
So it was it with her, it was aa lot longer journey to get that
diagnosis, but we got it.
Okay.
And then with me, it's even alonger journey.
SPEAKER_01 (13:49):
Yeah, because your diagnosis was when.
SPEAKER_02 (13:52):
This year, actually.
Yeah.
Yeah.
As I finally had time for myselfa little bit, so I was able to
tackle things and uh go to thatdoctor's appointment that
pointed out to my diagnosis.
SPEAKER_00 (14:06):
Now, as as I said in the beginning of this podcast,
you know, a lot of times whenyou when you hear these kind of
conversations, you you pull outthe tissue box, you're prepared
to be sad, you're prepared to umtake on this this adventurous
story that's gonna be pulling onthe heartstrings.
And and some of it is, I'm notgonna lie and say it's all
(14:27):
roses, but this is a veryresilient woman.
And she self-professed in thevery beginning of this uh
podcast.
And so, as I told you, she's anauthor, she's a public speaker,
um, she has her own business,she's raising two children.
She's also a wife.
And so we need to get into that.
And this is just good stuffbecause Jen and I love good
(14:49):
wholesome family stories withyou know the peaks and the
valleys.
So give us a little bit ofbackground on your relationship
as far as uh mom, wife, businessowner, speaker.
SPEAKER_01 (15:02):
It's all the roles that yeah, all the roles that's
happening for you.
SPEAKER_02 (15:05):
Definitely.
Um, I've been blessed to havefound, you know, what I call a
soulmate.
I know it might sound a littlecheesy.
Like it.
Um my husband, he he's honestlymy best friend and supporter.
Like, I remember every time Ihave some idea or like, oh, I'm
gonna write a book, and he'slike, go for a cigar.
(15:28):
And then I'm like, babe, becauseI'm I'm actually also right now
currently in the process ofacquiring my master's degree.
So uh I told my husband, I'mlike, I can take a break from
school if you want to go dosweetheart.
I live by cursely through you.
Don't worry, you do your thing,you know?
And um I I couldn't have had abetter husband.
(15:48):
He he's an amazing supporter,he's an amazing father to my
kids.
Um, have we had our challengesand is our marriage perfect?
No.
Um, especially when the honestlysaid diagnosis kicks kicked into
our household.
It was a lot of adjusting, itwas a lot of um back and forth
in parenting and differentdifferent perspectives we had in
(16:10):
parenting.
I was the one that was in chargeof all the therapies, so I got
all the additional trainingsthat he didn't.
So I had to learn how to conveythat training to him without
sounding so condescending or sodirective to him, so that way he
could be willing to learn.
Because I knew if he learned asa parent with children that have
(16:34):
a diagnosis, especially thosechildren that you know you're
gonna be supporting them for therest of their life, uh it comes
a l it comes with a lot ofbaggage of anxiety, not knowing
what's gonna happen to them whenwe're no longer here.
So I knew I carried a lot ofthat anxiety, knowing that my
son was the only, I was the onlyindividual my son could really
communicate with and express hisneeds.
(16:55):
And if my husband didn't jump onthat wagon with me and I got him
to understand that, um, itwasn't gonna be good for my son,
for me, or for anyone in thehousehold.
So it took him being a betterman to for him to be able to
process those feelings.
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
Yeah, yeah.
And um, if if you could justventure into how you decided to
podcast and write a book.
SPEAKER_02 (17:23):
Well, honestly, the organization, the time I I
started um the organorganization in March.
I think by April I was alreadydoing podcasting.
Okay.
That was this year.
SPEAKER_01 (17:34):
Yeah.
So so it just wow, that's a lotthis year, Carla.
Wow, okay.
SPEAKER_00 (17:41):
So you you took no time off to to pity yourself and
say, oh, woe is me.
I'm just gonna go home and relaxand you jumped right into a
podcast.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
Yeah, she had to move, like there's a lot of
movement there.
SPEAKER_00 (17:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (17:57):
And Carla, I love what you shared with Corey and I
before, where you said when youused to work, like your eight to
five, nine to five, and whatthey diagnosed you with.
And I'd love to hear more aboutthat transition and what you're
experiencing now as a businessowner.
SPEAKER_02 (18:18):
Um prior to the diagnosis, honestly, I always
thought there was somethingwrong with me, or I was weird of
the way I behaved in certainways, because to me, I'm very
logical.
Like you go to a you go to abusiness meeting and you sit
there and they're all talkingabout things that are gonna
happen, like these great goalsand ambitions of uh progress in
(18:42):
the organization.
But then in reality, after thatmeeting, sometimes only like 10%
of what was spoken in thatmeeting actually happens and
it's put into action, you know,and it's it's it's very
frustrating for an autisticperson to process that because
here you are investing your timeinto that meeting, creating
(19:05):
these presentations to make surethat everyone's on board with
it.
But then the reality is that'show society works in the typical
world, you know, and it'ssometimes just not to say that
those organizations I work fordidn't do and are not doing
amazing things with families,but the speed that they do it on
because of politics isdifferent, you know.
(19:28):
I'm I'm I'm blessed to not haveum oversight in that regard as
far as how getting a logoapproved or getting colors
approved, you know, it can bevery frustrating.
Oh god.
So so with that being said, Ialways thought I was there was
something wrong.
I would always, like I said, becalled they would say, Oh,
(19:49):
you're too much.
Relax.
You don't need to do that, oryou're an overachiever, you need
to relax.
And that was my nickname,overachiever at at certain
organizations.
And and so that was happening inthe organization, and I would
always have these like talks atnight with my husband.
(20:11):
I'm like, is there somethingwrong with me?
Like, are my expectations suchthat are unobtainable to people?
Or because I'm if I'm hard onpeople, I'm you don't even know
the kind of pressure I put onmyself as an individual to be.
So then the diagnosis kicks inand I'm like, oh, it all makes
sense now.
