Parenting Severe Autism

Shannon Chamberlin
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Parenting Severe Autism is a raw, unfiltered podcast for parents and caregivers raising children with Severe Autism. Hosted by Shannon Chamberlin - a parent, not a professional - this show is your emotional lifeline, real-talk resource, and reminder that you're not alone. From early childhood to adulthood and beyond, Shannon shares honest stories, painful truths, small victories, and survival strategies for the families the world forgets. Whether you're in crisis mode or just need someone who gets it, this is your space. No fluff. No sugarcoating. Just truth, hope, and community. Severe Autism and special needs considerations. This type of autism parenting is lifelong... it becomes adult autism parenting.  Seek caregiver support when possible.

  1. 1d ago

    Fighting For Placement When Severe Autism Outgrows The System

    Send us Fan Mail We read through a run of 2019 school emails that show how fast life can spiral.  We talk guardianship, money, work stress, rejections, and the small home routines that still help our son feel safe.  • legal guardianship • how severe autism can make steady work nearly impossible for a family  • the school’s behavior team admitting they lack capacity  • asking for copies of staff and specialist videos to understand decisions  • outside placement leads • being rejected from programs and what that does to a parent’s trust  • touring a facility and confronting the reality of adult services  • school-day accommodations around routine, lunchroom size, snack timing, soaps, and toothpaste  • heavy metal detox attempts  • therapy tradeoffs  Please remember, you can help me keep this podcast free for those who need it simply by donating to the Buy Me a Coffee program.  You can always contact me at contact.parentingsevereautism at gmail.com.  Hey, let me know if you have anything to share about your experience with schools as of late, whether it's good, bad, or otherwise.  S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles Respite GoFundMePlease share this GoFundMe to help raise funds for building our DREAM, Outlined in Episode 57AngelSense DeviceAngelSense GPS Monitoring Device Tracker For Kids, Teens, ElderlySAVE 5% LIFEPRO FITNESS PRODUCTSWe love our Waver Vibration Plate and BioHeal Plus Red Light Panel! Calming. Healing. YES.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  2. Aug 26

    Writing Your Child’s Severe Autism Story At School

    Send us Fan Mail A single email from school can change your whole day when you’re parenting severe autism and already running on fumes. We share what it looks like when classroom behavior reports, delayed meetings, and vague “behavior team” guidance collide with the reality at home. We start with a few real-life moments that many caregivers will recognize. Then we get into communication and receptive language, including why English slang and sound-alike words can be especially confusing for autistic kids with speech and language challenges. I also ask listeners to weigh in on how this plays out in other languages and cultures. From there, the tone shifts into the heavier stuff: a last-day-of-camp meltdown, plus the surprisingly effective de-escalation trick a great staff member uses to help our son regulate.  Finally, we dig into the school timeline and the advocacy lesson at the center of it all, and what it feels like when parents are left out of behavior planning while the system “figures it out” on your child. If you’re navigating IEP meetings, challenging behaviors, attention-seeking cycles, or caregiver burnout, listen through and take what you need.  Subscribe, share with another autism parent, and leave a review so more families can find this support. Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  3. Jul 29

