Let’s Plant Houses

What makes a meaningful life possible for autistic adults?

In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, we talk with Moish Tov, a father of two young men on the autism spectrum and founder of JoyDew, about autism, communication, and believing in your child’s potential. His innovative nonprofit, JoyDew, connects people with autism with employment, communication supports, higher education, social life, and housing in a dynamic way that delivers results.

Moish shares why presuming competence, building on each person’s strengths, and learning from other families matter. His message offers hope for families looking ahead to adulthood: keep believing, seek opportunities, and leave room for a future filled with connection and joy.

What can a mother and son teach us about life with autism?

On Let’s Plant Houses, we talk with Brigitte Shipman, a mother and coach, and her adult son with autism, Joe Shipman, about autism parenting, caregiver burnout, and finding hope. They share their two-in-one book, which brings together A Mother’s Guide Through Autism and Through the Eyes of the Guided, offering two perspectives on their family’s experience.

Brigitte reflects on putting her needs aside for years and why parents need emotional support, self-love, and people who understand. Joe shares his experience with sensory challenges, learning to connect with others, and finding meaning in his life. We also explore how his writing helped Brigitte understand him more deeply. Together, they remind us that listening to each other can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and hope.

What could help someone with autism feel safer during a police encounter?

On Let’s Plant Houses, we talk with Sara Grezlik, a parent of a son with autism, and Curt Lawson, the City of Franklin’s Chief of Police, about improving communication with first responders. Sara shares how her family’s experience and her work with the Autism Alliance of Michigan inspired her to reach out to her local police department.

Together, we explore Franklin’s Autism Emergency Response Support Program and the Safety Support Information Form. These tools help people share sensory needs, communication preferences, and emergency contacts so officers can better understand and respond. We also discuss how parents, self-advocates, and police can work together to bring similar programs to their communities. A safer, more understanding community can start with one conversation.

What helps a person with Down syndrome feel truly included?

On Let’s Plant Houses, we talk with mother DeeAnn Uhlarik and her daughter Emily about Ellie, DeeAnn’s youngest daughter and Emily’s younger sister, who has Down syndrome. From childhood leukemia to adult employment, they share how sibling support, a supportive family, and a caring community have helped them through hard times and joyful milestones.

We also explore Emily’s research on making communication more accessible for people with intellectual disabilities, starting with everyday family conversations. DeeAnn and Emily also talk about guardianship, future care, and why siblings need their feelings heard, too. Their story reminds us how much is possible when people are understood, respected, and included.

How do you plan for your child’s future when you know you won’t always be there?

Special needs financial planning, ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and government benefits can feel overwhelming, but getting started can protect your loved one’s future. I talked with Mary McDirmid, CEO of All Needs Planning, certified special needs consultant, co-author of Care, Protect, Grow, and mom to Ruth, her daughter with the rare disease tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

We talk about how Ruth’s diagnosis changed Mary’s family and her work as a financial planner, and why families need to think beyond today’s caregiving needs. We also covered protecting Medicaid and Social Security benefits, using ABLE accounts and special needs trusts, preparing for adult housing and care, and recognizing everything parents do as caregivers.

Her message is a reassuring one: you don’t have to figure out the entire future today. You just have to take the next step.

What happens when an autism diagnosis finally explains years of behaviors, challenges, and differences?

Trauma therapist and mom Danniel Worthen Cullumber shares her family’s experience with late autism diagnosis, neurodivergence, masking, and parenting. Drawing from more than 15 years as a clinician and her own experience raising neurodivergent children, Danniel brings both a professional and personal perspective to understanding brains that work differently.

Danniel opens up about her daughter’s autism diagnosis at age 21, the coping skills that helped her navigate life before a diagnosis, and the surprising way that diagnosis sparked realizations across three generations of their family. She also shares practical lessons about emotional regulation, caregiver self-care, communication, boundaries, and celebrating every milestone. This conversation is a reminder to honor your child’s path, recognize their progress, and make room for a future that may look different than you expected.

What does life really look like when you’re raising a child with severe autism and lifelong support needs?

Author and full-time caregiver Tracy Envernizzi shares her family’s journey with profound autism, caregiver burnout, respite care, and planning for the future. After more than 15 years of caring for her daughter, Tracy knows the challenges, fears, breakthroughs, and deep love that can come with autism parenting.

Tracy also shares the turning point that changed everything: moving from what she calls “camp cure” to acceptance. She opens up about finding support before burnout took over, rediscovering herself through writing, and creating her book, Walking Through Autism Inspirations. If you’re an autism parent, a professional who supports families, or someone who wants to better understand severe autism and complex support needs, this episode offers a powerful glimpse into this everyday reality.

How can storytelling help families feel less alone?

In this episode, Cari Noga shares her family’s autism journey, from her son Owen’s diagnosis to navigating special education, caregiving, respite care, and advocacy while finding purpose through storytelling. She explains how parenting a child with autism changed the way she sees the world and inspired her to write.

Cari opens up about raising a young adult with autism, the importance of respite and community support, and her family’s current journey as Owen receives treatment for catatonia. She also shares how her novel, Sparrow Migrations, grew into the short film Pacific Pilgrimage, helping others better understand the autism experience through storytelling. This heartfelt conversation reminds families that even when the road is uncertain, hope, creativity, and perseverance can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Could embracing your child’s strengths change everything?

In this episode, Kari Baker shares her family’s autism journey, from the early days of searching for answers to embracing autism parenting, ADHD, and faith with hope and purpose. She explains how letting go of the need to “fix” her son opened the door to seeing the incredible gifts he already had.

Kari talks about raising her son, navigating school changes, supporting his love of writing and filmmaking, and learning to parent the child she has instead of the child she imagined. She also shares how her faith inspired her book, Finding Kind, and the Kind Families community, offering encouragement to parents who may feel alone. This conversation is a reminder that every child has purpose and every family has a unique journey.

Could trusting your instincts change your child’s future?

In this episode, Cassie Enea shares her family’s autism journey, from noticing early developmental regression to fighting for the autism services, IEP support, and specialized school placement her daughter needed. Her story is a powerful reminder that parents are often their child’s strongest advocate.

Cassie opens up about the emotions of an autism diagnosis, navigating early intervention, speech and occupational therapy, and years of advocating through the special education system. She explains how finding the right behavioral-based school transformed her daughter Haley’s confidence, independence, and daily life. This heartfelt conversation offers hope, practical advice, and encouragement for families learning to trust their instincts, build their support network, and never stop advocating for their child.