Autisable Dads: Life With Autism From A Parents Perspective

This past week we had several appointments to be at, and let's just say they were appointments that were months in the making. So to say that anxiety was present is an understatement. After all, we needed to arrive at our various destinations in time. If we missed our appointments, it meant we had to reschedule. Something no one wants to do, regardless if you're a special needs family or not. If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to Michael at Aerial Resupply Coffee for encouraging folks to become a patron! Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Patricia, Darryl, Linda, and John.

Ever read a headline to a news article and something about it doesn't read right? Yeah, that has been me constantly, as I regularly address things within the autism community. I discovered years ago several different languages within the autism community that are spoken. And over the years it appears to have become more complicated. There are different aspects of the community, and each has its own way of saying certain things. First, you have different groups within the autism community: There are autistic individuals, parents, and professionals. Within these groups, there are subgroups of people, as each group has its own way to communicate with each other and with those that are outside of their own group. You have the spectrum of individuals who are autistic, and you also have parents that are single, married, and who themselves may or may not be autistic. You have professionals as well, and each profession has its own language and way of doing things. Educators don't speak Therapists, just as Doctors don

Our son likes to be at home, doing his own thing most of the time. It is interesting when he wants to go out, as they are typically an hour or two adventure - then back home we all go. Crowds are a challenge, to begin with, and then add sensory issues on top of daily life, and you have an extra set of sensory issues to deal with. Let's just say that every time we go out as a family it requires an extra layer of planning and logistics. If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to Michael at Aerial Resupply Coffee for encouraging folks to become a patron! Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Patricia, Darryl, Linda, and John.

Ever get that feeling that some days you are the bird, and other days you're the parked car? Let's face it, we all have those days. But what is incredible is my son's ability to find joy in the midst of all the craziness. Of course, there are moments where the sensory issues are a bit much, but even after those moments he will laugh and giggle. Couldn't it be the same for us? We dive into this thing called life and can get stressed out over the littlest of things, only to discover that our stress was often self-imposed. This past week my son reminds me that in spite of what is going on, find the joy. It's a reminder to myself to keep my own attitude in check. Sure there will be challenges at your job, in your home, in anything. The question isn't what's going to happen next... but how will you handle those challenges. Sometimes that joy is as simple as a random act of kindness, or just a smile as you walk into a room. It could even be a moment of silence after being around a lot of noise throughout the day. W

You'd think with a title like this I'd talk about something like insomnia. But long hours and sleepless nights are a common theme for families with autistic kids that have sleep routine challenges. But long hours and sleepless nights have several medical side effects as well, including stress. How does stress impact a parent?  in many ways.  Repeating ourselves is one, along with pouring over all the paperwork and addressing sleep routines...among other things. If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to Michael at Aerial Resupply Coffee for encouraging folks to become a patron! Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Patricia, Darryl, Linda, and John.

Spring is upon us, and at our home, that means weather changes. With temperature swings and barometric pressure changes, it's that time of year when we are keeping on top of meds, diet, and everything else. I shared about these sensory issues in a previous edition of this newsletter. Now, add on top of this any routine changes, and the stimming just increases exponentially. Stimming isn't always just hand-flapping or clapping, it also may be taking every toy out and throwing them around the room...creating an event of epic proportions on par with an F5 tornado. If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Patricia, Darryl, Linda, and John.

Today I chat with Geoff Weber, the CEO of Heirloom Cloud. Geoff is a fellow autism dad, who found a way of employment for his son, and soon for many other autistic individuals. Heirloom Cloud helps to preserve priceless memories, digitally. Listen in. You can read the blog post associated with this podcast at: https://autisable.com/2022/04/01/s4-e13-employing-autistic-individuals-to-preserve-priceless-memories/(opens in a new tab) If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Patricia, Darryl, Linda, and John.

Have you ever had a song in your head that you just needed to hear?  Well, in this short episode is I share a moment where my son expresses the need to hear a song by Adele. If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Patricia, Darryl, Linda, and John.

This week I chat with Michelle Babitz. She and her partner Robin have well over 30 years of experience as special ed teachers and have been on a mission in recent years to help special needs families with a great, affordable, legal resource. I met Michelle and Robin when I attended an Autism Society of America conference many years ago in San Diego.  Her passion to share this legal resource, and to help promote autism awareness and understanding, is inspiring. Let's listen in... ———– If you enjoyed this episode of Autisable Dad’s, please consider joining our Patreon Account at https://Patreon.com/autisable Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically:  Cory, Darryl, Linda, and John.

I’m cautiously cynical these days. My in-laws gave me a sign to hang on the wall in my office that reads “Sarcasm, just one of the services I offer“. Yeah, they know me well. Maybe it’s a GenX thing, I don’t know. Some of us are just built this way. In one of my cynical moments, I noticed an ongoing trend over the years as people kept sharing with me various research studies. So this week, I dive into this subject a bit, and as a result, I’ve identified specific areas where families need help, and research isn’t really one of them at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for appropriate research needing to be done, but let’s just put this in perspective, shall we? Millions of dollars are poured into autism research, and although I know that will and should happen, it does very little to help families of autistic kids in the here and now. Read more at Autisable.com at: https://autisable.com/2022/03/09/s4-e10-identifying-what-autism-families-need/ Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically: - C

It’s easy to assume someone’s ability - or inability - based on our perception of what their capabilities might be.  However, I’ve found that whenever I did this - I quickly discovered just how wrong I was.  Listen in as I share my personal perspective about this topic. Click here for the blog post associated with this episode: https://autisable.com/2022/03/03/s4-e9-never-underestimate-resolve/ Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically: - Cory - Darryl - Linda - John Please consider being a Patreon Supporter at https://Patreon.com/autisable

