The Autism Dad

In this powerful conversation, Rob talks with Jennifer Kaufman, educator, and grandmother to an autistic child - about the often overlooked but critical role that grandparents play in the lives of neurodivergent kids. Jennifer shares wisdom from her book Grandparenting on the Spectrum and opens up about navigating her dual role as both a seasoned professional and a grandparent still learning to st...

When you’re parenting autistic children or kids with high support needs, it’s easy to wonder how it all impacts their siblings. Do they feel forgotten? Overwhelmed? Lost in the shuffle? In this heartfelt episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sit down with autism mom Amy Kelly and her adult son Danny for a raw, emotional, and hopeful look at the sibling experience—and why it matters more than we oft...

Is your child struggling—and you’re not getting answers from “normal” tests? Hit play. This could change everything. In Part 2 of my powerful conversation with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, we explore how neuroinflammation, mast cell activation, and overlooked biological factors can affect autistic children. We dive into my son Gavin’s journey, how traditional testing failed us, and what we discovere...

Could neuroinflammation be driving your child’s symptoms? This episode will change how you think about autism and health. In this two-part series of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, one of the world’s leading experts in neuroimmune medicine and mast cell research. We dig deep into how inflammation in the brain—driven by overactive mast cells—can contribute to the...

Episode Summary: In this powerful and deeply human episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sit down with husband-and-wife team Jeremy Dyen and Dr. Mika Gupta, co-founders of Mama Bird, to explore the emotional and transformative journey of parenting a child with Down syndrome. We talk about: Navigating a life-changing diagnosis Finding purpose in unexpected places Supporting your child’s unique needs...

In this powerful conclusion to our three-part Special Needs Financial Planning series, I’m joined once again by Katy Bryan, a Special Needs Financial Planner with Skylight Financial Group. In this episode, we tackle the toughest part of the journey—planning for our child’s future after we’re gone. This isn’t easy to talk about, but having a plan in place can ease a lot of the anxiety many of us ca...

Show Notes: Special Needs Financial Planning (Part 2) — The Autism Dad Podcast In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, Rob Gorski continues the special needs financial planning series with guest Katy Bryan from Skylight Financial Group. Katy specializes in helping families of children with disabilities plan for the future and shares key steps to prepare for your child’s transition to adulthood....

While my production computer is down, I’m re-releasing this powerful episode that so many parents found helpful the first time around. If you’re raising a non-speaking or minimally speaking child, or if you're trying to better understand apraxia and communication differences in autism—this conversation is for you. I’m joined again by Samantha Fox, M.A., CCC-SLP—an incredible speech-language pathol...

This episode is being re-released for Autism Awareness Month. In this powerful and important conversation, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Whitney Casares. She’s not only a Stanford-trained pediatrician and public health expert, but she’s also an autism mom raising two differently wired kids. Together, we tackle a topic many of us try to avoid—puberty. This episode is packed with practical advic...

April is Autism Awareness Month, and this episode with Dr. Tay is one of the most important conversations I’ve had. We dive into how autism shows up differently in girls—and why so many are missed or misdiagnosed. If you’re a parent, educator, or just want to better understand the nuances of autism, this one’s a must-listen. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Taylor Day (aka Dr. Tay), a licensed p...

Today’s episode is full of joy and Minecraft magic! Rob is joined by a very special guest, Aria. Aria is Kelly's 8 year old daughter with autism. Fresh off seeing the new Minecraft Movie, Aria shares her thoughts, favorite moments, and tips for parents wondering if it’s a good pick for their kids. They also dive deep into the game itself—breaking down game modes, favorite mobs, plushies, add-ons,...

In this special Autism Acceptance Month episode, I’m re-sharing an important and personal conversation with my oldest son, Gavin. Gavin is 25 years old, autistic, and immunocompromised. In this episode, we talk about his journey toward independent living and why he’s choosing to move into a group home. Gavin shares his thoughts, hopes, fears, and goals—including launching his own YouTube channel a...

