Embracing Autism

Tune in as we expose the raw reality of the intense exhaustion of parenting an autistic child that can feel all-consuming. We dive into the common experiences of feeling overwhelmed, depleted, and "running on fumes," with a reminder that it's okay to simply be present with your child without trying to immediately strategize. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we’re happy to connect with Estates, Trusts, and Probate Attorney Adam Abramowitz. A sincere desire to help people protect their loved ones inspired Adam to focus his legal career on estate planning. He believes estate planning is an ongoing, lifelong process and he works with clients to see how each decision they make will fit into the overall picture of their long-term plan and goals. Adam...

In this Halloween-themed episode, we’re excited to share practical tips for creating a fun, sensory-friendly Halloween experience for autistic kids, and a special guest appearance from the newest member of our family! We’ll also talk about how Halloween might look a little different this year as we embrace these changes. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we sit down and chat with Amy McCoy, an autism parent, award winning children’s author, and disability educator. Her debut children’s novel, Little Big Sister, shares the sibling perspective of growing up with a brother who has autism. Amy combines her expertise as a former elementary school teacher with her experience of parenting a child with autism as she visits elementary schools, librar...

Join us as we dive into strategies for navigating hurricanes and other natural disasters with autistic children. We’ll share tips on preparing ahead, creating safety, managing sensory overload, and returning to routine, while revealing how we create a sense of adventure to bring comfort and joy during the storm. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we chat with Guy Stephens! Guy is a passionate advocate and nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion. In 2019, he founded the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a respected nonprofit aimed at reforming policies and practices to eliminate punitive discipline and the school-to-prison pipeline. Guy promotes trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming approaches and ha...

Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of homeschooling an autistic child. We’ll cover the benefits of personalized learning, socialization challenges, and tips for creating routines and incorporating therapies to help you decide if homeschooling is right for your family. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we’re sitting down with Occupational Therapist and Pediatric Feeding Specialist Cuyler Romeo. Her extensive leadership and clinical experience are instrumental in the execution and management of Feeding Matters’ strategic initiatives. In partnership with the CEO, Jaclyn Pederson, Cuyler collaborates with constituents to identify, track, and assess innovative approaches to the PFD system of c...

On Sept. 4th a gunman who shall not be named entered Apalachee High School and ended the lives of 4 people in our community, two 14 year old students and 2 teachers. One of the two students, whose name was Mason, was autistic. Today we will discuss the incident that has put our community in national headlines and how we are processing the impact it has had on our children and the autism community....

Today we discuss hyper-empathy in autism—a condition where individuals feel others' emotions intensely, making it challenging to regulate their own feelings. We’ll explore what hyper-empathy looks like, its potential causes, its impact on daily life, and provide practical tips for managing it. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today’s special guest is Meg Raby Klinghoffer, an autistic writer and author of the beloved My Brother Otto series. As a speech-language pathologist at KultureCity, Meg is at the forefront of their latest innovation, Koji—a free AI tool designed to empower nonspeakers and minimally speaking individuals. Join us as Meg shares insights about Koji and her mission to create inclusive communities where...

Join us as we share our children’s experience with Play Therapy and how these approaches are helping our girls manage anxiety, particularly around performance and fear of failure. We also discuss how Autplay, an autism-tailored play therapy, is teaching them new skills to help express emotions and build confidence. Support our mission, become a member: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we explore how to help your autistic child use their natural honesty more tactfully, turning their bluntness into a strength without causing social conflict. We discuss practical strategies to help your child express themselves while considering others' feelings. Tune in for tips on nurturing their honesty while fostering empathy and social awareness. Support our mission, Become A Member: pa...

Tune in as we tackle the topic of autistic vulnerability, focusing on the challenges of social communication and how they can lead to bullying, harassment, social isolation, and even job loss. We'll discuss practical strategies for parents to support their children and safeguard their well-being. Support our mission, Become A Member: patreon.com/autismwish

In this special milestone episode, we are thrilled to celebrate reaching 100,000 listeners! To mark this momentous occasion, we are dedicating this episode to you, our amazing audience, with a Q&A session. We’ll be answering your most burning questions about parenting autistic children, sharing personal insights, and reflecting on the journey so far. Thank you for being part of the Embracing A...

In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Vladimir Barayev, a board-certified pediatrician and autism specialist, to discuss the importance of good sleep habits for autistic children. Dr. Vlad, who runs a holistic pediatric practice in Staten Island, New York, will share insights on common sleep issues and effective strategies for improving sleep. Join us as we explore practical advice to enhance t...

As the new school year approaches, we’ll share advice and practical strategies to help parents prepare their autistic children for a successful return to school. By fostering a supportive environment and implementing effective preparation techniques, you can make the transition smoother for your child. Support our mission, Become a Member: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we’ll explore how decision fatigue uniquely affects individuals with autism. We’ll show you how to identify signs, understand its impact, and discover practical strategies for managing daily choices. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Amazon’s yearly Prime event is around the corner and we have some great suggestions on what we’ve personally used that has helped our girls with sensory regulation, elopement, transitions and more. Items discussed in this episode can be found below (we may earn a small commission on purchases made from these links at no additional cost to you): SimpliSafe 12 Piece Wireless Home Security System: ht...

We dive into the ups and downs of sibling rivalry when both kids are on the autism spectrum. We'll chat about how to help them understand each other, deal with jealousy, and break through communication barriers.  Support our mission, become a member: patreon.com/autismwish

An inability to judge social situations often accompanies autism. Unfortunately, this can result in our children making poor choices when it comes to strangers. Today we dive into the topic of Stranger Danger, how we have seen it manifest in our children, and some ideas on tackling it. Support our mission, Become A Member today: patreon.com/AutismWish

You've heard it said before, Autism is a superpower! But is it really? Today we'll chat about the well-meaning but potentially harmful notion of Autism being viewed as a superpower and why this opinion may vary among autistic individuals. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we discuss the unique challenges faced by those of us diagnosed with high-functioning or level 1 autism and why it's problematic to perceive this category of individuals as requiring fewer supports than are actually needed. Support our mission, Become a Member today: patreon.com/AutismWish

Does it feel sometimes like everything is going wrong and at the worst possible moment? Today we discuss how parenting an autistic child can lower your mental and emotional threshold for dealing with hard times, what this looks like in our family, and how we continue learning healthier ways to manage the stress. Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

It's that time again when our kids are graduating, extracurriculars are wrapping up, and it seems as though everything is reminding you of what progress (or lack thereof) your child has made over the past year. Today we discuss the highs and lows of end-of-school-year celebrations, how grief can often sneak up on you unexpectedly, and the importance of embracing beauty in the unconventional. Suppo...