What happens when the services your child needs don’t exist yet? Judi Uttal faced that challenge when her son Josh was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at age four. She reflects on the early challenges, including the lack of autism awareness and resources in the 1990s, and how her early advocacy, community support—including a pilot program …
What’s it really like raising two kids on totally different parts of the autism spectrum, especially when you’re on the spectrum yourself? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Wendy Ernzen chats with Eileen Lamb, a mom, author, photographer, and all-around autism advocate who knows the ups and downs firsthand. Eileen shares stories about her …
What would you do if the medicine that saved your child’s life was still considered illegal by the federal government? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, I talk with Michelle Wright, a mother and advocate whose adult son Ian is profoundly autistic. Michelle shares how medical cannabis changed everything for her family, easing Ian’s …
How do you know when to trust your gut over everyone else’s advice about your special needs child? On this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Angela O’Brien’s story will resonate with every special needs parent who’s ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or told their child “doesn’t belong.” When Casey was born with Down syndrome 21 years …
How do you co-parent your special needs child after divorce? John Goralski’s son Jack was diagnosed with autism, it didn’t just change their understanding of Jack—it changed everything. The stress of navigating specialists, therapies, and an uncertain future contributed to John and Jack’s mom divorcing when Jack was young. But instead of letting that fracture …
What would you do if your child was being sent out of the classroom every single day in kindergarten? On this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, I talk with Jordan Hendrix about her family’s transformative autism journey—what began with daily classroom removals and judgment from others evolved into a powerful story of discovery, advocacy, and …
What would you do if doctors told you your 7-year-old would “never progress past second grade” and belong in a group home? Mike Knox thought his world was ending when his 2-year-old daughter Vivian had her first seizure and flatlined at the hospital. What followed were years of failed medications, schools that refused to help, …
How might having a child on the autism spectrum change a marriage? On this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, I sit down with Paul Carroll, founder of Autism Dadvocate, a podcast and community he’s built for autism dads. Paul opens up about parenting his 18-year-old son Vaughn, who’s on the autism spectrum. He walks us …
What happens when a school principal who’s worked with autistic students for years becomes a grandparent to a child on the spectrum? This week on Let’s Plant Houses, mu guest is Jennifer Kaufman, author of “Grandparenting on the Spectrum: A Journey from Both Sides of the Desk.” Jennifer brings a unique perspective – she’s both …
How can growing up alongside autism shape not just your childhood, but your entire life’s calling? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Katie Bullock shares the beautiful complexity of growing up as the middle child and only girl, with a younger brother who has profound autism. She recalls everything from the terrifying Father’s Day …