The Autism Dad

What does autism level one actually look like inside a real family's home? That is exactly what Justin Bowman, autism dad and founder of VizyPlan, is here to share.

In this episode of Seen and Heard, Justin gives us a 15-minute glimpse into life with his son Sawyer, who is turning six and diagnosed autism level one. Sawyer is the kid they call the mayor at school because he just wants to say hi to everyone. He is also a kid who went from completely nonverbal to holding full conversations in under three years, carries a full alphabet soup of providers, and battles a deep self-awareness that sometimes makes him avoid the very things he wants to do most.

Justin also makes a point in this episode that stopped me cold: being seen and heard in the autism community is not a level playing field. Zip code matters. Access matters. And until we recognize that, we are missing something important.

 

What you will hear in this episode:

• Sawyer's journey from nonverbal to conversational in under three years

• Why his follower mentality is both his biggest strength and his parents' biggest worry

• The full support team keeping Sawyer thriving inside and outside of school

• Why self-awareness in an autistic child can be both remarkable and heartbreaking

• What autism level one really looks like when the diagnosis label does not tell the whole story

• Why comparison is the thief of joy in the autism community

• Why being seen and heard is not equal for every autism family regardless of diagnosis level

 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Justin Bowman is the founder and CEO of VizyPlan, a visual routine and planning app built for the neurodivergent community, and Associate Director of Product Management at Chewy. He is an autism dad based in central Massachusetts with his wife Danielle, a speech-language pathologist, and their two children, Sawyer, who is turning six and diagnosed autism level one, and Peyton, who is four.

 

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Rob Gorski is the founder of The Autism Dad, a blog and podcast dedicated to supporting parents raising kids on the autism spectrum. As a dad of three autistic sons with over 25 years of experience, Rob brings lived experience, honesty, and heart to every conversation.

 

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Mightier is a clinically proven app that helps kids build emotional regulation skills through biofeedback-based video games. It meets kids where they are and gives parents real tools to support them at home. Visit mightier.com and use code theautismdad22 for 10% off.

 

If you found this episode helpful, please follow The Autism Dad Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Visit listen.theautismdad.com for past episodes, resources, and ways to support the show.

What does it really feel like to fight for your child's autism diagnosis, navigate school battles, and find joy in a glove and a game of catch? In this episode of Seen and Heard, I'm joined by Brandon Shaw, an autism dad from Orlando, Florida, who shares a candid, unfiltered look at life with his seven-year-old son Mason, who is diagnosed level one but often teeters between one and two. Brandon opens up about the moment everything changed, the silence that followed diagnosis, and the small victories that keep his family moving forward.

What you will hear in this episode:

How Brandon and his wife Alyssa fought for Mason's autism diagnosis after being turned away by two pediatricians

Why there was no roadmap after diagnosis and how the family built one on their own

The everyday reality of raising two brothers, one neurotypical and one autistic, under the same roof

How Mason went from an autism-specific pre-K unit to a mainstream first-grade classroom with an IEP

Why small wins, like answering how his school day went or grabbing a baseball glove, mean everything

What Brandon wishes the outside world understood about Mason and the autism community

Why Brandon believes advocacy is a team sport and how community support changes everything

ABOUT THE GUEST

Brandon Shaw is an autism dad living in Orlando, Florida with his wife Alyssa and their two sons, Mason, age seven, and Hunter, who is nearly three. Mason was diagnosed as autistic around age three and a half after his family fought to be heard by multiple doctors. Since diagnosis, Brandon and Alyssa have dedicated themselves to learning, advocating, and celebrating every step of Mason's journey. Brandon is passionate about breaking autism stigmas, building community, and reminding other parents that they are not alone.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Rob Gorski is the founder of The Autism Dad, a blog and podcast dedicated to supporting parents raising kids on the autism spectrum. As a dad of three autistic sons with over 25 years of experience, Rob brings lived experience, honesty, and heart to every conversation.

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

VizyPlan — If your mornings feel like a battle before the day even starts, check out VizyPlan. Built by a dad who gets it, VizyPlan uses AI to create visual routines with photos of your actual child. Visit VizyPlan.com/app and use code theautismdad to get your first month free.

If you found this episode helpful, please follow The Autism Dad Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Visit listen.theautismdad.com for past episodes, resources, and ways to support the show.

Season 9 of The Autism Dad Podcast kicks off with the episode you have been requesting for three years. Rob's girlfriend, partner, and biggest supporter — Kelly Clark — finally joins the show to answer your questions about their relationship, how they navigate autism parenting together, and what makes two introverts who overthink everything such a great team.

Kelly also opens up about the life-changing work she does training law enforcement, first responders, schools, and courthouses across Northeast Ohio to better understand and interact with autistic individuals through the Autism Society of Greater Akron. Plus, Rob shares a personal announcement he has been keeping under wraps for eight months — you do not want to miss it.

In This Episode:

How Rob and Kelly met, including the ambiguous dinner invitation and showing up an hour early

Kelly's autism advocacy work training law enforcement and first responders

Why two introverts who both overthink actually make a great team

How they handle disagreements and parenting differences with mutual respect

What it looks like to intentionally protect a relationship when autism parenting demands so much

Why date nights in with trash TV count just as much as going out

Rob's big announcement — it's a surprise

A preview of what is coming in Season 9, including the Seen and Heard series

About the Guest

Kelly Clark is a mom, passionate autism advocate, and educator based in Northeast Ohio. As a representative of the Autism Society of Greater Akron, she trains law enforcement officers, first responders, school staff, and courthouse personnel to better recognize and interact with autistic individuals — work that can quite literally change outcomes and save lives. Kelly brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience to everything she does. She is also Rob's partner and has been a steady, grounding presence behind the scenes for the last three years.

