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Shannon shares the challenging journey of relocating from Wisconsin to Illinois with her severely autistic son, highlighting the unexpected difficulties they faced and the small victories that kept them going through the transition.

• Preparing requires extensive preparation, ideally with videos of new locations
• Transitioning to living with grandparents created significant challenges, including disrupted sleep patterns
• Learning the ropes of medical cannabis in Illinois for Autism
• Seeking special needs theatre opportunities
• A stranger's understanding in a grocery store 
• Her son's attachment to his "Snowflake" obsidian rock shows his ability to connect and remember important details

Please support the show by sharing episodes with others who might benefit, as Shannon cannot advertise in parenting groups due to strict rules. You can also click the "support the show" link to help keep the podcast free for those who need it.

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Shannon continues sharing emails between herself and her son Jacob's teachers in Wisconsin, revealing the challenges of advocating for a child with severe autism in the school system.

• Ongoing battles with teachers about using food as a motivator despite Shannon's opposition due to potential eating disorders and specific dietary restrictions
• Frustration with teachers repeatedly asking for guidance already provided in Shannon's comprehensive instruction letter
• Teachers demonstrating defensiveness when Shannon suggests someone might be "unwittingly" triggering Jacob's behaviors
• Failed experiment with CBD oil 
• Safety concerns with school van driver 
• Hilarious and endearing story about Jacob shaving
• Recent breakthrough moment 
• Importance of scheduling IEPs as often as needed and bringing advocates to meetings

Please share this podcast with anyone who might benefit, email your experiences to [email protected], or support the show through the "buy me a coffee" link to help keep this resource free for those who need it.

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I share our experience with the public school system when Jacob returned after a previous traumatic incident, revealing the challenges, frustrations, and occasional victories during this difficult period.

• The school promised an "adulting program" for independent living skills but Jacob never got to participate
• Jacob needed three-to-one support instead of one-to-one, which the school couldn't provide
• We struggled with getting consistent communication about Jacob's daily activities and behaviors
• School staff disregarded Jacob's dietary restrictions
• Jacob's therapists worked on skills at home that the school claimed he couldn't perform
• The special education director's accusations
• We eventually had to move and shut down our business because Jacob required more support than we could balance with work
• Regular public schools often lack the capacity to properly support children with severe autism

If you find these episodes helpful, please consider sharing this podcast and supporting it by clicking the "buy me a coffee" link to help keep it free for those who need it. You can reach me at [email protected].

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Shannon shares the experience of returning her son to school after he was abused, revealing the challenges of finding appropriate accommodations and fighting the system at every turn.

• School couldn't handle her son's needs, requiring a reduced schedule to prevent overwhelm
• Battle over using a communication notebook that had always worked as a behavior management tool
• School failed to provide mandated therapy services due to transitions being too difficult
• Discovery of intensive therapy through Innovative Counseling that provided 40+ hours of effective support
• Advocating for IEP rights and finding alternative solutions when schools fail to meet obligations
• Recognizing that behaviors are communication and require understanding rather than judgment
• Setting age-appropriate expectations even with developmental disabilities
• Working toward creating Safer Lifestyles Respite Communities based on these experiences

Please follow us on social media and help spread awareness about our GoFundMe for Safer Lifestyles Respite Communities. You can find the link in my bio on all platforms or email me at [email protected] with your stories and input.

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Severe autism presents unique challenges during summer months, particularly increased elopement risk and the need for constant vigilance. 

• Summer heat and reduced structure may trigger more elopement behaviors in autistic children
• AngelSense GPS tracking device provides location tracking and two-way communication during elopement incidents
• Children with severe autism sometimes function better when parents are not present
• Schools often lack understanding of severe autism needs and may blame parents rather than providing appropriate support
• Medication effectiveness can fluctuate dramatically, requiring specialized testing to understand metabolism issues
• Vision for creating specialized respite communities designed specifically for severe autism families
• These communities would include trusted respite, parent-trained staff, and wellness opportunities
• Parents of severely autistic children must be "everything" to their child - advocate, therapist, and protector

Check out the AngelSense GPS device link at the bottom of this episode to help protect your eloping child.

