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We go back through the emails from our son’s first year in a new high school and relive how quickly “support” turned into constant crises. Then I share the most surprising update I have had in years!

• school fees shock and using McKinney-Vento homeless status while doubled up 
• early attempts at communication through typing and why it feels complicated 
• IEP meeting overload and what caregiver burnout looks like in real time 
• why regular school is not built for many severe autism needs 
• adult autism communication breakthrough 
• small functional wins


please share your stories with me and check me out on my live streams. Leave me hearts and comments and stuff, and let's see how that goes. 

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A “senior year” photo comes home and hits us like grief instead of celebration, opening up everything we wish educators understood about profound autism and the gap between labels and reality. We also share what regulation looks like in our house, from sensory touch and breathing to the surprising toll of loud, nonstop noise. 
• the emotional sting of “senior” messaging for a child who will need extended services 
• hoarding and studying turning into agitation and destruction 
• frequent IEP meetings and the limits of school preparation for severe autism 
• why constant transitions can create school-day overload 
• the exhaustion of fighting for our child 
• using touch while teaching boundaries 
• massage, yoga-style slow breathing, and noticing chronic muscle tension 
• loud remodeling and what it can do to regulation and sleep 
You can always email me at contact.parenting severe autism at gmail.com. Make sure you check my summer supplies shopping cart. 

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A Mother’s Day “Happy Mother’s Day” song should be simple, but when you’re parenting severe autism, even the sweetest moment can sit right next to exhaustion you can’t quite explain. I’m sharing what’s been going on in my house lately, including the quiet fear that your family is holding together on the outside while things feel shaky underneath. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m the only one living like this,” I say the part out loud that we all need to hear: you’re not alone.

Then I get into the behaviors, because the patterns changed in a way I didn’t expect. The picture smashing and frame breaking took on a new meaning when I realized which photos were being targeted, and it made me question what my son might be feeling but can’t say. From there, the story turns into a full-on midnight mystery: coffee, milk, a dragged blanket, and the slow realization that the “mess” was a routine aimed straight at Grandpa’s stuff. It’s gross, it’s maddening, and honestly it’s also weirdly funny once you finally see what’s happening. We also talk about the reality of living with locks, padlocks, and home safety setups that other people don’t understand.

I share an update on self-injurious behavior like arm biting, what helped reduce it for us, and what popped up next when the biting got harder to do. If you’re dealing with headbanging, biting, property destruction, or sleep-disrupting routines, you’ll hear the unfiltered version of how it looks in real life, plus the small communication wins that make everything feel worth it again.

If this connected with you, subscribe, share the episode with another autism caregiver, and leave a review so more families can find this support. And I’d love to hear your stories, what’s working, and what you’re stuck on right now.

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We juggle a new school year for our high support needs severely autistic son while we question staffing, trust, and classes without enough help. We also share what happened when natural remedies and cannabis products worked unpredictably, plus a bigger idea about respite communities that could use technology to fill real care gaps. 
• Shifting into a new school era and tightening our focus on staff 
• Needing one-on-one support and sometimes more at school 
• Frustration with mainstreaming vs functioning level 
• Trying herbalism, homeopathic tablets, and essential oils as coping tools 
• Seeing “opposite” reactions and losing faith in what what we believe in 
• A funny morning script plus pizza day attitude after a bigger dose 
• Exploring safer lifestyles and respite communities with AI support 
• Asking for ideas to market the concept to the right people 
Don’t forget to send your comments, questions, and stories to me at [email protected]. 

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We talk through what happens when severe autism elopement becomes so constant that we start padlocking gates and doors, then realize those same locks can trap us when seconds matter. I share the fear, the guilt, the dark humor, and the safety steps that finally make our days a little more survivable. 

