Parenting Severe Autism

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We pause the summer saga to share what’s been blocking us: relentless environmental triggers, family drop‑ins, and a birthday derailed by overstimulation. We draw a hard line on media, lock doors during the 20‑minute adjustment window, and lean on body‑based tools to bring the baseline down.

• why the home soundtrack drives meltdowns
• a betrayal trigger and weeks of fallout
• birthday routines, arcad...

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We trace a season of sleepless nights, stomping floors, and bathroom chaos into two quiet breakthroughs: independent handwashing and a shared Soup Dance that reveals connection inside repetition. A harsh LED light becomes a surprising trigger, and a softer presence opens space for growth.

• recognizing environmental triggers like harsh LED lighting
• coping with insomnia, nighttime roaming, and sensory se...

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We share a hard summer of bathroom destruction, broken trust with family, and a support group that didn’t get it, then find relief in small wins: a playful de‑escalation, emerging words, and happy tears that we learned to name. 

• family boundary breaches and safety risks
• obsessive bathroom behaviors and home damage
• product lockdowns and supervision trade‑offs
• safe medical sedation tip for proced...

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We draw a hard line on boundaries after a “fun” day out breaks our son’s diet, a chaotic family visit disrupts routine, and grief surfaces through targeted destruction. We also name caregiver resentment without shame and share a simple tech tool that averted a meltdown.

• fundraiser links, storefront resources, and coffee support
• standing firm when family ignores diet rules
• post-visit escalation a...

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A candid mention about staying when others say to leave, and how structure, safety, and short, clear language can turn daily chaos into small wins. From wall padding to therapy brushes to locks and applesauce mishaps, we share what worked, what failed, and why timing matters.

• reducing attention-seeking by replacing constant input with predictable access
• why soothing tools must be used before stress no...

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We share a raw stretch of our severe autism journey: the camp that finally said yes, why patient volunteers sometimes trump credentials, and what it costs to hold your home together when your child unravels. Along the way, we ask for community help and outline what support should look like.

• subscriber‑only truth‑telling episodes and why we lock some content
• GoFundMe for Safer Lifestyles Respite commun...

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We face the change in the story since moving back to Illinois: the first sign of aggression that changed everything between us. We also share GeneSite results, ask about Leucovorin, weigh group homes vs “never,” and find a quiet win by the river.

• impact of the Illinois move on behavior and family strain
• the car attack as a turning point in safety and trust
• losing verbal leverage and rebuilding b...

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Moving to Illinois with our severely autistic son brought unexpected challenges, including his increasingly violent behavior and our struggle to find appropriate medical and community support. Rejection has become an abnormally normal occurrence, but this is where it started.
• Our son developed concerning rage behaviors in public
• Housing search
• Parent support group silence
• Theatre program
• ...

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Shannon shares the challenging journey of relocating from Wisconsin to Illinois with her severely autistic son, highlighting the unexpected difficulties they faced and the small victories that kept them going through the transition.

• Preparing requires extensive preparation, ideally with videos of new locations
• Transitioning to living with grandparents created significant challenges, including disrupte...

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Shannon continues sharing emails between herself and her son Jacob's teachers in Wisconsin, revealing the challenges of advocating for a child with severe autism in the school system.

• Ongoing battles with teachers about using food as a motivator despite Shannon's opposition due to potential eating disorders and specific dietary restrictions
• Frustration with teachers repeatedly asking for gui...

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I share our experience with the public school system when Jacob returned after a previous traumatic incident, revealing the challenges, frustrations, and occasional victories during this difficult period.

• The school promised an "adulting program" for independent living skills but Jacob never got to participate
• Jacob needed three-to-one support instead of one-to-one, which the school couldn&a...

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Shannon shares the experience of returning her son to school after he was abused, revealing the challenges of finding appropriate accommodations and fighting the system at every turn.

• School couldn't handle her son's needs, requiring a reduced schedule to prevent overwhelm
• Battle over using a communication notebook that had always worked as a behavior management tool
• School failed to p...

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Severe autism presents unique challenges during summer months, particularly increased elopement risk and the need for constant vigilance. 

• Summer heat and reduced structure may trigger more elopement behaviors in autistic children
• AngelSense GPS tracking device provides location tracking and two-way communication during elopement incidents
• Children with severe autism sometimes function better wh...

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Shannon shares a pivotal moment when she realized her son's autism was considered "severe" after he was excluded from a Disney on Ice event that his autism therapy group organized without inviting him.

• Communication strategies using Disney movie references help her son understand complex concepts like family members leaving
• Learning that her son requires multiple staff members for suppo...

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EDIT: I NO LONGER SUPPORT, ENDORSE, OR RECOMMEND THIS PROGRAM DUE TO FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY INVOLVING MY MEMBERSHIP.

This one's about us. The caregivers. Not the children.

After watching my health deteriorate despite years of consistent workouts and healthy eating attempts, I found myself drawn to a program focused on nervous system recalibration. What happened next shocked me. Through specialized therapy techniques a...

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Shannon shares her experience stepping back from caregiving duties to focus on her mental health after 18 years of continuous care for her son with severe autism.

• Taking a temporary break in a camper near home to restore mental health after reaching burnout
• Applying for fiscal sponsorship to pursue the dream of creating supportive communities for families affected by severe autism
• Jacob demonstr...

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I'm developing a social equity project called S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles, designed to create communities for families dealing with severe autism. My vision addresses how most of us lack support, with villages abandoning us when we need them most.



Contact us at contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com if you'd like to learn more or support the S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles movement.

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Imagine waking up one morning to discover your child has lost every skill they've ever learned. This devastating experience is the reality for many parents of teens with severe autism, yet it's rarely discussed in autism resources or by medical professionals.

In this deeply personal episode, I share the heartbreaking story of my son losing all his functional abilities and speech within days of turni...

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Parenting a child with severe autism often means facing challenges that remain hidden from the outside world. In this deeply personal episode, I take listeners into the harrowing reality of what happened when my nonverbal teenage son began directing aggressive behaviors specifically toward me.

The painful irony of being verbally abused by someone who professionals deemed "nonverbal" created a surrea...