Raising an autistic child in America in 2025? You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining how hard this system makes it. In this raw and honest episode of The Be Mighty Mom Podcast, host Ash Dion breaks down what parenting an autistic child actually looks like in today’s society, far beyond the stereotypes and outdated advice.

We cover:

• The biggest myths about autism and the science that debunks them

• What daily life is really like for families navigating IEPs, waitlists, misinformed doctors, and public meltdowns

• The harm of ableist systems and the false “gold standard” of ABA therapy

• Why neuroaffirming support matters and how to advocate for it

• How family, teachers, and allies can actually help autistic kids thrive

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or family member, this episode will challenge what you think you know about autism and inspire you to take action.

👉 Download the free “AI Advocacy” Guide with 24 powerful ChatGPT prompts to help you write letters, craft responses, and speak up for your child like a pro: bemightymom.com/resources

Are you a parent of an autistic child or a medically complex kid who’s constantly navigating IEP meetings, sensory challenges, therapy decisions, or hard conversations with family and teachers? This episode is your lifeline.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into how you can use ChatGPT a free, AI-powered tool, to make autism advocacy easier, more effective, and way less overwhelming. Whether you're requesting school accommodations, explaining autism to extended family, or trying to understand dense medical language, this episode gives you real examples and ready-to-use prompts to help you speak up with clarity and confidence.

Whether your child is newly diagnosed or you’re a seasoned parent advocate, this episode is packed with autism parenting tips, IEP help, and support tools that actually work even at 2 a.m. when you’re running on fumes.

🎧 Hit play to turn your burnout into backup and keep showing up mighty.

Why are you so triggered all the time? Why do small things feel so big?

In this raw and validating episode, I’m digging into the real reason you feel overwhelmed, angry, anxious, and emotionally flooded, and no, it’s not just the autism or rare disease diagnosis. It goes deeper.

We’ll explore how generational trauma, cultural pressure to be the “perfect mom,” and a lifetime of being dismissed all collide when we step into advocacy and caregiving. If you've ever felt like you’re parenting your child while healing your inner child, you’re not imagining it.

In this 60-minute deep dive, you’ll hear:

• Why the diagnosis is often just the aftershock

• How triggers can be a roadmap to healing, not a sign of failure

• The role of family dynamics in your current stress

• Why boundaries are an act of love, even when they’re messy

• Real-life stories from moms feeling the exact same way

You’re not broken.
You’re becoming.
And your healing is part of your legacy.

Listen now for a powerful reminder that your emotions are valid, your triggers are real, and you’re not alone in any of it.

💛 Subscribe, share, and tag me @bemightymom on Instagram

Let’s keep rewriting the story of what it means to be a mighty mom.

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Watch this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠!

Do you struggle to say no without guilt while parenting a child with a disability, autism, or a rare disease? This episode of ⁠The Be Mighty Mom Podcast ⁠dives deep into what it means to set boundaries as a disability parent, not just to protect your peace, but to choose love in its fiercest form.

When your child’s needs are high, the world often expects you to keep showing up to every party, every dinner, every request, no matter the cost. But the truth is, you are allowed to put your child first. Without apology. Without overexplaining. And without shrinking your truth to make others comfortable.

In this episode, you’ll hear:✅ How to set firm, loving boundaries that protect your child and your peace✅ What to do when friends or family don’t respect your no✅ A raw personal story about being misunderstood by someone close✅ Why the myth of the “good mom” is toxic for disabled families✅ Gentle reminders to carry when the guilt creeps in

Whether you’re navigating neurodivergence, rare diseases, or medically complex care, this episode is for every parent who’s ever been called dramatic, selfish, or flaky when all you were doing was choosing your child.

You’re not mean. You’re not too much. You are mighty.

Get your ⁠FREE talking points guideline here⁠!

Watch this episode on YouTube!

In this empowering episode of The Be Mighty Mom Podcast, advocate and mom to an autistic son, Ash shares what every parent raising an autistic or disabled child needs to know: you don’t have to be quiet to be kind, and you don’t have to be gentle to be effective.

