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Costumes, candy, crowds, and a whole evening of doing things we spend the rest of the year telling our kids NOT to do. When you stop and think about it, trick-or-treating has some pretty confusing rules. In this episode of the Raising Autistic Disciples podcast, Larah shares the story of Graham, a church fall festival, and three hours riding a lawnmower-powered “redneck train”—and what she understands about that night now that she didn’t understand then. From uncomfortable costumes to the pressure to say “trick or treat,” we’re unpacking the hidden expectations that can make October 31st complicated for autistic kids and their families. Whether your family enjoys trick-or-treating, attends a fall festival, or chooses something different, this conversation will help you think through meaningful participation, practical accommodations, and opportunities to love your neighbors. And yes, there’s a superhero jacket hack that might save you fifty dollars. In this episode: Why “obvious” social rules may need to be explicitly taught. How to “practice the weird thing” with rehearsals, visuals, and predictable sequences. Making costumes comfortable—and letting go of the full costume experience. Supporting communication without turning free candy into a speech evaluation. Planning for safety, candy expectations, shorter routes, and knowing when you’re done. Meaningful ways for autistic adults to participate, contribute, and serve. Using neighborhood interactions to build relationships for the sake of the gospel. Releasing comparison and recognizing your own family’s wins.A reminder for the whole holiday season: Support makes growth possible. We can help our autistic disciples practice meaningful skills while asking, “Is this necessary, or is it just how I pictured it?” If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a rating or review, and share it with another family navigating the holidays. Resources & ways to support RAD: 📚 Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens 📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian 📺 Minno 🛍️ Larah’s Amazon Picks 👕 RAD Merch ✍️ Read RAD on Substack

Welcome to the series: Surviving the Holidays! From October 31 through Christmas (and the week after), we're entering 60 days of changed schedules, unfamiliar foods, family gatherings, church programs, sensory overload, and traditions that apparently nobody thought to run by an autistic person before making them mandatory.In this introductory episode of the Raising Autistic Disciples podcast, Larah talks about navigating the holidays as a Christian autism parent, managing expectations, making meaningful accommodations, and learning when to stretch our kids and when to simply go home. Because sometimes the biggest obstacle to enjoying the holidays isn't our child's challenges. It's the picture we've created in our heads of how everything is supposed to go. That "picture perfect way." In this episode: Why holiday traditions can be exciting for us but overwhelming for our autistic kids. How to recognize when our expectations create unnecessary challenges. Why accommodations aren't the same as avoidance. The difference between ability and capacity. Why parents get dysregulated, too! Finding joy in Christ, even when the holidays don't go according to plan.One question to carry into every holiday gathering: Is this thing I'm stressing about necessary… or is this just how I pictured it? Our goal isn't to avoid every challenge or make our autistic kids experience the holidays exactly like everyone else. It's to help them participate meaningfully, grow in discipleship, and enjoy the family God has given us. Resources & Support RAD 📚 Letters to Lindsey 📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian 📺 Minno — Free 7-Day Trial (Code RAD) 🛍️ Larah's Amazon Picks 👕 RAD Merch ✍️ RAD on Substack Subscribe to Raising Autistic Disciples and join us for the rest of the series!