(20:32):
You know, like I understand nowwhy I had such difficulty, and
especially sometimes buildingthat relationship with um same
gender, like what I've alwayshad more male friends than
female friends, and I neverunderstood why.
Um I like football, I like umphysical activity, like I
(20:54):
growing up, and I'm crazy, likeI skydived and things like that.
So I didn't understand how a lotof females don't like those kind
of things, and also a lot of thetimes I felt judged when I was
around a lot of females comparedto males.
Males, whatever I said, it wasit was black and white
conversations with them.
(21:15):
With females, there's so muchgray in between and
emotionalness that I it was sohard for me to handle.
You know, and now in thecommunity that I've I'm building
with our families, we have ourchildren in uh best well-being
(21:36):
and our experiences as mothersof neurodivergent children that
makes it a little bit easier forme to now connect and engage.
And they're they're amazingwomen, you know.
But initially, in the beginningof all this, even growing up, I
struggled in that departmentsignificantly.
And I never knew why.
I thought there was just I wasjust weird.
(21:56):
Yeah.
And I just categorized myself asweird.
But now I'm learning to lovemyself and not have to feel the
need of masking and doing thingslike that.
SPEAKER_01 (22:08):
Wow, what a freeing and empowering experience it
sounds like it's been for you.
Um what really sticks out to metoo, guys, is that that lack of
education, lack of knowledgereally is such a huge gap in our
lives.
But once we seek to help or weget something concrete, like you
(22:31):
said, it's like oh, it makessense and then it helps with the
trajectory of moving forward,right?
Which means you're doing whatyou did for your son.
And you're like, I need thisdiagnosis because we need
intervention as early aspossible because that helps,
doesn't it?
Um getting the interventionstimely like that, Carla, what
(22:53):
what give us an idea what thedifference is with timely and
the right interventions versussomething that happens later or
maybe not at all.
SPEAKER_02 (23:04):
Um, for example, with my son, I got that uh
diagnosis that same day.
I don't literally, it was amonth later, he was already
having ADA therapy and andspeech therapy and occupational
therapy.
So we started working on thingswithin a month of that diagnosis
(23:25):
with him.
Um, as opposed to sometimes alot of what happens with a lot
of our families culturally,sometimes they're in denial of
the diagnosis and wait a littlebit longer.
What happens when you wait alittle bit longer, sometimes
with children, not all the time,but sometimes with certain
children, is they start fallingbehind on other areas of their
(23:46):
life as well as academically.
And then it takes a lot longerfor them to catch up once
systems are placed.
So, because of that earlyintervention, I was able to
reach out to Adrian's regionalcenter that he is part of, and
from there get additionalresources.
Also, once you become, let'ssay, a regional center client,
(24:10):
if the individual is eligiblefor it due to diagnosis and due
to needs, then at that point youcould also access other
resources, like for example,Respid, where um it's a
caregiver that comes and takescare of the child for a few
hours a day.
So I can have that one-on-onetime for my husband or my
(24:33):
daughter.
Because a lot of the times whenwe go to outings with my
daughter, my son, and myhusband, it's very everything's
modified.
It's everything so Adriandoesn't have a meltdown, so his
sensory is where it needs to be.
So I feel sometimes I don't wantto take away from experiences
from my daughter.
So we've also now startedincorporating one weekend a
(24:54):
month where we spent just aweekend with her.
Like obviously, maybe not thewhole weekend, but a day taking
her to a preferred place of herswhere she doesn't have to eat
pizza.
She can eat dumplings if shewants to, you know, things like
that.
SPEAKER_00 (25:09):
Yeah.
So ironically, I combed throughyour uh Instagram and I've heard
a couple of the stories.
Um, when you said meltdown, uh,most people don't know what that
would entail.
And I'm not gonna ask you totell any of the stories that I
listened to because I don't knowif you want to or not.
However, what I did learn isthat you and your husband have
(25:32):
learned how to act very quicklyand resolve things in a very
timely manner.
So I I again I commend this thiseducation that you bring.
But my question is becausepeople don't know how high
functioning you are, how highfunctioning your daughter is,
(25:52):
um, they may approach you with acondescending way of uh talking
to you.
How do you cope with that andhow do you educate people on how
to address you properly?
SPEAKER_02 (26:04):
Um, I've I've experienced that sometimes um
when I posted about I haven'tposted anything per se about my
diagnosis, but people attended apresentation that I did where I
disclosed my diagnosis.
Not that I'm ashamed of it, Ijust haven't had literally time
to post anything as of lately inregards to a personal matter.
But um I started seeing umcertain comments or not
(26:27):
comments, but certain penniness,I would call it, where they say,
oh, um, autism is not a trend,you know, or and I'm thinking to
myself, like, oh, like I don'tjust I mean, uh for me, I'm not
one that loves to I don't likevictimizing myself.
I'm not sitting there tellingpeople my struggles.
(26:49):
I mean, I I go through thingswith the autism, you know.
I after I have a big event, Icome home and I just want to be
by myself wrapped up in like aburrito in my bed in the dark
because I'm so over-censored.
You know, but I feel that'sthat's very private.
So why should I have to justifymy diagnosis?
(27:11):
So when I have these talks,that's where my husband comes
in.
You know, he tells me, and he uhhe's he's honestly the person
that has taught me this.
You cannot control what otherpeople do or say, you can only
control how it makes you feel asan individual.
So don't give them that power.
You know what you are, you knowwhat you're doing, and just run
(27:35):
with that.
You know, don't don't let thosepeople in and disturb your peace
because then they've won.
So that's that's that's very uhhe he's he he grounds me
significantly nice when he whenI have those talks with him.
And then with my daughter, I'vealways told her she doesn't have
to be ashamed of her diagnosis.
(27:55):
She's um she's she's a veryamazing human, you know, and
very rational for her age.
It's it sometimes trips me out.
Um, but uh I I I lead by examplewith her.
