Extended Version: Teens Making a Difference in the Community

In this extended episode, we discuss the topic of autism with Season One guest Paul Ganucheau and interview the 2024 Acadiana Teen Spirit Award Winners who are making a difference in the community.

🏆 Aubrey David – 9th-grade student at Teurlings Catholic High School
🏆 Chloe Songne – 9th-grade student at New Iberia Senior High School

Aubrey David is an inspiring teenager with a heart for service and a drive to make a meaningful impact in her community. Through her initiative, Aubrey’s Amazing Grace, she has raised thousands of dollars to support families facing hardships, from cancer patients to those in need of housing assistance. Motivated by the example of her former teacher and her own family’s experience with fundraising, Aubrey has turned her compassion into action, organizing bake sales and fundraisers that not only provide financial relief but also bring hope to those in need. Beyond her philanthropic efforts, she is an active member of multiple school organizations and has ambitious goals for the future, aiming to become a chiropractor. Her dedication, empathy, and relentless pursuit of helping others demonstrate wisdom and kindness beyond her years, making her a role model for her peers and a young leader with a bright future ahead.

Chloe Songne is an inspirational teenager whose compassion, dedication, and vision for inclusivity set her apart as a true changemaker. As the oldest sibling to six brothers, including two with autism, she is deeply committed to advocating for individuals with special needs. Her work with the Autism Society of Acadiana, her efforts to improve accessibility at festivals, and her involvement in the Very Special Pageant highlight her drive to create a more inclusive world. Beyond her advocacy, Chloe’s leadership as Miss Teen Scott Boudin Festival Queen and her involvement in 4H and Beta Club demonstrate her well-rounded ambition and determination to make a difference. With a heart for service and a passion for education, Chloe’s future is undeniably bright, and she will continue to leave a lasting impact on her community and beyond.

We provide some background information about Aubrey's Amazing Grace, the Scott Boudin Festival as well as current statistics in the United States on the topic of autism.

Transcript

Mary Baudoin (00:00):

And welcome back to This Ability Podcast. I'm your host, Mary Baudoin, and today's episode is a special one. We're celebrating youth who lead with purpose, passion and heart. This is the official launch of our first ever Teen Spirit Awards, created to spotlight teenagers who are making a real difference in their communities. These young leaders are not waiting for the future. They are the future. And both of these winners have something powerful in common. They each have made awareness, acceptance and inclusion, a central part of their advocacy for autism and other medical conditions.

(00:40):

Before we introduce our Teen Spirit honorees, I want to take a moment to reflect on someone whose story from Season One brought autism to the forefront. Paul Ganucheau talked about his time serving as a board member with the Autism Society of Acadiana, and more importantly, the first person on the spectrum to serve on that board. In his episode, Paul spoke openly about the power of peer support, the need for advocacy, and why building relationships with organizations like Families Helping Families of Acadiana and LACAN is essential for long-term change.

(01:20):

Paul reminded us that self-advocates don't just deserve a seat at the table. They deserve a voice that's heard, respected and centered. His episode was a master class in leadership, empathy, and the kind of change that comes from within the community itself. Paul's ethic is woven into the DNA of This Ability Podcast, and it's fitting that as we recognize young people today making waves in autism advocacy, we also honor the trailblazers who helped to clear that path.

(01:55):

So, in the spirit of Paul's fearless work and with the deep gratitude for everyone who uplifts the voices of the neurodivergent community, we are proud to introduce this year's Teen Spirit Award winners. These teens have turned their own experiences, creativity and compassion into real world action. From peer education to inclusive events, from social media awareness to hands-on volunteering, they're showing us what leadership with heart really looks like. So, stay with this because up next you're going to meet two teens who truly define the phrase "this ability." And with that, let's start Today's video podcast.

(02:43):

Hi, I'm your host, Mary Baudoin for This Ability Podcast. I'd like to give you, our listeners, some background information about both of my guests today. Each teenager was nominated and chosen for our Teen Spirit Award because they both exemplify outstanding qualities of making an impact in the Acadiana community.

(03:05):

My first guest is Aubrey David. She is the founder of Aubrey's Amazing Grace, which supports the community by making items in hosting fundraisers. She has raised thousands of dollars to support families facing hardships, from cancer patients to those in need of housing assistance.

