The Autism Dad

We use the words' meltdown and tantrum in the autism community all the time, but do we really know what they mean? In the next 6 minutes, you will learn everything you need to know to gain a better understanding of both meltdowns and tantrums, as well as how to tell the difference between the two. Submit your autism parenting questions at the link below: https://listen.theautismdad.com/contact/Host Bio:Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys as well as Found and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, digital marketer, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.Connect with Rob Gorski:Official Podcast Homepage:listen.theautismdad.comOfficial Blogtheautismdad.comMentioned in this episode:Learn More About MightierMightier is a clinically proven mobile gaming app that was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s already helped more than 100,000 kids, including my crew here at home. Kids play on a tablet or a phone while wearing a heart rate monitor. And Mightier incorporates breathing exercises and other calming techniques as part of the game. Kids get to see when it’s time to cool down and learn how to do it themselves. And parents get to track their progress. Visit mightier.com and use the promo code "theautismdad22" at checkout to save 10%. Visit Mightier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Parent to Parent episode, I talk with Jacqueline Carrillo about her experience raising twin autistic, teenage daughters. Jacqueline discusses several issues that matter to her, including the importance of employers being accommodating to parents who are trying to balance work, and the demands of raising special needs kids. This is especially true for single parents. Guest Bio:Jacqueline Carrillo is a single mom to twin, teenage, autistic daughters. She's a business owner and advocates for autism awareness, not only for her daughters but for everyone else in the community. She also loves to help promote other small businesses via her social media platform. Connect with Jacqueline: websiteHost Bio:Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys as well as Found and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, digital marketer, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.Connect with Rob Gorski:Official Podcast HomepageOfficial BlogPodcast DiscussionAutism Parenting Support ForumMentioned in this episode:Learn More About TractoTracto is a free app that is all about empowering parents to better understand and meet the unique needs of their kids with autism, ADHD or anxiety. Tracto does this by easily allowing for the collaborative tracking of behaviors over time. Parents can invite teachers or anyone else they want to help document behavioral changes. Not everyone sees the same things because every environment is different. Being able to document behaviors in realtime, prevents having to pull from memory later on, making it more accurate, and reliable information. Tracking things like sleep patterns, medication-related behavioral changes, behaviors in the classroom, or anything else that parents of these amazing kiddos need to keep an eye on, can be challenging. Simply put, Tracto makes it easy. All tracking and collaboration functions to this app are completely free. They also offer affordable online courses, taught by leading experts if you’re interested in learning some new parenting skills yourself. They’re short videos that will teach you new parenting approaches and help you gain more insight into your child. You can get more information about Tracto at tracto.app. Or check out the Google Play or Apple app store. Use the code “theautismdad” at checkout and save 30% off your online course order. Visit TractoLearn More About Trail MagikCommuning with nature is one of the best methods of self-care available, and hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy nature. If you’re a parent who enjoys hitting the trails with your little ones, you’re already aware that toddlers will walk some of the journey and want carried the rest of the way. There are tons of contraptions for carrying babies while on the trails, but what about those in between, toddler years? You don’t want to bring a big bulky carrier for a kid who’s only going to use it some of the time. The Trail Magik Kid Carrier solves that problem and does so brilliantly. Invented by a Dad who wanted to take his 3-year-old backpacking. It’s for kiddos 12 months up to 43 pounds. The carrier attaches onto hiking backpacks and durable daypacks that have a waist strap & upper loaders. Weighing less than 10oz, it’s so portable, you can stuff it into the side of your backpack when not in use. It’s a game-changer for the "outdoor adventure family" community. For more information, visit TrailMagik.