Ep. 155 - Breaking Free While Parenting a Child with Autism with Erin

This week on Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidah sitsdown with Erin S. L. Jackson for a powerful conversation about autism motherhood, domestic violence, survival, education, and what it takes to rebuild your life when walking away feels impossible.Erin opens up about something many women experience but may be afraid to say out loud: sometimes leaving an abusive relationship is not as simple as walking out the door.Financial dependence, childcare challenges, missed work,isolation, fear, and the responsibility of raising a child with additional needs can make leaving feel impossible.Erin shares how public assistance programs helped providesome of the financial security she needed to begin separating herself from her abuser — and how higher education eventually became another part of her pathtoward freedom. In this episode, we discuss: 0:00 – Meet Erin0:54 – Pregnant during COVID2:53 – Her son's RSV hospitalization 4:26 – Developmental regression6:22 – Getting the autism diagnosis8:12 – How the diagnosis shifted the relationship12:06 – Using ChatGPT to cope 12:57 – Building the escape plan23:51 – The car accident that changed everything25:21 – Police escort 26:32 – Co-parenting and contact today32:37 – Mental health and suicidal thoughts33:32 – Finishing her master's in social work34:29 – The Title IV fellowship42:44 – Where to find Erin 43:54 – Advice for moms still stuck 46:22 – What makes Erin badass Connect with Erin:Facebook: Erin JacksonInstagram: Instagram.com/ hopez__Dreams If this episode resonated with you: -Follow the Autism for Badass Moms Podcast-Leave a review to help other autism moms find thiscommunity-Share this episode with a parent who may feel unseen ormisunderstood Follow Us:Instagram: www.instagram.com/theabmpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast A Note to Our ListenersThis episode contains conversations about domesticviolence, intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and trauma. Please listen with care.Abuse does not always look like physical violence.It can include controlling money, interfering withemployment, isolating someone from family and friends, intimidation, manipulation, threats, emotional abuse, coercive control, and other behaviors designed to maintain power over another person.If something discussed in this episode feels familiar,please know that help and confidential support are available.You do not have to navigate abuse alone. If you or someone you know is experiencing domesticviolence, please reach out to a trusted person or a domestic violence organization. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services.