TLI Blog

Casandra Oldham, Director, Autism Programs, Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), shares her experiences as a mother of two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Gareth currently age 20 and Korlan currently age 18. 

In this monthly Q&A series, Cassandra discusses the process of seeking a diagnosis and treatment for her sons, the emotional hurdles she faced and the lessons she learned along the way.

This year, the Autism Knowledge Gateway (AKG) team had the privilege of attending and exhibiting at the Documenting Hope Conference in Orlando. It was an exciting and inspiring experience, filled with meaningful conversations, enlightening presentations and valuable networking opportunities. As an organization dedicated to advancing integrative healthcare for children, the 3-day conference and expo gave us the chance to engage directly with parents, caregivers and practitioners—all of whom share our mission of improving care and treatment for autistic individuals.

Casandra Oldham, Director, Autism Programs, Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), shares her experiences as a mother of two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Gareth currently age 20 and Korlan currently age 18.

This is the first Blog in a new series of monthly Q&As where Casandra relates her real-world perspectives and the highs and the lows of her autism parenting journey. She also shares stories of overcoming barriers to accessing healthcare services and advocating for her autistic children.

On November 8, we hosted 50 attendees for the Autism Knowledge Gateway’s (AKG) first formal event, An Evening to Advance Autism Care. The evening was in many ways historic and felt much larger than the intimate group of 50 people who gathered to address gaps in quality healthcare for autistic patients.

No human being can reach their potential without basic health and wellness.

After an autism diagnosis, most families are encouraged to pursue therapy. While there are a range of therapies that can be highly effective, it is important to acknowledge, early on, that autistic people often experience a range of underlying comorbid health conditions. Many of these conditions are not only treatable, but also necessary to address for therapy to have its intended impact and to enhance overall quality of life.

"If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism."

– Dr. Stephen Shore, autistic professor of special education, Adelphi University

The wisdom of this quote has become a popular way to describe the unique and varied characteristics of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This principle also underscores the complex and highly individualized medical profiles of autistic individuals—95% of whom experience at least one comorbid medical condition. Inspired by this understanding, the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) created the Autism Knowledge Gateway (AKG), an AI-powered platform designed to connect families, clinicians and researchers with vital insights to advance autism care.

Navigating the world of autism resources can feel like an endless journey through conflicting information and overwhelming ads. Thankfully, a new initiative from the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) is set to change that. In a recent Autism Digest interview, Shawn Murphy, vice president, TLI shared details about the Autism Knowledge Gateway, a groundbreaking platform that will offer easy access to reliable, research-backed autism information for everyone in the autism community.

Drawing over 1,100 attendees, this year’s National TACA Autism Conference, October 17-20, 2024, in Costa Mesa, CA  provided the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) team with extensive opportunities to further our commitment: advancing knowledge and empowering families affected by autism. Throughout the event, we interacted with parents, caregivers, physicians and service providers, exchanging new ideas and gathering perspectives that continue to fuel our spirit of collaboration, community and progress.

In a recent commentary for Medical Economics, Keri Schoenbrun, Development Director at Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), highlights a critical issue within the healthcare landscape—how primary care physicians (PCPs) can better serve the growing population of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As more patients transition from pediatric to adult care, PCPs face the challenge of navigating the complexities of ASD without adequate resources or up-to-date research to guide them.