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at check out and save 10% of your order. Visit Trail Magik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes we need a little help to accept a diagnosis, be it for our child or ourselves. In this episode, Dennis Procopio helps me to accept my recent diagnosis. I think his advice transcends my singular experience and can apply to so many situations, including the one in your life. This was a very personal episode and I hope it helps you as much as it helped me. Guest Bio: Dennis Procopio is a husband, father, and male life coach. Dennis is an autism dad, and recently discovered that he himself is autistic. Dennis uses his life experience to help men be better versions of themselves through his business, MAN-UP! Life Coaching.Connect with Dennis: manuplifecoaching.comHost Bio:Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys as well as Found and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, digital marketer, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.Connect with Rob Gorski:Official Podcast HomepageOfficial BlogPodcast DiscussionAutism Parenting Support ForumMentioned in this episode:Learn More About Trail MagikCommuning with nature is one of the best methods of self-care available, and hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy nature. If you’re a parent who enjoys hitting the trails with your little ones, you’re already aware that toddlers will walk some of the journey and want carried the rest of the way. There are tons of contraptions for carrying babies while on the trails, but what about those in between, toddler years? You don’t want to bring a big bulky carrier for a kid who’s only going to use it some of the time. The Trail Magik Kid Carrier solves that problem and does so brilliantly. Invented by a Dad who wanted to take his 3-year-old backpacking. It’s for kiddos 12 months up to 43 pounds. The carrier attaches onto hiking backpacks and durable daypacks that have a waist strap & upper loaders. Weighing less than 10oz, it’s so portable, you can stuff it into the side of your backpack when not in use. It’s a game-changer for the "outdoor adventure family" community. For more information, visit TrailMagik.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at check out and save 10% of your order. Visit Trail MagikLearn More About MightierMightier is a clinically proven mobile gaming app that was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s already helped more than 100,000 kids, including my crew here at home. Kids play on a tablet or a phone while wearing a heart rate monitor. And Mightier incorporates breathing exercises and other calming techniques as part of the game. Kids get to see when it’s time to cool down and learn how to do it themselves. And parents get to track their progress. Visit mightier.com and use the promo code "theautismdad22" at checkout to save 10%. Visit Mightier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a parent to an autistic child, a child with ADHD, or a child with a disability? If so, this show is for you. Learn everything you need to know about IEPs, from an IEP expert, and go into your next IEP meeting empowered with the knowledge needed to better navigate the system. This episode with help you ensure your child has access to the support and accommodations needed for them to succeed in their educational journey. Guest Bio: Shelley Kenow is a wife of 30 years, a mom for 22 years, a trained human to a Chihuahua for 13 years, a special educator for 30-plus years, author, Education Consultant, and live streamer for #nolimits and Friday with Fran, provider of professional development for school districts, and Master IEP Coach®. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is to prepare an individual child for further education, employment, and independent living...whatever that looks like for each individual. Shelley believes we know who we are, but not who we will be. These are the two driving factors in her approach to working with families and schools. Connect with Shelley Kenow:All of Shelley's information is found atshelleykenow.comHost Bio:Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys as well as Found and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, digital marketer, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.Connect with Rob Gorski:Official Podcast HomepageOfficial BlogPodcast DiscussionAutism Parenting Support ForumMentioned in this episode:Just two Dads PodcastShawn Francis and Brian Altounian host "Just two Dads." A weekly conversation with two dads about raising children with special needs. Listen, every Wednesday at 12PM PST. Find them on Facebook and anywhere you get your podcasts. Just two Dads PodcastHappy LaddersHappy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home Happy Ladders includes activities that target 150+ essential developmental skills every toddler needs as well as assessments in 4 different developmental areas. There’s also an exclusive community of parents just like you, and professional coaching to ensure success for both you and your toddler. To learn more, get a free trial, and take advantage of an exclusive, limited-time offer for my listeners, visit happyladders.