Liz Covington's son Bennett was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD at age four. The autism diagnosis didn't come until he was ten. Now he's 18, in college, and just spent two hours shoveling the driveway in a snowstorm without being asked twice. That's the kind of win that doesn't make the highlight reels but means everything to families like hers.

In this Seen and Heard episode, Rob sits down with Liz, a Utah mom of four, for a 15-minute glimpse into what level 1 autism parenting can actually look like. They cover late diagnosis, the daughter who has friends at school but can't handle anything else after, and why some autism families feel like they don't belong inside their own community.

What you'll hear in this episode:

Why ADHD and ODD diagnoses came years before autism for Bennett
What the win looks like at 18: independence, problem-solving, and no resistance
The ten-year-old daughter who masks at school and crashes at home
Why "high functioning" families can feel invisible inside the autism community
The school principal who misread Bennett's nervous laugh as disrespect
The phrase Liz heard too many times: "autistic kids don't do that"
Why every kid wants to be connected, appreciated, and seen

"Every kid is good. They all want to be connected. They all want to be appreciated. And they're all trying their best." — Liz Covington

ABOUT THE GUEST

Liz Covington is a mom of four based in Utah. Her oldest son Bennett, 18, was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD at age four and with autism at age ten. He is now in college. Liz's ten-year-old daughter is believed to be on the spectrum and is awaiting formal evaluation. Liz advocates for autism families whose kids' challenges aren't visible on the surface.

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.

Rob's first book lands early 2027 from Quarto. Updates and preorder: theautismdad.com/book

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY ALGONOT

This episode is presented by Algonot. Algonot makes science-backed supplements developed by Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, a Yale-trained researcher who has spent decades studying neuroinflammation, mast cells, and the brain. Every product is third-party tested for purity and free of common irritants. Visit algonot.com and use code ROB5 to save on your order.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

More Seen and Heard episodes: listen.theautismdad.com
Algonot supplements (use code ROB5): algonot.com
Preorder Rob's book: theautismdad.com/book

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.

You can find Rob at theautismdad.com, on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at The Autism Dad, and on YouTube at The Autism Dad. New episodes drop every week at listen.theautismdad.com.