When Christians disagree about autism and healing—and everyone seems completely convinced they're right—who do you listen to? In the final episode of the Autism & Healing series, we're talking about discernment: healing testimonies, confident Christian content creators, Bible verses pulled into Instagram Reels, “God told me” claims, and what happens when someone turns their personal conviction about autism and healing into a test of someone else's faith. Someone can be confident and still be wrong. Someone can have an extraordinary testimony and still misunderstand what that testimony means. Someone can quote Scripture and interpret it incorrectly. And that includes me. Confidence is not authority. God's Word is. We also talk about families who say their child was “healed of autism.” Something may have genuinely changed—and we can praise God for it! But discernment asks another question: What actually changed? Behavior is not autism. A meltdown is not autism. Aggression is not autism. Elopement is not autism. Being nonspeaking is not autism. Communication can grow. Sleep can improve. Anxiety can decrease. Sensory needs can be accommodated. Therapy can help. Children can mature. And God can be glorified through every bit of it. God's work does not become less divine because He works through ordinary means. Scriptures ReferencedActs 17Matthew 4Isaiah 53:5James 51 Corinthians 15Romans 10John 14:6Matthew 28:18–202 Corinthians 12 A Discernment FilterWhen you encounter a big theological claim, ask: What does Scripture explicitly say? What conclusion is this person drawing from it? Does the passage actually authorize that conclusion? Is this Scripture, inference, personal conviction, or testimony? And remember: Someone else's testimony cannot become God's promise to my family. Where This Series LandsCan God heal? Yes. Do I know whether God intends to remove Graham's autism this side of eternity? I don't know. Does that make me passive? Absolutely not. Do I believe neurotypicality is God's definition of wholeness? No. Neurotypical is a neurological category. Redeemed is a theological category. Do faithful Christians disagree about healing? Yes. And disagreement about healing does not give us permission to redefine the gospel around our conclusions. So what do I do with everything I don't know? I know my assignment. You don't have to settle every question about autism and healing before you get busy with the Great Commission. Pray. Ask boldly. Open your Bible. Learn your child. Trust God with what He hasn't revealed. Be faithful with what He has. God gets the outcome. You get the assignment. Now go raise that autistic disciple. ______ 📚 Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens  📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian 📺 Minno — Get a free 7-day trial with code RAD 🛍️ Larah’s Amazon Picks 👕 RAD Merch ✍️ Read RAD on Substack

When Christians talk about autism and healing, what exactly do we mean by healed? Sometimes we picture something dramatic: autistic today, non-autistic tomorrow. And underneath that picture can be an assumption we may not even realize we're making: autistic means something is not whole, less autistic means becoming more whole, and non-autistic means healed. But who decided neurotypical means whole? Because I don't think Scripture did. In Part 3 of the Autism & Healing series, we're examining what Scripture actually teaches about wholeness, redemption, resurrection, growth, and Christlikeness—and why those categories matter for how we disciple our autistic children today. God can grow my son. He can mature him, develop his communication, give him new skills, relieve distress, provide wise doctors and therapists, deepen friendships, grow his independence, and sanctify him. And I can praise God for every bit of that without interpreting every new skill as Graham becoming “less autistic.” God's work does not become less divine because He works through ordinary means. Because if I make neurotypicality the goal, I can accidentally celebrate masking as maturity, exhaustion as participation, compliance as discipleship, or silence as regulation. I need a better target. Christlikeness. Scriptures ReferencedRomans 3:23Ephesians 2Romans 81 Corinthians 15Revelation 21Galatians 5:22–23 Questions for This WeekOpen your Bible and ask: Where did my definition of “whole” come from? Did Scripture give it to me, or have I assumed typical means whole because typical is what I'm accustomed to seeing? Then look at the autistic image-bearer in front of you and ask: What am I actually hoping for? Less autism? Less suffering? Greater communication? Growth? Maturity? Independence? Christlikeness? The target matters because the target determines what we celebrate. Average is not the definition of whole. Typical is not the definition of redeemed. Neurotypical is not the definition of holy. God does not need to make my son neurotypical in order to be at work in his life. Next in the series: How do we respond when another family says their child was “healed of autism”—without dismissing their testimony or turning their experience into a promise for our family?______ 📚 Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens  📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian 📺 Minno — Get a free 7-day trial with code RAD 🛍️ Larah’s Amazon Picks 👕 RAD Merch ✍️ Read RAD on Substack