(03:25):

Motivated by the example of her former teacher and her own family's experience with fundraising, Aubrey has turned her compassion into action, organizing bake sales and fundraisers that not only provide financial relief, but also bring hope to those in need. Her dedication, empathy, and relentless pursuit of helping others demonstrate wisdom and kindness beyond her years, making her a role model for her peers and a young leader with a bright future ahead.

(03:58):

My second guest today is Chloe Sonnier, a dedicated advocate and passionate volunteer in the special needs community. Chloe wears many hats, including that of festival queen, using her platform to bring awareness to the special needs events that are across Acadiana. She has spoken at autism meetings, sharing her perspective on growing up with brothers who have special needs and highlighting the importance of inclusion at community events.

(04:26):

Chloe has volunteered at countless events for children with special needs and has even advocated for festivals to create sensory friendly spaces, recognizing that lively atmosphere can often be overwhelming. Through her social media presence, Chloe amplifies awareness and encourages others to get involved. And now, let's begin their episode.

(04:59):

Thank you all for joining us for this special edition of This Ability Podcast. We will interview several teenagers in the Acadiana area who are making a difference in the community. Our first guest is Aubrey David, a ninth-grade student who attends Teurlings Catholic High School. Welcome to the show. Tell our audience a little bit about yourself, and where you're from, and a little bit about your family.

Aubrey David (05:22):

Hi, my name is Aubrey David. I am in ninth grade and I'm going to Teurlings Catholic High. I live in Carencro, Louisiana, and I have a mom named Angelica David, a dad named Ross David, and my brother's named Carter David.

Mary Baudoin (05:35):

Great. You have any pets?

Aubrey David (05:36):

I have a bunch of pets, two dogs, one named Nora and one named Briggs. I have a cat named Grazer. I have about 25 chickens.

Mary Baudoin (05:47):

Nice. You take care of all the pets too, like the chickens? Do you feed them or clean up their pen?

Aubrey David (05:53):

Yes. I also have one rabbit. Oh, and I also have two doves.

Mary Baudoin (05:57):

Two doves? Sounds like a whole forum over there. Little Miss Aubrey had a forum. So, Aubrey, you were nominated for the Teen Spirit Award, and I want to congratulate you for winning. You have done some amazing things in the community, and I looked at your Facebook page. It is called Aubrey's Amazing Grace. So, I'd like to ask you, what inspired you to start with this?

Aubrey David (06:21):

So, I have had a teacher named Ms. Leah Fusilier. She was actually my kindergarten teacher and she does sweet shops at our school to raise money for people in the community, say someone's house caught on fire, someone's struggling to battle cancer. She just helps people around the community and it really inspired me to start my foundation to help other people like she's helped other people.

Mary Baudoin (06:43):

That's incredible. I know that you've done some fundraisers. I'll just mention a few, but I want you to go through all of them because you've raised an incredible amount of money. You've done a bake sale for a cancer patient, Mr. John Odom. Raised over $1,300 for his family. Funeral expenses for Ms. Sherry LeBlanc, that was over $700. Tell me about, as a group, all the other fundraisers that you've done and how much you've collectively raised.

Aubrey David (07:09):

Okay, so my first one I did was for Tara. She was also a cancer patient and I raised $1,036. And then my second one was for Darian and he was also a cancer patient, and then I raised $1,215 for him. And then for Eli, I personally know him because me and his sister danced together. He's a very special one. And he had a kidney disease and I raised $3,200 for Eli.

Mary Baudoin (07:34):

That's awesome.

Aubrey David (07:35):

And then the last two bake sales you mentioned were Sherry LeBlanc who had cancer for $718 and then John Odom and the total is $8,000 that I raised for everybody.

Mary Baudoin (07:44):

Wow, that's awesome. That is a wonderful thing to do for the community. How does that make you feel knowing that you're helping these families?

Aubrey David (07:52):

It makes me feel so great inside and I just love to help everybody, just like the way I would want someone to help me if I was struggling.

Mary Baudoin (08:00):

Yeah, no, that's definitely a great trait. Do you have any fundraisers coming up that you'd like our listeners to know about?

