Ep. 155 - Breaking Free While Parenting a Child with Autism with Erin

<p>This week on <em>Autism for Badass Moms</em>, Rashidah sitsdown with Erin S. L. Jackson for a powerful conversation about autism motherhood, domestic violence, survival, education, and what it takes to rebuild your life when walking away feels impossible.</p><p>Erin opens up about something many women experience but may be afraid to say out loud: <strong>sometimes leaving an abusive relationship is not as simple as walking out the door.</strong></p><p>Financial dependence, childcare challenges, missed work,isolation, fear, and the responsibility of raising a child with additional needs can make leaving feel impossible.</p><p>Erin shares how public assistance programs helped providesome of the financial security she needed to begin separating herself from her abuser — and how higher education eventually became another part of her pathtoward freedom.</p><p> </p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p> </p><p>0:00 – Meet Erin</p><p>0:54 – Pregnant during COVID</p><p>2:53 – Her son&#39;s RSV hospitalization </p><p>4:26 – Developmental regression</p><p>6:22 – Getting the autism diagnosis</p><p>8:12 – How the diagnosis shifted the relationship</p><p>12:06 – Using ChatGPT to cope </p><p>12:57 – Building the escape plan</p><p>23:51 – The car accident that changed everything</p><p>25:21 – Police escort </p><p>26:32 – Co-parenting and contact today</p><p>32:37 – Mental health and suicidal thoughts</p><p>33:32 – Finishing her master&#39;s in social work</p><p>34:29 – The Title IV fellowship</p><p>42:44 – Where to find Erin </p><p>43:54 – Advice for moms still stuck </p><p>46:22 – What makes Erin badass</p><p> </p><p><strong>Connect with Erin:</strong></p><p>Facebook: Erin Jackson</p><p>Instagram: Instagram.com/ hopez__Dreams</p><p> </p><p>If this episode resonated with you: </p><p>-Follow the Autism for Badass Moms Podcast</p><p>-Leave a review to help other autism moms find thiscommunity</p><p>-Share this episode with a parent who may feel unseen ormisunderstood</p><p> </p><p>Follow Us:</p><p>Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>A Note to Our Listeners</strong></p><p><br></p><p>This episode contains conversations about <strong>domesticviolence, intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and trauma</strong>. Please listen with care.</p><p>Abuse does not always look like physical violence.</p><p>It can include controlling money, interfering withemployment, isolating someone from family and friends, intimidation, manipulation, threats, emotional abuse, coercive control, and other behaviors designed to maintain power over another person.</p><p>If something discussed in this episode feels familiar,please know that help and confidential support are available.</p><p>You do not have to navigate abuse alone.</p><p> </p><p>If you or someone you know is experiencing domesticviolence, please reach out to a trusted person or a domestic violence organization. You can contact the <strong>National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.</strong> If you are in immediate danger, <strong>call 911 or your local emergency services.</strong></p><p> </p><p></p>