autism parenting

Andrea Pollack recalls the feeling of relief and terror she felt when she received the autism diagnosis of her son 22 years ago.

After witnessing the struggles of her son in school, Andrea left her 19-year law career to homeschool her son. After gaining knowledge and tools in her 8 years of homeschooling, she returned to school to earn a Master’s degree and education.

Now, Andrea educates, supports, and empowers parents to help their autistic children reach their highest potential and create a peaceful home.

Listen to this episode and discover Andrea’s best parenting practices to support your children.

Enjoy!

Autism Parent Solutions:
https://autismparentsolutions.com/

Embrace Beauty After Grief 6-Week Group Coaching Program:
https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com/beauty-after-grief/

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amothersguidethroughautismbook.com/book

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

Theme song: Look at the Clouds by Tristan Lohengrin
https://soundcloud.com/tristanlohengrin/look-at-the-clouds

Christine Goulbourne is a special needs mom, advocate, and writer. She shares her experience of going through the cycle of grief that arose from the autism diagnosis of her son.

The emotional challenges Christine discusses in each stage are very relatable to most, if not all, autism moms. She shares the strategies and tools she adopted to handle them.

Listen to this episode and discover the secrets Christine found to cope with challenging emotions and to find joy beyond grief.

Enjoy!

Christine's Website:
https://www.sensoryfriends.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CreatingSensoryFriendlyandInclusiveCommunities/

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amothersguidethroughautismbook.com/book

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

Stella Spanakos is the founder of the nonprofit organization the Nicholas Center and three social enterprises called Spectrum Designs, Spectrum Bakes, and Spectrum Suds, where 60% of the staff are individuals with Autism.

Stella created the Nicholas Center to offer life-skills programming, vocational skills training, and supported employment to her son Nicholas and other adults on the spectrum like him because the needs of autistic adults were not being met.

Stella and I talk about the expansion and growth that the Nicholas Center and the three enterprises have seen in recent years and how innovative programs are meeting the needs of autistic adults and the local communities in New York State.

Stella shares how she experienced grief at the beginning of the autism parenting journey and the pivotal moment that snapped her out of her self-pity so she could move forward to help her son Nicholas.

She also gives practical advice on employment and 5 necessary things you must do for your sanity on your autism parenting journey.

Listen to this episode and find out what they are and get inspired by her powerful words of wisdom and encouragement.

Enjoy!

The Nicholas Center
https://tncnewyork.org/

Spectrum Designs
https://www.spectrumdesigns.org/

Spectrum Bakes
https://spectrumbakes.org/

Spectrum Suds
https://www.spectrumsuds.org/

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amothersguidethroughautismbook.com/book

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

Eileen Lamb is a writer, photographer, podcast host, and a mother of three. She brings a unique perspective of raising a severely autistic child while being on the spectrum herself.

Eileen talks about the grief she experienced from her son’s diagnosis and the vulnerability of talking about it publicly because of the bullying and harassment she receives on social media.

Eileen and I talk about the importance of allowing ourselves to feel what we feel and being vulnerable.

Listen to this episode and discover the lessons, insight, and wisdom that Eileen has to offer.

Enjoy!

Eileen's Website
https://theautismcafe.com/

Social Media
https://www.instagram.com/theautismcafe/
https://www.facebook.com/theautismcafe

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amothersguidethroughautismbook.com/book

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

Theme song: Look at the Clouds by Tristan Lohengrin
https://soundcloud.com/tristanlohengrin/look-at-the-clouds

In this first episode of the Grief Series, I talk with Lisa Jo Rudy, a mother of an autistic son, writer, and consultant.

Lisa and I talk about the grief, the joy, and the struggles she experienced as a mother raising a son on the spectrum.

Lisa also talks about the value of developing meaningful skills like her son did with the clarinet as well as why we need to make museums and zoos more inclusive.

Listen to this episode to learn from Lisa's insights and life lessons.

Lisa's websites:
www.lisajorudy.com
http://www.autisminthemuseum.org/

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amothersguidethroughautismbook.com/book

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

Theme song: Look at the Clouds by Tristan Lohengrin
https://soundcloud.com/tristanlohengrin/look-at-the-clouds

Welcome to Episode 141 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

Our guest this week is Dr. Elizabeth Mumper.  She’s a board-certified pediatrician with decades of service supporting children on the spectrum and their families.

She is currently on the faculty of MAPS (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs) and is certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine where she developed the first advanced clinical training in pediatrics for the organization. 