So I I I carry myself a certainway so she learns how to carry
(28:16):
herself a certain way and not beashamed.
unknown (28:19):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (28:20):
You're such a wonderful role model, you and
your husband, to your kiddos.
And I can only imagine who theyare today and who they're going
to be as a result.
Um you are so right, Carla, inintroducing yourself as
resilient.
I think that is if I had atakeaway word for you today
during this episode, it would bethat resilience, tenacity,
(28:44):
driven.
Um, and I love how you recognizeyour whole self.
And there's just such amazingawareness in you.
Um so that would be anotherepisode.
But because we're coming down totime, I really want to give you
an opportunity to talk about umjust a couple of things here.
(29:05):
What's the future for yourorganization?
Where can people connect withyou and tap into what you're
doing?
And if they have any questions,what does that look like?
SPEAKER_02 (29:16):
Definitely.
Um, thank you very much.
So, with the organization whereI see it going, um, as of right
now, I've been blessed to be umuh um welcomed or I'm joining a
few conference conferences.
So where we met, we did the 39thannual uh conference, uh
(29:37):
children's conference of SanBernardino in February.
We're gonna I'm gonna haveanother presentation out there
for early start and head startdepartment, which I'm hoping
that you know um I'm able toconnect with a lot of
professionals and parents inregards to how we can bridge
that gap between parents andprofessionals.
(29:58):
Um, and then as As far as awhole, we're we've been growing
significantly with theorganization, doing events.
We're gonna have one in December7th at the Winery Center Megula
where we're gonna have asensitive Santa come out with
Mrs.
Claus, take pictures with ourkiddos, our neurodivergent
children and this and childrenwith disabilities and their
families.
(30:19):
And we're gonna have a coolpetting suit, a lot of cool
event cool things that are gonnahappen for our families there.
But um, in general, I just seethe organization growing to it
in a range where it can educatemore individuals so they don't
have to go through the stuffthat sometimes us as parents,
(30:42):
when we didn't have theeducation, had to go through.
And it's not just theEnglish-speaking politician, but
also the Spanish-speakingpopulation.
Um, that that that that's ourmain focal or the underserved
communities.
Um, our main focus for ourorganization.
How you can reach us, you canjust go to our website.
It's www.empathy forautismcalifornia.com.
(31:03):
And there's a um uh you can justschedule an appointment.
We just actually opened ourfirst office in Marietta, uh,
where I do appointments by uh, Imean, meetings by appointment.
There you go.
Meetings by appointment, and andthen I also already set up um
(31:26):
where organizations can book todo trainings for their
organization.
I also already started thatportion with the in the website
as well for the nonprofit.
And then just continuing to geta lot of support.
I've met amazing individuals,you know, um, through this
organization, from the wineryowners at Shape and Family to um
(31:49):
Santa Bob, which is what hecalls himself, which is an
amazing individual.
You know, so I'm just I justfeel completely blessed to be in
this situation to not only workdoing what I'm passionate about,
but just what we get fromhelping families, you know, in a
(32:09):
selfish way, all the goodfeelings that you get from
helping families and making surethat they that that sibling
doesn't go unseen, that thathusband and or that marriage
lives through the um diagnosis.
SPEAKER_00 (32:25):
Love it.
SPEAKER_02 (32:25):
That the mother is self-regulated, you know?
SPEAKER_01 (32:28):
Yeah, powerful, such good stuff.
Um, I don't know that I'm gonnado it over this recording of the
podcast, but there was somethingthat I got goosebumps over,
Carla, with Corey and I aschildren's book writers.
Um, I'd love to talk about maybean idea for collaboration.
(32:50):
And I'm putting this herebecause I'm looking at you right
now.
Like please remind me because mylist of things to do is quite
long too.
But um Corey, before we end it,anything that's coming during
this uh 30-minute session withCarla.
SPEAKER_00 (33:06):
What's coming to me most is that you know, anytime
you have any diagnosis, um don'tjust hang up the towel, don't
just walk away with your headhung down.
There's always hope.
There's always another daycoming.
Um get the help that you need,get the proper diagnosis.
Never rely on yourself toself-diagnose and look for these
(33:31):
wonderful, amazing stories suchas Carla's and and her children,
um Sophia and Adrian.
And and if you go on to the uhInstagram, you will see just how
amazing these two children are.
So that that's my takeaway, andI thank you from the bottom of
my heart for sharing your storyand your experiences.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (33:52):
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you for inviting me.
And yeah, and you know, that'sthat's basically what what I
want to do, just highlight ourfamilies.
That's what I do through allalso my podcast, highlighting
families and sharing theirstories.
Yeah, what's your part ofinformation?
SPEAKER_01 (34:08):
Let's plug that in.
SPEAKER_02 (34:10):
Um, it is vision um voices beyond the spectrum.
SPEAKER_03 (34:14):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (34:14):
So families come in and tell their stories from the
diagnosis to where they're atnow and share their different
journeys depending on the topicat hand.
So we've had uh how to travelwith kiddos on the spectrum, or
a mom that comes and talks abouther journey with her son
educationally through with hisson having died uh being
(34:36):
diagnosed with Down syndrome.
So just different, differentperspectives on parenting,
different perspectives oncaregiving, different
perspectives on what they'regoing through in their journey.
And then we also have a resourcehub that's uh actually launching
this month.
And it's I'm bringing in noworganizations as a separate
addition to that same podcastfor resources for our families.
(34:59):
So people that don't knowcertain organizations out there
to help them for something,they'll find out through that
podcast.
SPEAKER_01 (35:06):
Yeah.
And this is just growth thisyear.
Um, I'm sure if we were to haveyou back here next year, we'd be
blown away, Kyla, blown away atthe way you're moving and how
you're moving so intentionallywith the backing and support of
your husband.
We want to say that that's soimportant.
