In this episode of 'Autism for Badass Moms,' host Rashidah welcomes Kanisha, a 40-year-old registered nurse in Houston and mom to five-year-old Zoë (diagnosed at 2.5, verbal with limited communication), shares her journey from early concerns and self-referral for evaluation to an ADOS-based diagnosis and the therapies that followed. She opens up about balancing full-time work, navigating limited support, starting full-day ABA, and witnessing Zoë’s significant progress.

At the heart of the conversation is disclosure. Kanisha explains why she told only a small circle at first, choosing privacy over overwhelm and commentary. She reflects on finding community online and encourages moms to move at their own pace, trust their discernment, and protect their peace.

In this episode, we talk about:

00:00 Welcome to Autism for Badass Moms (Show Intro)

00:46 Today’s Topic: Who Do You Tell First After an Autism Diagnosis?

02:18 Meet Kisha & Zoe: A Diagnosis That Changed Everything

04:42 Early Red Flags: 12–18 Months, Speech Concerns & Being Dismissed

07:58 Two-Year Turning Point: Sensory Signs & Suspecting Autism

11:22 The Daycare Wake-Up Call: Social Struggles & “Final Piece” Moment

13:52 Taking Control: ECI, Child Find & Getting Evaluated Without Waiting

16:45 Diagnosis & Insurance Hurdles: Fighting for Speech/OT Services

20:03 School vs. Daycare Reality: When Half-Day Support Isn’t Enough

21:44 Choosing ABA: Fear, First Days, and Finally Seeing Progress

24:26 Breakthroughs & Reframing the Future: From Level 3 to New Milestones

26:16 The Grief After Diagnosis: Mourning Dreams, Milestones, and the Unknown

32:27 Who We Told (and Who We Didn’t): Processing the Diagnosis

35:34 Grief, “What Ifs,” and Preparing for Every Outcome

36:53 Protecting Your Child: Privacy, Boundaries, and Unwanted Advice

38:56 Finding Your Tribe: Podcasts, Threads, and Support Groups That Get It

44:14 Real-Life Logistics: Summer Break, Programs, and Working Full-Time

47:36 Advice to New Autism Moms: Tell People at Your Own Pace

51:48 What Makes Her Badass + Closing Reflections and How to Connect

56:58 Final Takeaway: Discernment, Peace Over Pressure, and Guest Call-Out

Connect with Kanisha:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mamanish20

Resource shared:

YouTube: confessionsofanautismmom

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YouTube: autismforbadassmoms