Sensory Bags & Second Looks: Raising a Child with Autism

Host Janet Michael sits down with her dear friend Ashley Woodall to talk about raising her son Aiden, who is on the autism spectrum. Ashley opens up about the road to diagnosis, the therapies that have made a difference, what life really looks like day-to-day, and an inspiring community initiative to help first responders better serve individuals with autism. Topics Covered Aiden's Early Signs & Diagnosis Aiden was frequently ill as an infant, which led to early evaluations Speech pathologist flagged developmental concerns and referred the family to Infant & Toddler Connection Early signs included late crawling, late walking, speech regression, sensory sensitivities, and feeding difficulties Pediatrician provided an official autism diagnosis; developmental pediatrician appointment followed Waitlists for developmental specialists can be 1–2 years long Therapies & Early Intervention ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy began in July 2024 — described as life-changing Also received speech therapy, occupational therapy, and developmental therapy in the home Aiden uses an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device to help him communicate Identified as a gestalt language processor — learns language through phrases rather than individual words Ashley left her career to become Aiden's primary caregiver and therapy support at home Navigating Daily Life Public outings like grocery shopping can be unpredictable — good days and very hard days Aiden has no sense of danger and is prone to elopement (running away) Meltdowns can look like defiance but are often unmet needs the child cannot communicate Families with autistic children often have a limited support system for childcare Ashley emphasizes the importance of inclusion — autistic children deserve to be part of the community What the Public Should Know Avoid judgment — you don't know what a family has been through before that moment Offer help or kind words; if you can't be helpful, simply walk away Look for sunflower lanyards — a universal symbol that a child or individual is neurodivergent The Sensory Bag Initiative Ashley, her husband Joe, and a group of autism parents assembled 50 sensory bags to donate to local first responders Each bag contains: Noise-canceling headphones Sunglasses (to reduce bright/flashing lights) Fidget and sensory toys Goal: at least one bag on the street at all times across Front Royal Police, Warren County Sheriff's Office, and Warren County Fire & Rescue Funded through community donations; two major contributors, including a family friend whose granddaughter also has autism Bags will be heat-pressed with a design reading "Sensory Bag" and a note crediting community generosity Looking Ahead: A Nonprofit in the Making Ashley is working to establish a 501(c)3 nonprofit to expand the initiative The nonprofit will be dedicated to the memory of her late son Michael, who was known for his generosity and love of giving back Plans include an official Facebook page, website, and broader fundraising once the nonprofit is formalized Key Takeaways Early intervention is critical — don't wait for a formal diagnosis to begin seeking services ABA therapy, AAC devices, and in-home reinforcement can produce remarkable results Empathy and inclusion go a long way for families navigating autism in public spaces First responders equipped with sensory tools can significantly de-escalate situations involving autistic individuals Community generosity can turn a personal struggle into meaningful local change Resources Mentioned Infant & Toddler Connection (through Grafton) DSS Long-Term Care Waiver / Medicaid ABA therapy / Valley Health AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices Sunflower Lanyard Program