    Advocating For A Severely Autistic Teen In High School

    Send us Fan Mail We share what it looks like when school support collides with severe autism, from the first weeks at a new high school to the moments we realize critical details are being missed. I walk through the exact language and protocols that help our son regulate and why consistency across adults is the difference between progress and meltdown.  • remodeling and environment changes at home to reduce frustration  • heat, low energy, shallow breathing and the suspected link between vitamin B complex and behavior or speech decline  • the moment our son says “I’m stuck”  • why life skills, OT, speech and socialization matter more than academics for our child  • early high school wins like the popcorn and coffee cart job  • working phrases that interrupt escalation • insisting the school call dad immediately for any self-injury  • frustrations with vague incident reporting and the lack of timely OT support  • reflections on staffing, caregiver consistency and a child’s need to feel cared for  Please remember you can support this podcast in many different ways. Of course, you can always buy me a coffee by clicking the little support icon on your podcast player. You’re also able to visit my storefront by following the link in my show notes. Please let me know if you have any tips, tricks, or anything like that regarding school these days, please email me at contact.parenting severe autism at gmail.com.  S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles Respite GoFundMePlease share this GoFundMe to help raise funds for building our DREAM, Outlined in Episode 57AngelSense DeviceAngelSense GPS Monitoring Device Tracker For Kids, Teens, ElderlySelect a Size TV Screen Impact ProtectorHeavy Duty. Extensively tested; will deflect any thrown remote control or a toy.Fingerprint Entry Door HandleBiometric Fingerprint Entry Interior Door HandleNO MORE HANGERS!Hanging soft box closet organizerSAVE 5% LIFEPRO FITNESS PRODUCTSWe love our Waver Vibration Plate and BioHeal Plus Red Light Panel! Calming. Healing. YES.Therapressure Brush 6 Pack Latex FreeSpecial Supplies Sensory Brush for Occupational and Sensory Brushing 6 Pack Latex Free StimulateCalmMagnesium Citrate Nervous System SupportNOW Foods - Magnesium Citrate Nervous System Support 400 mg. - 240 Vegetable Capsule(s) NOW Foods MaView My Summer Supplies Shopping Cart!iHerb supplies some of the safest summer products for sunscreen, bug screen, and stress management!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  4. Jul 2

    When Stress Turns A Child Into A Weapon

    Send us Fan Mail Vacation stress collides with severe autism routines, and can push a family to the edge. We share what happened on our Illinois getaway, then zoom out to the bigger lesson about family stress, boundaries, and the tiny moments of humor that keep us going.  • caregiving isolation and what it feels like when support runs thin  • why special needs travel often requires more than a simple hotel room • what Grand Bear Resort near Starved Rock advertises versus what works  • a sweet sighting of a nonverbal teen having real joy  • the danger of using a child’s disability as a tool in adult conflict  • reaching for help instead of letting pressure build  • funny connection moments as de-escalation  Please remember you can always support this podcast first of all by sharing to others who have not yet heard it. And you can buy me a coffee, you can check out my merch. And if you can't support financially, that's totally fine. I would even be delighted to hear from you in email. So you can send me messages at contact.parentingsevereautism at gmail.com.  S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles Respite GoFundMePlease share this GoFundMe to help raise funds for building our DREAM, Outlined in Episode 57AngelSense DeviceAngelSense GPS Monitoring Device Tracker For Kids, Teens, ElderlyView My Summer Supplies Shopping Cart!iHerb supplies some of the safest summer products for sunscreen, bug screen, and stress management!Fingerprint Entry Door HandleBiometric Fingerprint Entry Interior Door HandleNO MORE HANGERS!Hanging soft box closet organizerSAVE 5% LIFEPRO FITNESS PRODUCTSWe love our Waver Vibration Plate and BioHeal Plus Red Light Panel! Calming. Healing. YES.Therapressure Brush 6 Pack Latex FreeSpecial Supplies Sensory Brush for Occupational and Sensory Brushing 6 Pack Latex Free StimulateCalmBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREESelect a Size TV Screen Impact ProtectorHeavy Duty. Extensively tested; will deflect any thrown remote control or a toy.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  5. Jun 10

