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Ep8 | What Is Autism? A Kid-Friendly Chat with Jill Calkins for Autism Acceptance Month
Episode 8
Published 1Â year, 1Â month ago
Description
🎙️ NEW EPISODE: Autism Acceptance Month Special — Meet Our First Guest!
In this special episode of What's Happening Inside Me?, we're celebrating Autism Acceptance Month with our very first guest interview! Join us as we chat with Jill Calkins, a first-grade teacher and proud mom of an autistic son, who helps us understand what autism is and how we can be great friends to people whose brains work a little differently.Perfect for kids ages 4–12 (and their grown-ups!), this episode explores:
Jill Calkins, a married mother of two, resides in Upper St. Clair, PA. For the past fifteen years, Jill has been a first-grade teacher in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Before her teaching career, Jill worked at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in various roles including researcher, therapist, and case manager.  Jill's 8-year-old son, Benny, is autistic, and Jill serves on the board of the Autism Caring Center, a local organization focused on enhancing the lives of autistic individuals and their families. She is dedicated to fostering a kinder, more inclusive, and more accepting world for autistic people.
💡 Enjoying What’s Happening Inside Me?
If you loved this episode, please share it with a friend or leave us a review—it helps more curious kids and families discover the show! 🌟 👉 Visit us at WHIMpodcast.com to:
In this special episode of What's Happening Inside Me?, we're celebrating Autism Acceptance Month with our very first guest interview! Join us as we chat with Jill Calkins, a first-grade teacher and proud mom of an autistic son, who helps us understand what autism is and how we can be great friends to people whose brains work a little differently.Perfect for kids ages 4–12 (and their grown-ups!), this episode explores:
- What autism means in a kid-friendly way
- How to be kind, inclusive, and curious
- Real questions from real kids—answered!
Jill Calkins, a married mother of two, resides in Upper St. Clair, PA. For the past fifteen years, Jill has been a first-grade teacher in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Before her teaching career, Jill worked at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in various roles including researcher, therapist, and case manager.  Jill's 8-year-old son, Benny, is autistic, and Jill serves on the board of the Autism Caring Center, a local organization focused on enhancing the lives of autistic individuals and their families. She is dedicated to fostering a kinder, more inclusive, and more accepting world for autistic people.
💡 Enjoying What’s Happening Inside Me?
If you loved this episode, please share it with a friend or leave us a review—it helps more curious kids and families discover the show! 🌟 👉 Visit us at WHIMpodcast.com to:
- Send in your own question for a future episode
- Grab the most recent partner pages for free
- Stay up to date on new releases