Autism for Badass Moms

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidahwelcomes Meagan, a special education teacher and mother of an autistic daughter, to share her family's journey with neurodivergence. They discuss the importance of early autism diagnosis, Meagan's personal and professionalexperience navigating the educational system and how understanding her own neurodivergence has impacted her life....

In this episode, Danielle shares her emotional journey of raising her son Chandler, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. She discusses the challenges and fears she faced, especially as a Black mother, and the vital support system she relied on, including her family and close friends. Danielle also recounts her own experiences of feeling a connection to her son's symptoms, leading t...

In this episode, Rashidah interviews Susanna, who shares herdeeply personal journey of parenting a daughter diagnosed with autism at a young age. Susanna discusses the emotional challenges and the process of seeking a diagnosis while advocating for her child. She highlights the culturalnuances of dealing with autism within her Taiwanese and American family dynamics, as well as the lessons she'...

In this heartfelt episode of Autism for Badass Moms, we sit down with Natalie Carbone, a wife, mother, and autism advocate from Union City, New Jersey, whose life took an unexpected—but deeply purposeful—turn. After becoming a medical assistant, Natalie began to notice that her daughter, Sienna-Rose, wasn’t meeting developmental milestones. When Sienna-Rose was diagnosed with autism at age six, Na...

In this episode, Tanasha shares her profound journey of navigating her daughter Harmony's autism diagnosis. Relocating from New York to South Carolina, Tanasha encountered significant challenges in getting the appropriate diagnosis and support for her daughter. From facing resistance at schools to dealing with unsupportive healthcare professionals, Tanasha's story is one of relentless advo...

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah engages in a heartfelt conversation with Tawana Chealy, a mother of two sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. They discuss the unique challenges of finding love as a single mom, the emotional toll of raising a child with autism, and the journey of healing and hope after heartbreak. Tawana shares her personal experiences, including the...

In this episode Julie M. Green discusses her experiences as a mother and a writer. Julie shares her journey of discovering that both she and her son are autistic, discussing the challenges and the learning curve involved with raising an autistic child in a time when information and resources were limited. She touches on her diagnosis process, the isolation she felt, and the eventual realization th...

In this episode, Rashidah welcomes Sierra, a mother who shares her personal journey of raising her son, Christian, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and also exhibits signs of Pica. Sierra explains the early signs, including tiptoe walking and delayed speech, that led to his autism diagnosis. She discusses the challenges of managing Pica, a condition where Christian has an urge to ea...

In this powerful episode of Autism for Badass Moms ,Rashidah sits down with Chanel Grant , an educator, advocate, and the fierce force behind Rise of the Phoenix: The M.O.D.Y. Manifesto . From the sunny state of California, Chanel opens up about her deeply personal journey—one shaped by resilience, advocacy, and an unshakable love for her son,(“Lex”), who was diagnosed with autism and a language i...

In this episode, Alicia Renee, founder of the IEP Files and advocate for neurodivergent children, shares her personal journey of raising her son, including her struggles and triumphs in navigating the special education system. She discusses the diagnosis process, her relentless pursuit of appropriate services, and her fight against systemic failures in education. Alicia emphasizes the importance o...

In this powerful episode, host Rashidah sits down with Erica Johnson, a remarkable mother, advocate, and law school graduate whose story embodies strength, perseverance, and purpose. Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Erica became a mom during her final year of college. Her son, Sean, was diagnosed with autism at just 3 years old — a moment that forever changed the direction of her life....

In this week’s powerful episode of  Autism for Badass Moms , host  Rashidah  sits down with  Emely Vanessa Zavala , a proud Latina mom from Los Angeles whose story will touch your heart. At just 2 years old, Emely’s son  Justin  was diagnosed with autism — and like so many of us, she thought the hardest part was behind her. But when Justin turned 8, his aggressive meltdowns and self-injurious beha...

In this powerful and transparent episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah sits down with Keena White, a licensed therapist and intuitive healer, to discuss what it truly means to co-parent with grace, balance, and intention after separation. Keena opens up about her personal journey — learning how to put her child’s needs first, even when feelings toward the other parent were complicated....

