This is a special crossover episode with Made For Us, a podcast that explores the intersection of innovation and inclusion. On Made For Us, host Tosin Sulaiman speaks to founders, designers and business leaders who are thinking deeply and creatively about how to build better and more inclusive products.

Tosin's guest on this episode is Maura Horton, CEO and founder of MagnaReady, an accessible fashion brand that enables millions of people with limited dexterity and mobility to dress independently. Maura developed the concept for MagnaReady after her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's and struggled to button his shirts. She invented and eventually patented a magnetic closure system that replaces buttons and has since licensed the technology to Fortune 500 Companies including PVH Corp, owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. Maura also partnered with and advised Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive, the first mainstream brand to launch a children's adaptive apparel line.

In this episode, Maura talks about:

• The state of the adaptive clothing market before MagnaReady
• How Maura got the inspiration to infuse magnets into her husband's shirts
• The challenges she faced in the design and manufacturing process
• Why Maura thinks the term 'adaptive' is unhelpful

Learn more about MagnaReady at magnaready.com and @magnaready on Instagram.

Listen to other episodes of Made For Us: podfollow.com/made-for-us/view

Follow Made For Us on social media: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: instagram.com/madeforuspodcast

Support or sponsor Beyond 6 Seconds: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds

Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/accessible-fashion-maura-horton-magnaready

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Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

Oliver James is a California-based personal trainer, motivational speaker, literacy activist, and influencer. He has been featured by Today, NPR, the Jennifer Hudson Show, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Rachael Ray, and ABC News, among many others. Additionally, he received the Barbara Bush National Literacy Award in 2023.

Oliver is the author of "Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok." His book is about teaching himself to read starting at the age of 32, and his experience with childhood learning disabilities and educational neglect. In just 365 days, he went from barely being able to read a restaurant menu, to closing in on his goal of finishing 100 books in a year.

Oliver has become a TikTok/BookTok sensation for the way he's documented his decision to learn to read as an adult, and his struggles and triumphs along the way.

During this episode, you will hear Oliver talk about:

• Why he describes himself as being "functionally illiterate" and how his experience with literacy "started wrong"
• What inspired him to share his journey to learn how to read on social media, at the age of 32
• How reading has profoundly changed his perspective on life
• What it was like writing a book about his experience

Buy Oliver's book "Unread": hachettebookgroup.com/titles/oliver-james/unread/9781454959403/

Follow Oliver at oliverspeaks1 on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and YouTube.

Email Oliver at OliverSpeaks1 [at] gmail.com.

Learn more about the Nardagani app that has helped Oliver learn how to read: nardagani.com

Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=xWGXsqQaloQ

Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/oliver-james-unread

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Justin Valenti is an artist and disability advocate. He enjoys creating artwork in his home studio and at the VisAbility Art Lab at VisArts in Rockville, Maryland. He is also the business owner of Artistic Expressions by Justin K Valenti, and has exhibited his artwork in Maryland, Virginia and California.

Justin has been an advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since childhood. He has been on the Board of Directors for the Arc Maryland since 2020.

During this episode, you will hear Justin talk about:

• What his life was like growing up with disabilities
• How he discovered his passion and talent for art
• How creating art helps his mental health
• His proudest achievements as an artist and disability advocate

Learn more about Justin and his work at JKValenti2014.com and VisArtsCenter.org or contact Justin directly at justin.k.valenti [at] gmail [dot] com.

Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=lbv80Y58CTU

Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/justin-valenti

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Amy Richards is a queer autistic podcaster and business owner from Cardiff in the UK. Amy became self-employed in 2015, after multiple burnouts culminated in a breakdown that ended her previous career as a high school English and Media teacher. With her business hat on, she offers business strategy sessions, builds websites and supports online business owners with their websites, email marketing and automation.

In 2020, Amy started a podcast called Squarepeg, where she chats with one autistic guest at a time about their autism discovery journey and what they've learned along the way. Amy is also a Nervous System Regulation practitioner, working with other autistic adults to help them become better regulated, less anxious and have more energy.

During this episode, you will hear Amy talk about:

• Her life before her autism diagnosis, including the first moment she strongly suspected she was autistic
• What inspired her to begin sharing her autistic experiences publicly and start her podcast, Squarepeg
• Her approach to selecting her guests and editing her podcast episodes
• The importance of including a diverse range of guests on our podcasts
• How a listener's email led Amy to make a major change to her podcast
• The most significant things she has learned while working on her podcast

Learn more about Amy and her podcast on the Squarepeg website at https://squarepeg.community or by email at hello [at] squarepeg.community .

Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=u1jx3u_ev0E

Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/sharing-autistic-stories

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Pastiche Graham is a proud autism advocate, emerging motivational speaker, children's book author and powerhouse for change and inclusion. After being featured on the CBS Television show Undercover Boss in 2022 (Season 11, Episode 4), Pastiche's platform pivoted towards a lifelong journey of advocacy. Pastiche's first book, "Pia Pistachio Gets a Job," features much-needed representation of autistic girls in children's literature.

In this episode, we talk about Pastiche's journey from disheartened autistic child to enthusiastic autism advocate & author, the impact of appearing on Undercover Boss, and the inspiration for "Pia Pistachio Gets a Job." Pastiche also discusses the importance of autism representation: specifically for autistic women and girls in literature, and for autistic adults in the workplace.

Learn more about Pastiche at PasticheGraham.com and buy "Pia Pistachio Gets a Job" on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Follow Pastiche on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads.

Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Max Barrows is an award-winning disability rights leader and advocate based in Vermont. As the Outreach Director for Green Mountain Self-Advocates, Max mentors people with developmental disabilities to speak up for themselves and become leaders. Max is also the Assistant Director of Technical Assistance and Outreach for the Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), where he works to strengthen local and state self-advocacy organizations across the United States.

During this episode, you will hear Max talk about:

• What life was like growing up as an autistic person
• How he became involved in disability advocacy
• Why self-advocacy and peer-to-peer connections are essential for people with disabilities
• How he grew more comfortable with public speaking as part of his advocacy work
• His role in helping to educate law enforcement about autism
• The harmful impact of negative rhetoric about autism

Learn more about Green Mountain Self-Advocates and the Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) where Max works.

Contribute to Carolyn's tip jar to support the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast's disability advocacy.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

With a career across media, tech, and entertainment, Kirsty Cullen-Campanelli has held roles at the BBC, Netflix and Apple. Her experience as a corporate executive and a late-diagnosed Autistic woman with ADHD have shaped her neuroinclusive leadership style.

On my latest episode, Kirsty shares what life is like for her as an autistic corporate executive with ADHD, and how discovering her autism and ADHD shifted her understanding of herself. She also discusses her approach to creating inclusive workplace cultures, managing teams, conducting job interviews, and navigating high-pressure environments.

Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn.

Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Sania Khimji is an accomplished artist, model, influencer, and international beauty pageant winner based in India who continues to redefine boundaries and inspire inclusivity in every space she enters. Living with Down syndrome, Sania celebrates her uniqueness as just one part of her powerful story that's rooted in creativity, confidence, and courage.

Through her art, modeling, and advocacy, Sania continues to shine as a global voice for empowerment — showing the world that when you lead with passion, purpose, and pride, there are truly no limits to what you can achieve.

During this episode, you will hear Sania talk about:

• What was it like growing up with Down syndrome
• The challenges and stereotypes she faced as someone with Down syndrome
• How she got interested in fashion and modeling
• What inspired her to become an artist who shows her art in India and around the world
• How she advocates for people with disabilities
• Her goals for the future

Follow or contact Sania on Instagram.

Contribute to Carolyn's tip jar to support the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast's disability advocacy.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

This is a special Beyond 6 Seconds episode for Podcasthon, where for one week, thousands of podcasts are highlighting a nonprofit of their choice, to raise awareness and encourage support for charities around the world. The focus of this episode is Meals in the Meantime, a nonprofit organization addressing food insecurity in the Chicagoland south suburbs. Meals in the Meantime provides free, fresh, healthy, high-quality grocery bags of food at drive-thru, pop-up food pantries.

I interviewed Kevin M. Yates, President and Founder of Meals in the Meantime, about:

• What inspired him to start Meals in the Meantime
• How Meals in the Meantime achieves its mission of "filling the food gap with nourishment and dignity"
• How the nonprofit's philosophy of "What Would You Eat" (WWYE) influences the types of foods that Meals in the Meantime provides
• Why Meals in the Meantime is different from other types of food banks and food pantries

Learn more about how you can support Meals in the Meantime at MealsInTheMeantime.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Visit podcasthon.org to discover charities featured by podcasters from around the world.

Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Psychotherapist Ivy Rizzo has a master's degree, speaks multiple languages, and owns her own business... but she struggles with doing basic math, remembering important dates, and recalling events in chronological order. Dyscalculia is often dismissed as just being "bad at math," but for Ivy, it has a wide-ranging effect on her life.

In this episode, Ivy talks about:

• How the severity of her dyscalculia impacts her math, memory and sequencing skills
• What it was like for her growing up with dyscalculia in the 1980s-1990s
• How dyscalculia impacts her adult life, including work, parenting and friendships
• Her viral post about how she visualizes the months of the year
• The shame of being misunderstood by educators and supervisors, who misinterpreted her dyscalculia in traumatic ways
• How her neurodivergence helps her support and strengthen her client relationships
• Using her strengths and tech tools to help accommodate her dyscalculia

To find out more about Ivy and her work, visit her website and follow her on Threads.

If you enjoyed this episode about dyscalculia, you may also enjoy my episode about dyscalculia education and advocacy with Elena Chambers (episode 190).

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Sonido Reyes is an award-winning and bestselling author who is best known for tackling difficult topics through a hopeful lens. They write stories celebrating their own queer and Mexican identities, including The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, The Broposal, and The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar. They also have contributed short stories to the anthologies Transmogrify! and For the Rest of Us.

Sonido is also the vice-president of My Galvanized Friend, a nonprofit focused on providing access to and amplifying LGBTQ+ writing, art, and creators.

During this episode, you will hear Sonido talk about:

• How they were diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder
• What life was like growing up with schizoaffective disorder
• How manic episodes have affected their writing
• What they want people to understand about schizoaffective disorder
• How they choose the topics of the stories they write
• The importance of representation in books
• How they became involved with the nonprofit My Galvanized Friend

Visit SonidoReyes.carrd.co for links to Sonido's website, writing and social media.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy my conversation about schizoaffective disorder with Sally Littlefield on episode 243 of this podcast.

This episode is sponsored by Tas Kronby, Accessibility Consultant & Designer: Parallax scrolling, scroll bar hijacking, flickering, and neon colors are ruining your design—they trigger dizziness, migraines, and vertigo. You've audited for vision and hearing compliance. But does your online content make people sick? Tas Kronby offers Vestibular Accessibility Audits that go beyond compliance. Learn what you need to make your business truly inclusive. Tas will help you Design with All in Mind. Visit TasTheArtist.com/design-services/ to schedule your free consultation.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*