What does autism level one actually look like inside a real family's home? That is exactly what Justin Bowman, autism dad and founder of VizyPlan, is here to share.

In this episode of Seen and Heard, Justin gives us a 15-minute glimpse into life with his son Sawyer, who is turning six and diagnosed autism level one. Sawyer is the kid they call the mayor at school because he just wants to say hi to everyone. He is also a kid who went from completely nonverbal to holding full conversations in under three years, carries a full alphabet soup of providers, and battles a deep self-awareness that sometimes makes him avoid the very things he wants to do most.

Justin also makes a point in this episode that stopped me cold: being seen and heard in the autism community is not a level playing field. Zip code matters. Access matters. And until we recognize that, we are missing something important.

What you will hear in this episode:

• Sawyer's journey from nonverbal to conversational in under three years

• Why his follower mentality is both his biggest strength and his parents' biggest worry

• The full support team keeping Sawyer thriving inside and outside of school

• Why self-awareness in an autistic child can be both remarkable and heartbreaking

• What autism level one really looks like when the diagnosis label does not tell the whole story

• Why comparison is the thief of joy in the autism community

• Why being seen and heard is not equal for every autism family regardless of diagnosis level

ABOUT THE GUEST

Justin Bowman is the founder and CEO of VizyPlan, a visual routine and planning app built for the neurodivergent community, and Associate Director of Product Management at Chewy. He is an autism dad based in central Massachusetts with his wife Danielle, a speech-language pathologist, and their two children, Sawyer, who is turning six and diagnosed autism level one, and Peyton, who is four.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Rob Gorski is the founder of The Autism Dad, a blog and podcast dedicated to supporting parents raising kids on the autism spectrum. As a dad of three autistic sons with over 25 years of experience, Rob brings lived experience, honesty, and heart to every conversation.

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Mightier is a clinically proven app that helps kids build emotional regulation skills through biofeedback-based video games. It meets kids where they are and gives parents real tools to support them at home. Visit mightier.com and use code theautismdad22 for 10% off.

If you found this episode helpful, please follow The Autism Dad Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Visit listen.theautismdad.com for past episodes, resources, and ways to support the show.

This Is What Level 1 Autism Parenting Can Look Like | Justin Bowman (S9E03)