Episode 33: Redefining Expectations in Autism episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 22, 2026 · 19 MIN

Episode 33: Redefining Expectations in Autism

from Autism Learning Lab Podcast · host Chris Blankenship, LCSW

Chris chats with Kellyn Smythe, Director of Admissions at Pacific Quest and a father navigating autism in his own family. Kellyn shares his personal journey of hisson’s early feeding struggles and eventual autism diagnosis. This conversation offers an honest look at the realities many families face. However, this episode offers hope with Kellyn reflecting on how perspective shifts over time explaining how what once felt devastating can become a source of joy.Links:Autism Learning Lab: https://www.autismlearninglab.com/Email: [email protected] Quest: https://pacificquest.org/Quotes:[7:50-8:00] Kellyn “All that suffering and all that distress and worry andsleepless nights and all those things that made a big old hole that we get tofill up with everything he does now it's just so rewarding.”[10:45-10:55] Chris “I like the fact that you're other people are putting upboundaries, and you're saying ‘no I'm gonna take that away and let's at least try.’ If you're not going to do that for your kid, who's going to?”[15:21-15:24] Kellyn “Our healthy relationships involve attuned expectations.”

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 22, 2026

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Chris chats with Kellyn Smythe, Director of Admissions at Pacific Quest and a father navigating autism in his own family. Kellyn shares his personal journey of his son’s early feeding struggles and eventual autism diagnosis. This conversation offers an honest look at the realities many families face. However, this episode offers hope with Kellyn reflecting on how perspective shifts over time explaining how what once felt devastating can become a source of joy. Links: Autism Learning Lab: ht...

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Episode 33: Redefining Expectations in Autism

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