Episode 13: Tylenol, Smoke Screens, and Why Awareness and Acceptance Doesn’t Require Suffering

Matt, Erin, and guest Tiffany Hammond (of Fidgets and Fries and A Day With No Words) are here this week — and we dive into the Tylenol conspiracy circus, the politics of distraction, and why autistic advocacy has to push past dehumanizing narratives. We talk about balancing anger with connection, what happens when parents are left isolated in “severe autism” groups, and how telling stories with dignity changes the conversation.We cover:The absurd scapegoating of Tylenol as “the cause” of autismHow political smoke bombs distract from gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and educationWhy dehumanizing language (“low functioning,” “destroyers of lives”) harms both kids and parentsThe trap of socially “acceptable” suffering vs. authentic autistic needsUsing stories instead of slogans to actually shift hearts, minds, and policiesTiffany’s book A Day With No Words and the family practices behind itAlso: fangirling, Peppa Pig echolalia, the Bachelor as cultural proof, and why “awareness” without action is just noise.