If I don’t know whether God intends to remove my son’s autism this side of eternity… what exactly do I pray for? In Part 1 of this series, we established a framework: God gets the outcome. I get the assignment. But trusting God with the outcome doesn’t mean we stop asking Him for things. Paul didn’t. In 2 Corinthians 12, he pleaded with God to remove his thorn three times. Trusting God’s sovereignty didn’t silence his prayers—and it doesn’t have to silence ours. In this episode, I’m getting very practical about what I pray for Graham: salvation, communication, reading, regulation, patience, self-advocacy, friendships, courage, meaningful work, opportunities to use his gifts, and ultimately that he would become a disciple who makes disciples. Because the greatest miracle I could witness in my autistic son’s life isn’t watching an autistic child become non-autistic. It’s watching a spiritually dead sinner be made alive in Christ. And somewhere in all of this, I’m learning how to live in the tension between hope and expectation. I can desperately want something for my son, ask God boldly for it, work faithfully toward it—and still refuse to make that hoped-for outcome a burden Graham has to carry. Ask boldly. Work faithfully. Hope deeply. Hold the outcome with open hands. Scriptures Referenced2 Corinthians 12:7–10Ephesians 2:1–10Romans 8:29Romans 10:171 Corinthians 13Galatians 5:22–23 Questions for This WeekInstead of ONLY asking, “Do I pray for my child’s healing?” ask: What am I specifically asking God to do IN my child’s life? Write it down. Salvation? Communication? Understanding? Wisdom? Courage? Friendships? Regulation? Self-advocacy? A love for Scripture? Opportunities to serve? Greater independence? Then ask one more question: What am I asking God to grow in ME? Because you can’t raise an autistic disciple without first being a disciple yourself. Jesus, make my son more like You. Not less autistic. More like Christ. ______ 📚 Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens 📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian📺 Minno — Get a free 7-day trial with code RAD🛍️ Larah’s Amazon Picks👕 RAD Merch✍️ Read RAD on Substack

Can God heal autism? And if God can, does that mean He has promised that He will? In Part 1 of this four-part Autism & Healing series, Larah wrestles with the difference between God’s ability and God’s intention—and why that distinction matters for Christian parents raising autistic children. We’ll look at what Scripture allows us to be certain about, where faithful theology may require us to say “I don’t know,” and why accepting, supporting, and accommodating an autistic child is not evidence of deficient faith. The episode ultimately lands here: I am more theologically certain about the Great Commission than I am about whether God intends to heal my son’s autism this side of eternity. One is explicitly commanded. The other is not explicitly promised. God gets the outcome. I get the assignment. Scriptures referenced: Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 115:3; Daniel 3; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 28:18–20; John 5; John 9; John 11; Acts 12; Romans 8; 2 Corinthians 12; 1 Peter 2:24. Study it for yourself: What does Scripture explicitly say? What has God actually promised? What am I assuming? Where am I confusing what God can do with what God has promised to do? Next in the series: What I DO Pray For.______📚 Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens 📚 How to Advocate & Stay Christian📺 Minno — Get a free 7-day trial with code RAD🛍️ Larah’s Amazon Picks👕 RAD Merch✍️ Read RAD on Substack

Big idea: The meltdown gives us information, but so does the road behind it. If we only study the point of collision, we may miss what our autistic kids were communicating long before they had the words to tell us.Sometimes the meltdown is the first thing everyone notices—but it may not be where the story started. In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah shares one of Graham’s most memorable meltdowns from the early years after his diagnosis: a simple change in the Sunday morning plan that became far more than a quick walk back to the car. What looked like a sudden explosion was actually an autistic child in deep distress, unable to communicate what his body and nervous system were experiencing. That experience became an important lesson: don’t only study the collision. Learn the road that led there. For parents, church leaders, grandparents, and anyone discipling an autistic child, this episode explores how curiosity, observation, and biblical discernment can help us distinguish between rebellion, overwhelm, weakness, distress, and genuine behavior that needs correction. Understanding behavior is not the same thing as excusing behavior. Faithful discipleship requires knowing the child well enough to respond with the right kind of care. Larah also walks through 1 Thessalonians 5:14—“admonish the idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone”—as a framework for recognizing that different conditions require different responses. Sometimes an autistic child needs correction. Sometimes they need comfort. Sometimes they need help. And in every case, they need patient, discerning love. You’ll hear practical questions like: What does my child look like before they become overwhelmed? What happens when plans unexpectedly change? What environments require more effort from them? What happens to communication as stress increases? When does more language stop helping and become additional input? And what patterns can I learn now that may eventually help my child recognize and communicate their own needs? The goal isn’t to predict every meltdown or become omniscient. Only God is. The goal is to become observant—to learn the child God has entrusted to you so that you can shepherd them faithfully toward Christlikeness. Scriptures discussed: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, James 1:19, Proverbs 18:13, Proverbs 20:5, and John 10.Resources Mentioned:Find the Letters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis through a Gospel Lens on Amazon by clicking here: amazon.com/dp/B0FS87WY24.

