The Autism Dad

Harry Psaros, author of the book 'From Struggle to Strength: A Father's Journey with Autism and the Power of Hope and Positivity,' shares his personal journey as an autism dad and the inspiration behind his book. He emphasizes the importance of mindset, resilience, and positivity in navigating the challenges of raising a child with autism. Psaros encourages parents to focus on continuous improveme...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Rob sits down with Kimberly Hauck, the Director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD). They discuss the crucial role the DODD plays in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families across Ohio. Kimberly details her journey from starting as a direct support professional to leading the department, emphasizing the dep...

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Rob Gorski sits down with his eldest son, Gavin, who is autistic, to discuss the important and nerve-wracking journey of transitioning to adulthood. They delve into Gavin's experiences with job training, his first job, and the process of touring group homes as he plans his future. Key Points Discussed: - Transition to Adulthood: Gavin shares his progres...

Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Autism Dad" podcast. In this episode, Rob Gorski, your host, sits down with Kevin Miller, an autism dad and the Executive Director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), a state agency dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment. In This Episode, You'll Discover: - Kevin's Personal Journey:...

Summary In this conversation, Rob Gorski and Amber Arrington discuss the challenges and decisions involved in parenting adult children with autism. They address sensitive topics such as transitioning to adulthood, the need for independence, and the consideration of group homes. They also explore the emotional impact of making decisions like pursuing guardianship and the stigma attached to these ch...

In this week’s episode, Emmett, my 15 year old autistic son, and I answer a bunch of your autism related questions. Emmett dug through a huge list of questions you folks submitted via Facebook and create a list of 10 he wanted us to talk about this week. This was a lot of fun. :-) Resources and Links: Episode mentioned for future reference: "The Parent's Guide to Navigating Autism and Puberty" wit...

Summary Lena Hartman from Make'm Smile Ohio discusses the organization's annual event that celebrates individuals with disabilities and their families. The event offers a party-like atmosphere with various activities, entertainment, and resource exhibitors. Lena emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and acceptance, ensuring that families feel comfortable and supported. Siblings are also include...

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Gavin, my 24 year old autistic son. We talk about a situation that occurred recently where Gavin was very, very upset at work and had to call me for help. I wanted to discuss this after some time passed because I’m very interested in what Gavin learned from this experience and I wanted to better understand what he was going through in the moment. We both fee...

Episode Summary In this conversation, Rob Gorski speaks with Samantha Fox, a speech language pathologist and founder of Beyond Speech Therapy Center. They discuss non-speaking autism and the challenges related to communication. Samantha shares her journey into speech pathology and how she discovered the importance of motor control in communication. They delve into the concept of apraxia and when p...

Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode of "The Autism Dad" podcast, host Rob Gorski sits down with his 15-year-old son, Emmett, to reflect on the remarkable journey from Emmett's early years as a non-verbal child to his present as a confident young man. Rob and Emmett delve into the changes and challenges they've navigated together, including sensory issues, communication barriers, and persona...

Episode Summary: In this captivating episode of the Autism Dad podcast, host Rob Gorski is joined by Britta Koepf, a distinguished special needs financial planner. Their conversation delves into the essential yet often overlooked realm of special needs financial planning, offering insight and guidance to families navigating the financial complexities associated with caring for individuals with dis...

Episode Summary: In this moving and insightful episode of the Autism Dad podcast, host Rob Gorski sits down with Dr. Whitney Casares to discuss navigating medication for children with autism and ADHD. The conversation revolves around common concerns parents have about medications, the various remedies used, and the overarching emotional hurdles that accompany these decisions. The episode opens the...

On today’s episode, I speak with my 24 year old autistic son, Gavin, talks about his transition into adulthood. We talk about everything for employment, independent living, and dating. Gavin is amazing and he’s so honest about what this journey is like for him and how it makes him feel. You don’t want to miss this. About Rob Gorski and The Autism Dad podcast: Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three am...