(35:26):
And that uh it's just soheartwarming to hear that he's
on this journey with you and thetype of support you all provide
each other.
Um so thank you again forgracing Take the Elevator with
your stories, who you are as abusiness owner.
And I think we can even tap intoyou in in some um advice in
(35:48):
starting your own business andwhat that looks like.
Um but that's for anotherepisode.
Much appreciated.
No, thank you.
Thank you both.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Well, you know it's to take theelevator.
We say look up and let's elevateevery day.
It's gender builders.
SPEAKER_00 (00:16):
And of course.
SPEAKER_01 (00:17):
And welcome everyone to Take the Elevator.
SPEAKER_00 (00:20):
Yes, welcome.
SPEAKER_01 (00:22):
It has been quite a morning.
It's one of those mornings whereeverything could go wrong.
It did as far as the recordingof this, but we're back.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
It's perspective.
SPEAKER_01 (00:33):
We're doing persistence and resilience and
just saying we're going to dothis.
SPEAKER_00 (00:37):
No, it's just perspective.
It's how you look at life.
You know, sometimes you look atlife as you're winning, and then
sometimes you're looking at Igotta catch up to win some more.
SPEAKER_01 (00:48):
Yes, I got catching up to win.
Okay, let's catch up.
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
So this weekend, we we ventured into something that
we haven't done in quite awhile.
And before I go into thatcompletely, I just want you guys
to know if you hear a littlebackground laughter and some
little chatter here and there,we have a special guest, an
amazing guest, and I can't waitto announce it.
But we've got to talk about thisreal quick.
We ventured into something wehaven't done in quite a while,
(01:17):
right?
And that thing is singingtogether and playing music
together.
For those of you that don'tknow, of course, I'm a musician.
I talk about that all the time.
But Jen is a musician as well.
She plays the piano very welland has trained for many years,
but she has put that aside for awhile.
SPEAKER_01 (01:38):
And speaking of uh coming back and winning, yes,
yes.
I for years I didn't think wewere ever gonna sing together
again.
Corey does beautiful harmony.
We've always done it as part ofwho we are.
And uh long story short, I had asurgery that really changed my
voice, and I didn't like theregister I was in.
(02:01):
So um I thought for sure it'sdone, right?
Um, but it's come back.
And I not just that it's comeback, but the joy and the
fulfillment that I get fromsitting behind the keyboard and
getting this thing with youagain has been everything and uh
something new for us.
We're starting to write musictogether.
SPEAKER_00 (02:22):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (02:23):
So more to come from Jenco on that.
SPEAKER_00 (02:26):
Indeed.
But today, guys, I want you tosit back, relax, put your
seatbelt on, because we're gonnago for a wild ride.
We have a special guest, and umthis is actually take two.
So I get an opportunity toreally drive this announcement
and hype her in so she can comein the way she deserves to be
(02:46):
announced.
So this is a woman who is anauthor.
She's a podcast host, she's afounder, and the founding
business uh that she uh isoperating and director, and the
one that she's operating iscalled Autism Sympathy for
Autism.
Um she's a coordinator and anauthor, uh a speaker, a public
(03:10):
speaker, and she's just soincredible.
I've I've done some research onher, I've looked her up, I've
heard some videos, I've heardsome wild stories, and maybe we
can get into that a little bitlater.
But let's welcome into theelevator, Miss Carla Chinnan.
SPEAKER_02 (03:29):
Thank you.
Hi, hi, thank you very much,both of you.
Um thank you again for forwelcoming me to your podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (03:36):
Absolutely.
So, Carla, give us a little bitof an introduction for you, for
yourself, and uh tell tell theaudience what you want them to
know out the gate.
SPEAKER_02 (03:46):
Um I think if anything, I am resilient.
I think.
Um obviously I I've had mychallenges through my path with
my children, my personalexperience, but I think the
biggest thing is empathy cameout of the the organization
(04:09):
Empathy for Autism Californiacame out of um a need that I
found within our community.
And you know, I'm blessed to behere, I'm blessed to be able to
provide the knowledge I have toother families as well as even
to professionals, and to be ableto help the community more than
anyone else.
SPEAKER_01 (04:29):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (04:30):
So that's that's what I want to do.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
Love it.
And behind every goodorganization, there is a good
story, and that I know reallyspeaks to people is why would
she do this?
What there's gotta be somethingin this from her and for her and
her family that exists.
So can you give us the sparkthat started all of this?
(04:53):
Definitely.
SPEAKER_02 (04:54):
Um it's it starts from my childhood, and as we go
on with this podcast, we'll gointo more detail of that.
Um, but um growing up as animmigrant in in this country and
my mother not knowing thelanguage, and my brother
actually is also autistic andhaving more substantial needs.
(05:16):
I I had to take that additionalum parent role with my brother
and be the translator and theinterpreter for my mother.
So I saw where the need wasnecessary for our Hispanic
community, where they're notgetting the resources and
they're having to have theirlittle six, seven-year-old child
outcome and translatedocumentation for them.
(05:38):
So I I saw the need there withwith my Hispanic community and
Latino community.
And then um, from there we cango ahead and go into more detail
about other stuff that hashappened with the organization
and my children and my ownpersonal journey.
SPEAKER_01 (05:54):
Absolutely.
So, empathy, I I love to talkabout that word a little bit
because this is what you'venamed your organization.
There's so many amazing words,and we believe in the power of
words and the intention andpicking it.
So, talk to us about empathy forautism, California.
What about that word reallyspeaks to you?
SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
Um, that's actually a question that comes up a lot.
Um, I think it's I guess aunique way to spin that word in
an organization title.
Um, for me, it's genuine.
It's I think empathy, a lot ofpeople assume people are born
with it, and that's not thecase.
I think empathy is a skill thathas to be developed and can be
developed.
(06:36):
And that's what my organizationis about.