    What If The System Is Not Built For Them

    Send us Fan Mail We go back through the emails from our son’s first year in a new high school and relive how quickly “support” turned into constant crises. Then I share the most surprising update I have had in years! • school fees shock and using McKinney-Vento homeless status while doubled up  • early attempts at communication through typing and why it feels complicated  • IEP meeting overload and what caregiver burnout looks like in real time  • why regular school is not built for many severe autism needs  • adult autism communication breakthrough  • small functional wins please share your stories with me and check me out on my live streams. Leave me hearts and comments and stuff, and let's see how that goes.  S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles Respite GoFundMePlease share this GoFundMe to help raise funds for building our DREAM, Outlined in Episode 57AngelSense DeviceAngelSense GPS Monitoring Device Tracker For Kids, Teens, ElderlyView My Summer Supplies Shopping Cart!iHerb supplies some of the safest summer products for sunscreen, bug screen, and stress management!SAVE 5% LIFEPRO FITNESS PRODUCTSWe love our Waver Vibration Plate and BioHeal Plus Red Light Panel! Calming. Healing. YES.Select a Size TV Screen Impact ProtectorHeavy Duty. Extensively tested; will deflect any thrown remote control or a toy.Therapressure Brush 6 Pack Latex FreeSpecial Supplies Sensory Brush for Occupational and Sensory Brushing 6 Pack Latex Free StimulateCalmNO MORE HANGERS!Hanging soft box closet organizerFingerprint Entry Door HandleBiometric Fingerprint Entry Interior Door HandleMagnesium Citrate Nervous System SupportNOW Foods - Magnesium Citrate Nervous System Support 400 mg. - 240 Vegetable Capsule(s) NOW Foods MaDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  6. May 27

    School Transitions Trigger Dysregulation In Profound Autism

    Send us Fan Mail A “senior year” photo comes home and hits us like grief instead of celebration, opening up everything we wish educators understood about profound autism and the gap between labels and reality. We also share what regulation looks like in our house, from sensory touch and breathing to the surprising toll of loud, nonstop noise.  • the emotional sting of “senior” messaging for a child who will need extended services  • hoarding and studying turning into agitation and destruction  • frequent IEP meetings and the limits of school preparation for severe autism  • why constant transitions can create school-day overload  • the exhaustion of fighting for our child  • using touch while teaching boundaries  • massage, yoga-style slow breathing, and noticing chronic muscle tension  • loud remodeling and what it can do to regulation and sleep  You can always email me at contact.parenting severe autism at gmail.com. Make sure you check my summer supplies shopping cart.  S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles Respite GoFundMePlease share this GoFundMe to help raise funds for building our DREAM, Outlined in Episode 57AngelSense DeviceAngelSense GPS Monitoring Device Tracker For Kids, Teens, ElderlySAVE 5% LIFEPRO FITNESS PRODUCTSWe love our Waver Vibration Plate and BioHeal Plus Red Light Panel! Calming. Healing. YES.NO MORE HANGERS!Hanging soft box closet organizerFingerprint Entry Door HandleBiometric Fingerprint Entry Interior Door HandleTherapressure Brush 6 Pack Latex FreeSpecial Supplies Sensory Brush for Occupational and Sensory Brushing 6 Pack Latex Free StimulateCalmSelect a Size TV Screen Impact ProtectorHeavy Duty. Extensively tested; will deflect any thrown remote control or a toy.Magnesium Citrate Nervous System SupportNOW Foods - Magnesium Citrate Nervous System Support 400 mg. - 240 Vegetable Capsule(s) NOW Foods MaOrganic Herbal Liquid Tinctures For You!Mountain Rose Herbs supplies carefully formulated tinctures that fit in with our busy lifestyle.View My Summer Supplies Shopping Cart!iHerb supplies some of the safest summer products for sunscreen, bug screen, and stress management!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  7. May 14