About Your Host

Rob Gorski is the founder of The Autism Dad, a blog and podcast dedicated to supporting parents raising kids on the autism spectrum. As a dad of three autistic sons with over 25 years of experience, Rob brings lived experience, honesty, and heart to every conversation.

Find Rob at theautismdad.com | Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: @theautismdad | YouTube: @robgorski | New episodes drop every week.

This Episode Is Brought to You By

VizyPlan — If your mornings feel like a battle before the day even starts, check out VizyPlan. Built by a dad who gets it, VizyPlan uses AI to create visual routines with photos of your actual child. Visit VizyPlan.com/app and use code theautismdad to get your first month free.

Mightier: Help your child build emotional regulation skills through fun, game-based biofeedback. Save 10% with code theautismdad22 at mightier.com.

If you found this episode helpful, please follow The Autism Dad Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Visit listen.theautismdad.com for past episodes, resources, and ways to support the show.

How do we help our neurodivergent kids feel confident in
their own bodies? That’s the big question in this week’s episode of The Autism Dad Podcast. I’m joined by Dr. Whitney Casares, pediatrician, public health expert, autism mom, and fellow at the American Academy of Pediatrics, to talk about her new book My One of a Kind Body: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Me.
Dr. Casares opens up about raising her autistic and ADHD children, why body
image hits differently for neurodivergent kids, and how parents can support
healthy habits without shame or pressure. We talk about diet culture, social
media, body bullies, and how to help kids see themselves as enough, exactly as they are.
If you’ve ever worried about your child’s self-esteem, eating struggles, or how to navigate tricky conversations about body changes, this episode will give you guidance, validation, and tools to move forward.

• Why body image issues impact autistic and ADHD kids
differently

• How Dr. Casares’ daughter inspired her new book

• The lasting effects of diet culture on kids (and parents)

• Helping neurodivergent kids navigate social media pressure

• Practical ways to address sensory eating and movement
challenges

• Scripts and strategies parents can use when tough
questions come up

• Why BMI isn’t the full picture of health for children

• How to model body confidence while managing your own
struggles

Dr. Casares is a board-certified pediatrician and public health
expert, and autism mom. She is a fellow at the American Academy of Pediatrics, host of The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, and author of several books, including My One of a Kind Body. Her work helps parents raise confident, resilient kids while giving themselves grace along the way.

Website: modernmommydoc.com

Rob Gorski is the founder of The Autism Dad blog and host of
The Autism Dad Podcast. A single father to three autistic children, Rob shares his family’s journey to validate and support parents raising neurodivergent kids. His work has been featured by CNN, ABC News, BBC Worldwide, and more.

Algonot: Check out NeuroProtek, a brain-supporting flavonoid
supplement developed by a Yale-trained neuroinflammation expert. Save 5% with
code ROB5 at algonot.com.
Mightier: Help your child build emotional regulation skills through fun,
game-based biofeedback. Save 10% with code theautismdad22 at mightier.com.

If you found this episode helpful, please follow The Autism
Dad Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Visit
listen.theautismdad.com for past episodes, resources, and ways to support the show.

In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, I sit down with my 25-year-old autistic son, Gavin, for a candid update on his journey. We talk about his transition out of a group home, what he’s learning along the way, and his hopes for the future.

If you’re parenting autistic children or supporting neurodivergent kids as they grow into adulthood, this conversation offers both real-world challenges and encouraging progress. Gavin shares openly about work, housing, self-care, and even his dream of becoming a streamer. These insights matter for families navigating the shift from childhood to adult life with autism.

What you’ll hear in this episode:


Why Gavin left his group home and what families should look out for


The importance of stable hours and fair pay when autistic adults enter the workforce


How self-advocacy and job coaching can support independence


Gavin’s goals for future housing and financial stability


Honest reflections on managing stress and remembering to ask for help


His interest in streaming, content creation, and sharing his experiences online


The role of grandparents and family support in transitional stages


Gavin’s approach to self-care and why he’s trying a massage for stress relief

If you’re raising neurodivergent kids, this episode is both relatable and inspiring. It shows the ups and downs of supporting an autistic young adult, while also reminding us how much growth is possible with patience, advocacy, and support.

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Autism Dad Podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode. You can also visit theautismdad.com for more autism parenting resources, personal stories, and ways to connect.

Sponsors


Algonot – NeuroProtek® A brain-supporting flavonoid supplement developed by a Yale-trained neuroinflammation expert. Supports brain health, immune function, and neuroinflammation. Save 5% with code ROB5 at ⁠algonot.com


Mightier — Help your kids build emotional regulation skills through play. Save 10% with code theautismdad22 at mightier.com.

About Rob Gorski

Rob Gorski is the father of three autistic children and the host of The Autism Dad Podcast. As the founder of The Autism Dad blog and podcast, Rob shares his family’s 25-year autism journey to educate, validate, and support parents worldwide. His work has been featured on CNN, ABC News, BBC Worldwide, and the Tamron Hall Show.

About Gavin Gorski

Gavin Gorski is a 25-year-old autistic adult navigating the challenges of independent living, employment, and personal growth. He brings unique insight into the adult autism experience and shares openly about his goals, struggles, and dreams for the future.