Not only developing that skillwithin our own community with
our parents, but also developingthat bridging that gap between
professionals and families to beable to bring in that empathy
also into the corporate and theorganizational world that
sometimes gets a little bitdehumanized with calling a
(06:59):
client by a number or callingthem clients, period, instead of
family, instead of humans.
So I think it's bringing thatlevel of empathy and
understanding, you know, intoorganizations as well.
SPEAKER_00 (07:12):
Yeah, I I really appreciate you um emphasizing
that.
Uh, the client or the number.
How about a name?
You know, a lot of times we justforget to call people by the
preferred name that they've beengiven by their own mothers.
And so that that plays a bigpart.
I was looking up the wordempathy, and you're right, it is
(07:33):
a uh skill set that has to bedeveloped because it says the
ability, and to have an ability,you have to acquire that.
And it says the ability tounderstand, share the feelings
of another.
And so um in your in yourbusiness of empathy for autism,
(07:53):
how has it affected your yourfamily?
And and can you introduce someof the things that you've
learned since um your familydynamic?
And I want you to be able toannounce that.
I don't want to tell that story.
SPEAKER_02 (08:06):
Oh, of course.
Um, well, uh obviously mypassion is with autism.
I have two autistic children,Ada and 12.
He has a more substantial uhsupport needs, and then Sophia,
she is um 10, and her supportneeds are not as um expensive,
(08:26):
and she's also gifted on top ofthat, which adds another layer
when it came to getting herdiagnosis.
Uh, because sometimesprofessionals assume that an
individual is not competent withthe autism diagnosis, and it's
not the case.
A lot of autistic individualsare extremely competent.
I myself am autistic, you know,I got a like diagnosis, and it
(08:50):
was out of um, I I went to thedoctor to get uh an anxiety
diagnosis because I, you know, Ineed I wanted to take a
medication to kind of help mecope with some of the emotions I
was feeling.
And I came out of there with anawesome diagnosis.
But then after that diagnosiskicks in, I see my daughter, and
I'm she's a carbon copy of whatI used to be as a kid.
(09:13):
It's just my situation's verydifferent to hers growing up,
having to be that I had to bethat glass child.
And I speak about that in mybook, you know, um, that I wrote
of the the different roles thatan individual has to step into
when a diagnosis impacts thefamily household.
(09:37):
So that's that's that's the bigreason behind this whole autism
and empathy-driven umorganization and cost for the
community.
SPEAKER_01 (09:48):
Yeah.
So can you tell us a little bitmore about when Adrian and
Sophia were diagnosed and whatthat experience was like because
we really want to bring up theunderstanding, and and I think
part of that understanding comesfrom hearing about experiences.
SPEAKER_02 (10:06):
Yeah, definitely.
Um, well, I had Sophia uhSeptember, I mean I'm sorry,
July 13.
So five days later, I have myson's um autism diagnosis
appointment.
And with that being said, uh myI had to have my mom take care
of my daughter because shecouldn't go into the hospital
(10:28):
yet due to the lack of vaccinesat that time.
So then we my husband and I, weeither go take Adrian to get
evaluated.
I had already heard of thisdoctor taking a year to give
that diagnosis letter.
And I was not about to wait ayear for early intervention for
my son.
So what I had done prior to thatis I scheduled all of her team
(10:49):
specialists, occupationaltherapy, speech, physical
therapy, all the specialists youcan imagine, they all pointed to
autism.
So when I stepped into heroffice, she asked, Um, well, why
are your concerns?
I'm like, here are the lists ofbehaviors I see that are not um,
or not behaviors, just signsthat I see of things that are a
(11:10):
little bit off with how atypical kid that is 21 months
old should be behaving or shouldbe doing in skill sets.
So, with that being said, here'smy list.
Here's also all the reports fromall the specialists you're gonna
send me to stating that it'sautism.
I love this.
(11:31):
Yes.
And then she looks at me, she'slike, Are you a doctor or a
teacher?
And I'm like, No, I'm aconcerned parent.
And I've done my set of researchwith you, and I need that letter
today.
I'm not gonna wait.
So when I leave here, I wantthat letter with his diagnosis
so I can move forward with thenext steps that I need to to get
(11:51):
him the therapies he needs to.
And she's like, Okay, well,let's go over the reports, and
that's I think where the momkicks in instead of the
advocate.
You know, I'm sitting therelistening to all the things that
uh are highlighted to show thewhere where my de my son is
deficit at.
(12:11):
And already she's settingexpectations for him ten years
from now in that room of whathe's not going to be able to do.
SPEAKER_01 (12:20):
So she's not only confirming the diagnosis, but
now listing the the things hewon't be able to do, the things
he won't be able to experienceas a normal child.
And and you're receiving thisnews for the first time as mom.
SPEAKER_02 (12:38):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (12:38):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (12:39):
So yeah, so yeah, I I'm sitting there and I and he's
comparing to typic uh atypicalchild's, you know, growth spurs
and and and and and you know, atthat point I'm just processing
things.
And then she goes and says, Oh,and if you plan on having more
kids, just you know, keep inmind that autism is there's a
(12:59):
probability that it is genetic.
And I'm thinking to myself,whoa, my five-day old daughter
is at home.
So I guess I'll have to keep aneye on her.
And then with her, the diagnosisis different, and most of the
time it is with all girls,because women and and girls, we
are raised culturally to abideby different standards than a
(13:26):
male or a boy.
So therefore, we become reallygood at masking, masking what I
we feel, what we do, making surewe control the stems and things
like that.
So it was it with her, it was aa lot longer journey to get that
diagnosis, but we got it.
Okay.
And then with me, it's even alonger journey.
SPEAKER_01 (13:49):
Yeah, because your diagnosis was when.
SPEAKER_02 (13:52):
This year, actually.
Yeah.
Yeah.
As I finally had time for myselfa little bit, so I was able to
tackle things and uh go to thatdoctor's appointment that
pointed out to my diagnosis.