Try Minno Free for 7 DaysWant to make a change in what your kids are consuming? Get a free 7-day trial of Minno using my promo code >>> RAD.CLICK HERE______When your autistic child suddenly starts using extreme language, explosive phrases, or emotional scripts that seem to come out of nowhere, there’s a question worth asking before assuming the behavior itself is the whole problem: Where did they learn it? In our house, we discovered Graham wasn’t just watching characters—he was learning from them. He was borrowing their words, tone, and emotional responses and applying those scripts to real-life situations. That realization eventually led us to make significant changes to what he was consuming. But something surprising happened: Graham didn’t stop scripting when we changed his media. His scripts changed. In this episode, we’re talking about why Christian parents raising autistic disciples need to pay attention not only to how much screen time our kids have, but to what is filling that time. We’ll talk about scripting and echolalia, how media can provide language for emotions, what happened when we changed Graham’s content, and why his tendency to retain and repeat language has actually become an incredible avenue for discipleship. You’ll also walk away with a practical way to evaluate your child’s media this week: Listen → Trace → Evaluate → Replace → Observe Listen for repeated phrases or emotional responses. Trace where they may have learned them. Evaluate the content—not simply for whether it’s “appropriate,” but for what it teaches about anger, fear, conflict, authority, and relationships. Replace unhelpful inputs with better ones rather than simply removing screens. Then observe what begins showing up in everyday life. Because Romans 12:2’s call to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” applies to our families too. What repeatedly occupies our attention matters. The goal isn’t to eliminate an autistic way of learning. If our kids are going to script, we have an opportunity to give them truth worth scripting. Scripture referenced: Romans 12:2; Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45; Philippians 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Psalm 1 One question to take with you: If my child is going to carry scripts into the world, what scripts am I helping put there?

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” But what exactly does abundant life mean—especially for families whose lives include disability, dependence, limitation, or suffering? In this episode, Larah looks at John 10 in its larger biblical context and challenges the assumption that abundance means health, independence, success, comfort, or a life untouched by hardship. With help from Puritan theologian William Gurnall's reflections on redemption, she explores how God’s plan in Christ is not merely to repair what sin ruined, but to bring His people into a redemption that sin can never ultimately destroy. You’ll hear why the presence of suffering does not mean the absence of abundant life, why disability does not put someone at a theological disadvantage, and why the greatest thing we can pursue for our autistic children is not normalization or independence—but life in Christ. In this episode: What John 10:10 actually means in context Why John 9 helps us understand Jesus as the Good Shepherd The difference between good gifts and gospel promises Why abundant life cannot be defined by ability, health, or independence Why suffering and abundant life can exist at the same time What this means for discipling autistic children Why our ultimate assignment is still the Great CommissionKey Scriptures: John 9–10, John 1:4, John 6:35, John 11:25, John 14:6, Romans 5, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15, Ephesians 1, Revelation 21 Main takeaway: The abundant life Jesus promises is not a life untouched by the effects of the fall. It is life with God, secured by Christ, that the effects of the fall cannot ultimately take away. The gospel message doesn’t change, but the method in which it’s delivered might have to for learning’s sake. Our assignment is not normalization. Our assignment is to make disciples.Willian Gurnalls, Daily Readings from The Christian in Complete Armour:https://www.moodypublishers.com/daily-readings-from-the-christian-in-complete-armour?srsltid=AfmBOooNZ4x7-xXmX67OZs_XDTjNngyY37dCaC6ku4DWk_rgLc-R_5s5