She’s the former medical director at the Autism Research Institute and President, CEO, and medical director at the Rimland Center in Lynchburg VA.

This discussion focuses on a key insight that’s more relevant now than ever.  Digestive Issues Are CLUES and focusing on gut health can make a huge difference.

The Secret This Week is…

The Gut-Brain Connection REALLY Matters

You'll Discover:

• Three Ways Gut-Issues Hold Our Kids Back (5:16)
• A Place Parents Get Hung Up (7:19)
• The Problem With Gluten and Dairy (8:29)
• An Easy Test To See Food’s Impact (13:39)
• A Diet That Might Be A Better Way To Start (16:03)
• The Key Mineral Your Picky Eater Is Missing (18:24)
• Why You May Need Two Pediatricians (25:54)
• The Negative Consequences of Antibiotic Overuse (27:09)
• How MAPS Doctors Are Different (32:51)
• Why Improving Sleep Matters So Much (36:06)
• Important Prevention Strategies (41:23)

About Our Guest:

Elizabeth Mumper, M.D., FAAP is President and CEO of The RIMLAND Center, established to mentor clinicians interested in children with neurodevelopmental problems.  Her general pediatrics practice is Advocates for Children.  Advocates for Families is devoted to the care of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental problems.

Dr. Mumper attended the Medical College of Virginia, did residency training at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Virginia, where she served as Chief Resident of Pediatrics at UVA. 

Her clinical experience has included five years in pediatric practice, over a decade as Director of Pediatric Education in a Family Practice Residency Program, 16 years as clinical faculty at the University of Virginia, and five years as Medical Director of the Autism Research Institute. She is currently on the faculty of MAPS (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs) and is certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine where she developed the first advanced clinical training in pediatrics for the organization. 

She is currently doing research about vaccination status as it relates to the prevalence of chronic illness in children.  She advocates integrative and functional medicine strategies to care for children with complex chronic illness. 

https://www.medmaps.org/faculty/elizabeth-mumper/

www.rimlandcenter.com

References in The Episode:

• Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs https://www.medmaps.org/
• Can awareness of medical pathophysiology in autism lead to primary care autism prevention strategies?

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 139 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

Today we’re going deep on the strategy of detoxification.   

For many people, reducing toxic load can make a huge difference in how they feel and how well their body does what it is designed to do.

If we’re stuck, toxic overload can absolutely be one reason why.

With us today is Glenn Wilhelm, V.P. of Business Development with the IonCleanse by A Major Difference since 2011. 

The IonCleanse is the industry leader in footbath detoxification in the practitioner and consumer market.

Glenn provides training for practitioners on how to integrate the IonCleanse detoxification system into their practice to help them improve clients outcomes. 

He’s has also worked with thousands of customers in the ASD community on how to maximize the benefits of the IonCleanse by AMD system for their child. 

The secret this week is…

Detox FEET First
 

You'll Discover:

• How An Ionic Footbath Works (3:10)
• Why Dual Polarity System Matters (6:08)
• The Two-Fold Problem That Creates More Harm (13:06)
• Why It Makes Sense To Invest in Safety (18:14)
• Detox Is a Lifestyle (25:31)
• The Benefits Of Opening Up Detox Pathways (37:52)
• A Risk-Free Way To Reduce Toxicity (43:46)

About Our Guest:

Glenn Wilhelm has been the V.P. of Business Development with the IonCleanse by A Major Difference since 2011. Glenn provides training for practitioners on how to integrate the IonCleanse detoxification system into their practice to help them improve clients outcomes. Glenn has also worked with thousands of customers in the ASD community on how to maximize the benefits of the IonCleanse by AMD system for their child. 

The IonCleanse® by AMD footbath detoxification system, manufactured in Denver, CO, is the worldwide leader in ionic detoxification. The IonCleanse system is the safest, most thorough, and efficient instrument used to cleanse and purify the body.   Backed with over 20 years of history and proven research, the IonCleanse by AMD is proudly made in the USA and is the industry leader in footbath detoxification in the practitioner and consumer markets.

IonCleanse by AMD

References in The Episode:

• IonCleanse Study by The Thinking Moms Revolution
• Autism Parenting Secrets Episode 74 Red Light + Sweat = Thrive

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get automatic episode updates for our "Autism Parenting Secrets!"

In this week's interview, I talk to Patti Andrich who is an internationally honored occupational and vision therapist, researcher, and author.

Patti shares her personal struggle of learning to read as a child with Dyslexia, which led her to pursue a career in helping people with learning differences. 