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at checkout to save 50% off the monthly membership. Plus get a free one-on-one session as well as access to the Tantrums and Meltdowns mini-course. This is a limited-time offer so act now.Visit Happy Ladders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is for the first episode of my new Autistic Voices Series is none other than Cory Singer. Cory is an accomplished singer/songwriter and Tiktok sensation, who just happens to be autistic. He uses his massive platform to talk about autism. Cory uses his personal experience as an autistic person to create about autism that is humorous, engaging, educational, honest, and inspirational. Guest Bio:NJ Native Cory Singer is an accomplished singer/songwriter/musician and theater performer. Cory has performed in arenas before thousands nationwide. He starred on BRAVO TV’s singing Competition The Kandi Factory, winning the grand prize, taking home a song penned by Grammy Award Winning Artist Kandi Burress, “I Can Do Anything”. Cory is an exceptional songwriter, and he captivates his audiences no matter the venue or event. He finished out 2017 on a high note being added to several media magazine watch lists for 2018. Cory has become an advocate for children, families, and adults who are on the spectrum. He has used his TikTok to promote positivity by inspiring others with his platform. Cory has coined the phrase '"Let's Normalize Autism." He currently has over 500K fans and followers worldwide. ​Connect with Cory Singer:Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube WebsiteHost Bio:Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys as well as Found and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, digital marketer, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.Official Podcast HomepageOfficial BlogPodcast DiscussionAutism Parenting Support ForumMentioned in this episode:Learn More About MightierMightier is a clinically proven mobile gaming app that was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s already helped more than 100,000 kids, including my crew here at home. Kids play on a tablet or a phone while wearing a heart rate monitor. And Mightier incorporates breathing exercises and other calming techniques as part of the game. Kids get to see when it’s time to cool down and learn how to do it themselves. And parents get to track their progress. Visit mightier.com and use the promo code "theautismdad22" at checkout to save 10%. Visit MightierLearn More About Travelling DifferentIf you'd like to travel this summer, but fears over your child's triggers and sensory meltdowns are holding you back help is on the way traveling different vacation strategies for parents of the anxious, the inflexible, and the neurodiverse by Dawn M Barclay contains hundreds of tips for traveling with kids with invisible disabilities, from mental health experts, parents and certified autism travel professionals. Learn how to start small, create predictability design child-centric, vacations that keep your children safe on the road and how to deal with insensitive onlookers, discover autism-friendly resorts cruises, therapeutic sports, vacations, and so much more traveling, different vacation strategies for parents of the anxious, the inflexible and the neurodiverse will be released on August 15th. Preorder your copy today and learn more by visiting travelingdifferent.com. Visit Traveling Different Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eileen Lamb (The Autism Cafe) is an autistic mother of two autistic kids. She's here for a parent-to-parent discussion about the reality of regressive autism and ABA therapy, based on first-hand, personal experience.Guest Bio: Eileen Lamb, author of "All Across The Spectrum" and “Be The One,” is the founder of The Autism Cafe. She’s also a writer, photographer, and podcast host. Born in France, Eileen now lives in Austin, Texas, with her two sons, Charlie (9) and Jude (6), and their soon-to-be little sister. On her blog, she shares the ups and downs of raising a severely autistic child while being on the autism spectrum herself.Books:ALL ACROSS THE SPECTRUMBE THE ONEWebsite: The Autism CafeHost Bio:Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys as well as Found and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, digital marketer, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.Official Podcast HomepageOfficial BlogPodcast DiscussionAutism Parenting Support ForumMentioned in this episode:Learn More About Trail MagikCommuning with nature is one of the best methods of self-care available, and hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy nature. If you’re a parent who enjoys hitting the trails with your little ones, you’re already aware that toddlers will walk some of the journey and want carried the rest of the way. There are tons of contraptions for carrying babies while on the trails, but what about those in between, toddler years? You don’t want to bring a big bulky carrier for a kid who’s only going to use it some of the time. The Trail Magik Kid Carrier solves that problem and does so brilliantly. Invented by a Dad who wanted to take his 3-year-old backpacking. It’s for kiddos 12 months up to 43 pounds. The carrier attaches onto hiking backpacks and durable daypacks that have a waist strap & upper loaders. Weighing less than 10oz, it’s so portable, you can stuff it into the side of your backpack when not in use. It’s a game-changer for the "outdoor adventure family" community. For more information, visit TrailMagik.