You can find the webinar on YouTube here. How do we communicate the gospel in a way that serves the listener? In this webinar episode, Larah explores a biblical theology of communication and introduces the LEARN framework, a practical approach for discipling autistic individuals and others impacted by disability. Drawing from the ministry methods of Jesus, Larah explains why communication is not primarily about the speaker, but about helping the listener understand and engage with truth. Throughout the episode, you'll learn how to listen before speaking, enter another person's world, assume competence, respond with curiosity and patience, and nurture relationships over time. Larah also shares practical examples for parents, church leaders, and volunteers, including case studies involving a nonverbal child, a teen with social challenges, and an adult seeking belonging within the church. Whether you're discipling your own child, serving in disability ministry, or simply seeking to communicate more effectively, this episode offers a gospel-centered framework that can transform the way you connect with others. In This Episode Why communication is a ministry to the listener Examples of how Jesus adapted His teaching methods The LEARN framework for disability discipleship Why flexibility is a ministry tool, not a compromise The importance of assuming competence Coaching volunteers to respond with curiosity instead of correction Building trust through long-term relationships Practical case studies for children, teens, and adults Using visuals, routines, and sensory supports in discipleship Strengthening the partnership between parents and churches Resources available to support gospel conversations at home and churchKey Takeaways Communication serves the listener, not the speaker. Effective discipleship begins with understanding before instruction. LEARN: Listen First, Enter Their World, Assume Less, Respond with Curiosity & Patience, Nurture Relationships. Behavior should not automatically be interpreted as lack of understanding. Small accommodations often create significant opportunities for gospel engagement. Trust is often the bridge that allows truth to be received. Parents and churches accomplish more when they work together. You don't have to do everything at once. Start small somewhere.Notable Quotes"You can't disciple someone you refuse to understand." "Flexibility is a ministry tool, not a compromise." "Assume competence until proven otherwise." "Seek understanding before solutions. Respond with curiosity and patience." "The truth travels best through trust." "Start small somewhere." Resources MentionedLetters to Lindsey: Seeing Your Child's Autism Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Kari Baker for a conversation that didn’t go as planned in the best way. What started as a simple podcast recording turned into an honest, heartfelt conversation about friendship, waiting on God, the struggle of wanting answers now, and the temptation to reach for control when life feels uncertain. Together, Larah and Kari talk about autism parenting, faith, social media, idols, patient endurance, and the gift of having people in your life who can help hold your arms up when the road feels heavy. Kari also shares about her ministry, KIND Families, her journey as an autism mom, and the heart behind her book Finding KIND. More than anything, this episode is a reminder that when the path feels lonely and hard, God often shows His kindness by sending faithful friends to walk with us. If you are raising an autistic child and feel tired, overwhelmed, or alone, this conversation will remind you to look to the Lord, receive the gift of friendship, and keep trusting that He is sustaining you on the journey. In this episode: Why waiting on God feels so hard The temptation to grab control when life feels uncertain Friendship as one of God’s kind gifts in hard seasons Honest conversation about faith, parenting, and endurance Encouragement for autism moms who feel aloneYou can find Kari on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kariabaker/ or at kindfamilies.com. Kari's book "Finding Kind" was influential in Larah's life, grab your copy here.

