The Story Behind Hi Rasmus

Armando Bernal was diagnosed with autism at age three. Doctors told his mother he might never speak. Instead, his family chose a different script—one written with grit, curiosity, trips to the public library, and a steadfast belief that independence was possible. In this week’s episode, Armando shares how that early faith—and a support system that never stopped showing up—carried him from special education teacher to Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), podcaster, and ultimately the founder of Autism International Consulting, one of the only autistic-owned ABA companies in Texas. “We shouldn’t just talk about autistic individuals—we should talk with them and give them a seat at the table.” From early diagnosis to a life of advocacy Armando’s communication began with sounds