Summary In the conversation, Rob Gorski and Brittyn Coleman address the challenges of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in autistic children. They differentiate ARFID from sensory eating issues and discuss the nutritional difficulties these children face. Brittyn advises on supplement introduction and stresses the need for professional support. The importance of community among par...

You won't believe what happened on New Year's Eve. Emmett, my 15 year old autistic son, and I have a fun chat about some things that happened over the holidays that we've not shared yet. Guest Expert: Emmett Gorski is a 15-year-old autistic advocate and the son of Rob Gorski, the influential blogger and podcast host behind "The Autism Dad." Passionate about raising awareness and understanding of a...

Because there’s so many new listeners and this was such an inspiring episode, I’m rereleasing it so more people can connect with it. :-) In today's very special episode, I'm sitting down with my 15-year-old autistic son, Emmett, for a truly unique conversation. For the first time, Emmett opens up about his experience of being non-verbal for the first 4.5 years of his life. This intimate discussion...

 Welcome to The Autism Dad Podcast, I'm Rob Gorski. As a single dad to three amazing autistic kids, I've been the go to global resource for autism parenting since 2010. For the past seven seasons, this podcast has provided parents with education, community resources, and validation. This season, you'll hear from parents just like you, as well as my own kids who will offer their unique perspectives...

In this week's episode, I take on the controversial subject of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy with his guest, Ashley Gibson-Stewart, a seasoned and board-certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). We talk about what ABA therapy was like in the past and how it's changed over the years. Acknowledging the Past: Rob and Ashley discuss the painful experiences our autistic adult friends endured during...

Join us in this enlightening episode as we sit down with Dr. Whitney Casares, a renowned pediatrician, accomplished author/spokesperson with the American Academy of Pediatrics, and mother to an autistic child. She brings to the table not only her professional expertise but also her personal experience navigating the world of autism. Dr. Casares tackles your most pressing questions about sleep hygi...

This is the final episode of Season 6. Kelly and I reflect back on 2023 and what our autism parenting journey’s have been like this year. Kelly talks about her daughter being diagnosed with autism earlier this year and how she’s navigated some of the challenges associated with that. We some of the things 2023 brought into our lives and what we’re looking forward to in 2024. Also, Kelly’s daughter...

Summary: In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sat down with my 17-year-old autistic son, Elliott as we reflected on some of the highlights in 2023. We also talk about what he wants to do with his life and where he wants to be in 2024. Elliott is absolutely amazing and you'll be hearing more from him in season 7. Guest Expert: Elliott Gorski Elliott Gorski, the middle son of Rob Gorski, has...

Summary: In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sat down with my 15-year-old autistic son, Emmett as we recorded our final episode together for Season 6. We had a hilarious conversation as we reflected back on some pivotal moments we experienced in 2023. I had so much fun recording this and I hope you enjoy listening. Guest Expert: Emmett Gorski Emmett Gorski is a 15-year-old autistic advoca...

My guest today is Molly Johnson, otherwise known as The Autism Consultant. She’s here to share some potty training tips and tricks and help us better understand, as well as navigate this toileting journey. Guest Expert: Molly Johnson, The Autism Consultant: Molly Johnson, the founder of The Autism Consultant, initially worked as an autism classroom teacher. Her experience there sparked a deeper in...

Sensory eating is something so many autism families struggle with daily, mine included. My guest this week is Brittyn Coleman, aka The Autism Dietitian. Brittyn is one of only a handful of dietitians across the country specializing in autistic kids. She’s here to help us better understand what sensory eating is and how it differs from picky eating. We also talk about how we can help ensure proper...

Today I spoke with Gavin, my 23 year old autistic son about his journey towards independence in 2023 and what he hopes for in 2024. The conversation didn’t go as planned and Gavin opens up about some very personal struggles that he’s recently overcome. Some I was aware of and others I wasn’t. He also shares his big plans for furthering his independence in 2024 and then drops a massive bomb about o...