    The Great Midnight Coffee Heist

    Send us Fan Mail A Mother’s Day “Happy Mother’s Day” song should be simple, but when you’re parenting severe autism, even the sweetest moment can sit right next to exhaustion you can’t quite explain. I’m sharing what’s been going on in my house lately, including the quiet fear that your family is holding together on the outside while things feel shaky underneath. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m the only one living like this,” I say the part out loud that we all need to hear: you’re not alone. Then I get into the behaviors, because the patterns changed in a way I didn’t expect. The picture smashing and frame breaking took on a new meaning when I realized which photos were being targeted, and it made me question what my son might be feeling but can’t say. From there, the story turns into a full-on midnight mystery: coffee, milk, a dragged blanket, and the slow realization that the “mess” was a routine aimed straight at Grandpa’s stuff. It’s gross, it’s maddening, and honestly it’s also weirdly funny once you finally see what’s happening. We also talk about the reality of living with locks, padlocks, and home safety setups that other people don’t understand. I share an update on self-injurious behavior like arm biting, what helped reduce it for us, and what popped up next when the biting got harder to do. If you’re dealing with headbanging, biting, property destruction, or sleep-disrupting routines, you’ll hear the unfiltered version of how it looks in real life, plus the small communication wins that make everything feel worth it again. If this connected with you, subscribe, share the episode with another autism caregiver, and leave a review so more families can find this support. And I’d love to hear your stories, what’s working, and what you’re stuck on right now. S.A.F.E.R. Lifestyles Respite GoFundMePlease share this GoFundMe to help raise funds for building our DREAM, Outlined in Episode 57AngelSense DeviceAngelSense GPS Monitoring Device Tracker For Kids, Teens, ElderlySAVE 5% LIFEPRO FITNESS PRODUCTSWe love our Waver Vibration Plate and BioHeal Plus Red Light Panel! Calming. Healing. YES.NO MORE HANGERS!Hanging soft box closet organizerFingerprint Entry Door HandleBiometric Fingerprint Entry Interior Door HandleTherapressure Brush 6 Pack Latex FreeSpecial Supplies Sensory Brush for Occupational and Sensory Brushing 6 Pack Latex Free StimulateCalmSelect a Size TV Screen Impact ProtectorHeavy Duty. Extensively tested; will deflect any thrown remote control or a toy.View My Summer Supplies Shopping Cart!iHerb supplies some of the safest summer products for sunscreen, bug screen, and stress management!Magnesium Citrate Nervous System SupportNOW Foods - Magnesium Citrate Nervous System Support 400 mg. - 240 Vegetable Capsule(s) NOW Foods MaOrganic Herbal Liquid Tinctures For You!Mountain Rose Herbs supplies carefully formulated tinctures that fit in with our busy lifestyle.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

  8. Apr 29

    I Tried Oils And Herbs And Nothing Worked

    Send us Fan Mail We juggle a new school year for our high support needs severely autistic son while we question staffing, trust, and classes without enough help. We also share what happened when natural remedies and cannabis products worked unpredictably, plus a bigger idea about respite communities that could use technology to fill real care gaps.  • Shifting into a new school era and tightening our focus on staff  • Needing one-on-one support and sometimes more at school  • Frustration with mainstreaming vs functioning level  • Trying herbalism, homeopathic tablets, and essential oils as coping tools  • Seeing “opposite” reactions and losing faith in what what we believe in  • A funny morning script plus pizza day attitude after a bigger dose  • Exploring safer lifestyles and respite communities with AI support  • Asking for ideas to market the concept to the right people  Don’t forget to send your comments, questions, and stories to me at contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com.  Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1989825/supporters/newhttps://psa.buzzsprout.com Get Podcast Merch at the following link:   https://psapodcast.creator-spring.com/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Parenting-Severe-Autism-podcast/100083292374893/ Email: contact.parentingsevereautism@gmail.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Parenting Severe Autism is a raw, unfiltered podcast for parents and caregivers raising children with Severe Autism. Hosted by Shannon Chamberlin - a parent, not a professional - this show is your emotional lifeline, real-talk resource, and reminder that you're not alone. From early childhood to adulthood and beyond, Shannon shares honest stories, painful truths, small victories, and survival strategies for the families the world forgets. Whether you're in crisis mode or just need someone who gets it, this is your space. No fluff. No sugarcoating. Just truth, hope, and community. Severe Autism and special needs considerations. This type of autism parenting is lifelong... it becomes adult autism parenting.  Seek caregiver support when possible.

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon Chamberlin
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Parenting Severe Autism
  • Show Website
    Parenting Severe Autism

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