Aubrey David (08:06):

Yes. I have a fundraiser coming up and I am raising money to help people build new homes for poverty-stricken families.

Mary Baudoin (08:14):

Great.

Aubrey David (08:15):

And yes, the goal is $9,800 for these families.

Mary Baudoin (08:18):

Wow. That's a big goal. I wanted to ask you, because I think you're such a great, young lady, are you involved in any type of clubs or communities or your church?

Aubrey David (08:26):

Yes, ma'am. I'm involved in a lot of clubs, so I do music ministry, 4-H, student council, Beta.

Mary Baudoin (08:35):

You do a lot. What do you plan to do after you graduate high school?

Aubrey David (08:39):

After I graduate high school, I want to be a chiropractor.

Mary Baudoin (08:42):

That would be great. There's certainly a need for that. Remind everyone what your social media pages are so that people can find out more information about your upcoming fundraisers and how they can get involved.

Aubrey David (08:55):

Okay, so I have a Facebook page called Aubrey's Amazing Grace, and that's the only social media platform I have as of now, but I hope to grow in the future and they could donate through Venmo.

Mary Baudoin (09:04):

Okay, so whenever they contribute, they're contributing to you and then you make the contribution to the families?

Aubrey David (09:11):

Yes, ma'am.

Mary Baudoin (09:11):

Okay. All right, that's great. Is there anything else you'd like to mention that I didn't get a chance to ask you?

Speaker 3 (09:17):

I'm so proud of Aubrey. She wanted to do this on her own. Every time she sets her mind to something, she makes sure she does it and she's learning that you don't always have to win or you don't always have to succeed, but as long as you try, try to reach your goals, that's all that matters.

Mary Baudoin (09:32):

Well, that gives me a lot of hope, not just hearing about how you like to help people, but I like to hear good stories, which is why I started this podcast, for people to share their stories of how they are affected by someone with special needs or doing things in the community. So, to hear your story and to hear how positive it is, it's good news and I think it's nice to hear that and to share that. Instead of all the negativity that we hear on the news a lot, it's nice to hear something positive for a change.

Aubrey David (10:04):

Absolutely.

Mary Baudoin (10:04):

Thank y'all for being here today.

Aubrey David (10:06):

Thank you.

Speaker 3 (10:06):

One other thing that Aubrey had mentioned earlier is that she wanted to start this because she looked up to her teacher who sweet shops. She also mentioned to me too. I have a brother who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Mary Baudoin (10:21):

Oh, I'm familiar. Okay. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:21):

He actually is 20 years old and before Aubrey was born, I did bake sales for him to try and help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. So, I was very involved in the MDA. And she was born and old enough, she would start helping me bake and then she'd come to my fundraiser. That's why. She didn't want to do things for the community, but she chose to do bake skills as she remembered what I used to do for my brother.

Mary Baudoin (10:43):

I think it runs in the blood. It seems like something y'all can do together and one day when you have a family, you pass that gene on to someone else. All right. Well, thank you both for being here today. I really appreciate you sharing the story.

Aubrey David (10:55):

Thank you.

Mary Baudoin (10:56):

All right, everyone, thank you for listening to This Ability Podcast. We are continuing with our Teen Spirit Award Special Edition of This Ability Podcast for teenagers who make a difference in the community. And today, I have our second guest, Ms. Chloe Sonnier, a ninth-grade student who attends New Iberia Senior High School. Welcome to the show.

Chloe Sonnier (11:18):

Thank you for having me. This is amazing opportunity.

Mary Baudoin (11:21):

Tell our audience a little bit about where you're from and a little bit about your family.

Chloe Sonnier (11:26):

Well, I'm from Iberia Parish, which is in New Iberia. My family, I have two autistic brothers who they are the brightest souls ever. If you would meet them, they're absolutely amazing. And everything that I do is based around them and my brothers and everyone in my family to make them make an impact on the world to make such an amazing thing and for everyone to be so accomplished.

Mary Baudoin (11:50):

That's awesome. What are their names and what are their ages?

Chloe Sonnier (11:53):

I have one, his name is Noah, he is 11. And then I have another one, Leo, he just turned nine.

