ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇
In this episode, Dr. Tay welcomes Rob Gorski, known as The Autism Dad on social media, to discuss his experience as a father raising three autistic children. They explore the unique challenges and opportunities of fatherhood in the autism community, the grief process associated with diagnoses, and the importance of leaning into emotions. Rob shares his journey of starting a blog, the evolving support needs of his children, and the importance of self-care and mental health for parents. They also discuss the societal expectations for dads and the need for more inclusive and supportive conversations around fatherhood and autism.
00:00 Introduction and Today’s Special Guest
00:58 Dr. Tay’s Background and Podcast Mission
02:01 Rob Gorski’s Family and Autism Journey
03:22 Challenges and Insights on Autism Diagnoses
08:48 Support Needs and Progress of Rob’s Children
12:42 Navigating Parenting and Personal Challenges
13:39 The Role of Dads in Autism Parenting
18:05 Emotional Struggles and Mental Health
28:38 Understanding the Impact of Parental Emotions
29:34 Embracing Imperfection in Parenting
31:10 Navigating Social Media and External Judgments
32:54 The Importance of Repair and Recovery
34:50 Challenging Parenting Norms and Expectations
39:03 Advocating for Your Child’s Needs
44:06 The Power of Vulnerability and Self-Care
48:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
RESOURCES
⚡️ connect with Rob on Instagram @theautismdad and on his website
⚡️ listen to our recent episode on Rob’s podcast about autism in girls
⚡️ want to learn more about Dr. Tay’s Whole Family Approach and current services offered? visit drtaylorday.com
⚡️ join the Evolve Facebook community to participate in the episode Q+As >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautism
⚡️ learn from me and submit your questions [could be featured on a future episode] >>
*please note: in this episode, many terminologies and phrases are used to describe autism. Dr. Tay honors what each child and family prefers, and intentionally chooses to use affirming and identity-first language after listening to autistic adults and their preferences. various guests on the podcast are likely to use the language they have been exposed to the most.