SPEAKER_00 (14:06):
Now, as as I said in the beginning of this podcast,
you know, a lot of times whenyou when you hear these kind of
conversations, you you pull outthe tissue box, you're prepared
to be sad, you're prepared to umtake on this this adventurous
story that's gonna be pulling onthe heartstrings.
And and some of it is, I'm notgonna lie and say it's all
(14:27):
roses, but this is a veryresilient woman.
And she self-professed in thevery beginning of this uh
podcast.
And so, as I told you, she's anauthor, she's a public speaker,
um, she has her own business,she's raising two children.
She's also a wife.
And so we need to get into that.
And this is just good stuffbecause Jen and I love good
(14:49):
wholesome family stories withyou know the peaks and the
valleys.
So give us a little bit ofbackground on your relationship
as far as uh mom, wife, businessowner, speaker.
SPEAKER_01 (15:02):
It's all the roles that yeah, all the roles that's
happening for you.
SPEAKER_02 (15:05):
Definitely.
Um, I've been blessed to havefound, you know, what I call a
soulmate.
I know it might sound a littlecheesy.
Like it.
Um my husband, he he's honestlymy best friend and supporter.
Like, I remember every time Ihave some idea or like, oh, I'm
gonna write a book, and he'slike, go for a cigar.
(15:28):
And then I'm like, babe, becauseI'm I'm actually also right now
currently in the process ofacquiring my master's degree.
So uh I told my husband, I'mlike, I can take a break from
school if you want to go dosweetheart.
I live by cursely through you.
Don't worry, you do your thing,you know?
And um I I couldn't have had abetter husband.
(15:48):
He he's an amazing supporter,he's an amazing father to my
kids.
Um, have we had our challengesand is our marriage perfect?
No.
Um, especially when the honestlysaid diagnosis kicks kicked into
our household.
It was a lot of adjusting, itwas a lot of um back and forth
in parenting and differentdifferent perspectives we had in
(16:10):
parenting.
I was the one that was in chargeof all the therapies, so I got
all the additional trainingsthat he didn't.
So I had to learn how to conveythat training to him without
sounding so condescending or sodirective to him, so that way he
could be willing to learn.
Because I knew if he learned asa parent with children that have
(16:34):
a diagnosis, especially thosechildren that you know you're
gonna be supporting them for therest of their life, uh it comes
a l it comes with a lot ofbaggage of anxiety, not knowing
what's gonna happen to them whenwe're no longer here.
So I knew I carried a lot ofthat anxiety, knowing that my
son was the only, I was the onlyindividual my son could really
communicate with and express hisneeds.
(16:55):
And if my husband didn't jump onthat wagon with me and I got him
to understand that, um, itwasn't gonna be good for my son,
for me, or for anyone in thehousehold.
So it took him being a betterman to for him to be able to
process those feelings.
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
Yeah, yeah.
And um, if if you could justventure into how you decided to
podcast and write a book.
SPEAKER_02 (17:23):
Well, honestly, the organization, the time I I
started um the organorganization in March.
I think by April I was alreadydoing podcasting.
Okay.
That was this year.
SPEAKER_01 (17:34):
Yeah.
So so it just wow, that's a lotthis year, Carla.
Wow, okay.
SPEAKER_00 (17:41):
So you you took no time off to to pity yourself and
say, oh, woe is me.
I'm just gonna go home and relaxand you jumped right into a
podcast.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
Yeah, she had to move, like there's a lot of
movement there.
SPEAKER_00 (17:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (17:57):
And Carla, I love what you shared with Corey and I
before, where you said when youused to work, like your eight to
five, nine to five, and whatthey diagnosed you with.
And I'd love to hear more aboutthat transition and what you're
experiencing now as a businessowner.
SPEAKER_02 (18:18):
Um prior to the diagnosis, honestly, I always
thought there was somethingwrong with me, or I was weird of
the way I behaved in certainways, because to me, I'm very
logical.
Like you go to a you go to abusiness meeting and you sit
there and they're all talkingabout things that are gonna
happen, like these great goalsand ambitions of uh progress in
(18:42):
the organization.
But then in reality, after thatmeeting, sometimes only like 10%
of what was spoken in thatmeeting actually happens and
it's put into action, you know,and it's it's it's very
frustrating for an autisticperson to process that because
here you are investing your timeinto that meeting, creating
(19:05):
these presentations to make surethat everyone's on board with
it.
But then the reality is that'show society works in the typical
world, you know, and it'ssometimes just not to say that
those organizations I work fordidn't do and are not doing
amazing things with families,but the speed that they do it on
because of politics isdifferent, you know.
(19:28):
I'm I'm I'm blessed to not haveum oversight in that regard as
far as how getting a logoapproved or getting colors
approved, you know, it can bevery frustrating.
Oh god.
So so with that being said, Ialways thought I was there was
something wrong.
I would always, like I said, becalled they would say, Oh,
(19:49):
you're too much.
Relax.
You don't need to do that, oryou're an overachiever, you need
to relax.
And that was my nickname,overachiever at at certain
organizations.
And and so that was happening inthe organization, and I would
always have these like talks atnight with my husband.
(20:11):
I'm like, is there somethingwrong with me?
Like, are my expectations suchthat are unobtainable to people?
Or because I'm if I'm hard onpeople, I'm you don't even know
the kind of pressure I put onmyself as an individual to be.
So then the diagnosis kicks inand I'm like, oh, it all makes
sense now.
(20:32):
You know, like I understand nowwhy I had such difficulty, and
especially sometimes buildingthat relationship with um same
gender, like what I've alwayshad more male friends than
female friends, and I neverunderstood why.
Um I like football, I like umphysical activity, like I
(20:54):
growing up, and I'm crazy, likeI skydived and things like that.
So I didn't understand how a lotof females don't like those kind
of things, and also a lot of thetimes I felt judged when I was
around a lot of females comparedto males.
