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When your autistic child suddenly starts using extreme language, explosive phrases, or emotional scripts that seem to come out of nowhere, there’s a question worth asking before assuming the behavior itself is the whole problem:

Where did they learn it?

In our house, we discovered Graham wasn’t just watching characters—he was learning from them. He was borrowing their words, tone, and emotional responses and applying those scripts to real-life situations. That realization eventually led us to make significant changes to what he was consuming.

But something surprising happened: Graham didn’t stop scripting when we changed his media. His scripts changed.

In this episode, we’re talking about why Christian parents raising autistic disciples need to pay attention not only to how much screen time our kids have, but to what is filling that time. We’ll talk about scripting and echolalia, how media can provide language for emotions, what happened when we changed Graham’s content, and why his tendency to retain and repeat language has actually become an incredible avenue for discipleship.

You’ll also walk away with a practical way to evaluate your child’s media this week:

Listen → Trace → Evaluate → Replace → Observe

Listen for repeated phrases or emotional responses. Trace where they may have learned them. Evaluate the content—not simply for whether it’s “appropriate,” but for what it teaches about anger, fear, conflict, authority, and relationships. Replace unhelpful inputs with better ones rather than simply removing screens. Then observe what begins showing up in everyday life.

Because Romans 12:2’s call to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” applies to our families too. What repeatedly occupies our attention matters.

The goal isn’t to eliminate an autistic way of learning. If our kids are going to script, we have an opportunity to give them truth worth scripting.

Scripture referenced: Romans 12:2; Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45; Philippians 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Psalm 1

One question to take with you:
If my child is going to carry scripts into the world, what scripts am I helping put there?

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” But what exactly does abundant life mean—especially for families whose lives include disability, dependence, limitation, or suffering?

In this episode, Larah looks at John 10 in its larger biblical context and challenges the assumption that abundance means health, independence, success, comfort, or a life untouched by hardship. With help from Puritan theologian William Gurnall's reflections on redemption, she explores how God’s plan in Christ is not merely to repair what sin ruined, but to bring His people into a redemption that sin can never ultimately destroy.

You’ll hear why the presence of suffering does not mean the absence of abundant life, why disability does not put someone at a theological disadvantage, and why the greatest thing we can pursue for our autistic children is not normalization or independence—but life in Christ.

In this episode:

• What John 10:10 actually means in context
• Why John 9 helps us understand Jesus as the Good Shepherd
• The difference between good gifts and gospel promises
• Why abundant life cannot be defined by ability, health, or independence
• Why suffering and abundant life can exist at the same time
• What this means for discipling autistic children
• Why our ultimate assignment is still the Great Commission

Key Scriptures: John 9–10, John 1:4, John 6:35, John 11:25, John 14:6, Romans 5, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15, Ephesians 1, Revelation 21

Main takeaway: The abundant life Jesus promises is not a life untouched by the effects of the fall. It is life with God, secured by Christ, that the effects of the fall cannot ultimately take away.

You can find the webinar on YouTube here.

How do we communicate the gospel in a way that serves the listener?

In this webinar episode, Larah explores a biblical theology of communication and introduces the LEARN framework, a practical approach for discipling autistic individuals and others impacted by disability. Drawing from the ministry methods of Jesus, Larah explains why communication is not primarily about the speaker, but about helping the listener understand and engage with truth.

Throughout the episode, you'll learn how to listen before speaking, enter another person's world, assume competence, respond with curiosity and patience, and nurture relationships over time. Larah also shares practical examples for parents, church leaders, and volunteers, including case studies involving a nonverbal child, a teen with social challenges, and an adult seeking belonging within the church.

Whether you're discipling your own child, serving in disability ministry, or simply seeking to communicate more effectively, this episode offers a gospel-centered framework that can transform the way you connect with others.

