When my child was first diagnosed, I remember thinking: okay… now what? No roadmap, no clear next steps, just a lot of emotions and a million unanswered questions. Even now, a few years into this journey, I’m still learning something new all the time. If you’re in that stage (or even years in), here are some resources that many autism parents don’t hear about right away, but can make a huge difference. 1. IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) If your child requires extra care at

SJ was diagnosed with autism at a year and a half old. Even now, that feels young to say out loud. At the time, I did not fully understand what it meant. I just knew something felt different, and I could not ignore it. Looking back, there were signs. He was really drawn to flashing lights. Not just interested, but locked in on them in a way that felt hard to pull him away from. He did not always react when I called his name, which started to sit heavy with me over time. There

Raising SJ started with my son. SJ is my 6 year old, full of personality, love, and a perspective that has completely changed the way I see the world. He is on the autism spectrum and also has ADHD, and every single day he teaches me something new. Patience, understanding, resilience, and unconditional love. Like many parents, I quickly realized that the autism journey can sometimes feel lonely. There are so many emotions. Pride, worry, joy, exhaustion. Often all at once. I w