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

Today I’m hanging out with Chris, aka AutismDad_Memes, and this episode is one of those real-deal dad conversations that hits you in the chest a few times. Chris and I are both construction guys, both raising one neurotypical kid and one autistic kid, and we talk about what it’s like trying to hold it together, show up for our families, and still find ways to help other parents who are barely hanging on.

Chris shares why he started using social media in the first place, even though he didn’t grow up on MySpace or Facebook like a lot of people did. He talks openly about recovery, service work, and how that “helping others” mindset shifted from 12-step rooms to special needs families. We also get into the mental health side of all this, including the heavy stuff, the stuff that makes you realize how close some parents are to the edge, and why dads need to talk more instead of swallowing everything until it wrecks them.

The biggest topic, though, is Spelling to Communicate (S2C) and letterboard communication. Chris explains how they discovered it, why they drove to Florida to get help, and how it completely changed what they believed their daughter was capable of. We also get into apraxia and the brain-body disconnect, and how that one shift can change the way you talk to your child, teach your child, and respect what’s really going on inside them.

This one is funny in parts, raw in parts, and honestly hopeful the whole way through.

Key Takeaways

• Dads need community too.

Moms talk and share, dads tend to lock it down. That has to change.

• Mental health is not optional.

If we are not okay as parents, it spills into everything our kids need from us.

• They’re in there.

Autistic kids hear, understand, and feel far more than many people assume.

• Stop the baby talk and the “they’re not here” talk.

Talking around kids like they’re not present is disrespectful and damaging.

• Apraxia and brain-body disconnect can change everything.

A child not responding does not automatically mean they don’t understand.

• S2C and letterboards are a real option for some kids.

It’s not a magic wand, it’s a process that takes time and motor-building work.

• Not every therapy is trash, and not every professional is wrong.

Some are amazing, some are misinformed, and some are harmful. Parents have to stay alert.

• Small moments matter.

A simple “hi” from a kid in a restaurant can stick with you forever, because it feels like pure humanity.

Visit spectrumincamouflage.com to listen to all episodes and keep up with what we’re doing.

Chris on Instagram and TikTok: AutismDad_Memes

Contact: tommy@spectrumincamouflage.comWebsite: spectrumincamouflage.com

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

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