• Why communication is a ministry to the listener
• Examples of how Jesus adapted His teaching methods
• The LEARN framework for disability discipleship
• Why flexibility is a ministry tool, not a compromise
• The importance of assuming competence
• Coaching volunteers to respond with curiosity instead of correction
• Building trust through long-term relationships
• Practical case studies for children, teens, and adults
• Using visuals, routines, and sensory supports in discipleship
• Strengthening the partnership between parents and churches
• Resources available to support gospel conversations at home and church

• Communication serves the listener, not the speaker.
• Effective discipleship begins with understanding before instruction.
• LEARN: Listen First, Enter Their World, Assume Less, Respond with Curiosity & Patience, Nurture Relationships.
• Behavior should not automatically be interpreted as lack of understanding.
• Small accommodations often create significant opportunities for gospel engagement.
• Trust is often the bridge that allows truth to be received.
• Parents and churches accomplish more when they work together.
• You don't have to do everything at once. Start small somewhere.

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Kari Baker for a conversation that didn’t go as planned in the best way.

What started as a simple podcast recording turned into an honest, heartfelt conversation about friendship, waiting on God, the struggle of wanting answers now, and the temptation to reach for control when life feels uncertain. Together, Larah and Kari talk about autism parenting, faith, social media, idols, patient endurance, and the gift of having people in your life who can help hold your arms up when the road feels heavy.

Kari also shares about her ministry, KIND Families, her journey as an autism mom, and the heart behind her book Finding KIND. More than anything, this episode is a reminder that when the path feels lonely and hard, God often shows His kindness by sending faithful friends to walk with us.

If you are raising an autistic child and feel tired, overwhelmed, or alone, this conversation will remind you to look to the Lord, receive the gift of friendship, and keep trusting that He is sustaining you on the journey.

• Why waiting on God feels so hard
• The temptation to grab control when life feels uncertain
• Friendship as one of God’s kind gifts in hard seasons
• Honest conversation about faith, parenting, and endurance
• Encouragement for autism moms who feel alone

You can find Kari on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kariabaker/ or at kindfamilies.com.

Kari's book "Finding Kind" was influential in Larah's life, grab your copy here. 

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Angie for an honest, VERY vulnerable, practical, and gospel-centered conversation about PDA, or Pathological Demand Avoidance.

Larah comes into this conversation the same way many parents do, with questions. What is PDA really? How does it show up in everyday life? How do you parent a child who experiences demands, correction, and ordinary expectations in a very different way? And how do you hold on to a gospel lens while learning new ways to understand your child?

Angie helps walk through the core traits often connected to a PDA profile, while also giving parents language, examples, and encouragement for the moments that can feel confusing, exhausting, or misunderstood. Together, they talk about nervous system survival, regulation, masking, parenting misconceptions, and why understanding how our kids are wired can help us better disciple them.

This episode is especially for the parent who has felt overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to even begin. You are not failing by learning as you go. And learning your child more deeply is not moving away from discipleship. It is part of faithful stewardship.

• What PDA is and why many parents are still learning about it
• How PDA can affect everyday parenting moments
• Why demands, chores, and correction can feel so intense for some kids
• The difference between behavior that looks defiant and a nervous system in survival mode
• How to think about PDA through a gospel-centered lens

Links Mentioned:
How to know if your child is PDA @ At Peace Parents:
https://www.atpeaceparents.com/clarity

Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionaire:
https://share.google/d7zSPbSOdN8vfBpze

New ESA-8 questionnaire:
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/resources/extreme-demand-avoidance-8-item-measure-eda-8/

PDA North America:
https://pdanorthamerica.org/

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Tiffany Long for a real and encouraging conversation about parenting, autism, and learning to slow down when life feels overwhelming.

Tiffany shares her family’s journey after her sons autism diagnosis and the lessons God has been teaching her in this season of parenting. Together they talk about the importance of creating margin, resisting the pressure to “figure everything out” immediately, and learning to trust that God is still working even when we can’t see the full picture.

They also discuss the early days after diagnosis, the fear and uncertainty parents often feel, and why slowing down can actually help us better understand and support our children.

If you’re an autism parent who feels like you’re constantly trying to keep up, this conversation will encourage you to breathe, take the next step faithfully, and trust that God is at work in both you and your child.

