Autism for Badass Moms

In this powerful episode, host Rashidah sits down withChristina Bell, a mom, special education graduate student, and fierce advocate for her 5-year-old son Joshie, who was diagnosed with autism at 3.5 years old. From the moment Christina suspected something was different, she didn't hesitate — she Googled, she asked questions, and when the diagnosis came, she met it with clarity and courage in...

In this deeply moving episode of Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidah welcomes Kecia Johnson, a 42-year-old mother, 5-year colorectal cancer survivor, autism advocate, and an eight-time author from Denver, Colorado. She shares a journey that is almost impossible to imagine. Kecia shares the unimaginable journey that began in early 2020 when severe rectal pain was repeatedly dismissed during the height...

In this powerful episode, host Rashidah sits down with Karidiatou Coulibaly (known as Kadi), founder of Moussa Unfolded Hope Initiative (MUHI), to discuss her family's autism journey and the unique challenges many African families face when navigating disability, stigma, and cultural expectations. Raised in an African community where autism was rarely discussed, Karidiatou found herself search...

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms , host Rashidah speaks with Eugenia Woods, a mother, grandmother, and advocate from Long Island, New York, whose autism parenting journey was shaped by bullying, grief, homeschooling, and a difficult encounter with Child Protective Services. After her son Juan received an autism diagnosis at age 9,Eugenia found herself fighting for his educational needs wh...

In this heartfelt episode of Autism for Badass Moms, hostRashidah sits down with Nykyta "Kyta" Arnold, a Georgia mom of three, to share the story of her youngest son Omry's autism journey. After the infection resulted in hearing loss, speech therapy was recommended to support his development. It was during those therapy sessions that the possibility ofautism was first raised. Nykyta...

In this episode of the Autism for Badass Moms Podcast, host Rashidah sits down with Maryland autism mom and advocate Quanisha Mitchell to discuss her family's journey to an autism diagnosis and everything that came after. Quanisha shares how her son, Amir, was initially diagnosed with a speech delay and sensory processing disorder before receiving an autism diagnosis in October 2025. She opens up...

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah sits down with autism advocate and certified autism coach Roshenna “Ro” McHaney for a powerful conversation about rethinking how we support neurodivergent children. Together, they discuss the importance of shifting away from deficit-based thinking and focusing instead on children’s strengths, emotional safety, and individualized support need...

In this powerful episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah speaks with Jessica Pereira from the Bronx, NY, about raising her daughter Ja’Niyah, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2.5. Jessica shares how her bond with her sister, Chasity, evolved into a deeply connected co-parenting partnership rooted in unconditional love, advocacy, and autism acceptance. Together, they have created a hom...

Host Rashidah celebrates Mother’s Day on “Autism for Badass Moms,” honoring the sacrifices and advocacy of autism moms, and introduces a conversation about sibling love and connection in an autism household. Guest Brittany Saunders, from University City, St. Louis, shares her journey raising Mason (10), who is non-verbal and diagnosed with autism in 2019, and Savannah (7). After initial denial, Br...

In this powerful and deeply raw episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah sits down with R.S. Cole, a 40-year-old mother of four from Houston, whose journey through autism parenting has been anything but ordinary. After her youngest son, J, was diagnosed with autism at just 2 years old, R.S. quickly realized the harsh reality many families face — a system that often falls short. Instead of...

In this powerful episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah sits down with Stephanie Williams, engaging in conversation that dives into the reality of parenting multiple children with autism. Stephanie Williams is a 38-Year-Old social work professional, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Fostering ConNeEXTions Inc. Stephanie is a single mom raising three sons, ages 15, 13, and 11-all on t...

Host Rashidah sits down with Evonne Rooks, an autism mom from Richmond, Virginia, who shares her son AJ’s autism diagnosis in January 2023 following speech regression after COVID, her initial shock, and how ABA therapy helped her move forward. Six months later, Evonne sought ER care for what she thought was a severe migraine; imaging revealed major brain swelling and an MRI confirmed a massive lef...

In this powerful and informative episode of Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidah sits down with Julianna Scott, a mom from San Jose and mother of two adult sons, one of whom is autistic. Julianna shares her journey of early diagnosis at just two years old—following prematurity, speech delays, and intense meltdowns—and what it looked like to navigate those early years. From diving deep into research to...

