The Autism Mom Coach

In this episode of The Autism Mom Coach Podcast, Lisa Candera—autism mom, attorney, life coach, and solo parent—reflects on the early days of her son Ben’s autism diagnosis and the profound ways autism parenting reshaped her identity, nervous system, beliefs, and leadership.
Recording in January 2026, Lisa looks back 16 years to the moment of diagnosis. She shares what it felt like to sit in shock, download the Autism Speaks 100 Day Toolkit, and hear the phrase: “This diagnosis doesn’t change who your child is.”
While that statement is true, Lisa explores the deeper truth many mothers experience:
Autism parenting changes you.
This episode dives into how raising a child with complex needs expands emotional capacity, rewires belief systems, strengthens advocacy skills, and transforms the way a mother leads her home.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How an autism diagnosis impacts a parent’s nervous system and identity
Why behavior is information—not defiance or “bad behavior”
How to shift your mindset at the IEP table and advocate with calm authority
What it means to stay in your lane instead of comparing therapies, milestones, and family life
How autism parenting develops empathy, resilience, and emotional leadership
Why protecting your nervous system is foundational for supporting your child

Lisa shares personal stories about:
Confronting early beliefs about “good” and “bad” behavior
Setting ego aside to see struggle underneath escalation
Asking for meaningful supports at IEP meetings
Practicing self-compassion as a solo parent
Becoming a steady, grounded presence in her household

If you’re an exhausted autism mom wondering how this journey has changed you, this episode will help you see your growth with clarity and respect.
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to The Autism Mom Coach Podcast
00:36 – January reflections: The day of diagnosis & feeling numb
01:52 – “Autism didn’t change him — it changed me”
04:25 – How autism strengthened my advocacy skills
06:32 – Reframing behavior: Moving beyond “bad kid” narratives
07:52 – IEP mindset shift: Asking for supports with confidence
09:49 – Staying in your lane: Releasing comparison in autism parenting
10:57 – How autism parenting has changed you too
13:29 – Next steps: Coaching and consultation
Ready to Apply This Work?
If this episode resonated and you want structured support in building emotional regulation, advocacy confidence, and steady leadership in your home, schedule a consultation call:
👉 https://theautismmomcoach.com
One-on-one coaching focuses on nervous system regulation, mindset shifts, and practical tools so you can lead your autism household with clarity and authority.

In this episode of the Autism Mom Coach Podcast, host Lisa Candera talks with Dr. Taylor Day, a licensed psychologist specializing in neuro-affirming care for autistic children and their families.
Dr. Tay shares her personal journey and professional insights on creating a holistic, family-focused approach to autism care. They discuss the importance of not just supporting the autistic child but also providing much-needed support to the entire family, including siblings and parents. Dr. Tay explains the nuances between accommodation and over-accommodation, how parents can process their own grief, and offers strategies for helping children understand their own neurodivergence. The conversation covers previewing changes, collaboration between parents and children, and the importance of seeking support.
Tune in to learn how to create a balanced approach that benefits the entire family ecosystem.
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Special Guest: Dr. Taylor Day
01:34 Dr. Tay's Personal Journey and Professional Insights
02:26 Challenges and Gaps in Autism Care
04:02 The Importance of Family Support 07:20 Therapy and Personal Growth
11:08 Parental Challenges and Strategies
19:49 Accommodation vs. Over-Accommodation
34:25 Conclusion and Resources

To learn more about Dr. Tay, visit her website: https://drtaylorday.com/

In this episode of The Autism Mom Coach Podcast, I’m sharing a conversation from my appearance on Evolve with Dr. Tay with Dr. Taylor Day.
We talk about the part of autism parenting that gets overlooked: the parent’s nervous system. Not behavior charts. Not better scripts. The parent.
This conversation is about what it actually looks like to be your child’s safe person—without absorbing their distress, trying to fix what’s neurological, or burning yourself out in the process.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why parent regulation comes before co-regulation
What “being the safe person” actually requires (and what it doesn’t)
How staying in your own lane reduces escalation
Why behavior is information and how the meaning we attach to it fuels stress
What it means to lead as the CEO of your autism household
How acceptance strengthens leadership rather than weakening it

Lisa’s Takeaway
For a long time, I thought I needed better answers, better strategies, better plans, better experts. What actually changed things was learning how to regulate myself under pressure.
You can still be the safe person. You can still lead. And you don’t have to do everything for your child to do that.
About Dr. Taylor Day
Dr. Taylor Day is a licensed child psychologist and parent coach specializing in neurodivergent-affirming care. She brings both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autism sibling, with a strong focus on supporting the entire family system—not just the child.
Resources Mentioned:
The Autism Mom Coach: https://theautismmomcoach.com
Follow me on Instagram and Facebook: @TheAutismMomCoach
Free Resource: The Autism Mom’s Meltdown Plan — a clear Before-During-After framework for supporting your child while staying regulated yourself

In this episode, Lisa talks with filmmaker Tyler Sansom and actor John Wells about the film Learning You. The movie follows a single father and his autistic son after the father removes him from an institution and takes him on an unplanned Christmas road trip.
The conversation explores why this story felt different to tell and to watch. Tyler shares how the film came to him through a producer parenting a profoundly autistic daughter and how interviews with families shaped the script. John talks about stepping into the role as a father raising an autistic son himself, and how closely the character’s experiences mirrored his own.
They discuss institutions, marriage breakdowns, system failures, meltdowns, and the way autism parenting requires constant recalibration. The focus stays on learning your child over time, reading early cues, and understanding behavior as information rather than something to correct.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear and Learn
What Learning You is about and how the story came to be made
Why the film centers on institutional decisions and their impact on families
How John’s experience parenting an autistic son informed his performance
How parents learn to recognize early signs before a meltdown escalates
Why behavior often reflects nervous system overload
How autism parenting evolves as children grow and change

To watch Learning You, visit https://www.learningyoumovie.com to find a theater near you or learn more about the film’s release.

In this episode, Lisa reflects on what parenting her son through years of severe anxiety, OCD, aggression, and hospitalizations taught her as he transitioned into adulthood. She shares three principles that carried her through the darkest seasons—and continue to guide her as an autism mom today.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How acceptance evolved from a one-time idea into a moment-by-moment practice
Why resistance to reality can interfere with decision-making during crisis
What unconditional love looks like when your child feels unfamiliar
How holding hope differs from denial—and why it requires courage
Why clearer advocacy came only after facing what was actually happening

Lisa’s Takeaway:
The teen years forced me to accept what was happening in real time, love my child without conditions tied to outcomes, and hold hope even when there was no evidence yet. Those three principles changed how I showed up as a parent—and as an advocate.
Links Mentioned:
Schedule a consultation: https://talkwiththeautismmomcoach.as.me/
Email Lisa: [email protected]

If this episode resonated and you’re carrying a lot right now—whether you’re in crisis or simply worn down—you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Schedule a one-on-one consultation at talkwiththeautismmomcoach.as.me and let’s talk through what support could look like for you.