Mary Baudoin (11:59):

And they both have autism; is that correct?

Chloe Sonnier (12:00):

Yes, ma'am.

Mary Baudoin (12:01):

Okay, and that's all your siblings?

Chloe Sonnier (12:03):

I have six brothers in total.

Mary Baudoin (12:05):

Wow.

Chloe Sonnier (12:05):

Which is a lot.

Mary Baudoin (12:06):

And you're the only girl?

Chloe Sonnier (12:07):

Yes, ma'am.

Mary Baudoin (12:08):

Okay.

Chloe Sonnier (12:08):

And they're all younger than me and they are just so bright. And they also have other disabilities too. One of them has ADHD and one has dyslexia, but it's so amazing that they are so able to accomplish everything that they do.

Mary Baudoin (12:20):

You are the reigning Miss Teen Scott Boudin Festival Queen, so congratulations on your title.

Chloe Sonnier (12:26):

Thank you.

Mary Baudoin (12:27):

Tell us a little more about your responsibilities and what your goals are for the community.

Chloe Sonnier (12:32):

So, my responsibilities is technically to just raise awareness of the Scott Boudin Festival. Our festival is just an amazing thing to do and it's so fun to see everyone get together and do Zydeco and make, eat boudin and it's absolutely amazing. My goal for this is to technically just make an impact and to travel as much as I can to get the Scott Boudin Festival to expand more than it already has. Hopefully, in the future, my goal was to create a special place for disabled children, for it to be easier for them to, I guess, have a way in their festival because festivals can be big, humongous, and a lot of people, so I just want that special little area for them to relax and not be so overwhelmed.

Mary Baudoin (13:13):

Sort of like a low sensory area.

Chloe Sonnier (13:15):

Yes, ma'am.

Mary Baudoin (13:15):

Oh, I think that's really nice to have. You are planning to volunteer with a great event. It's called the Very Special Pageant. Can you tell us a little bit more about that pageant and why you became involved to help them?

Chloe Sonnier (13:29):

So, the Very Special Pageant, I have friends who are actually over there and they just travel all around with us and it's just so amazing to see them. And with having disabled brothers myself, I just want to give back to them and allow them to do or help them with their organization, spread awareness of it so they can have more very special little queens and kings and everything.

Mary Baudoin (13:51):

Definitely a great event for the community. I've noticed also that you volunteer with the Autism Society of Acadiana. What events have you volunteered for in the past? What was that experience like for you? What did you learn?

Chloe Sonnier (14:05):

So, in New Iberia, we had a couple of things where the moms would get together and so they've talked a way to make the school boards more engaged in the autism program. And I spoke out about my experience with my brothers, and it was just such an amazing experience for those moms to understand where it's coming from a sister's point of view and just to see their way of seeing it differently and push it even more.

Mary Baudoin (14:30):

So, they were on board with trying to make events a little more autistic friendly or-

Chloe Sonnier (14:35):

Yes, ma'am.

Mary Baudoin (14:36):

How does that affect you personally?

Chloe Sonnier (14:38):

It affects me. So, I've had so many experience even at parks or everything and a special needs kid would come up to me and be like, "Let's go play." And it's just so exciting to see that and especially go to those events where those kids are around and just to see their faces light up, especially even with crown and banner on or just walking around. It's just so exciting to see their faces just light up. Amazing. And it's just so adorable and truly something I will hold on to forever.

Mary Baudoin (15:03):

I'd like to ask you, what are your plans to do after you graduate high school? Have you thought that far along?

Chloe Sonnier (15:10):

Somewhat. I hope to either become a teacher or a teacher in ag, which is I do 4-H all the time, my whole life really, including everything else that I do. I hope to bring education including into agriculture and just spread that even more.

Mary Baudoin (15:26):

You mentioned 4-H. Are there any other clubs, organizations that you're a member of as far as school or any faith-based organizations or anything like that?

Chloe Sonnier (15:34):

I'm also a part of Beta and so much other clubs that when I actually get to high school and I actually get to experience it all, but for now, it's just 4-H and Beta for what I know already.