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Angie for an honest, VERY vulnerable, practical, and gospel-centered conversation about PDA, or Pathological Demand Avoidance. Larah comes into this conversation the same way many parents do, with questions. What is PDA really? How does it show up in everyday life? How do you parent a child who experiences demands, correction, and ordinary expectations in a very different way? And how do you hold on to a gospel lens while learning new ways to understand your child? Angie helps walk through the core traits often connected to a PDA profile, while also giving parents language, examples, and encouragement for the moments that can feel confusing, exhausting, or misunderstood. Together, they talk about nervous system survival, regulation, masking, parenting misconceptions, and why understanding how our kids are wired can help us better disciple them. This episode is especially for the parent who has felt overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to even begin. You are not failing by learning as you go. And learning your child more deeply is not moving away from discipleship. It is part of faithful stewardship. In this episode: What PDA is and why many parents are still learning about it How PDA can affect everyday parenting moments Why demands, chores, and correction can feel so intense for some kids The difference between behavior that looks defiant and a nervous system in survival mode How to think about PDA through a gospel-centered lensLinks Mentioned:How to know if your child is PDA @ At Peace Parents:https://www.atpeaceparents.com/clarity Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionaire:https://share.google/d7zSPbSOdN8vfBpze New ESA-8 questionnaire:https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/resources/extreme-demand-avoidance-8-item-measure-eda-8/ PDA North America:https://pdanorthamerica.org/

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Tiffany Long for a real and encouraging conversation about parenting, autism, and learning to slow down when life feels overwhelming. Tiffany shares her family’s journey after her sons autism diagnosis and the lessons God has been teaching her in this season of parenting. Together they talk about the importance of creating margin, resisting the pressure to “figure everything out” immediately, and learning to trust that God is still working even when we can’t see the full picture. They also discuss the early days after diagnosis, the fear and uncertainty parents often feel, and why slowing down can actually help us better understand and support our children. If you’re an autism parent who feels like you’re constantly trying to keep up, this conversation will encourage you to breathe, take the next step faithfully, and trust that God is at work in both you and your child.

Find the guide here: https://mailchi.mp/57d52c1801c7/tellthestory  A lot of Christian parents want to talk about Easter with their kids… but when the moment comes, they freeze.  What do I say? How do I explain the gospel simply? Am I doing this right?  On this podcast, Larah walks through a simple, biblical way to share the Easter story with your kids using the “Tell the Story” method, one sentence at a time.  This approach is rooted in God’s design for discipleship in Deuteronomy 6, the power of storytelling, and a method used in missionary training around the world.   It’s especially helpful for parents raising autistic kids because it leans into clear language, repetition, predictable structure, and concrete, visual moments.  But most importantly, it takes the pressure off.  You don’t have to give a perfect explanation. You don’t have to cover everything at once.   You just tell the story.   One sentence. One moment. One day at a time.   And trust God to do what only He can do.  In this video, we talk about why storytelling is one of the most powerful ways kids learn, how God designed faith to be passed down through everyday life, why this method works so well for autistic kids, how missionaries use story to share the gospel, and a simple way to walk through the Easter story step by step.  Here’s a simple reminder for you as a parent.   You are not responsible for the outcome.  Your role is gospel proclamation and gospel saturation.  God is responsible for the transformation.  If you’re raising an autistic child and trying to disciple them in the gospel, you’re not alone.   And you don’t have to make this complicated.  Just tell the story.

Sometimes autism parenting feels like you’re making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. School. Therapies. Doctors. The constant “what if.” The pressure to pick the perfect path and never regret it. In this episode, Larah sits down with her friend Nicole (mom of six boys) to talk about what it looks like to advocate for your autistic child without losing your peace or your witness. Nicole shares what led her to speak at a school board meeting, how she prepared, and what anchored her in the room: identity in Christ. They talk about decision-making through a gospel lens, why boldness doesn’t have to be loud, and how to walk forward in freedom when you can only see one step at a time. Inside the episode: How to advocate without yelling, spiraling, or burning bridges Why behavior change can’t come first (it has to start at the root) Making school/therapy decisions with prayer, wisdom, and margin “Lamp, not flashlight” faith for moms who want clarity now The freedom to pivot when something stops workingIf you’re tired of carrying the weight of every decision like it’s forever… this one will exhale for you. Find Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_cattelona/How to Advocate & Stay Christian - https://amzn.to/40yaEme