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at check out and save 10% of your order. Visit Trail MagikLearn More About TractoTracto is a free app that is all about empowering parents to better understand and meet the unique needs of their kids with autism, ADHD or anxiety. Tracto does this by easily allowing for the collaborative tracking of behaviors over time. Parents can invite teachers or anyone else they want to help document behavioral changes. Not everyone sees the same things because every environment is different. Being able to document behaviors in realtime, prevents having to pull from memory later on, making it more accurate, and reliable information. Tracking things like sleep patterns, medication-related behavioral changes, behaviors in the classroom, or anything else that parents of these amazing kiddos need to keep an eye on, can be challenging. Simply put, Tracto makes it easy. All tracking and collaboration functions to this app are completely free. They also offer affordable online courses, taught by leading experts if you’re interested in learning some new parenting skills yourself. They’re short videos that will teach you new parenting approaches and help you gain more insight into your child. You can get more information about Tracto at tracto.app. Or check out the Google Play or Apple app store. Use the code “theautismdad” at checkout and save 30% off your online course order. Visit Tracto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have a great parent-to-parent conversation with my friend Kate Swenson (Finding Cooper's Voice). We share some of our best autism parenting stories that inspire hope and healing. Connect with Kate Swenson:Finding Cooper's Voice Check out Forever BoyAbout Kate Swenson: Kate is Cooper's mom, the founder of Finding Cooper's Voice, and the author of the new book Forever Boy. *** Join my free online community to discuss this episode: click here *** You can find all my information here. Mentioned in this episode:Just two Dads PodcastShawn Francis and Brian Altounian host "Just two Dads." A weekly conversation with two dads about raising children with special needs. Listen, every Wednesday at 12PM PST. Find them on Facebook and anywhere you get your podcasts. Just two Dads PodcastLearn More About Trail MagikCommuning with nature is one of the best methods of self-care available, and hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy nature. If you’re a parent who enjoys hitting the trails with your little ones, you’re already aware that toddlers will walk some of the journey and want carried the rest of the way. There are tons of contraptions for carrying babies while on the trails, but what about those in between, toddler years? You don’t want to bring a big bulky carrier for a kid who’s only going to use it some of the time. The Trail Magik Kid Carrier solves that problem and does so brilliantly. Invented by a Dad who wanted to take his 3-year-old backpacking. It’s for kiddos 12 months up to 43 pounds. The carrier attaches onto hiking backpacks and durable daypacks that have a waist strap & upper loaders. Weighing less than 10oz, it’s so portable, you can stuff it into the side of your backpack when not in use. It’s a game-changer for the "outdoor adventure family" community. For more information, visit TrailMagik.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at check out and save 10% of your order. Visit Trail Magik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is the Administrator of Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health, Mike Rowley. I recorded this while on-site at The Converge Autism Summit in Greenville, South Carolina. Mike and I have a conversation all about the Springbrook facility. We talk about why a child may need acute residential care, and what happens when they do. We talked about the unimaginable struggles facing families when a child's behavior cannot be managed safely in the home. I've been there, and I wouldn't wish that on any child or parent. If you're looking for this type of help for your family, or maybe know someone who is, there's a lot of valuable information in this episode. About Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health.About Mike Rowley: CEO at Springbrook Behavioral Health. Springbrook is a 112-bed facility offering short-term acute psychiatric services for adults (44 beds) and a residential treatment center for children with autism and behavioral challenges(68 beds)Mentioned in this episode:Learn More About MightierMightier is a clinically proven mobile gaming app that was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s already helped more than 100,000 kids, including my crew here at home. Kids play on a tablet or a phone while wearing a heart rate monitor. And Mightier incorporates breathing exercises and other calming techniques as part of the game. Kids get to see when it’s time to cool down and learn how to do it themselves. And parents get to track their progress. Visit mightier.com and use the promo code "theautismdad22" at checkout to save 10%. Visit MightierJust two Dads PodcastShawn Francis and Brian Altounian host "Just two Dads." A weekly conversation with two dads about raising children with special needs. Listen, every Wednesday at 12PM PST. Find them on Facebook and anywhere you get your podcasts. Just two Dads Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join my new community and discuss this and other episodes of The Autism Dad Podcast with others. It's totally free, and I'd love your feedback. Join Now.My guest today is Dawn Barclay, and she's here to share tips and tricks to make traveling with our autistic kids safe, fun, and enjoyable. She wrote a new book called Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse (will release Aug 15th). Dawn and I have a conversation about some common challenges families face when trying to travel with their autistic, anxious, or otherwise neurodiverse child. She provides no-nonsense solutions, ideas, and advice to help make