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The worst part of an autism diagnosis is not the word itself. It is the silence that can follow when you do not know where to go, what to trust, or who will truly understand your day to day life. We talk with Karen Simmons about that exact moment and the long road after it, from early parenting chaos to building reliable autism resources that help families feel less alone.

We get into why “future tellers” can be so damaging, how a strengths based approach changes everything, and what it looks like to create autism education that is actually usable for parents, teachers, and siblings. Karen shares the story behind Autism Today, the need for a safe place to belong, and why real community is built through clear information, lived experience, and generous referrals. We also dig into the Autism Directory concept as a modern hub where parents, professionals, clinics, educators, podcasts, and even autistic creators can be found without the needle in a haystack search.

Along the way, we share personal milestones that hit differently, like Special Olympics pride and the kind of joy that comes when a teen proves the experts wrong. You will hear a powerful reminder that progress can show up through alternative communication, early literacy, and passion driven work, including a YouTube channel that becomes a first paycheck.

If you care about neurodiversity, autism support, inclusive communities, and practical tools for real life, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a parent or educator who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the help they have been looking for.

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You can have the right intentions and still feel like your brain will not cooperate and that is exactly where ADHD and executive dysfunction love to hijack school, work, and daily life. We sit down with Zoe Lewis, founder of New Bloom ADHD Coaching, to talk about what actually helps young adults and college students when assignments pile up, deadlines sneak up, and motivation disappears the moment something feels boring or overwhelming.

We get concrete about ADHD coaching strategies that respect real life: how to start with the struggle someone is feeling and turn it into a goal you can measure, how to build a task management system that fits your patterns, and when tools like Google Calendar, Google Tasks, or study tech like NotebookLM can reduce friction. We also dig into sensory needs and why giving yourself permission to fidget, move, and exist comfortably can make focus easier, not harder.

Then we zoom out to the stuff that keeps people stuck: shame spirals, all-or-nothing routines, and relying on last-minute urgency to get things done. Zoe shares a flexible “three tier” approach to self-care routines like exercise and sleep hygiene, plus a simple truth many of us forget: fun is fuel for ADHD brains. We unpack the INCUP pillars of ADHD motivation (interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, passion) so you can design support instead of waiting for panic to kick in.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs better executive functioning support, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one routine or task you want to make easier this week?

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

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- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

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The scariest autism parenting moments often start quietly: sleep disappears, words fade, new behaviors show up, and you keep telling yourself it must be a phase. We talk with Paul Voss, a father of eight, about what it felt like to watch those changes unfold in his youngest daughter and then face a profound autism diagnosis that “turned our life upside down.” What follows is a candid, grounded conversation about nonverbal autism, high support needs, and the family-wide impact that nobody can fully prepare you for.

We get into the brutal reality of exhaustion and the long wait for evaluations, plus the pressure parents feel to find something that helps right now. Paul shares how his family approached decisions around therapies, health changes, and daily routines without pretending there’s a single solution for autism spectrum disorder. Along the way, we talk about why a diagnosis can still be a gift: it gives direction, it opens doors to support, and it helps you name what your child needs.

We also slow down for the emotional side that families rarely say out loud. We unpack how “grief” language can land on autistic kids, why dignity matters more than milestones, and how celebrating small wins can keep you steady when the big goals feel far away. Paul also reflects on siblings, community inclusion, and why his book, Autism Sucks, Finding Hope in the Chaos, is meant to help newly diagnosed parents get through the hardest season with more clarity and hope.

If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a parent who needs support, and leave a review so more families can find it. What is one small win you’re going to celebrate this week?

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow

INSTAGRAM

- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/

TIKTOK

- https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc

LINKEDIN

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/

PODCAST PLATFORMS

- Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC

- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

CONTACT EMAIL

- sjchildsllc@gmail.com