Episode 11

Interview with FAU CARD: FAU's Best Kept Secret

Published on: 23rd March, 2023

In this week's episode, we welcome Chandra McKinney- Clarke, MS and Jeffrey Lucas of FAU CARD (Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities). FAU CARD provides expert consulting, training, and support, at no charge, for all people across all race, ethnic, and gender groups, with autism and related disabilities, their families, employers, the professionals, and community and governmental agencies serving them.

We discuss the impact that FAU CARD is having on the local community, educating parents of the signs of autism and related disabilities, and the stigma of autism within the Haitian community.

Connect With FAU CARD:

FAU CARD Website: (Link)

FAU CARD Facebook: (Link)

FAU CARD Instagram: (Link)

FAU CARD Twitter: (Link)

FAU CARD YouTube: (Link)

FAU CARD LinkedIn: (Link)

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About the Podcast

SPARC Up
The idea for SPARC Up grew from a steady increase of voices in the minority community wishing for more information and acceptance of autistic children. This increase came to include professionals in the childcare, education, and mental health communities as well. By increasing community knowledge of autism in general, more services and interventions will be welcomed in institutions such as education, there will be less community stigma aimed at autistic families, and more advocates will be created to help bridge gaps between resources and those affected by autism.

About your host

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Angel Wilson

After working as a therapist for over a decade, Angel noticed a common thread amongst many of her minority clients: those on the autism spectrum were either not getting the correct diagnosis, or were getting it much later in development than their white counterparts. Being that autism is a condition that has a higher adaptation rate if uncovered earlier in childhood, the delay in treatment and a lack of understanding about autism in general was having a negative effect on the communities she was serving. So, she started educating the families during therapy sessions, and the results were noticeable. In the cases where families gained more knowledge about autism, they became more invested because they now understood the child/teen/adult on the spectrum. With this investment came treatment goal success.

Angel decided that, as expected, the front line had to be the parents and guardians. She created an introductory workshop for parents (along with a separate one for professionals) to better explain and understand autism. Angel hopes to build autism awareness and acceptance in the minority communities that she serves so that autistic children in those communities will no longer be left behind. She is also available to speak at autism-related events and programs about autism awareness and minority communities, inclusion, and provider education.

Angel holds a B.S. in Psychology from Howard University, a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, and an M.A. in Spiritual Guidance from Sofia University. She has worked in and with over a half-dozen non-profit organizations focused on youth, and especially youth on the autism spectrum or with developmental delays. Angel is also a certified Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist. She hails from and currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida.