The Autism Dad

• Special Needs Financial Planning (Part 3) (S8E16)

  In this powerful conclusion to our three-part Special Needs Financial Planning series, I’m joined once again by Katy Bryan, a Special Needs Financial Planner with Skylight Financial Group. In this episode, we tackle the toughest part of the journey—planning for our child’s future after we’re gone. This isn’t easy to talk about, but having a plan in place can ease a lot of the anxiety many of us carry every day. Katy and I dive into what end-of-life planning looks like for special needs families, including estate planning, guardianship, housing options, and how to prepare siblings or support systems for what’s ahead. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why end-of-life planning is one of the most important steps for special needs families What a Special Needs Trust is and how it helps protect your child’s future The growing importance of ABLE accounts and how they work Understanding guardianship vs. power of attorney Housing challenges and how to prepare your child for independence How to make sure your wishes—and your child’s—are honored when you’re not there Why it’s never too late to start planning, even if you’re behind Meet Katy Bryan: Katy Bryan is a licensed financial professional and special needs financial planner at Skylight Financial Group. With over 14 years of experience, Katy has helped families across the country build financial strategies that support long-term security for children with disabilities. Her empathetic approach makes complex planning more manageable and less overwhelming for parents. Email Katy: kbryan@financialguide.com Learn more: https://www.skylightfinancialgroup.com/ This Week’s Sponsors: Safe Place Bedding Safe Place Bedding provides medical-grade, customizable, and insurance-covered sleep solutions for children with disabilities. Their new permanent bed model, the SPB 300, includes a built-in monitoring system. Learn more at https://safeplacebedding.com/theautismdad Mightier Mightier is a biofeedback-based gaming platform that helps kids learn emotional regulation skills through fun, engaging play. It’s clinically tested and loved by families. Learn how it can support your child at https://theautismdad.com/mightier (Use the code theautismdad20 and save 10%) Connect with Me: Website: https://theautismdad.com Email: rob@theautismdad.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/theautismdad Podcast: https://listen.theautismdad.com If this episode resonated with you, please consider leaving a review, sharing it with someone who needs it, or reaching out to let me know your thoughts. Your feedback keeps this community strong.

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• Special Needs Financial Planning (Part 2) (S8E15)

  Show Notes: Special Needs Financial Planning (Part 2) — The Autism Dad Podcast In this episode of The Autism Dad Podcast, Rob Gorski continues the special needs financial planning series with guest Katy Bryan from Skylight Financial Group. Katy specializes in helping families of children with disabilities plan for the future and shares key steps to prepare for your child’s transition to adulthood. Rob and Katy discuss why everything changes at age 18: managing assets under $2,000, understanding Social Security benefits (SSI/SSDI), and navigating Medicaid. They explore common questions around special needs trusts, guardianship, and power of attorney, and offer tips for finding a financial or estate planner with real disability expertise. Rob shares his own family’s journey—the struggles, learning curves, and how resources like vocational programs made a difference for his kids. Highlights: Social Security (SSI/SSDI) eligibility after 18 Managing assets and income to maintain Medicaid/benefits Special needs trusts, guardianship, and power of attorney The value of working with planners who “get” disability families Building a sustainable budget and future plan for your child How to access local job training and support resources Guest Info: Katy Bryan, Skylight Financial Group Email: kbryan@financialguide.com Thank You to This Week’s Sponsors: Safe Place Bedding Safe Place Bedding creates portable, durable beds for children and adults with special needs. Their new Safe Place Bedding 300 offers advanced monitoring for safer, better sleep. Learn more at safeplacebedding.com. Autism 360 Autism 360 provides families with practical tools and expert guidance for therapy, education, and everyday life—personalized to help your child thrive. Discover more at autism360.com. Connect with Rob: Find more episodes, resources, and ways to connect at theautismdad.com. Have questions or feedback? Reach out through the website! If you found this helpful, please subscribe and leave a review—see you next week for part three! Disclaimer: Catherine Bryan is a registered representative of and offers securities and investment advisory services through MML Investor Services, LLC, member SIPC, OSJ, 1956 Carter Road, Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, Phone: (216) 621-5680. California Insurance License #4175736. The information in this podcast is not a recommendation and is not intended as financial, tax, legal, or estate planning advice. You should seek guidance from a qualified financial advisor, accountant, and attorney regarding your personal situation.

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• Understanding Non-Speaking Autism and Apraxia (S8E14)

  While my production computer is down, I’m re-releasing this powerful episode that so many parents found helpful the first time around. If you’re raising a non-speaking or minimally speaking child, or if you're trying to better understand apraxia and communication differences in autism—this conversation is for you. I’m joined again by Samantha Fox, M.A., CCC-SLP—an incredible speech-language pathologist and founder of Beyond Speech Therapy Center. Samantha specializes in working with non-speaking autistic individuals and is a certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) practitioner. We talk openly about: What apraxia really is—and how it’s often misunderstood Why some autistic kids can understand language but still can’t speak The difference between language delays and motor-based speech challenges Why “presume competence” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential My son Emmett’s experience being non-speaking and how it shaped my perspective A powerful message from 17-year-old speller Kaden that will absolutely stay with you This conversation will challenge assumptions and give you a new way to view communication struggles. Whether you're a parent, therapist, or educator—you’ll walk away better informed and hopefully more hopeful. 🎧 Listen now anywhere you get your podcasts or at: https://listen.theautismdad.com This episode is sponsored by: 🛏 Safe Place Bedding Safe Place Bedding creates custom, in-home safety beds for kids with autism and other special needs. Learn more at safeplacebedding.com 🎮 Mightier Mightier helps kids build emotional regulation skills through biofeedback video games developed at Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s Hospital. Try it today at mightier.com