In this heartfelt episode of Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidah sits down with Chanel, a 36-year-old mom from New York, who shares her powerful journey of becoming a voice for her son while still finding her own. Chanel is a mother of two—her 15-year-old daughter and her 5-year-old son, Curtis, who was diagnosed with autism at 2.5 years old. Curtis is non-speaking and communicates using an AAC devic...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah sits down with Jennifer Amoako, a devoted mother, autism advocate, and a true example of resilience in the face of life’s toughest challenges. Jennifer is raising her 4-year-old daughter, Saiylor, who was diagnosed with autism at just two years old. But her journey didn’t begin — or end — there. In the same year as...

Host Rashidah welcomes Jamiliah Jackson, a 44-year-old NewYork mom who became a first-time mother in 2021 to twins Alana and Array after delivering at 26 weeks due to peripartum cardiomyopathy and being hospitalizedin ICU and cardiology. She describes dismissive care before an emergency C-section, the trauma of the NICU during COVID, Alana’s two-month stay, Array’s nearly seven-month stay and disc...

In this episode, Rashidah sits down with Kelley Jensen, a mother of two from San Jose, California, whose son Beau, now 26, was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of three. Kelley opens up about the overwhelming emotions she experienced after the diagnosis and how moving through the stages of grief helped shape her journey. One of the philosophies that has guided her — and many other moms — is...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah welcomes Mitzi, who traveled from Yonkers, New York, to join us in the studio for an honest conversation about the life-changing power of community. Many autism moms begin their journey feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. Between navigating diagnoses, therapies, school systems, and daily life, the...

In this heartfelt episode, LaNiqua shares her powerful storyof navigating her child's autism diagnosis, overcoming challenges, and transforming her experience into a mission to empower other parents. Discover her insights on advocacy, community building, and finding hope beyond the diagnosis.   In this episode, we discuss: 00:00 - Welcome and episode introduction 02:00 - Recognizing early sign...

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms , Rashidahsits down with Betsy Matthews — proud autism mum, university careers consultant, advocate, marathon runner, and host of The Diary of an Autism Mum podcast — to have an honest conversation about navigating puberty witha neurodivergent daughter. Betsy shares how watching her daughter Sienna move through monthly hormonal patterns was eye-opening — a...

In this episode of 'Autism for Badass Moms,' host Rashidah welcomes Kanisha, a 40-year-old registered nurse in Houston and mom to five-year-old Zoë (diagnosed at 2.5, verbal with limited communication), shares her journey from early concerns and self-referral for evaluation to an ADOS-based diagnosis and the therapies that followed. She opens up about balancing full-time work, navigating l...

In this solo episode of 'Autism for Badass Moms', host Rashidah Cartwright explores the myriad challenges faced by mothers of children with autism, including the impact of social media, anxiety, and the mental load of parenting. She discusses the importance of community support, coping strategies for stress, and the ongoing journey of managing personal health and family dynamics. Rashidah emphasiz...

In this episode of 'Autism for Badass Moms,' host Rashidahdelves into the unique challenges of raising a daughter with autism, focusing especially on milestones like puberty and menstruation. Rashidah is joined by Tiffany Jackson, a single mother of a 14-year-old autistic girl, Daisy. Tiffany shares her personal journey, from Daisy's diagnosis at age four to navigating uncharted territ...

In this episode of 'Autism for Badass Moms,' host Rashidahwelcomes Chantel, a resilient mother from Maryland, who shares her heartfelt journey of raising Mulan, her 7-year-old daughter diagnosed with autism. Chantel talks openly about the initial guilt and emotional struggles followingMulan's diagnosis, her advocacy efforts, and how she transformed her challenges into purpose, eventual...

In this heartfelt and informative episode of 'Autism forBadass Moms,' Rashidah welcomes DeAngela from Louisiana, who shares her deeply personal journey. DeAngela discusses navigating life as a mother to a child with DeGeorge syndrome and severe autism, dealing with the challenges of FMLA, and facing unreasonable workplace discrimination. She recounts the traumatic loss of her youngest chil...