Find the guide here: https://mailchi.mp/57d52c1801c7/tellthestory  

A lot of Christian parents want to talk about Easter with their kids… but when the moment comes, they freeze.  
What do I say? How do I explain the gospel simply? Am I doing this right?  

On this podcast, Larah walks through a simple, biblical way to share the Easter story with your kids using the “Tell the Story” method, one sentence at a time.  This approach is rooted in God’s design for discipleship in Deuteronomy 6, the power of storytelling, and a method used in missionary training around the world.  

It’s especially helpful for parents raising autistic kids because it leans into clear language, repetition, predictable structure, and concrete, visual moments.  But most importantly, it takes the pressure off.  You don’t have to give a perfect explanation. You don’t have to cover everything at once.  

You just tell the story.  

One sentence. One moment. One day at a time.  

And trust God to do what only He can do.  In this video, we talk about why storytelling is one of the most powerful ways kids learn, how God designed faith to be passed down through everyday life, why this method works so well for autistic kids, how missionaries use story to share the gospel, and a simple way to walk through the Easter story step by step.  Here’s a simple reminder for you as a parent.  

You are not responsible for the outcome.  Your role is gospel proclamation and gospel saturation.  God is responsible for the transformation.  If you’re raising an autistic child and trying to disciple them in the gospel, you’re not alone.  

And you don’t have to make this complicated.  Just tell the story.

In this encouraging episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah Roberts sits down with content creator, podcaster, and special needs advocate Camille Joy of Moments of Joy. Together, they talk honestly about raising autistic children, grieving what changes, finding community, navigating church hurt, and why discipleship matters so deeply for families like ours. Camille shares her story as a mom of five, her journey from executive chef to advocate, and the heart behind her new devotional, Moments of Joy: 90 Days of Encouragement for Parents of Children with Special Needs, which releases March 17, 2026 and is available on Amazon.

Grab the devotional here: https://amzn.to/4b8BBTQ

Connect with Camille here: https://www.mojpodcast.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/momentsofjoypodcast

Sometimes autism parenting feels like you’re making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. School. Therapies. Doctors. The constant “what if.” The pressure to pick the perfect path and never regret it.

In this episode, Larah sits down with her friend Nicole (mom of six boys) to talk about what it looks like to advocate for your autistic child without losing your peace or your witness.

Nicole shares what led her to speak at a school board meeting, how she prepared, and what anchored her in the room: identity in Christ. They talk about decision-making through a gospel lens, why boldness doesn’t have to be loud, and how to walk forward in freedom when you can only see one step at a time.

Inside the episode:

• How to advocate without yelling, spiraling, or burning bridges
• Why behavior change can’t come first (it has to start at the root)
• Making school/therapy decisions with prayer, wisdom, and margin
• “Lamp, not flashlight” faith for moms who want clarity now
• The freedom to pivot when something stops working

If you’re tired of carrying the weight of every decision like it’s forever… this one will exhale for you.

Find Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_cattelona/

How to Advocate & Stay Christian - https://amzn.to/40yaEme

What does sourdough have to do with an autism diagnosis?

More than you think.

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, I sit down with Courtney Moody of Acts of Sourdough to talk about motherhood, marriage, discipline, safe foods, Domino’s pizza… and what happens when the sky “isn’t blue anymore” after receiving a diagnosis.

Courtney shares candidly about:

• The guilt that creeps in with every questionnaire
• The “tango” between “It’s my fault” and “It was always going to be this way”
• Navigating the controversial conversations around obedience and autism
• Loving your child without clipping their wings
• Protecting your marriage when the weight of parenting feels overwhelming
• And why a diagnosis is an open door — not the driver’s seat

We talk about tough love, safe foods, spiritual surrender, and the beauty of raising autistic children for God’s glory — even when it feels exhausting.

This conversation is honest, layered, and full of grace for the mom who just walked out of an evaluation appointment cross-eyed and overwhelmed.

If you are in the early days of diagnosis…
If you’re wrestling with guilt…
If you’re learning how to love your spouse while loving your child fiercely…

This one is for you.