Parenting Severe Autism

Send us Fan Mail Vacation stress collides with severe autism routines, and can push a family to the edge. We share what happened on our Illinois getaway, then zoom out to the bigger lesson about family stress, boundaries, and the tiny moments of humor that keep us going.  • caregiving isolation and what it feels like when support runs thin  • why special needs travel often requires more than a sim...

Send us Fan Mail We go back through the emails from our son’s first year in a new high school and relive how quickly “support” turned into constant crises. Then I share the most surprising update I have had in years! • school fees shock and using McKinney-Vento homeless status while doubled up  • early attempts at communication through typing and why it feels complicated  • IEP meeting overload an...

Send us Fan Mail A “senior year” photo comes home and hits us like grief instead of celebration, opening up everything we wish educators understood about profound autism and the gap between labels and reality. We also share what regulation looks like in our house, from sensory touch and breathing to the surprising toll of loud, nonstop noise.  • the emotional sting of “senior” messaging for a chil...

Send us Fan Mail A Mother’s Day “Happy Mother’s Day” song should be simple, but when you’re parenting severe autism, even the sweetest moment can sit right next to exhaustion you can’t quite explain. I’m sharing what’s been going on in my house lately, including the quiet fear that your family is holding together on the outside while things feel shaky underneath. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m the o...

Send us Fan Mail We juggle a new school year for our high support needs severely autistic son while we question staffing, trust, and classes without enough help. We also share what happened when natural remedies and cannabis products worked unpredictably, plus a bigger idea about respite communities that could use technology to fill real care gaps.  • Shifting into a new school era and tightening...

Send us Fan Mail We talk through what happens when severe autism elopement becomes so constant that we start padlocking gates and doors, then realize those same locks can trap us when seconds matter. I share the fear, the guilt, the dark humor, and the safety steps that finally make our days a little more survivable.  • padlocking after repeated escapes  • the moment he scales the fence and I cann...

Send us Fan Mail We relive a brutal stretch of severe autism insomnia where bedtime turns into instant chaos and every tool we have becomes about safety and survival. We share the phrases and hacks that actually land with our son, plus the day his dysregulation spills into the neighborhood and changes how we think about vigilance.  • using two to three word scripts for receptive language limits  •...

Send us Fan Mail We share raw truths from the frontline of severe autism care. From morning quiet-time rules to fingerprint locks and parent-led training, we fight for safety, structure, and a real village. • why isolation and burnout demand respite communities • how parent-led training creates consistent, safer care • the 15-minute morning rule as regulation, not preference • using fingerprint lo...

Send us Fan Mail We share a brutal garage meltdown from our Summer of Hell and the ripple effects that followed, then end with small, human moments that reminded us why we keep going. Fear, responsibility, and survival sit beside laughter, food, and connection. • moving from gratitude into a hard story • morning spiral and the sprint to the garage • real physical danger • being attacked and a late...

Send us Fan Mail We open our hearts about caregiver fatigue, broken trust, and the sharp edges of life with severe autism while weighing practical options like group homes and community respite. Along the way we face language boundaries, public behaviors, new obsessions, and small moments of joy that keep us going. • caregiver stress after years without respite • loss of trust with family after ne...

Send us Fan Mail Sleepless nights, decoding a taboo topic with compassion and clarity... Safety, dignity, and small wins guide the way while we keep reaching for calmer mornings and better tools. • naming severe autism risks and caregiver isolation • addressing startle responses • coping with sleep deprivation and night chaos • removing obsessional objects that spike aggression • setting consequen...

Send us Fan Mail We share how escalating anxiety pushed our family to the edge, and how a simple morning reset brought peace back. Clear boundaries, a 20-minute quiet window, shifting behavior and energy fast. Also another item on the daily menu during the Summer of Hell. • closet destruction, failed fixes, safety locks • meds context • behavior as communication • mapping triggers • the non-negoti...