• padlocking after repeated escapes 
• the moment he scales the fence and I cannot get out 
• how elopement forces impossible split-second choices 
• how our long-term work and caregiving plan collapses  
• desperation searches for safety tools and finding AngelSense GPS tracking 
• a woods search when he disappears 
• his running routes 
• the spiraling parent guilt story and the reminder that it is not you 
• first day of school stress and the constant baseline of aggression 
• a surprising improvement with arm biting and a rare proud moment 
• a full clear sentence during bedtime chaos 
• the workaround that makes walks calmer 
• noticing better focus and speech attempts with vitamin C and B complex 
• the local emergency box and special needs stickers for responders 
• building familiarity with police and fire so crises go safer 

And please remember, you can always buy me a coffee for as little as one dollar. You just click the little donation thing on your player. 
If you want to click my link at the bottom of this episode or any of my episodes, it would help me out and it doesn't cost you any more. 
Please remember you can always reach out to me at contact.parentingsevereautism at gmail.com. 

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We relive a brutal stretch of severe autism insomnia where bedtime turns into instant chaos and every tool we have becomes about safety and survival. We share the phrases and hacks that actually land with our son, plus the day his dysregulation spills into the neighborhood and changes how we think about vigilance. 

• using two to three word scripts for receptive language limits 
• “no touchy” as a low conflict boundary cue 
• “stay down” and “time for sleep” as bedtime anchors 
• the baby monitor breaking and switching to low tech communication 
• the sting of unsolicited advice about medication and barriers to care 
• hypervigilance after neighborhood access 
Please remember you can support my podcast by clicking the Buy Me a Coffee icon on your podcast player. 
Please remember you can always email me at contact.parenting severe autism at gmail.com. 

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We share raw truths from the frontline of severe autism care. From morning quiet-time rules to fingerprint locks and parent-led training, we fight for safety, structure, and a real village.

• why isolation and burnout demand respite communities
• how parent-led training creates consistent, safer care
• the 15-minute morning rule as regulation, not preference
• using fingerprint locks and auto-locks to reduce risk
• new behaviors and responses
• stepping back when interaction harms the caregiver
• how weather and celestial shifts can amplify behaviors
• a call for shared responsibility inside multigenerational homes
• open request for stories, tips, and educator insights

“Thank you for your donations. When I’m able to save up enough of your donations, we want to help another family in need who may not be able to afford the therapy items, clothing, or specialty food items that their loved one needs.”
“I would love to hear from you and see if you guys have experienced any of this kind of stuff, and if you have any suggestions, or if you have any questions.”

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We share a brutal garage meltdown from our Summer of Hell and the ripple effects that followed, then end with small, human moments that reminded us why we keep going. Fear, responsibility, and survival sit beside laughter, food, and connection.

• moving from gratitude into a hard story
• morning spiral and the sprint to the garage
• real physical danger
• being attacked and a late rescue
• fear aftershock and weighing self‑defense options
• dinner plans that calm anxiety
• playful nudges done gently for once
• Thai‑style stretches, safe roughhousing, and big laughs
• eclipse surge, self‑injury, and moon or weather links
• reminders to stay ready, ask for help, and keep sharing

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We open our hearts about caregiver fatigue, broken trust, and the sharp edges of life with severe autism while weighing practical options like group homes and community respite. Along the way we face language boundaries, public behaviors, new obsessions, and small moments of joy that keep us going.

• caregiver stress after years without respite
• loss of trust with family after neglect
• emotional needs of severe autism, not stereotypes
• dependence vs dignity and pacing independence
• marriage strain and the ethics of group homes
• community-based respite and pooled solutions
• summer of hell at day camp and stripping
• language boundaries and slurs corrected
• wardrobe tactics to reduce impulsive behaviors
• emerging obsessions and safety concerns
• gaps in medical care and self-regulation tools
• family triggers and a moment of self-advocacy
• humor, creativity, and small wins that sustain us

Please remember you can support this podcast and help me keep it free for everyone who needs it by donating through the Buy Me a Coffee program

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Sleepless nights, decoding a taboo topic with compassion and clarity...

Safety, dignity, and small wins guide the way while we keep reaching for calmer mornings and better tools.

• naming severe autism risks and caregiver isolation
• addressing startle responses
• coping with sleep deprivation and night chaos
• removing obsessional objects that spike aggression
• setting consequences for self-injury on pizza day
• discussing self-pleasure without shame while teaching hygiene

Please contact us at [email protected]. If you can share this episode with anyone in your life, please do that to help me out. I also have the Buy Me a Coffee program if you would like to donate or support me in any way.

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