Our Autism Journey: Diagnosis, Therapy, and Life After High School with Special Needs

If you're a parent or carer of an adult with special needs, the transition from childhood to adulthood can feel like stepping off a cliff. The IEPs end, the school support disappears, and suddenly you're on your own trying to figure out disability services, Medicaid waivers, SSI, guardianship, and so much more. You are not alone, and this episode is a great place to start.

In this first episode of Adult Special Needs Caregiving, host Jenny Olson shares her personal caregiving journey with her son Benjamin, who was diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities at age six. Jenny walks you through the early signs, the long road to an official diagnosis, the years of therapies and IEPs, and what life looks like now as Ben transitions out of high school into adulthood. From ABA therapy to pursuing full guardianship to figuring out post-school programs, Jenny opens up about the real challenges special needs families face and why she felt called to create this caregiver community.

This episode is for every parent who has ever felt lost trying to navigate the adult disability care system, cried in their car after a hard day, or wondered if anyone else truly understands what this life is like. Jenny gets it because she is living it right alongside you.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe so you never miss a new episode, and take a minute to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going. Follow us on IG.