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Shannon shares a pivotal moment when she realized her son's autism was considered "severe" after he was excluded from a Disney on Ice event that his autism therapy group organized without inviting him.

• Communication strategies using Disney movie references help her son understand complex concepts like family members leaving
• Learning that her son requires multiple staff members for support at his therapy program
• The heartbreak of discovering her son wasn't invited to a Disney event because his "needs were too great"
• Fighting for inclusion and eventually attending the Disney on Ice show as a family
• Funny shopping adventures with her son, including his perfect comedic timing saying "I want to be happy because people are stupid"
• The hilarious struggle with a broken shopping cart and learning about boundaries
• Importance of proper nutrition before outings to help manage behaviors

If you'd like to support the podcast, click the support button on your audio player or visit psabuzzsprout.com to access merch and donation options. Small donations make a huge difference in keeping this podcast free for everyone.

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This one's about us. The caregivers. Not the children.

After watching my health deteriorate despite years of consistent workouts and healthy eating attempts, I found myself drawn to a program focused on nervous system recalibration. What happened next shocked me. Through specialized therapy techniques and somatic healing, I experienced physical transformations as my body released stored trauma. Mysterious swelling disappeared, facial tension loosened, and for the first time in years, I felt my nervous system reset from its perpetual fight-or-flight state.

The revelation came when I connected this personal healing journey to my observations of my son with severe autism. Like a baby bird who trembles at the sight of its mother, my son's behaviors seemed directly influenced by my internal state. This mirror effect isn't limited to autism – it appears throughout nature, from wild animals to domestic pets. As the Dog Whisperer taught us, animals respond to our internal energy more than our external commands.

By shifting my focus from controlling my son's behaviors to regulating my own nervous system, unexpected changes began occurring in our household.

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Shannon shares her experience stepping back from caregiving duties to focus on her mental health after 18 years of continuous care for her son with severe autism.

• Taking a temporary break in a camper near home to restore mental health after reaching burnout
• Applying for fiscal sponsorship to pursue the dream of creating supportive communities for families affected by severe autism
• Jacob demonstrating remembered turn-taking skills despite lack of formal therapy
• Discovering disturbing nighttime behaviors through a video monitor that explained Jacob's severe insomnia
• Using the monitor's intercom as an intervention until Jacob ultimately destroyed the equipment
• Planning to share personal breakthroughs that have helped with mental health struggles

Please feel free to contact me through email at [email protected], text fan mail at psabuzzsprout.com, or through the Parenting Severe Autism podcast Facebook page.

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I'm developing a social equity project called S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles, designed to create communities for families dealing with severe autism. My vision addresses how most of us lack support, with villages abandoning us when we need them most.



Contact us at [email protected] if you'd like to learn more or support the S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles movement.

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Imagine waking up one morning to discover your child has lost every skill they've ever learned. This devastating experience is the reality for many parents of teens with severe autism, yet it's rarely discussed in autism resources or by medical professionals.

In this deeply personal episode, I share the heartbreaking story of my son losing all his functional abilities and speech within days of turning 15. What began with concerning behaviors—strange vocalizations, withdrawing to his room, repetitive actions—culminated in a complete regression that left him unable to perform even the simplest tasks he once mastered. His 100-word vocabulary vanished almost overnight, replaced only with the phrase "I love you," which he began saying indiscriminately to strangers.

The most shocking part? After frantic research, I discovered this regression at age 15 is apparently a documented phenomenon in some children with severe autism—yet in all our years working with specialists and researching autism, not one professional had ever warned us this might happen. How could something so significant not be part of standard information given to parents of children with severe autism?

Throughout the episode, I detail our attempts to help our son: cross-body exercises recommended by specialists, creating sensory-rich environments, increased therapy sessions, and constant engagement. I share both the frustrations and the rare moments of breakthrough, including a recent heartwarming moment when he perfectly mimicked a Tony the Tiger commercial from the depths of his memory.

For parents with children under 15 with severe autism, this episode serves as both a warning and a call to maximize interventions while your child's brain remains receptive. For those who've already experienced this regression, you'll find validation and the comfort of knowing you're not alone on this journey. Sometimes being a parent to a child with severe autism means celebrating the smallest victories while navigating the most challenging losses.

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