In this powerful episode of Autism for Badass Moms,Rashidah sits down with Chanel Grant, an educator, advocate, and the fierce force behind Rise of the Phoenix: The M.O.D.Y. Manifesto. From the sunny state of California, Chanel opens up about her deeply personal journey—one shaped by resilience, advocacy, and an unshakable love for her son,(“Lex”), who was diagnosed with autism and a language impairment at age three.

When Chanel’s life took an unexpected turn into the familycourt system, she found herself in a grueling three-year custody battle while managing her son’s growing developmental needs and her own medical challenges.Through every setback, she refused to be silenced. What could have broken her instead became the foundation of her movement—The M.O.D.Y. Manifesto (Mom of the Damn Year)—a bold call to action for mothers reclaiming their poweramid chaos and injustice.

Chanel unpacks the emotional, systemic, and spiritual layersof navigating motherhood in the face of adversity—how to rise when life tries to burn you down, why advocacy begins with self-belief, and what it truly means to build something powerful from the ashes.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:21 Meet Chanel Grant: A Journey from California

00:48 Autism Advocacy and the Broken Legal System

01:56 Chanel's Early Intuition and Diagnosis Journey

05:26 Navigating Divorce and Custody Battles

07:23 Fighting for Early Intervention and Services

13:04 Challenges of Co-Parenting and Legal Struggles

16:56 Personal Sacrifices and Health Struggles

20:45 The Importance of Early Diagnosis andIntervention

24:17 Overcoming Legal and Systemic Barriers

36:30 The Rise of Autism and MS

36:51 Challenges in the Court System

38:19 Creative Solutions for Co-Parenting

40:07 The Importance of Informed Professionals

40:59 Financial Struggles and Custody Battles

42:57 Advocating for Neurodivergent Children

53:10 The Birth of Rise of the Phoenix

56:26 Resources and Support for Moms

01:02:32 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

If you liked this episode and want to connect with Chanel:

Website: https://www.themodymanifesto.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/momofthedamnyear

Instagram: https://instagram.com/modymanifesto

Facebook: https://facebook.com/momofthedamnyear

LinkedIn: Chanel Crawford-Grant

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