🎙️ HEY OTHER PARENTS – S04E006: Raising a Child With Autism

This week, we sit down with our friend, Michael Orlep, for an honest conversation about raising a child with autism — beyond labels, assumptions, and stereotypes.

We talk about recognizing early differences, advocating for support, navigating school systems, balancing protection with independence, and preparing kids for adulthood. This episode is about seeing the whole child, supporting the whole family, and understanding that progress doesn’t follow one timeline.

🎧 In This Episode, We Talk About:

Noticing early signs that your child’s needs might be different
Advocating for academic and social support
Private vs. public school experiences
Social challenges that aren’t always visible
High-functioning labels and hidden struggles
Balancing support with independence
Preparing kids for adulthood and self-advocacy
What parents wish they had known earlier

🔌 Parenting Unplugged

Heit: Fantasy Life I
Sara: His & Hers (Netflix)
Levine: The Studio (Apple TV+)

❓ Question of the Week

What’s a misunderstanding people have about autism?

📞 Join the Conversation

📞 Call/Text: 559-LES-KIDS (559-537-5437)

📩 Email: heyotherparents@gmail.com

📱 Instagram: @HeyOtherParents

⭐ Support the Show

If you’d like to help support Hey Other Parents and keep episodes like this coming, there’s a donation link in the show notes.

If not, sharing the show or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more than you know.

🎧 New episodes drop Fridays.

This is S04E006: Hey Other Parents Episode 062 — an honest discussion about raising kids.

Thanks for hanging out with us this week. Hug your kids, charge those Chromebooks, and we’ll see you next time on Hey Other Parents.

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