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• Navigating Puberty With Autistic Kids (w/ Dr. Whitney Casares) (S8E13)

  This episode is being re-released for Autism Awareness Month. In this powerful and important conversation, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Whitney Casares. She’s not only a Stanford-trained pediatrician and public health expert, but she’s also an autism mom raising two differently wired kids. Together, we tackle a topic many of us try to avoid—puberty. This episode is packed with practical advice, validation, and real talk for parents raising autistic and neurodivergent children. We explore how puberty may present differently, how to support our kids through emotional and physical changes, and how to have open, shame-free conversations about boundaries, hygiene, sex, and self-care. Whether your child is verbal, non-speaking, cognitively delayed, or anywhere in between—this episode is for you. Key Topics Covered: Puberty differences in neurodivergent vs. neurotypical kids Hygiene and body safety tips for autistic tweens and teens How to talk about periods, masturbation, and boundaries without shame Why our kids need honesty—not fear or avoidance Handling sensory issues around puberty-related products Parental self-care in the midst of emotionally hard conversations This conversation was originally uncomfortable for me to have—but I’m so glad I did. Your kids will benefit when you feel more empowered to guide them through this stage of life. Guest Info: Dr. Whitney Casares is a pediatrician, author, public health expert, and autism mom. Learn more at www.modernmommydoc.com This episode is sponsored by: Mightier: Mightier is a clinically proven program that helps kids learn emotional regulation through gameplay. Developed by clinicians at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Mightier uses biofeedback and video games to help kids build skills to manage big feelings in the moment. It’s great for kids ages 6 to 14 and especially helpful for those with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or sensory challenges. Learn more and try it free for 30 days at ⁠mightier.com/theautismdad⁠. Autism 360 The Autism 360 program helps parents become confident leaders in their child’s care by providing expert-led coaching and support. Learn more at autism360.com Safe Place Bedding Safe Place Bedding provides inflatable and permanent safety beds for kids with special needs. Their products offer peace of mind and better sleep—for the whole family. They even help navigate insurance. Learn more at safeplacebedding.com Connect with me: Instagram: @theautismdad Blog and resources: https://www.theautismdad.com Support the Podcast: https://listen.theautismdad.com

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• Understanding Autism in Girls with Dr. Taylor Day (S8E12)

  April is Autism Awareness Month, and this episode with Dr. Tay is one of the most important conversations I’ve had. We dive into how autism shows up differently in girls—and why so many are missed or misdiagnosed. If you’re a parent, educator, or just want to better understand the nuances of autism, this one’s a must-listen. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Taylor Day (aka Dr. Tay), a licensed psychologist who specializes in neuroaffirming care for autistic kids—especially girls. We talk about how autism can look very different in girls compared to boys, why so many girls are misdiagnosed or missed altogether, and what parents can do to make sure their daughters get the support they need. Dr. Tay breaks down the most common signs of autism in girls, how masking can complicate the diagnostic process, and why co-occurring conditions like anxiety often delay a proper diagnosis. This conversation is full of insight and practical advice for parents and caregivers—especially those who feel like something’s going on but can’t quite get answers. What we talk about: Why autism is harder to spot in girls Masking, camouflaging, and missed diagnoses What to look for if you suspect your daughter might be autistic The role of anxiety and other co-occurring conditions How to advocate for your child when doctors don’t listen Getting evaluations and choosing the right provider About Dr. Tay: Dr. Taylor Day is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Dr. Tay Concierge Clinical Care. She specializes in early diagnosis and support for autistic kids, with a focus on neuroaffirming care for girls who often present differently. She’s also the host of the Evolve with Dr. Tay podcast and creates free educational content for parents on social media. Website: drtaylorday.com Instagram: @the.dr.tay Podcast: Evolve with Dr. Tay (available on all major platforms) About Me: I’m Rob Gorski, host of The Autism Dad Podcast. I’m a single dad to three amazing autistic kids and I’ve been sharing our journey for over 15 years to help support families like mine. Through my podcast, blog, and social media, I aim to educate, empower, and connect with parents raising neurodivergent kids. Website: theautismdad.com This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is a clinically proven program that helps kids learn emotional regulation through gameplay. Developed by clinicians at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Mightier uses biofeedback and video games to help kids build skills to manage big feelings in the moment. It’s great for kids ages 6 to 14 and especially helpful for those with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or sensory challenges. Learn more and try it free for 30 days at mightier.com/theautismdad. This episode is also sponsored by Safe Place Bedding. Safe Place Bedding makes affordable, portable safety beds for kids with special needs. These beds offer a secure, comfortable sleep space and are a game changer for families dealing with sleep issues or elopement concerns. Safe Place also helps parents navigate insurance so you may not have to pay out of pocket. Visit safeplacebedding.com to learn more and check your insurance coverage.

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