Beth McBarnett, Ambassador at Grandview Kids and a parent support worker at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, describes her journey from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to life after an Autism Diagnosis for her son.

Keywords: autism, parenting, support, diagnosis, family, resilience, community, milestones, patience, advocacy

Summary: In this conversation, Beth McBarnett shares her journey as a mother of an autistic child, discussing the challenges and triumphs she faced after her son Aaron's diagnosis. She reflects on her experiences in the NICU, the importance of finding support and resources, and the impact of community on her family's journey. Beth emphasizes the significance of patience, acceptance, and celebrating milestones, while also advocating for the need to share stories within the autism community.

Takeaways:

• Beth's son Aaron was diagnosed with autism at two years old.
• The initial reaction to the diagnosis was numbness and denial.
• Self-care included spa visits and time away from home.
• Finding local resources like Grandview Kids was a relief.
• Integration in schools has been beneficial for Aaron.
• Celebrating small milestones has changed their parenting approach.
• Patience has been a key lesson learned through parenting.
• The decision to have more kids after an autism diagnosis is different for everyone

• Community support has been vital in their journey.

• Sharing stories helps shape care in the community.

Grandview Kids a hub for children's special needs services:

• https://grandviewkids.ca/
• https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd/supports-services.html

Poetry by Matthew Stewart Ball mentioned in this episode:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32332995-kiss-of-god

Music created by and used with the permission of Peter de Mello.