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Tag: Education

Living and Learning with Rachelle Vartanian

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Rachelle Vartanian is the Founder and President of Living and Learning Enrichment Center, a nonprofit organization providing a broad range of resources and support services to individuals with disabilities and their families across 12 southeast Michigan counties. Since 2015, the agency has partnered with more than a hundred businesses and organizations to provide access to inclusive employment skill-building opportunities and meaningful job placement support. Rachelle is an active member of dozens of regional business and service organizations bringing with her a mission of empathy, education, and advocacy. Rachelle is also the parent of an adult son with autism and is committed to forging pathways to a higher quality of life for Michigan residents with autism and other disabilities.

Finding Your Authentic Self w/ Dr. Norma Hollis

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Dr. Norma Hollis is a transformational strategist who writes, develops and implements programs for human development. She is an international speaker and coach specializing in transforming the lives of people who want to live the authentic life they were born for. She is a leading authority on authenticity and is affectionately known as the Godmother of Authenticity.

Human-Centered AI with Derek Crager

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Derek Crager is a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD professional who spent a lifetime misunderstood — until he found his voice in technology. With a background in industrial reliability and a mind wired for pattern recognition, Derek turned personal struggle into purpose, founding Practical AI and the community hub AIforAutistics.com.

Through his work, Derek helps neurodivergent individuals harness AI not just to cope — but to create, earn, and thrive. His flagship tool, Pocket Mentor, offers voice-powered guidance in industrial settings, proving that AI can be both human-centered and practical.

Career, Determination and Animation with Jorge Gutierrez

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Emmy and Annie Award-winning Jorge R. Gutierrez is a Mexican animator, painter, voice actor, writer and director. A CalArts Experimental Animation BFA & MFA graduate, Gutierrez has completed various films, cartoons, and paintings exploring his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture. He was the Director & Co-Writer of the Guillermo del Toro produced animated feature The Book of Life, which earned him a 2014 Golden Globe Award nomination. Along with his wife and muse, Sandra Equihua, they created the multiple Emmy Award-winning animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, for Nickelodeon. Gutierrez most recently created, wrote, and directed the event series Maya and the Three for Netflix which won 2 Annie Awards, and 4 Emmys. Gutierrez is currently writing and directing a Netflix animated feature named I, Chihuahua with Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.

Creating Success with Steve Winshel

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Steve Winshel holds a PhD in experimental cognitive psychology but has spent his career as a serial startup founder and coach, mentor and teacher to many communities.  He helps entrepreneurs start their own businesses and coaches people who are at inflection points in their lives – career and personal.  He works specifically with neurodivergent clients to help them develop executive functions, move forward to successful careers, or start their own businesses.

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The Business of Voice Overs with Cathy McAuley

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With a career spanning over three decades, Cathy has established herself as a versatile and comedic powerhouse in the entertainment industry seamlessly navigating various mediums, and earning a variety of accolades and awards. Cathy’s passion for the arts extends to mentoring young adults on the autism spectrum through Spectrum Laboratory, with her commitment to diversity and inclusion shining through in every project. 

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Supporting Siblings with Jessica Siegel

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Jessica is the founder of The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities and the author of Billy’s Sister: Life when your sibling has a disability–a picture book based on her experiences growing up with her brother, Billy, who has autism. She has also spent over a decade working in nonprofit marketing and communications and is the owner of Sing Creative Group. 

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My Autism Superpower with JD Barker

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J.D. Barker is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural. He was diagnosed with autism at the age of 22, and considers it one of the main reasons he is so successful. 

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The Importance of Self-Care with Liz Gabor

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Liz is a certified Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher, a certified Transformation Coach and Trainer and a Wellness Retreat Leader. Her teachings include providing accessible tools to regulate the nervous system, tune into one’s inner guidance, expand awareness, and go beyond perceived limits. Her work is deeply rooted in helping to cultivate self-care rituals and practices that create resilience and foster a kinder and gentler way of being with oneself, and in turn, with others.

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The Autism Narrative with Heidi Rome

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Heidi Rome, is a speaker, author, coach, facilitator, advocate, mentor, perspective re-framer, solace-bringer, and mother of two sons, one with severe autism. Author of You Just Have to Love Me and creator of the Win/When Skillsets, she understands how to overcome overwhelm through loving kindness toward oneself and others. As founder of Moms Spectrum Oasis, Heidi is spreading the word that it’s time to change the narrative around autism if we are to live the ideals of true inclusion and belonging. 

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