Find out why including vision therapy might change the path of your child's future in this interview. 

Enjoy!

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

There are seasons in our lives when the level of chaos is exceptionally great and our exhaustion seemingly endless. 

I want to assure you that these times don't last forever and share with you some tips to stay calm in spite of the chaos that's present in your life.

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

When you have young kids, daily life can be chaotic. And even more so when you have a young child on the spectrum.

I remember feeling so overwhelmed when I had an infant son and a 5-year-old Joseph to care for, even though I kept a stoic face and seemed like I had it together.

I stopped pretending to have it all together since then but have learned some tools to stay calm and cultivate joy in my daily life.

I share some tips on how to stay calm amidst all the autism parenting chaos in this episode.

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

Joseph and I get together for this special 100th episode of the Mother's Guide Through Autism Podcast!

We share reflection and insight and we also talk about self-soothing methods and employment for people on the spectrum.

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

For this week's podcast episode, I talk with Becca Hopson about how to tap into your inner urge to create the life you're thirsting for.

Becca Hopson is a feminist wellness coach. She helps to empower women to create change and take action to create the life they are thirsting for.

We talk about some of the struggles many moms face to create the change they desire in their life and the resistance to doing the work needed.

Becca offers some tools to overcome resistance and challenges so you can create the life you desire.

You can learn more about Becca and download your copy of Inner Wisdom
by going to https://beccahopson.com/

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

When you get the autism diagnosis of your child, it's easy to get stressed out and let life be a checklist of endless to-dos.

When I got my son's diagnosis, my life became exactly that: a checklist of all the therapies, looking for resources 24/7, and advocating for my son.

I was a ball of stress much of the time and having fun or being kind to myself was not on my list of to-dos.

But I discovered that being kind to myself was a must if I wanted to be a kinder and more present parent.

I share my small acts of kindness practice that will change your life for the better.

Enjoy!

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

When you have a child with special needs, it's easy to focus on the difficulty and challenges of daily life.

I have found that the daily practice of gratitude made my life happier and deepened my joy in spite of the challenges I faced as a mother raising a child with autism.

Practicing gratitude will open up more possibilities for you and I'm sure that it will deepen your joy, too.

I share my daily gratitude practice step by step in this episode.

Enjoy!

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

No parent plans to have a child with special needs when they're starting a family. 

So when they get their child's autism diagnosis, there is quite a bit of adjustment they have to make in their expectations. 

Making adjustments to their expectations is also true as the kids get older. We have our plans for them and they have their own. 

I share my story of letting go of my plans for my son Joseph as he was becoming independent. 

Enjoy!

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

The moment you have a child, advocating begins. But even more so with a child on the spectrum.

It can be very frustrating navigating the school system, healthcare, or any public places when you are dealing with people who might not be well-versed in autism. 

I want to tell you why we should always advocate with kindness even when it's hard and how we can approach difficult situations with kindness and get better results. 

Enjoy!

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.coom

When you have a child on the spectrum, fear can come up pretty strongly.

It certainly did for me.

The fearful thought I often had was, "Joseph would have a bleak future without me," which led me to believe that I could never die.

Fear is part of the human experience but if you constantly fear the worst-case scenarios for your child, you would be weighed down to the point of exhaustion.

I'll show you how to crush your fear in this episode.

Enjoy!

Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

If you are currently struggling with the autism diagnosis of your child and their future, please take a breath and give yourself grace. 

It is okay not to be okay with your child being diagnosed with autism.

Ironically, when I allowed myself to be okay with not being okay with my son’s diagnosis is when I found acceptance of the life I had. I was no longer TRYING to be okay or searching for a cure for my own aching heart.

Learn how you can be where you are AND find more joy and peace on this autism parenting journey in this episode.

Enjoy!

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

When I went through my life tsunamis including my son's autism diagnosis,  I didn't know how to work through my grief.

And although I had moments of grief, I pretty much used all my energy to avoid it. Many of my clients have a hard time with it too because let's face it, it's difficult to feel painful feelings.

While it's difficult, doing the inner work and working through grief is an important step toward healing and living a joyful life.

I share my thoughts on how you can gently and kindly grieve in this episode.

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

We mothers are good at giving and helping others but not so good at asking for help. 

You might be struggling to ask for help or might not even realize that you need help on the autism parenting journey but I want to tell you that getting help is crucial to living with more joy and resilience while you help your child on the spectrum. 

Find out why you should get support ASAP and how you can do so in this episode. 

Enjoy!

Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com