In this episode, we meet Palwinder, who shares her powerful journey as a young mother navigating the intersections of cultural expectations and raising a daughter on the autism spectrum. She opens up about the deeply ingrained biases in Indian culture against having daughters, and the added complexity of dealing with her daughter's autism diagnosis. Despite facing societal and familial pressur...

In this week’s episode of Autism for Badass Moms, we sit down with Brandie Frost, a 28-year-old dedicated mom and bonus mom to three boys from Southeastern Kentucky. Her youngest son, Ruger, age 4, faced many health challenges during his first two years of life that have now mostly been resolved. At age 2, Ruger was diagnosed with Cavum Septum Pellucidum, and by age 4, he received diagnoses of Lev...

In this episode, Rashidah speaks with Marlene Soto-Riera, disability advocate, author, and founder of Helping Swans Co. Marlene shares her journey as a mother and grandmother of children with autism, her mission to build inclusive communities, and how she made history by organizing Newton County, Georgia’s first-ever Autism Awareness and Inclusion Event. What we discuss: 00:00 Introduction and Bac...

In this conversation, Brigiette shares her personal journey as a mother of two children diagnosed with autism and epilepsy. She discusses the challenges of navigating the diagnosis process, the emotional impact of seizures, and the importance of advocacy and self-care. Bridget emphasizes the need for parents to trust their instincts and seek support, while also highlighting the unique experiences...

Join host Rashidah as she welcomes fellow Jerseyan, Nicole Pierre-Louis, a 35-year-old autism mom from Essex County, NJ. In August 2021, Nicole experienced a pivotal moment when both of her children were diagnosed as neurodiverse. Her son Blaise, now six, was diagnosed with autism at two years old. He is considered non-verbal and communicates using an AAC device. Although she initially felt overwh...

In this conversation, Shannon shares her personal journey as a mother of a child with autism, detailing the challenges and triumphs she faced from diagnosis to advocacy. She emphasizes the importance of being an informed advocate for one's child, navigating the medical system, and finding community resources. Shannon also offers valuable advice for new parents, highlighting the need for resili...

In this heartfelt conversation, Jasmine shares her journey as a mother of a son with autism, discussing the challenges and triumphs she has faced along the way. From navigating the early signs of autism to the emotional toll of parenting a teenager, Jasmine emphasizes the importance of community, vulnerability, and self-care. She also highlights her experience as a nursing student while raising he...

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah speaks with Macy Evans, a young mom from Indiana, about her journey raising her six-year-old son Jackson, who has autism and ADHD. Macy shares her experiences of navigating autism as a young mom, the emotional challenges she faced, and the resilience she found along the way. She discusses the significant impact early intervention and therapi...

In Part 2 of this powerful 100th episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah Cartwright reflects on the journey of motherhood while raising children with autism. She discusses the challenges, emotional struggles, and the importance of community support. Rashidah emphasizes the need for self-care, vulnerability, and resetting expectations as essential components of being a badass mom. The conv...

In Part 1 of this powerful 100th episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah Cartwright takes listeners on an unapologetically real journey through the highs, lows, and in-betweens of raising children with autism. From the moment of diagnosis to the endless fight for services and understanding, Rashidah opens up about the raw emotions, relentless advocacy, and unshakable love that define this...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, we sit down with Claudia Cervantes, a proud special needs mom born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Claudia is raising two incredible little ones: Christian, her curious and energetic 5-year-old on the autism spectrum who also has sensory processing disorder and a speech delay, and Jessie, her joyful 2-year-old who keeps the whole family on their toes....

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, we sit down with Michelle who shares her journey as a mother navigating the complexities of autism diagnosis for her son, Cameron, and herself. She discusses the challenges of seeking a diagnosis, the impact of vaccinations, and the struggles of single parenting. Michelle emphasizes the importance of advocacy, education, and self-care while also highlight...