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The Autism Dad

The Autism Dad

Written by: Rob Gorski
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The Autism Dad podcast delivers autism parenting support, special needs advice, and real stories for families raising neurodivergent kids. Hosted by Rob Gorski — a single father to three autistic children and the voice behind the widely-read TheAutismDad.com blog (a lifeline for parents since 2009) — each episode offers honest insight into autism, ADHD, sensory needs, and special needs parenting. Rob's work has been featured on The Tamron Hall Show, ABC News, BBC Worldwide, CNN, and Entrepreneur Magazine. New episodes drop every Wednesday, mixing personal stories, expert interviews, and actionable advice for autism moms, autism dads, caregivers, educators, and anyone supporting a neurodivergent child. Whether you're newly navigating an autism diagnosis or years into the journey, The Autism Dad podcast provides understanding, community, and education. Don't go this journey alone — tune in for a community committed to awareness, acceptance, and growth.© 2026 The Autism Dad, LLC. All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships
Episodes
  • The Dad Who Built an App for His Autistic Son | Justin Bowman, VizyPlan (S9E08)

    The Dad Who Built an App for His Autistic Son | Justin Bowman, VizyPlan (S9E08)
    May 27 2026
    Justin Bowman had a dream his son would be autistic before the boy was born. Years later, after his son Sawyer was diagnosed with level 1 autism, Justin did what a lot of dads only wish they could do. He built something to help. Justin is back for a deeper dive than his Seen and Heard episode earlier this season. He's the founder and CEO of VizyPlan, a visual routine and planning app he built for Sawyer and then opened to the whole neurodivergent community. Rob and Justin go deep on the dad-as-fixer instinct, what actually comes after an autism diagnosis, and why you can't fix autism but you can support your kid. What you'll hear: - The dream Justin had before Sawyer was born - Why waiting on evaluation results feels like waiting on the SATs - The fixer instinct dads struggle with, and a healthier reframe - The grocery-store meltdowns that inspired VizyPlan - The moment Sawyer saw himself as the hero character and it clicked - How VizyPlan handles IEP transcription, social stories, visual schedules, and advocacy - Why one app beats juggling six - Privacy: VizyPlan does not train its models on your child's data "I would have paid any amount of money to help him. Any amount of money." Justin Bowman Try VizyPlan: 30-day free trial with code theautismdad at vizyplan.com/app. Just $9.99 a month for your whole family. About Justin: Justin Bowman is the founder and CEO of VizyPlan and Associate Director of Product Management at Chewy. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he's a varsity hockey coach and autism dad. He and his wife Danielle, a speech-language pathologist, have two kids: Sawyer, turning six and diagnosed level 1 autism, and Peyton, four. Sponsors this week: This episode is presented by Best Part Kids, a sensory-friendly multivitamin for selective eaters created by dietitian Brittyn Coleman. Use code THEAUTISMDAD for 10% off at BestPartKids.com. Mightier emotional-regulation games (code theautismdad22, mightier.com) About Rob: 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. My book, So Your Child Was Just Diagnosed with Autism is out on Dec. 29, 2026. Updates and preorder: theautismdad.com/book You can find me 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.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • This Is What Level 1 Autism Parenting Can Look Like | Liz Covington (S9E07)

    This Is What Level 1 Autism Parenting Can Look Like | Liz Covington (S9E07)
    May 13 2026
    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.
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    14 mins
  • We Rock the Spectrum (S9E06)

    We Rock the Spectrum (S9E06)
    May 6 2026
    She got kicked out of five indoor playgrounds with her autistic son. Then she built her own. Today, We Rock the Spectrum has over 200 sensory-friendly, inclusive gyms in eight countries, and her son Gabriel just earned an academic scholarship to Loyola Marymount University. In this episode, Rob sits down with Dina Kimmel, founder and CEO of We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym, and Christopher Reyes, autism dad and owner of the Clovis, California location, to talk about what an autism family can build when the world tells them no. What you'll hear: • How one mom turned daily occupational therapy at home into a global sensory gym franchise • Why Gabriel's scholarship proves a diagnosis is a baseline, not a prophecy • Inside the gym: zip lines, crash pits, sensory tunnels, trampolines, and 12 pieces of OT equipment • The "play with a purpose" philosophy behind every piece of equipment • Christopher's path from nurse to owner of Central Valley's only sensory gym • Parents Night Out drop-off addressing California's childcare shortage • Big news: We Rock the Spectrum is now Medicaid waiver and Medi-Cal approved • The My Brother Rocks the Spectrum Foundation grants for open play and respite "This was all inspired from these two children that I have. I had no idea the need. I had no idea there were so many of us." — Dina Kimmel About Dina: Dina Kimmel is the CEO and founder of We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym, a sensory friendly inclusive franchise with over 200 locations in eight countries. An autism mom first, Dina launched the first location in 2009 after seeing her son Gabriel thrive on OT equipment. About Christopher: Christopher Reyes is an autism dad and owner of We Rock the Spectrum Clovis. He's father to Jacob, six, level two, and Roxanne, four, level one. He opened his location to serve the Central Valley community. Resources: Find a location: https://wrtsfranchise.com/locations Clovis: https://werockthespectrumclovis.com This episode is brought to you by Mightier, a clinically proven app that helps kids build emotional regulation skills through biofeedback-based video games. Visit mightier.com and use code theautismdad22 for 10% off. Also brought to you by VizyPlan. Built by a dad who gets it, VizyPlan uses AI to create visual routines with photos of your actual child. Visit vizyplan.com/app and use code theautismdad for your first month free. About Rob: 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 You can find me 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.
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    35 mins
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