Blogs

Healthcare is constantly evolving, and meaningful change starts with bold ideas, collaboration and innovation. That’s why the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) is proud to announce that April is Healthcare Thought Leadership and Innovation Month —an opportunity to highlight transformative programs and groundbreaking research that are shaping the future of healthcare. This national observance is featured in the calendar of healthcare observances published by the Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD) , a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association, ...

Enthusiastic response from clinicians attending the 2025 meeting of the Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs (MAPS) to participate in the AKG pilot program TLI continues advancing the Autism Knowledge Gateway (AKG) mission to improve healthcare for autistic individuals by bridging medical research and clinical practice. We commend the MAPS team for their overwhelming support of AKG and reaffirmed our commitment to collaboration at the MAPS 2025 Spring Conference. Represented by Casandra Oldham , Director of Autism Programs, and Keri Schoenbrun, Director of Development , TLI engaged with ...

Navigating Transitions as Challenges and Goals Evolve Over Time Follow our Blog Series, reach out with questions or contribute your own experiences, which can be submitted anonymously here . Casandra Oldham, Director of Autism Programs at the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), shares her experiences as a mother of two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Gareth, currently 20, and Korlan, currently 18. In this monthly Q&A series, Casandra reflects on the evolving challenges of raising children with ASD , discussing how her goals and approaches have ...

Exploring Therapies and Interventions to Find the Right Approach for Your Child . Follow our Blog Series, reach out with questions or contribute your own experiences, which can be submitted anonymously here . Cassandra Oldham, Director of Autism Programs at the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), shares her experiences as a mother of two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Gareth, currently 20, and Korlan, currently 18. In this monthly Q&A series, Cassandra discusses the emotional and practical aspects of selecting therapies and interventions for her sons, highlighting what has been most effective for their unique ...

Follow our Blog Series, reach out with questions, or contribute your own experiences , which can be submitted anonymously. 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, Casandra discusses the emotional and practical aspects of navigating communication with healthcare providers and managing complex medical needs for her sons. Casandra is open ...

Concurrent Medical Issues, Finding the Right Specialists and Navigating Complex Care 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, Casandra discusses the emotional and practical aspects of sharing her sons’ diagnoses with family, friends and her broader support network. Casandra is open to receiving questions and concerns of parents who are struggling with similar issues, especially as youngsters with ...

Sharing the Diagnosis, Finding Help and Support and Getting Answers 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, Casandra discusses the emotional and practical aspects of sharing her sons’ diagnoses with family, friends and her broader support network. Casandra is open to receiving questions and concerns of parents who are struggling with similar issues, especially as youngsters with autism age into adulthood. TLI ...

Early Signs of ASD, Finding Help and Support and Getting Answers Casandra Oldham, Director, Autism Programs, Th ought 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, Casandra 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. Casandra is open to receiving questions and concerns of parents who are struggling with similar issues, especially as youngsters with autism ...

Early Signs of ASD, Finding Help and Support and Getting Answers 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. Casandra is open to receiving questions and concerns of ...

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. Conversations that Affirm Our Mission One of the most powerful takeaways ...

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. The evening can be characterized by three distinct themes that capture what makes the AKG such a powerful initiative: Bringing together a diverse community: Among the 50 attendees was a wide cross-section and representation from nearly every part of the autism community. At the event and in preparatory conversations, we heard from autistic ...

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. The Prevalence of Comorbidities in Autistic Individuals The prevalence of comorbid medical conditions is not only high, but also ...

"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 ...

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. Why We Need the Autism Knowledge Gateway Parents, autistic individuals and clinicians often face the daunting task of sifting ...