Males, whatever I said, it wasit was black and white
conversations with them.
(21:15):
With females, there's so muchgray in between and
emotionalness that I it was sohard for me to handle.
You know, and now in thecommunity that I've I'm building
with our families, we have ourchildren in uh best well-being
(21:36):
and our experiences as mothersof neurodivergent children that
makes it a little bit easier forme to now connect and engage.
And they're they're amazingwomen, you know.
But initially, in the beginningof all this, even growing up, I
struggled in that departmentsignificantly.
And I never knew why.
I thought there was just I wasjust weird.
(21:56):
Yeah.
And I just categorized myself asweird.
But now I'm learning to lovemyself and not have to feel the
need of masking and doing thingslike that.
SPEAKER_01 (22:08):
Wow, what a freeing and empowering experience it
sounds like it's been for you.
Um what really sticks out to metoo, guys, is that that lack of
education, lack of knowledgereally is such a huge gap in our
lives.
But once we seek to help or weget something concrete, like you
(22:31):
said, it's like oh, it makessense and then it helps with the
trajectory of moving forward,right?
Which means you're doing whatyou did for your son.
And you're like, I need thisdiagnosis because we need
intervention as early aspossible because that helps,
doesn't it?
Um getting the interventionstimely like that, Carla, what
(22:53):
what give us an idea what thedifference is with timely and
the right interventions versussomething that happens later or
maybe not at all.
SPEAKER_02 (23:04):
Um, for example, with my son, I got that uh
diagnosis that same day.
I don't literally, it was amonth later, he was already
having ADA therapy and andspeech therapy and occupational
therapy.
So we started working on thingswithin a month of that diagnosis
(23:25):
with him.
Um, as opposed to sometimes alot of what happens with a lot
of our families culturally,sometimes they're in denial of
the diagnosis and wait a littlebit longer.
What happens when you wait alittle bit longer, sometimes
with children, not all the time,but sometimes with certain
children, is they start fallingbehind on other areas of their
(23:46):
life as well as academically.
And then it takes a lot longerfor them to catch up once
systems are placed.
So, because of that earlyintervention, I was able to
reach out to Adrian's regionalcenter that he is part of, and
from there get additionalresources.
Also, once you become, let'ssay, a regional center client,
(24:10):
if the individual is eligiblefor it due to diagnosis and due
to needs, then at that point youcould also access other
resources, like for example,Respid, where um it's a
caregiver that comes and takescare of the child for a few
hours a day.
So I can have that one-on-onetime for my husband or my
(24:33):
daughter.
Because a lot of the times whenwe go to outings with my
daughter, my son, and myhusband, it's very everything's
modified.
It's everything so Adriandoesn't have a meltdown, so his
sensory is where it needs to be.
So I feel sometimes I don't wantto take away from experiences
from my daughter.
So we've also now startedincorporating one weekend a
(24:54):
month where we spent just aweekend with her.
Like obviously, maybe not thewhole weekend, but a day taking
her to a preferred place of herswhere she doesn't have to eat
pizza.
She can eat dumplings if shewants to, you know, things like
that.
SPEAKER_00 (25:09):
Yeah.
So ironically, I combed throughyour uh Instagram and I've heard
a couple of the stories.
Um, when you said meltdown, uh,most people don't know what that
would entail.
And I'm not gonna ask you totell any of the stories that I
listened to because I don't knowif you want to or not.
However, what I did learn isthat you and your husband have
(25:32):
learned how to act very quicklyand resolve things in a very
timely manner.
So I I again I commend this thiseducation that you bring.
But my question is becausepeople don't know how high
functioning you are, how highfunctioning your daughter is,
(25:52):
um, they may approach you with acondescending way of uh talking
to you.
How do you cope with that andhow do you educate people on how
to address you properly?
SPEAKER_02 (26:04):
Um, I've I've experienced that sometimes um
when I posted about I haven'tposted anything per se about my
diagnosis, but people attended apresentation that I did where I
disclosed my diagnosis.
Not that I'm ashamed of it, Ijust haven't had literally time
to post anything as of lately inregards to a personal matter.
But um I started seeing umcertain comments or not
(26:27):
comments, but certain penniness,I would call it, where they say,
oh, um, autism is not a trend,you know, or and I'm thinking to
myself, like, oh, like I don'tjust I mean, uh for me, I'm not
one that loves to I don't likevictimizing myself.
I'm not sitting there tellingpeople my struggles.
(26:49):
I mean, I I go through thingswith the autism, you know.
I after I have a big event, Icome home and I just want to be
by myself wrapped up in like aburrito in my bed in the dark
because I'm so over-censored.
You know, but I feel that'sthat's very private.
So why should I have to justifymy diagnosis?
(27:11):
So when I have these talks,that's where my husband comes
in.
You know, he tells me, and he uhhe's he's honestly the person
that has taught me this.
You cannot control what otherpeople do or say, you can only
control how it makes you feel asan individual.
So don't give them that power.
You know what you are, you knowwhat you're doing, and just run
(27:35):
with that.
You know, don't don't let thosepeople in and disturb your peace
because then they've won.
So that's that's that's very uhhe he's he he grounds me
significantly nice when he whenI have those talks with him.
And then with my daughter, I'vealways told her she doesn't have
to be ashamed of her diagnosis.
(27:55):
She's um she's she's a veryamazing human, you know, and
very rational for her age.
It's it sometimes trips me out.
Um, but uh I I I lead by examplewith her.
So I I I carry myself a certainway so she learns how to carry
(28:16):
herself a certain way and not beashamed.
unknown (28:19):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (28:20):
You're such a wonderful role model, you and
your husband, to your kiddos.
And I can only imagine who theyare today and who they're going
to be as a result.
Um you are so right, Carla, inintroducing yourself as
resilient.
I think that is if I had atakeaway word for you today
during this episode, it would bethat resilience, tenacity,
(28:44):
driven.
