13 | Finding Rare Disease & Autism Family Resources | Christina Broderick

Navigating autism alongside a rare medical condition can feel overwhelming for families, especially when diagnoses come with limited information, financial stress, and complicated medical needs. In this episode of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast, Brian Keene speaks with Christina Broderick, mother of two neurodivergent children, including a son with autism and PKU (Phenylketonuria), a rare metabolic disorder. Christina shares her family's journey of learning about PKU after her son's newborn screening and the emotional and financial challenges that followed. She discusses the difficulties of managing specialized diets, traveling long distances for medical care, and trying to navigate unfamiliar systems as a young parent. Most importantly, Christina shares the organizations and resources that helped her family access specialized food, medication support, financial assistance, gas reimbursement, hotel stays, and educational guidance. This episode highlights how life-changing the right support systems can be for families navigating complex diagnoses. Topics Covered • Parenting a child with autism and a rare disorder • Understanding PKU (Phenylketonuria) • Navigating rare disease diagnoses as a parent • Specialized diets and medical nutrition support • Financial assistance programs for families • Traveling for specialty medical care • Organizations that support rare disease families • Finding resources for undiagnosed or complex conditions Memorable Quote "We all want to help our kids and we all want some information or some type of little help to get us there along the way." About the Guest Christina Broderick is a mother of two neurodivergent children living in Arizona. Through her personal experiences navigating autism, PKU, and developmental disabilities, she has become passionate about helping other families find resources, support, and guidance. Resources Mentioned National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) https://rarediseases.org Cambrooke Therapeutics BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Kuvan (sapropterin) Phoenix Children's Hospital Milemarkers Therapy Rise Services, Inc. About the Host Brian Keene is the host of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy. Pure Hearts Therapy provides home-based pediatric occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and family-centered support for neurodivergent children and families in Arizona. Subscribe & Connect If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation. Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: https://pod.link/1591840956 Explore more resources for families at: https://pureheartstherapy.com