Mary Baudoin (15:44):

Right. That's enough to keep you busy. So, if anyone is listening and they're hearing you and they're inspired by you and they want to volunteer with you or with an organization that you're helping or they'd like to donate, what is the best way for them to reach you? Are you on social media? And if so, how could they contact you?

Chloe Sonnier (16:03):

Yes, ma'am, I am. So, they can either message me on Facebook or Chloe Elizabeth Sonnier Instagram, or even just reaching out on the Scott Boudin Festival page to uplift that idea that I have of having a special needs area in festivals. And hopefully, that will encourage more festivals to just add that because they do have VIP areas, but sometimes it's really expensive to get those VIP areas. So, just to hopefully increase that.

Mary Baudoin (16:28):

Agreed. I've asked you a good bit of questions. Do you have any final thoughts or any words that you'd like to close with? I want to congratulate you again on not just winning this award, but also on being the reigning queen and also for everything that you do in the special needs community. It's teenagers like yourself that really inspire me as an older person. Seeing our youth get involved, it really makes me feel hopeful about our future and it makes me feel good to know that there's good things happening. I like to highlight things that are nice and positive. There's a lot of negativity in the world and sometimes that's all we hear about, but I like to hear about things that are good and it sounds like you're doing a lot of good in Acadiana.

Chloe Sonnier (17:13):

Thank you so much.

Mary Baudoin (17:14):

Thank you, Chloe.

Chloe Sonnier (17:14):

That's amazing.

Mary Baudoin (17:14):

Absolutely.

Chloe Sonnier (17:14):

Thank you.

Mary Baudoin (17:18):

All right. And you have a good afternoon. That's going to wrap up this episode of This Ability Podcast. Thank you for listening.

(17:28):

For those of you listening outside of Louisiana, here's a little information about the Boudin Festival. The Scott Boudin Festival provides a family-friendly atmosphere to listen to the best music South Louisiana has to offer. Taste the best boudin and foods which made Louisiana famous and where kids of all can enjoy amusement rides, fireworks, and plenty of unique arts and crafts from talented artists and craftspeople. The proceeds generated by the Scott Boudin Festival are invested back into area non-profit organizations, capital improvements to public areas, and the City of Scott property, and put back into hosting one of the best festivals in Louisiana.

(18:16):

In this segment, I'd like to revisit one of the most meaningful conversations that we've had on the show, an interview with Paul Ganucheau, a proud self-advocate, Marine Corps veteran, and the first board member of the Autism Society of Acadiana, who is on the autism spectrum himself. Paul's story is powerful not only because of his late diagnosis in adulthood, but also because of the way he turned that diagnosis into a mission.

(18:49):

He also talks openly about the challenges and emotions he faced and how he found purpose by creating peer support groups for others on the same journey. His honesty, humor, and drive to make a difference are exactly why we needed to share this clip again. Whether you're on the spectrum, a parent, a teacher, or someone just wanting to better understand autism, there's something in Paul's story for all of us.

(19:23):

Thank you for joining us for this episode of This Ability Podcast. I'm your host, Mary Baudoin, and joining us today is Paul Ganucheau, a board member with the Autism Society of Acadiana. Welcome to the show, Paul.

Paul Ganucheau (19:36):

Thank you for having me, Mary.

Mary Baudoin (19:37):

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Paul Ganucheau (19:38):

Well, I'm the first board member of the Autism Society of Acadiana has had that was officially diagnosed on the autism spectrum. I was diagnosed as an adult and I am still a board member, now on the advisory panel after turning out as an executive board member, and I'm a career volunteer and self-advocate.

Mary Baudoin (19:55):

I'm glad that you're here today to talk to us a little bit about something that's close to home to you. So, Paul, tell me a little bit more about your diagnosis.

Paul Ganucheau (20:04):

Well, I was 25 and medically discharged from the United States Marine Corps Reserve for back and knee injuries and a few psychological issues. I was seeing a neuropsychiatrist on staff for depression and anxiety following the discharge. My wife, whom I was dating at the time said, "I love you, but something's off and I want to find out what." So, that neuropsychiatrist asked me a bunch of questions, asked her a bunch of questions, and we tried to get my family in to ask them a bunch of questions, and they ruled out all but high-functioning autism. They wanted to call it Asperger's, but the DSM changed and they had to just lump it in the spectrum.

Mary Baudoin (20:37):

How did that affect you? Did you think this is going to change my life?

Paul Ganucheau (20:42):

It was a lot of back and forth. There was a "Woe is me, why is this happening?" Then there was a "Okay, this explains a lot." And that moved into "All right, there's got to be other people out there like me and well, what can I do about it?"

Mary Baudoin (20:55):

Did you turn to the internet to try to find some good resources?

Paul Ganucheau (20:59):

A little bit. One of the things I did first before I found out about the Autism Society was I was looking for a support group for adults. The closest thing I could find at that time was NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. And before we get a little further into that, I know autism is not an illness, but they do recognize it and I was able to sit into some group therapy sessions, talking to other people who were living their best life with bipolarism or severe depression or schizophrenia who were examples of, okay, if they can do this, I can do this.

Mary Baudoin (21:32):

What other organizations or places or people have been a resource for you?

Paul Ganucheau (21:38):

After that, someone at NAMI directed me to the Autism Society of Acadiana and I became a board member there. I found out about their peer support group in Lafayette. And then from there, after I moved from Lafayette to Eunice, I started my own peer support group in memorandum of one of our members in the Lafayette group who's no longer with us. But other than that, People First of Louisiana has also been very instrumental in allowing us to get our voice out there about issues, as well as Families Helping Families of Acadiana.

Mary Baudoin (22:08):

One of the things I find that is a great resource is support groups. When my daughter was diagnosed, of course, you can find things on the internet, but really, what helped me was finding other moms to talk to. Even though my daughter, she has a rare condition called lissencephaly, which means smooth brain. So, her brain is not fully developed, but the brain stem itself is, and so it is a rare neurological condition.

(22:34):

However, there are certain traits that she has that other people with special needs can relate to. She needed a feeding tube. She has epilepsy. And by talking to other people, I was able to really get some helpful information, especially when she was first diagnosed and getting a feeding tube, that was sort of a fear of mine. I'm like, "Oh my gosh, she can't eat by mouth." Just as a mom, as a parent, you're concerned and then you start to realize it's okay that there's these people that you don't even know, complete strangers, helped to comfort you when there's something that you just don't know much about. And as the time goes on, then I find myself comforting other people that are new to that condition. Do you find that to be the case with you?

Paul Ganucheau (23:17):

A little bit. There's some turn around. A lot of times, we have in our peer support groups, people who are currently seeking diagnosis themselves, who are adults that are undiagnosed. And right now, because it was a fluke for me with the VA system, but a lot of times, I'm having to tell them call up LSU or call up Tulane and get on the waiting list.

Mary Baudoin (23:36):

So, tell us a little bit more about the peer groups here in Acadiana.

Paul Ganucheau (23:39):

Well, there's a Lafayette support group, a Lafayette Asperger support group for individuals on the spectrum, teens and adults. They meet periodically between different restaurants in the area and the Lafayette Library. And then there's my group we named after one of our members, Mark Anthony Trahan. We call it MAT or Managing Asperger's Together. And we meet at the LSUE Arnold LeDoux Library in Eunice or some of the restaurants in the Eunice area. I don't want to overshadow the parent support groups either. There are parent support groups, like you had mentioned earlier. There's one for the moms and one for the dads too.

Mary Baudoin (24:10):

From the Autism Society?

Paul Ganucheau (24:12):

Yes.

Mary Baudoin (24:12):

And I believe I've seen those postings on Facebook, if I'm not mistaken. So, it would be a good idea for our listeners to follow them on Facebook. And even for those that are living out of state, there's a possibility they might do it via Zoom. I know that for the D.R.E.A.M.S. Foundation, we did a lot of meetings. During COVID, we did it via Zoom because during that time, we're all stressed out coping with COVID plus other things. Life in general can be stressful. So, having a support group there, whether it's virtual or in person, is a great thing.

(24:43):

Tell us about the support group for dads. Are there many guys that participate in that?

Paul Ganucheau (24:47):

There are several, some from the board that try to just do their own thing, like a group for the moms, and there would need to be something for the dads. I know they meet in Lafayette as far as I know. Again, you could find out more information on Facebook on their page. It's not just the support groups that the Autism Society helps connect people with. A lot of times, they will try to do their best to live by their mission statement, and that's to better the lives of all persons affected by autism.

