Full Spectrum Parent: Christian Autism Support | Special Needs Parenting | Faith & Autism Resources

Whether we like to admit it or not, every parent experiences dark seasons.   One of our mottos as a family is authenticity; what you see is what you get. So, here on the Full Spectrum Parent, we don’t shy away from hard topics.   In Episode 54, we launch a 4-part series titled: Anxiety, Depression, Grief, and Keeping the Faith.   This week we interviewed Michele Cushatt. As a three-time head-and-n...

With Father’s Day right around the corner, we wanted to honor dads with some words of wisdom.  Parenting is hard and there is so much pressure on the shoulders of fathers to be everything to their kids: provider, supporter, coach, mentor, and friend. But how do dads juggle all these roles in a God honoring way?  In Episode 53, we interview Bryan Ward. Bryan is a husband and father of two grown boy...

In Episode 52, we answer a listener’s parenting question.   This episode’s question:   “How much is too much for extracurricular activities? One parent wants the kid involved in everything and the other just wants what the kid wants most. Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect...

Summer is a time to unwind, travel, and make fun-filled memories with our families. But for special needs parents, summers are often filled with meltdowns, high stress, and extreme exhaustion.  I’m Episode 51, we offer three tips to make the most of summer as special needs parents.  Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance...

In Episode 50, we answer a listener’s parenting question.  This episode’s question:   “What is the best response to people who notice a marked difference in your child’s behavior and feel comfortable blurting out rude commentary?” Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent...

In honor of Mother’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the special needs moms who make daily sacrifices, day-in-and-day-out, behind the scenes as you care for your children. You truly are OUR heroes.  We wish we could shower you all with flowers this Mother’s Day but that doesn’t fit our budget as pastors ;) Instead, we want to offer you 10 Words of Wisdom as you embark on your special needs journey.  H...

In Episode 48, we answer a listener’s parenting question.  This episode’s question:  What do you say to your child when they start questioning God?  Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www. ChristianParenting.org

As parents, it’s easy to worry about our kid’s safety. As special needs parents, safety precautions take on a whole new meaning.  In Episode 47, we share our Top Four Safety Recommendations and how we have navigated keeping our five kids out of harm’s way.  Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the...

In Episode 46, we answer a listener’s parenting question.  This episode’s question:  Potty training! What was your experience and what worked/didn’t work? Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www. ChristianParenting.org

April is Autism Awareness month and for this episode we wanted to do things a little different.  Normally, our shows are geared toward special needs families. But this episode is specifically for friends and relatives who aren’t directly affected by autism but know and love a family with a child on the spectrum.  In Episode 45, we offer seven Do’s and Don’ts to consider when interacting and servin...

In Episode 44, we answer a listener’s parenting question. This episode’s question:  Why don’t you talk about ways to heal autism on your podcast? Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www. ChristianParenting.org

Parenting a strong-willed child is challenging. The more you push them, the harder the push back. In Episode 43, we share our struggles with our youngest and how we navigate keeping our cool while maintaining our connection with her.  Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect par...

Do you ever compare your life to other people?  Worst yet, have you ever compared your kids to other kids? Why is it so easy to fall into the comparison trap? After our daughter was diagnosed with severe autism, we found ourselves locked in its clutches for years. In Episode 42, we talk candidly about our struggles and how we clawed our way out of the comparison trap.  We also share what God’s Wor...

In Episode 41, we answer a listener’s parenting question. This episode’s question:  What is a good way of making my 9 year old understand the value of items and that it's not okay to keep breaking them repeatedly? Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to b...

All parents (especially during Covid and remote learning) have felt like their kids were climbing the walls. But some of our children struggle with attention on a daily basis. In Episode 40, we share our ADHD journey with our two adopted children. We talk about common symptoms to watch out for, our hesitation to try medication, and the ups-and-downs along the way. We also address the nation wide A...

Every child at one point or another experiences a meltdown. But for children on the spectrum, meltdowns are a common occurrence.  In Episode 39, we discuss 6 ways to help prevent a meltdown while sharing some embarrassing stories of our kids worst temper tantrums.  Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow i...

In Episode 38, we answer a listener’s parenting question. This episode’s question: How do I get my daughter to fall asleep more independently? Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www. ChristianParenting.org

In Episode 37, we finish our three-part series, “It Takes A Village” by discussing the ins and outs of ABA Therapy. After our daughter Mara was diagnosed, we had to make some tough decisions regarding her education. We had the chance to tour different classroom settings and in this episode we candidly share our first impressions. We also compare and contrast ABA classrooms with special education a...

In Episode 36 we answer a listener’s parenting question. This episode’s question: I have a teenage boy who likes to play video games. He says he’s not interested in doing other things. How do I get him to engage and do things with me?

In Episode 35, we continue our series “It Takes a Village” by talking about the ins and outs of Supplemental Security Income or (SSI). SSI is a monthly payment given by the government for children and adults who are considered disabled. We talk candidly about the pros and cons of this service and how God has used it to humble us and teach us it’s ok to ask for help. If you’d like more information...

Episode 34 is the first of our new mini-episodes where we answer a listeners parenting question. This episode’s question: How do you handle a picky eater?

In Episode 33, we dive into a three-part series called “It Takes A Village” where we discuss the supports we use as a family for our children on the spectrum. In Part One of this series we discuss Self-Direction Services: What is it? Why we utilize it. And why you need to apply for these services in your state. Also, we shared with our listeners a big announcement: We will now be offering weekly e...

In Episode 32, Christmas Questions and Challenges, we tackle the most common questions we receive during the holidays: Does Jesus believe in Santa? Should Christian families celebrate Santa? How do we keep Jesus at the center of Christmas? How do we navigate Christmas as special needs parents and more!

In Episode 31, we continue our 3-part series on prayer as we pick my good friend Erica Renaud’s brain on ways we can engage in prayer WITH our kids. Erica Renaud is a powerful speaker, passionate writer and founder of two ongoing prayer initiatives. She speaks at various events and conferences throughout the Northeast. Erica and her husband are active in their congregation leading a regular prayer...

In Episode 30, we continue our 3-part series on prayer as we discuss with Natalie Runion from Raised to Stay how to pray for our typical kids—especially those who want nothing to do with the church. Natalie Runion is a pastor’s kid turned pastor, and her husband Tony and their two daughters live in Colorado Spring where she is on staff as the Pastor of Women at New Life Church.   In 2019 after wat...