In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum - Conversations with Parents on Autism and Beyond, Clint chats with Lauren and Janine — two mums who migrated to Australia and are raising children with level 2 autism and ADHD.

They unpack:

• The reality of masking in girls and boys - and why it delays diagnosis
• Early supports that moved the needle - ECDP, Bush Kids, OT, speech, small schools
• Advocating in kindy and school - when to push, when to change environments
• Age-appropriate ways to talk to kids about diagnosis and self-advocacy
• The cost - financial strain, sibling dynamics, isolation, and nervous system overload
• Self-care that actually happens - micro-breaks at home, parent coaching, therapy assistants
• Building your ASD village - Facebook groups, local parents, therapists, and honest friendships
  
  

If you’re at the start of the journey or somewhere in the messy middle, this convo is full of practical tips, honest emotions, and the reminder to trust your gut - and find your people.

Listen, share, and tag someone who needs this today.

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In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum – Conversations with Parents on Autism and Beyond, we sit down with Kerri — a teacher-turned-mum who shares her deeply personal journey of parenting her neurodivergent son while discovering her own ADHD along the way.

Kerri talks about:

• Navigating life transitions and multiple moves
• Creating an environment where her son feels safe and understood
• The challenges of getting a diagnosis when your child "masks" well
• Reparenting herself to break cycles of generational discipline
• Building co-regulation skills and fostering emotional awareness
• Choosing alternative education paths, including homeschooling and small schools
• The importance of finding your tribe and connecting with other parents on the same journey

Kerri’s story is a powerful reminder that every child — and every parent — has a unique path. Her honesty and openness shine a light on the often unspoken struggles and triumphs of neurodivergent parenting.

Tune in for heartfelt insights, practical wisdom, and a big dose of hope.

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In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum – Conversations with Parents on Autism and Beyond, we take an unexpected journey from fishing in Oman to discussing autism and alternative treatments.

Meet Claire, a boat captain in Oman, whose son Leo is autistic. When mainstream approaches didn’t give the results she was hoping for, she explored the controversial but intriguing path of stem cell therapy. In this candid and thought-provoking chat, Claire shares her family’s experience, the challenges they faced, and what led her to give this treatment a go.

This story is a little different from our usual episodes, but definitely worth a listen. Could stem cell therapy open up new possibilities for autism intervention? Tune in, keep an open mind, and let us know your thoughts.

If you'd like to get in touch with Claire, let us know and we’ll pass on her details. And if you ever find yourself in Oman, make sure to book a fishing trip with her - it’s an adventure you won’t forget!

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to help us grow and support more families on the autism journey.

If you enjoyed listening and found this content valuable we'd appreciate it if you could provide a positive review and to share this with your network to potentially reach and help more parents and families 🙏

Episode 4: Raising Neurodivergent Kids While Navigating Her Own Diagnosis: Katie's Story

In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum Podcast, Katie shares her journey as a neurodivergent parent with two neurodivergent children. Katie works as a dance teacher at her children's school and manages their therapy and educational needs.

She has an 11-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, both diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Katie received her own autism diagnosis in December 2021.

She emphasizes the importance of being open about neurodivergence with her children and discusses the challenges of social isolation, friendship dynamics, and managing behavioral issues.

Katie provides valuable insights on early intervention, the importance of having support systems, and maintaining an adaptable approach to parenting neurodivergent children.

We hope you get a lot out of listening and we would appreciate your feedback, so please reach out via comments, emailing us etc. We'd love to hear from you.

Clint

Autism & Beyond Australia

If you enjoyed listening and found this content valuable we'd appreciate it if you could provide a positive review and to share this with your network to potentially reach and help more parents and families 🙏

Welcome to our new podcast series! This episode I chat with Tess; mum of an adult Autistic child who also faced major health challenges while growing up.

Tess shares her experience and insights including what she would say to herself if she could go back 5 years, and what it's like bringing up an adult neurodivergent son as she ages and needs to think about her future and how it effects his future.

What families go through with school-aged ASD children compared to adults is very different, and it's nice to hear Tess talk about that.

Helpful for parents with ASD kids edging closer to end of their schooling years, to start thinking about the future; the workforce, living arrangements etc

Advice Tess shares for other parents is to look at the neurodevelopmental milestones not the neurotypical ones in life that most other families use. She realised this was something she needed to do with her kids.

Being a parent of a neurodiverse child is “a window into a completely different world”

We hope you get a lot out of listening and we would appreciate your feedback, so please reach out via comments, emailing us etc. We'd love to hear from you.

Clint

Autism & Beyond Australia

If you enjoyed listening and found this content valuable we'd appreciate it if you could provide a positive review and to share this with your network to potentially reach and help more parents and families 🙏

In this episode I chat with Sally, a mum of two children with ASD and a busy business owner - about her struggles, the many and constant ups and downs, what she's learned along the way and advice she's happy to share with other parents.

When Sally's son Arley was 3 years old it was suggested to her by a friend to have him assessed for ASD because he couldn't touch many objects and other apparent signs. A group of therapists evaluated him for three days, they couldn't make a diagnosis but encouraged her to seek further help so she did. Arley was then 4 years when when officially diagnosed.

Sally's view at the time of Autism was 'Rain Man'; that's what came to mind for her when she thought about the condition. It took her two years to come to terms with Arley's diagnosis and to learn about and understand it.

When she went down the track of trying to have her daughter Carmie assessed and diagnosed it was a real mission. Her trusted pediatrician and other therapists didn't believe her when she went to them for help to have evaluations performed. Eventually she found the help she needed and at 8 years old Carmie was diagnosed with Autism.

Both children have multiple conditions and associated challenges. It's been a roller coaster ride, and continues to be, for this family but they're rolling with the punches, always learning and trying to make the best choices as a family unit.

We hope you get a lot out of listening and we would appreciate your feedback, so please reach out via comments or email us. We'd love to hear from you.

Clint
Autism & Beyond Australia

If you enjoyed listening and found this content valuable we'd appreciate it if you could provide a positive review and to share this with your network to potentially reach and help more parents and families 🙏

Welcome to our new podcast series! This episode introduces you to what the series is all about, who I am as your host is, my backstory, and what you can expect from future episodes when I chat to parents of ASD children.

We hope you get a lot out of listening and we would appreciate your feedback, so please reach out via comments, emailing us etc. We'd love to hear from you.

Clint
Autism & Beyond Australia

If you enjoyed listening and found this content valuable we'd appreciate it if you could provide a positive review and to share this with your network to potentially reach and help more parents and families 🙏