Um, and I love how you recognizeyour whole self.
And there's just such amazingawareness in you.
Um so that would be anotherepisode.
But because we're coming down totime, I really want to give you
an opportunity to talk about umjust a couple of things here.
(29:05):
What's the future for yourorganization?
Where can people connect withyou and tap into what you're
doing?
And if they have any questions,what does that look like?
SPEAKER_02 (29:16):
Definitely.
Um, thank you very much.
So, with the organization whereI see it going, um, as of right
now, I've been blessed to be umuh um welcomed or I'm joining a
few conference conferences.
So where we met, we did the 39thannual uh conference, uh
(29:37):
children's conference of SanBernardino in February.
We're gonna I'm gonna haveanother presentation out there
for early start and head startdepartment, which I'm hoping
that you know um I'm able toconnect with a lot of
professionals and parents inregards to how we can bridge
that gap between parents andprofessionals.
(29:58):
Um, and then as As far as awhole, we're we've been growing
significantly with theorganization, doing events.
We're gonna have one in December7th at the Winery Center Megula
where we're gonna have asensitive Santa come out with
Mrs.
Claus, take pictures with ourkiddos, our neurodivergent
children and this and childrenwith disabilities and their
families.
(30:19):
And we're gonna have a coolpetting suit, a lot of cool
event cool things that are gonnahappen for our families there.
But um, in general, I just seethe organization growing to it
in a range where it can educatemore individuals so they don't
have to go through the stuffthat sometimes us as parents,
(30:42):
when we didn't have theeducation, had to go through.
And it's not just theEnglish-speaking politician, but
also the Spanish-speakingpopulation.
Um, that that that that's ourmain focal or the underserved
communities.
Um, our main focus for ourorganization.
How you can reach us, you canjust go to our website.
It's www.empathy forautismcalifornia.com.
(31:03):
And there's a um uh you can justschedule an appointment.
We just actually opened ourfirst office in Marietta, uh,
where I do appointments by uh, Imean, meetings by appointment.
There you go.
Meetings by appointment, and andthen I also already set up um
(31:26):
where organizations can book todo trainings for their
organization.
I also already started thatportion with the in the website
as well for the nonprofit.
And then just continuing to geta lot of support.
I've met amazing individuals,you know, um, through this
organization, from the wineryowners at Shape and Family to um
(31:49):
Santa Bob, which is what hecalls himself, which is an
amazing individual.
You know, so I'm just I justfeel completely blessed to be in
this situation to not only workdoing what I'm passionate about,
but just what we get fromhelping families, you know, in a
(32:09):
selfish way, all the goodfeelings that you get from
helping families and making surethat they that that sibling
doesn't go unseen, that thathusband and or that marriage
lives through the um diagnosis.
SPEAKER_00 (32:25):
Love it.
SPEAKER_02 (32:25):
That the mother is self-regulated, you know?
SPEAKER_01 (32:28):
Yeah, powerful, such good stuff.
Um, I don't know that I'm gonnado it over this recording of the
podcast, but there was somethingthat I got goosebumps over,
Carla, with Corey and I aschildren's book writers.
Um, I'd love to talk about maybean idea for collaboration.
(32:50):
And I'm putting this herebecause I'm looking at you right
now.
Like please remind me because mylist of things to do is quite
long too.
But um Corey, before we end it,anything that's coming during
this uh 30-minute session withCarla.
SPEAKER_00 (33:06):
What's coming to me most is that you know, anytime
you have any diagnosis, um don'tjust hang up the towel, don't
just walk away with your headhung down.
There's always hope.
There's always another daycoming.
Um get the help that you need,get the proper diagnosis.
Never rely on yourself toself-diagnose and look for these
(33:31):
wonderful, amazing stories suchas Carla's and and her children,
um Sophia and Adrian.
And and if you go on to the uhInstagram, you will see just how
amazing these two children are.
So that that's my takeaway, andI thank you from the bottom of
my heart for sharing your storyand your experiences.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (33:52):
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you for inviting me.
And yeah, and you know, that'sthat's basically what what I
want to do, just highlight ourfamilies.
That's what I do through allalso my podcast, highlighting
families and sharing theirstories.
Yeah, what's your part ofinformation?
SPEAKER_01 (34:08):
Let's plug that in.
SPEAKER_02 (34:10):
Um, it is vision um voices beyond the spectrum.
SPEAKER_03 (34:14):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (34:14):
So families come in and tell their stories from the
diagnosis to where they're atnow and share their different
journeys depending on the topicat hand.
So we've had uh how to travelwith kiddos on the spectrum, or
a mom that comes and talks abouther journey with her son
educationally through with hisson having died uh being
(34:36):
diagnosed with Down syndrome.
So just different, differentperspectives on parenting,
different perspectives oncaregiving, different
perspectives on what they'regoing through in their journey.
And then we also have a resourcehub that's uh actually launching
this month.
And it's I'm bringing in noworganizations as a separate
addition to that same podcastfor resources for our families.
(34:59):
So people that don't knowcertain organizations out there
to help them for something,they'll find out through that
podcast.
SPEAKER_01 (35:06):
Yeah.
And this is just growth thisyear.
Um, I'm sure if we were to haveyou back here next year, we'd be
blown away, Kyla, blown away atthe way you're moving and how
you're moving so intentionallywith the backing and support of
your husband.
We want to say that that's soimportant.
(35:26):
And that uh it's just soheartwarming to hear that he's
on this journey with you and thetype of support you all provide
each other.
Um so thank you again forgracing Take the Elevator with
your stories, who you are as abusiness owner.
And I think we can even tap intoyou in in some um advice in
(35:48):
starting your own business andwhat that looks like.
Um but that's for anotherepisode.
Much appreciated.
No, thank you.
Thank you both.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Well, you know it's to take theelevator.
We say look up and let's elevateevery day.
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