Embracing Autism

Is it just us, or are parents of autistic kiddos constantly blamed for their child's diagnosis? From the refrigerator mom theory to the helicopter parent theory, we can't even tell you how many times we've heard accusations hurled towards parents blaming them for their child's autism diagnosis. Are they all bogus? How should we respond? We'll dive into this and more in today's episode. Support our...

Summer is just around the corner and we are so ready! Are you? Today we discuss how we prepare for summer and the complications it can bring such as a disruption of routine, learning loss, behavioral challenges, and more. We also share how taking certain precautionary steps can help create a smoother summer transition. Support our mission, become a member: patreon.com/autismwish

Birthdays can be tricky to navigate with autistic kiddos. From sensory overload, to sudden changes in routine, these celebrations often result in meltdowns and overwhelm. Today we'll chat about how we create an autism-conscious birthday experience for our girls and share our tips on how to reduce the overwhelm and enhance the fun. Support our mission, Become a Member: patreon.com/autismwish

She's here! We're dedicating this episode to a family update as we share our experience welcoming our newest member of the McCabe clan, how our girls reacted, and what we have done to help with the transition. Support our mission, Become A Member: patreon.com/AutismWish

As parents of autistic children and as autistic individuals, we are often faced with additional stressors, challenges, and overwhelming circumstances while lacking support and resources to navigate them. Today we will discuss the importance of empathy in action, and what it means to be an autism ally. This episode aims to provide those outside of the autism community an inside glimpse and 'how-to'...

It's April and you know what that means, it's officially Autism Acceptance Month! This time of year is intended to spread awareness and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder while organizations like AutismWish work hard towards fundraising and charitable missions, but it's not all sunshine and roses. Today we chat about the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding this time of year and share our t...

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dani Bowman, best known for her starring role in the docuseries "Love on the Spectrum, US". Dani is a young and talented animator, artist, and entrepreneur on the Autism Spectrum who is passionate about using her skills to help others and dedicated to inclusion and diversity. Despite being diagnosed with autism at age 3 and nonverbal until 6, Dani has o...

In this episode, we explore valuable insights and tips for navigating screen time in the context of autism. We discuss the potential benefits, such as skill development and communication support, as well as the challenges, including sensory overload and addiction risks. Join us as we share practical strategies for striking a healthy balance and maximizing the positive impact of screen time on auti...

Today we welcome Ron Sandison. Ron works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of "A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice, Biblical Wisdom". Join us as we discuss the intersection of faith, autism, and personal identity as well as the importance of inclusion...

One of the biggest challenges we have faced as parents of autistic children is finding people we trust to care for them when we cannot. Whether it be a medical emergency, a sleepover, or a simple date night, it's hard to trust others with the care of our children. Today we will share how this impacts our family and things to consider when deciding whether or not someone is trustworthy. Become a me...

Dr. Temple Grandin is an acclaimed animal behaviorist and animal science professor at Colorado State University. She is the subject of the 2010 film, Temple Grandin, which focuses on her start in animal agriculture. Dr. Grandin has become a prominent author and speaker both on autism and animal behavior. Diagnosed with autism as a child, Dr. Grandin credits her mother and mentors for helping her o...

It's time for a hard reality check. Our kids get bullied and rejected by their peers - often.  As a parent, it hurts to see your child treated poorly and we can get caught up in the 'what do I do?' spiral. Due to their autism, our girls can't always tell when they're being bullied, but they sure can tell when they're being pushed away. Today we'll talk about the truth behind the impact of peer rej...

Heather Chauvin is a parent of neurodivergent children and leadership coach who helps ambitious, overwhelmed women break free from their fears to courageously and authentically live, work, and parent on their own terms. Today she shares her expertise on tackling lack of parenting confidence, specific strategies to gain self-trust, managing energy during parental burnout, self-care, emotional regul...

Join us as we dive into a topic close to many parents' hearts: the journey of hearing those precious words, "I Love You," from our kids and what happens when that moment doesn't quite happen as expected? We're here to share our experiences of exploring love languages with our girls and how we've learned to give and receive love in different ways. Support the show and Become a Member today: patreon...

Today we sit down with Author and Advocate, Kelley Coleman, to discuss the ins and outs on filing autism related paperwork, navigating therapies, understanding insurance, government benefits, advocating for your child in school, financial planning and more! Kelley Coleman is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. You...

Embark on a thoughtful journey with us as we discuss the complex choice of expanding a family after raising two autistic children. In this episode, we navigate the intricacies of parenting within the spectrum, exploring both the joys and challenges that come with adding another member to the fold. From fostering sibling bonds to managing the increased demands, we weigh the pros and cons, offering...

Today we bring to you a fellow autism advocate and CEO of autism consulting business SJ Childs LLC, Sara Bradford. We'll touch on subjects including the challenges of parenting an autistic child and what you can do to create a closer connection. Sara is an autistic adult with a goal to support autism impacted families. She is also a member of the Autism Council of Utah and the owner of the Autism...

This one's gonna be a doozy! Join us as we dive into the controversial world of what it means to be #ActuallyInclusive in the autistic community. Is it okay to like the puzzle piece symbol? How should we respond with those who disagree with our views? And why is it so hard to get along? Today, we'll revisit the debate and share new insights. Join the after-show discussion by becoming a member of t...

After a several month hiatus, we're ready to share our story. We'll dive into what's been going on with our family, future plans, and exciting AutismWish updates. We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to share your family updates with us by commenting on youtube.com/@autismwish or chatting with us directly in our exclusive Embracing Autism Community by becoming a member today! Become a Member:...

A personal update from our family. If you've enjoyed the Embracing Autism Podcast, please consider showing your support by leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Sasha Long, BCBA, M.A., is the founder and president of The Autism Helper, Inc. She is a board certified behavior analyst and former special education teacher. In Today's episode, Sasha shares strategies and best practices for parents tackling challenging IEP discussions at school, executive dysfunction accommodations, easing back to school transitions, and more! You can follow Sasha Long on socia...

Is Autism Speaks a hate group? Should autistics and autism allies embrace or turn away from the organization? Today I have with me a name that should be very familiar to you all, Eileen Lamb. Eileen is the author of "All Across The Spectrum" and “Be The One,” and is well-known as the founder of The Autism Cafe, an autism advocacy blog. She’s also a writer, photographer, and host of the Autism Spea...

It's tough being a parent, even tougher when your child is autistic. But we have learned through the last years that it's often better to laugh than cry or scream. Today we will share how our sense of humor has been the saving grace in our marriage and parenting journeys and why we encourage other parents to embrace the funny side of things to help restore your hope. Join our private Embracing Aut...

Our kids are heading back to school for the second year. This time, we're prepared and sharing our best tips and resources to help your autistic child start school on the right foot! Join our private Embracing Autism Community on Guilded.gg and support our charitable programs by Becoming a Member at Autismwish.org today! For as little as $5 a month, your membership will grant you exclusive access...

Community outings can often seem impossible to manage with an autistic child, but sometimes the key to success can really be quite simple. Today we will chat about our experience at the Georgia Aquarium and why visiting a Certified Autism Center can make all the difference in a successful outing. Join our private Embracing Autism Community on Guilded.gg and support our charitable programs by Becom...