Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy.

This week, Kailee and I are sharing something that has brought a lot of hope into our home: Wyatt’s first few sessions with Spell to Communicate. As parents of a non-speaking autistic child, we have spent years learning how much communication can exist without words, but the possibility that Wyatt may someday be able to spell, type, or text what is on his mind feels incredibly powerful. I’m talking about what we saw in those first sessions, the way his teacher gives clear direction instead of constantly saying “no,” and what this process is teaching me about patience, autism parenting, and letting go of made-up timelines. I do not know whether open communication takes months or years, but I believe there is real opportunity here, and I’m choosing to trust the process, trust God’s path, and keep showing up one session at a time.

• I’m learning that progress does not have to follow a timeline I create in my head. Maybe Wyatt spells eight words this week, maybe he spells one. What matters is continuing to give him the opportunity.
• Kailee and I watched Wyatt spell several words with assistance during only his second session, and seeing him settle in, focus, and engage gave us a tremendous amount of hope.
• I was struck by how his teacher gives him specific directions instead of constantly telling him “no.” That challenged me to think differently about how often we tell our kids what not to do instead of showing them what to do.
• This process is helping us see some of Wyatt’s motor-planning challenges differently, including how full-body apraxia can affect movements that might look simple from the outside.
• My biggest hope is not that Wyatt communicates in one particular way. I want him to have the opportunity to tell us what he thinks, feels, likes, dislikes, wants, and needs, whether that eventually happens through spelling, typing, texting, pointing, or something else.

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If something in our journey connects with your family, I’d love to hear from you. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com for more from the podcast, and you can always email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com with your questions, experiences, or just to connect.

• tiktok.com/@spectrum_in_camouflage
• facebook.com/groups/4002769846662357
• instagram.com/spectrum_in_camouflage

Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let's learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.

Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy.

This week, I’m talking about hope, progress, and some of the hard questions I keep asking as a dad raising a son with profound autism. A simple moment with Wyatt and a chip full of salsa reminded me that the little wins in autism parenting can actually be monumental, especially when you’ve spent years working, worrying, and wondering what the future might hold. I also share some of the questions I’ve been wrestling with about genetics, environmental factors, regression, and the medical decisions we make for our kids, while making it clear that I’m a dad asking questions, not a doctor giving medical advice. I want parents to feel free to ask questions, look at different perspectives, and make informed decisions for their own families without being driven entirely by fear. Most of all, I hope you walk away encouraged to notice the progress happening right in front of you and never lose hope for what your child may still accomplish.

• I’m learning to appreciate the small signs of progress with Wyatt because something as simple as dipping a chip and eating it can represent years of growth and development.
• I want parents to give themselves some grace because we don’t always understand what our non-speaking children are trying to communicate, especially when everyday life puts us into survival mode.
• I’m continuing to explore spelling and communication with Wyatt, and our first session gave me a lot of hope for what may be possible.
• I share my personal questions about autism, genetics, environmental factors, regression, and medical decisions because I believe parents should feel empowered to research, ask questions, and understand their options.
• I’m not a doctor, and I don’t want anyone simply taking my word for something. I want my experience to encourage you to look deeper, consider multiple perspectives, and make the decisions you believe are right for your family.

If you want to learn more about the podcast, visit spectrumincamouflage.com. I’d also love to hear from you, especially if something in this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or made you think differently. You can email me anytime at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

• tiktok.com/@spectrum_in_camouflage
• facebook.com/groups/4002769846662357
• instagram.com/spectrum_in_camouflage

Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let's learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.

Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy.

This week, Kailee and I are looking back on a summer that felt like a real gift to our family, from quiet afternoons at home to a first Cedar Point trip with Jessie that reminded me how valuable time together really is. We also talk honestly about one of the hardest parts of autism parenting: accepting that sometimes our family cannot do everything together, while refusing to believe that “not yet” means “never.” I share what we have learned about being intentional with Wyatt, letting ourselves feel the sadness that comes with missed experiences, and then choosing to keep moving forward with joy instead of living in guilt. Most of all, we are stepping into something new as Wyatt begins Spell to Communicate, and I am carrying a lot of hope, nerves, prayer, and curiosity into that first appointment. If you are raising a non-speaking child or walking through special needs parenting, I hope this conversation reminds you that it is not too late to try something new.

• This summer reminded me that time with my family is one of the biggest reasons we have worked so hard to build the life and business we have.
• I have learned that sometimes being a special needs family means we cannot all experience the same things together, and that can hurt without meaning anyone has done something wrong.
• Kailee and I have had to replace the idea of “never” with “not yet,” especially when we think about experiences Wyatt may not be ready for today.
• I believe intentional time, presence, eye contact, play, and simply being there can matter more than how many hours we spend together.
• As we begin Spell to Communicate with Wyatt, I am choosing to presume competence, stay hopeful, pray, and remain open to what he may be able to show us.

If something in this conversation connects with your family, I would love to hear from you. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com to find the podcast and everything we're doing, or email me anytime at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

• tiktok.com/@spectrum_in_camouflage
• facebook.com/groups/4002769846662357
• instagram.com/spectrum_in_camouflage

Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let's learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.