travel a rewarding experience for the whole family. She also talks about how to evaluate hotels, theme parks, and other places prior to arrival. This is a great episode, especially as we get into the summer months.Check out Dawn's information below to learn more and pre-order the book.Dawn M. BarclayDawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a 30+ year career working in different aspects of the travel industry. After attending Tufts University, she worked in sales, marketing, and management for her parents' firms, Barclay Travel Ltd. and Barclay International Group Short Term Apartment and Villa Rentals. Next, she branched out into travel trade reporting, with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report. Dawn holds degrees in psychology and marketing, is a mother of two, and lives in New York's scenic Hudson Valley. She also writes fiction as D.M. Barr and holds leadership roles in several writer organizations.http://www.dawnbarclayink.com  Pre-Order her book on Amazon.Find me at theautismdad.comJoin my new community and discuss this and other episodes of The Autism Dad Podcast with others. It's totally free, and I'd love your feedback. Join Now.Mentioned in this episode:Just two Dads PodcastShawn Francis and Brian Altounian host "Just two Dads." A weekly conversation with two dads about raising children with special needs. Listen, every Wednesday at 12PM PST. Find them on Facebook and anywhere you get your podcasts. Just two Dads PodcastLearn More About MightierMightier is a clinically proven mobile gaming app that was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s already helped more than 100,000 kids, including my crew here at home. Kids play on a tablet or a phone while wearing a heart rate monitor. And Mightier incorporates breathing exercises and other calming techniques as part of the game. Kids get to see when it’s time to cool down and learn how to do it themselves. And parents get to track their progress. Visit mightier.com and use the promo code "theautismdad22" at checkout to save 10%. Visit Mightier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*** Join my free online community to discuss this episode: click here ***Dr. Temple Grandin is here today to help parents prepare their autistic kids for the workforce. This is so important as our kids get older. Temple has a ton of very specific advice, insight, and experience that she will share over the next 30 minutes. We also talk about helping to manage our kid’s sensory needs. Temple is an amazing human being, and I was lucky enough to sit down with her at The National Converge Autism Summit by Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health in Greenville, South Carolina. It was such an honor to meet her, and I learned so much from our time together.You can find more information about Temple Grandin by clicking hereAs mentioned, you can find Kate Swenson’s book Forever Boy here.You can find me here.This episode is sponsored by:Mentioned in this episode:Learn More About MightierMightier is a clinically proven mobile gaming app that was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s already helped more than 100,000 kids, including my crew here at home. Kids play on a tablet or a phone while wearing a heart rate monitor. And Mightier incorporates breathing exercises and other calming techniques as part of the game. Kids get to see when it’s time to cool down and learn how to do it themselves. And parents get to track their progress. Visit mightier.com and use the promo code "theautismdad22" at checkout to save 10%. Visit MightierLearn More About zPodszPods is the first U.S.-based company to provide kids with a customizable, sensory-friendly sleeping pod. These regenerative spaces come jam-packed with features such as intelligent lighting control, white noise generation, Bluetooth speakers, and more. With these tools, we believe that children can find better sleep, which means parents can sleep better as well. Visit https://zpods.tech fro more information. Visit zPodsLearn More About TractoTracto is a free app that is all about empowering parents to better understand and meet the unique needs of their kids with autism, ADHD or anxiety. Tracto does this by easily allowing for the collaborative tracking of behaviors over time. Parents can invite teachers or anyone else they want to help document behavioral changes. Not everyone sees the same things because every environment is different. Being able to document behaviors in realtime, prevents having to pull from memory later on, making it more accurate, and reliable information. Tracking things like sleep patterns, medication-related behavioral changes, behaviors in the classroom, or anything else that parents of these amazing kiddos need to keep an eye on, can be challenging. Simply put, Tracto makes it easy. All tracking and collaboration functions to this app are completely free. They also offer affordable online courses, taught by leading experts if you’re interested in learning some new parenting skills yourself. They’re short videos that will teach you new parenting approaches and help you gain more insight into your child. You can get more information about Tracto at tracto.app. Or check out the Google Play or Apple app store. Use the code “theautismdad” at checkout and save 30% off your online course order. Visit Tracto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices