Episode 1: Beyond The Spectrum: A Parent's Story

Welcome to the Autism Learning Lab Podcast, an exploration of the full spectrum of the Autistic experience hosted by clinical therapist Chris Blankenship. On our flagship episode, Chris welcomes Claire, the mother of an 18-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 16. Claire recounts how her daughter was recognized as gifted by the age of 4 but was later diagnosed in middle school with ADHD, slow processing speed, and executive dysfunction. She describes the challenges her daughter faced during remote learning due to COVID-19, which led to self-harming behaviors and marijuana use. Eventually, her daughter acknowledged the need for professional help. Now, Claire candidly shares the ups and downs of their ongoing journey as their family continues to adapt to this new “normal.”Links:Autism Learning Lab Website: https://www.autismlearninglab.com/Email: [email protected]:Strong Female Character by Fern Brady: https://a.co/d/dbUY1Vt