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 …
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 …
What if the strongest caregiver is the one who asks for support? In this episode, Jessica Patay shares her family’s journey with Prader-Willi syndrome, caregiving, disability parenting, and caregiver support. She opens up about raising her son Ryan, building food security into everyday life, and creating hope for families through the nonprofit We Are Brave Together. …
Could autism be more than a behavioral condition? This is what Dr. Eric Weiss is challenging with this work. Dr. Weiss spent decades as a surgeon and is the father to a son diagnosed with autism at age two. After years of trying every therapy he could find, a 2019 Duke University study on umbilical …
What happens when a mom of two autistic sons becomes the resource she never had? Linda Galarreta is raising three boys, two of whom are on the autism spectrum, and she has learned to navigate a system that rarely hands parents a map. From her son’s early speech regression and diagnosis at age two, to …
What if the path to connecting with your child runs through a song instead of a script? Nancy Burrows joins Let’s Plant Houses to share her family’s journey raising her son James, who received an autism diagnosis at two and a half. A former Nickelodeon writer and producer, Nancy discovered that music and early intervention …
What happens when a child finds a community that truly believes in them? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Jennifer VanSkiver shares her family’s journey raising her daughter CJ, who has an intellectual disability. Jen talks about early therapy appointments, navigating school systems, building friendships, and learning to trust her instincts as a mom. …
What if your child understood far more than the world ever realized? Autism, non-speaking communication, spelling to communicate, apraxia, and caregiving are all part of this powerful conversation with Liz Fiordalisi. Liz shares the story of raising triplets, navigating a high-risk pregnancy, and watching her son Christopher slowly lose spoken language after meeting early developmental …
What does it take to raise a child with multiple rare genetic conditions while fighting systems that constantly underestimate what your child needs? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Bill Cushing shares his family’s journey raising his son Gabriel, who was born with rare genetic disorders, developmental disabilities, strokes before birth, and physical challenges …
What happens when a sibling grows up in a home filled with foster children, routines, and nonstop caregiving, and then realizes those experiences shaped who they were meant to become? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Rachel Gonyea shares what it was like growing up with a brother with autism while her family welcomed …