I don't often share is why after so many years I am more involved in the community now than I was before. To some, it's teaching the world about autism from a dad's perspective. And yes, I do that when it is possible for a teaching moment to occur. I've also shared openly that my selfish goal is to learn more about my son... and that has always remained the case. But this journey has shown me one inherent truth: this effort is not just about my own selfish needs or desires. Over the years I've seen far too often news reports that break my heart. I've read thousands of articles on Autisable that have offered some deep insight into the thoughts of other parents and autistic individuals that have both enlightened - and were also warning signs. You see, years ago I was talking with my good friend Rob Gorski about the news of an autism mom just 'snapping' and committing the worst thing any parent could think of doing... harming their own child - and then themselves. With this in mind, I share my personal insight

I've asked myself, "How many people are in the autism community in the United States?" Well, I dive into the numbers in this episode. Visit the blog post associated with this episode at https://autisable.com/2022/02/18/s4-e7-the-impact-of-autism/ Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically: - Cory - Darryl - Linda -John Please consider being a Patreon Supporter at https://Patreon.com/autisable

When we finally received the diagnosis of PDD-NOS for our son, we thought "this is it! Let's get him the help he needs!" Yeah, that didn't happen. What followed was the onslaught of information about what that diagnosis meant, what services may or may not be available, and ultimately what wasn't relevant to our situation. What we learned early on is that what worked for other kids on the spectrum, may not work for ours. Yet we kept on searching for more information, more understanding. You see, just having a diagnosis is just the beginning. It's easy to get too far ahead in terms of what you'd have to look into, what next steps you have to take - and what steps you don't need to worry about. The hunt for more information had just begun. How we handled all of that information, and what we did to address it, changed.   Visit the blog post associated with this episode at https://autisable.com/2022/02/10/s4-e6-information-overload/ Thank you to all of our Patreon Supports, specifically: - Cory - Darryl -

Years ago, it was not uncommon for me to show up to work with bruised arms and broken glasses. One time I had to rush home from work due to one of my son's meltdowns. For those who worked with me, you may remember those days. In this episode, I dive into what triggered our son's meltdowns, and how common this type of issue is.  We also found a solution that helped change and improves the quality of life in our home, forever. Special thanks to the following Patrons! Cory Darryl Linda Click here to become a Patron:  https://www.patreon.com/autisable 

Here in the United States, when we get a diagnosis and it is determined that our kid may need to be enrolled through a special needs program, the amount of information you have to obtain is immense.  From IEPs and 504s, to legal options... parents are often thrown into a new world of terminology and effort that often they aren't used to and have to adapt accordingly. Over the past dozen years or so I am asked for advice on IEPs and what to do with school districts.  This episode may help deal with some simple practical solutions, and some frustration I've had as a parent in hearing and seeing stories of what some schools have done. Feel free to leave a comment, reach out, etc... Thank you to our Patron's on Patreon, please consider becoming a supporter. Click here to support:  https://www.patreon.com/Autisable Special thanks to: Cory Darryl Linda John The image for today's episode is by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

As a parent, it can be a challenge dealing with family members and friends, or even your own parents regarding your kid's diagnosis.  Some grandparents take the news in stride and help in wonderful ways.  Other grandparents may struggle with receiving the diagnosis and may not be willing to help at all.  Just know that there are ways to address these issues. In this episode, I share a little of my own personal challenges with my parents.  I'm always curious as to how others address the family dynamic in with the diagnosis in their families. Feel free to leave a comment, reach out, etc... Thank you to our Patron's on Patreon, please consider becoming a supporter. Special thanks to: Cory Darryl Linda John The image for this episode is a Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash

In today's episode, I share what has worked in my marriage of 25 years. Although not all marriages are 'perfect', these tips have helped over the years. What tips have helped you?  What tips would you have wanted in your relationship? For more information, take a look that the blog post associated with this episode on Autisable: Thank you to our top patrons! - Cory - John - Linda - Darryl

Let's be honest, no one wants to hear anything is going on with their kid, whether it's about autism or not.  As parents, we often struggle with the stigma of a kid being labeled as one thing or another. The reality is, we as parents need to be seeking answers.  At the very least, we need to make sure we know what actions we really need to take to help our kids be the best they can be - autistic or not. In this episode, I dive into the reluctance of obtaining a diagnosis... to the relief when one is obtained. I'd like to thank this week's top Patrons: Cory Darryl Linda If you'd like to be a patron  - please visit https://www.patreon.com/Autisable Thank you for your support!

As October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we introduce our guest Kimberly Sanders. Kimberly Sanders naively imagined motherhood as a serene walk beside her children; however, she discovered it is more often unpredictable, fraught with struggle, and ultimately an invitation to sit beside her children in the muck and mystery.  In her first book, Beside You, Kimberly generously shares the unpredictable struggles and rich lessons learned through Lukas, her son who has both Down syndrome and autism. Kimberly and I dive into her journey, from pregnancy to diagnosis, and we discover what she's learned. We hope you enjoy this episode, and take the opportunity to get her book! Her book is available in many outlets, as well as Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beside-You-Lukas-Special-Revealed-ebook/dp/B09FH34587 This episode was made possible due to our Sponsors and Patreon Supporters. If you’d like to help support this podcast and our efforts with Autisable, please consider becoming a patron. Become a Patron!