Send us Fan Mail We pause the summer saga to share what’s been blocking us: relentless environmental triggers, family drop‑ins, and a birthday derailed by overstimulation. We draw a hard line on media, lock doors during the 20‑minute adjustment window, and lean on body‑based tools to bring the baseline down. • why the home soundtrack drives meltdowns • a betrayal trigger and weeks of fallout • bir...

Send us Fan Mail We trace a season of sleepless nights, stomping floors, and bathroom chaos into two quiet breakthroughs: independent handwashing and a shared Soup Dance that reveals connection inside repetition. A harsh LED light becomes a surprising trigger, and a softer presence opens space for growth. • recognizing environmental triggers like harsh LED lighting • coping with insomnia, nighttim...

Send us Fan Mail We share a hard summer of bathroom destruction, broken trust with family, and a support group that didn’t get it, then find relief in small wins: a playful de‑escalation, emerging words, and happy tears that we learned to name.  • family boundary breaches and safety risks • obsessive bathroom behaviors and home damage • product lockdowns and supervision trade‑offs • safe medical s...

Send us Fan Mail We draw a hard line on boundaries after a “fun” day out breaks our son’s diet, a chaotic family visit disrupts routine, and grief surfaces through targeted destruction. We also name caregiver resentment without shame and share a simple tech tool that averted a meltdown. • fundraiser links, storefront resources, and coffee support • standing firm when family ignores diet rules • po...

Send us Fan Mail A candid mention about staying when others say to leave, and how structure, safety, and short, clear language can turn daily chaos into small wins. From wall padding to therapy brushes to locks and applesauce mishaps, we share what worked, what failed, and why timing matters. • reducing attention-seeking by replacing constant input with predictable access • why soothing tools must...

Send us Fan Mail We share a raw stretch of our severe autism journey: the camp that finally said yes, why patient volunteers sometimes trump credentials, and what it costs to hold your home together when your child unravels. Along the way, we ask for community help and outline what support should look like. • subscriber‑only truth‑telling episodes and why we lock some content • GoFundMe for Safer...

Send us Fan Mail We face the change in the story since moving back to Illinois: the first sign of aggression that changed everything between us. We also share GeneSite results, ask about Leucovorin, weigh group homes vs “never,” and find a quiet win by the river. • impact of the Illinois move on behavior and family strain • the car attack as a turning point in safety and trust • losing verbal leve...

Send us Fan Mail Moving to Illinois with our severely autistic son brought unexpected challenges, including his increasingly violent behavior and our struggle to find appropriate medical and community support. Rejection has become an abnormally normal occurrence, but this is where it started. • Our son developed concerning rage behaviors in public • Housing search • Parent support group silence •...

Send us Fan Mail Shannon shares the challenging journey of relocating from Wisconsin to Illinois with her severely autistic son, highlighting the unexpected difficulties they faced and the small victories that kept them going through the transition. • Preparing requires extensive preparation, ideally with videos of new locations • Transitioning to living with grandparents created significant chall...

Send us Fan Mail Shannon continues sharing emails between herself and her son Jacob's teachers in Wisconsin, revealing the challenges of advocating for a child with severe autism in the school system. • Ongoing battles with teachers about using food as a motivator despite Shannon's opposition due to potential eating disorders and specific dietary restrictions • Frustration with teachers...

Send us Fan Mail I share our experience with the public school system when Jacob returned after a previous traumatic incident, revealing the challenges, frustrations, and occasional victories during this difficult period. • The school promised an "adulting program" for independent living skills but Jacob never got to participate • Jacob needed three-to-one support instead of one-to-one,...

Send us Fan Mail Shannon shares the experience of returning her son to school after he was abused, revealing the challenges of finding appropriate accommodations and fighting the system at every turn. • School couldn't handle her son's needs, requiring a reduced schedule to prevent overwhelm • Battle over using a communication notebook that had always worked as a behavior management tool...

Send us Fan Mail Severe autism presents unique challenges during summer months, particularly increased elopement risk and the need for constant vigilance.  • Summer heat and reduced structure may trigger more elopement behaviors in autistic children • AngelSense GPS tracking device provides location tracking and two-way communication during elopement incidents • Children with severe autism sometim...