Welcome to Part 1 of a powerful three-part series focused on special needs financial planning. In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Katy Bryan, a Chartered Special Needs Consultant from Skylight Financial Group. Katy brings over 14 years of experience helping more than 250 families plan for their future. We’re breaking things down into real, understandable steps—starting with the basics. Thi...

This week’s episode is deeply personal and incredibly important. I’m rereleasing this conversation from a previous season because the message still resonates just as strongly—and it’s something every parent, educator, and professional working with non-speaking kids should hear. What started as a simple audio test with my son Emmett turned into one of the most powerful and emotional conversations w...

Episode Overview In this solo episode, I dive into a topic that’s been weighing on my heart—validation in the autism community. There’s a growing divide between those who see autism as a superpower and those who experience it as a significant disability. Both perspectives are valid, but we need to recognize that no single experience defines autism. Key takeaways: Autism exists on a vast spectrum,...

Episode Summary Divorce is never easy, and when neurodivergent children are involved, the challenges can be even more complex. In Part 1, we explored the unique difficulties of co-parenting neurodivergent kids, the importance of routine and consistency, and strategies for reducing trauma and increasing stability. Now, in Part 2, we’re tackling listener-submitted questions about co-parenting, commu...

Divorce is never easy, and when neurodivergent children are involved, the challenges can be even more complex. In this episode, I open up about my own divorce for the first time and discuss how it has affected me as a parent. My kids will also be sharing their experiences in future episodes because they deserve a voice in this conversation. Joining me today is Dr. Mikki Lee, a licensed psychologis...

Episode Summary: Join Rob Gorski, The Autism Dad, in a heartfelt conversation with Scott LeRette, author of "The Unbreakable Boy" and father to Austin, a young man with autism and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Scott shares his family's inspiring journey, discussing the challenges and triumphs of raising a child with unique needs. General Timeframes: Beginning: Scott describes his family's early ex...

Join Rob Gorski, The Autism Dad, and grief specialist Sylvia Moore Meyers as they discuss the challenges and strategies for helping neurodivergent kids navigate grief and loss. Sylvia, an autistic mom herself, shares her personal experiences and insights into how we can better support our children during difficult times. General Timeframes: Beginning: Rob and Sylvia discuss the challenges neurodiv...

Join Rob Gorski, The Autism Dad, in a conversation with Dr. Pamela Feliciano, Scientific Director of SPARK for Autism. Dr. Feliciano, an autism mom herself, shares her personal journey and insights into SPARK's groundbreaking research. Discover how SPARK is connecting families with researchers to accelerate breakthroughs in autism understanding and support. Learn how you can get involved and contr...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Taylor Day, a licensed child psychologist specializing in autism evaluations and therapy via telehealth. We dive into the growing accessibility of remote autism evaluations, how telehealth compares to in-person assessments, and how it helps families stuck on long waitlists. Dr. Day shares insights from her personal and...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Autism Dad Podcast! In this episode, host Rob Gorski sits down with Sara Hast, an autism mom and advocate, to discuss her family’s unique journey. Sara shares her heartfelt experiences of raising two autistic children, navigating a late autism diagnosis during the pandemic, and the challenges of postpartum depression while parenting. Key highlights inclu...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, Rob Gorski sits down with Jacqueline Baker, a BCBA and Market Leader at Action Behavior Centers, to discuss the transition to adulthood for autistic children. Together, they explore personal and professional insights and offer valuable advice to parents navigating this complex journey. Rob reflects on his experiences as a father of three...

Episode Summary: In this compelling episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, host Rob Gorski speaks with Amanda Lukof, a sibling to a brother with autism and the co-founder of Eleplan. Amanda provides a unique perspective on growing up alongside a neurodivergent sibling, highlighting the emotional dynamics, challenges, and triumphs that shaped her life. This heartfelt conversation explores the often-ove...

Welcome to The Autism Dad Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Jonathon Smith, a dedicated special needs dad, to discuss his parenting journey with a son diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome. Jonathon shares his family's story, their struggles, and the challenges they faced navigating life with a complex genetic disorder. Most inspiringly, he explains how these challenges led to the creation of S...