(25:11):

Whether it's the peers or the parents, they've created activities throughout the year, like annual Christmas parties, the walk that's recently been replaced with the annual bowling for autism. And since I came on the board, I've tried to pressure them to make activities for the adults on the spectrum. Not just the parents and not just the kids, but the adults that the kids are going to turn into. So, what we did was partnered with the Lafayette Economic Development Association and tacked on to their diversity job fair every year at the Heymann Center.

Mary Baudoin (25:38):

It's nice to have the supports that it's not just focused on the pediatric diagnosis; it's for adults as well. We all need some support on some level, and I find that some people are very introverted about topics like this, and it can be helpful though to reach out. Even attending the support groups, it might be 30 people, but you're going to sit next to someone and even if you just connect with that one person, it's a huge benefit.

Paul Ganucheau (26:02):

Right. I think the parent support groups have a greater turnout than the peer support group. Some of it's also trying to find activities they can all agree on doing together. So, I was kind of gung-ho, wanting to give little classes on financial stability or how to build a resume, and it was trying to keep them engaged or excited about wanting to come. And after a while, it was kind of beating a dead horse, talking about self-sufficiency. But we just bounce back and forth between restaurant meetings and casual group discussions and game nights, and I try to fit in some advocacy in between.

Mary Baudoin (26:35):

Now, let's talk about some important facts as it relates to autism. In the year 2022, about one in 31 children in the United States or 3.2% of eight-year-olds were identified with autism, an increase from one in 36 just two years prior. Among adults, approximately 2.2% of Americans, over five million people are estimated to be on the autism spectrum. These numbers underscore the truth behind Paul's story. Autism is lifelong, pervasive, and affects people in every stage of life, not just childhood. It reinforces the need for support networks, adult-focused advocacy and understanding.

(27:33):

So, as we move into closing this episode, let's remember that it's a lifelong journey. Whether you're seeking a diagnosis, peer connections, or just a better understanding, you're not alone. Paul's work in Acadiana reminds us that community-led support makes a real difference.

(27:55):

Thank you so much for joining us today for this special Teen Spirit episode of This Ability Podcast. I hope you're leaving as inspired as I am, reminded that when young people lead with empathy and vision, incredible things can happen. Whether it's creating autism awareness projects, volunteering with inclusive organizations, or simply showing up for their peers in meaningful ways, our Teen Spirit Award winners are doing the work that transforms communities from the inside out.

(28:26):

Their stories remind me of something our friend, Paul Ganucheau, said during his Season One interview that real advocacy starts with listening, showing up and using your voice. Paul's courage to lead as a self-advocate continues to light the way for others, and today's honorees are picking up that torch in their own beautiful way.

(28:49):

And speaking of community leaders, our episode next week will feature Donielle Watkins of the D.R.E.A.M.S. Foundation. She shares how her dreams have created spaces where individuals with disabilities can thrive through sports, social events, and meaningful friendships. It's organizations like the D.R.E.A.M.S. Foundation of Acadiana that make it possible for teens and adults of all abilities to shine. Here at This Ability Podcast, we believe that inclusion isn't a checkbox; it's a culture. And when we elevate youth voices, support families, and center lived experience, we get a more compassionate, more connected world.

(29:31):

If today's episode moved you, share it with a friend, tag someone who inspired you, or consider becoming an underwriter to help us keep the podcast ad-free and community focused. Until next time, I'm Mary Baudoin reminding you to keep believing, keep advocating, and keep celebrating This Ability.

(29:55):

Help us grow our audience by subscribing to our podcast on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, and other podcast networks. Additionally, if you enjoy listening to our podcast, help us to be discovered by leaving a rating or review of our episodes. This will connect us with other potential listeners and help us to expand our audience.

(30:21):

From all of us at This Ability Podcast, we thank you for your ongoing support of our mission to unveil stories that inspire and enlighten others in the special needs community. You can also find our video podcast for each and every episode on our YouTube channel. The video podcast feature a wide array of pictures submitted by each guest for their episode. Check it out today.