Ep. 113 - Autism, Advocacy, and a Broken Legal System with Chanel

In this powerful episode of Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidah sits down with Chanel Grant, an educator, advocate, and the fierce force behind Rise of the Phoenix: The M.O.D.Y. Manifesto. From the sunny state of California, Chanel opens up about her deeply personal journey—one shaped by resilience, advocacy, and an unshakable love for her son, (“Lex”), who was diagnosed with autism and a language impairment at age three. When Chanel’s life took an unexpected turn into the family court system, she found herself in a grueling three-year custody battle while managing her son’s growing developmental needs and her own medical challenges. Through every setback, she refused to be silenced. What could have broken her instead became the foundation of her movement—The M.O.D.Y. Manifesto (Mom of the Damn Year)—a bold call to action for mothers reclaiming their power amid chaos and injustice. Chanel unpacks the emotional, systemic, and spiritual layers of navigating motherhood in the face of adversity—how to rise when life tries to burn you down, why advocacy begins with self-belief, and what it truly means to build something powerful from the ashes. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:21 Meet Chanel Grant: A Journey from California 00:48 Autism Advocacy and the Broken Legal System 01:56 Chanel's Early Intuition and Diagnosis Journey 05:26 Navigating Divorce and Custody Battles 07:23 Fighting for Early Intervention and Services 13:04 Challenges of Co-Parenting and Legal Struggles 16:56 Personal Sacrifices and Health Struggles 20:45 The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Intervention 24:17 Overcoming Legal and Systemic Barriers 36:30 The Rise of Autism and MS 36:51 Challenges in the Court System 38:19 Creative Solutions for Co-Parenting 40:07 The Importance of Informed Professionals 40:59 Financial Struggles and Custody Battles 42:57 Advocating for Neurodivergent Children 53:10 The Birth of Rise of the Phoenix 56:26 Resources and Support for Moms 01:02:32 Final Thoughts and Encouragement If you liked this episode and want to connect with Chanel: Website: https://www.themodymanifesto.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/momofthedamnyear Instagram: https://instagram.com/modymanifesto Facebook: https://facebook.com/momofthedamnyear LinkedIn: Chanel Crawford-Grant If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review, or share it with a friend who might need it! Follow Autism for Badass Moms Podcast on social platforms: YouTube: autismforbadassmoms Instagram: https://instagram.com/theabmpodcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/theabmpodcast TikTok: autismforbadassmoms Find more information at: https://www.autismforbadassmoms.com