Episode 341- A Parent’s Roadmap To Planning Autism Adulthood And Personal Reinvention with Author Matt Ross

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A quiet moment over coffee can redraw a life. That’s where our guest, Matt Ross, realized he wasn’t just surviving anymore—he was ready to build a plan for growth. We trace how that spark became Grow or Fold, a candid guide to navigating midlife, protecting your family, and designing a future that feels both possible and personal.

Matt shares the arc of his career—from building radio stations to leading School of Rock to launching One River School—alongside his most defining role: father to a nonverbal autistic son. The conversation gets real about crisis points, including a psychiatric breakdown at 16 and the hard decisions that led to residential care. We break down the “autism tsunami,” from long housing waitlists to the urgent need for early, strategic planning. Expect clear, actionable insights on special needs trusts, guardianship pathways, and how to work with the right legal and service teams so your child is supported for the long haul.

We also unpack a practical playbook for personal reinvention. Matt’s five-part progression—self-awareness, responsibility, the pain of change, the cost of not changing, and disciplined action—pairs with his MVP: My Vision Plan of ten goals for the next ten years. It’s a humane system that fits busy lives, helping you align daily habits with a future you actually want. Along the way, we talk playfulness, creativity, and the science-backed power of generativity: giving to others as a path to meaning, resilience, and longer life.

If you’re juggling caregiving, career, and your own unmet goals, this episode offers clarity, courage, and a framework you can start today. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and tell us: what’s the one change you’ll commit to this week?

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