From IEP meetings to doctor appointments, Ash explores how to speak up with purpose, how to use research-backed advocacy strategies without burning out, and why caring in action matters more than words. You’ll hear a powerful real-life story about being in a room full of people who say they love your child, but don’t show up for them, and why that moment changed everything.

This episode is a must-listen for any autism family trying to navigate the system with strength and clarity. If you’ve ever felt like you were “too much” for simply advocating for your child, this one’s for you.

🎧 Keywords: autism, autism mom, autism podcast, special needs advocacy, neurodivergent parenting, rare disease mom, disability parenting, IEP support, parenting autistic children, autism advocacy

Watch this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠!

Are you a mom to an autistic child who’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and still ready to fight for your child? This episode of The Be Mighty Mom Podcast is for you. Host Ash breaks down 10 practical, powerful ways to advocate for your autistic child, even when you feel like you have nothing left to give.

Whether you’re new to the world of autism parenting or deep in the trenches of IEP meetings, meltdowns, and misunderstood diagnoses, this episode offers real tools you can use right now. No money. No spare time. Just heart, truth, and action.

Ash, a fierce autism advocate and rare disease mom, brings honest encouragement and doable action steps, because changing systems starts with us.

🎙 Whether you're searching for mom podcast episodes, looking for ways to advocate for autistic kids, or just need a reminder that you’re not alone in this journey, you’ve found the right place.

📌 Keywords: autism, autism mom, autism podcast, special needs parenting, disability advocacy, autism mom podcast, neurodivergent parenting, IDEA, IEP, special education, autistic voices, rare disease mom

👩🏻‍💻 Connect on Instagram, Substack, and find free resources on Pinterest

🌟 Share this with another mom who needs real support, not just survival.

💌 Template available below:

Subject: Protect the Rights of Disabled and Neurodivergent Children

Dear Representative [Name],

I am the parent of an autistic child, and I’m writing to urge you to support legislation that protects the rights of disabled and neurodivergent children, particularly in education and healthcare.

Please:• Oppose any efforts to weaken the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)• Protect and expand Medicaid funding for children with disabilities• Support inclusive education practices over restrictive placements

Families like mine are depending on your leadership to ensure that our children have equitable access to the services, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Sincerely,[Your Full Name][Your City, State & ZIP Code]

You’re just trying to survive a grocery run, maybe juggling bananas, a meltdown, and a granola bar bribe, when someone drops that line:

“He doesn’t look autistic.”

Cue the internal scream.

In this episode of The Be Mighty Mom Podcast, we’re talking about the real-life moments that test your patience, push your buttons, and sometimes break your heart, and how to meet them with grace, power, and yes, a little bit of sass. Host Ash shares ready-to-use scripts for those awkward, judgmental, or just plain ignorant comments so many autism families face in public.

With a mix of advocacy, humor, and real talk; backed by data and lived experience, you’ll walk away from this episode with practical responses you can actually remember in the moment. Whether the comment comes from a stranger, a teacher, or your well-meaning aunt, you’ll feel more prepared, more grounded, and a whole lot less alone.

Because sometimes advocacy sounds like a TED Talk… and sometimes it sounds like:

“There’s no one way to look autistic, just like there’s no one way to be rude in a grocery store.”

Let’s rise, roar, and rewrite the script.

What if your greatest strength as an autism mom advocate… is your pause?

In this episode of Be Mighty Mom, we explore the power of taking a breath before we speak — especially in the heat of the moment. When someone says something ignorant, dismissive, or just plain hurtful about our children, autism, or inclusion, the urge to react is real. But what if responding with intention could actually be more effective — and more protective — for both you and your child?

Host [Your Name] walks you through:

• ​The neuroscience behind the pause (yes, it’s backed by research!)
• ​Practical, evidence-based tools like the STOP skill, six-second breath, and “Name It to Tame It”
• ​How to stay grounded when emotions run high
• ​Small, sustainable ways to care for yourself in advocacy moments

Whether you’re new to advocacy or knee-deep in the daily battles, this episode will leave you feeling empowered, centered, and mighty in a whole new way.

💛 *Your voice matters. Your calm is not weakness. And your pause