Episode 1: From Autism Diagnosis to College Freshman - Why we started sharing our autism journey.
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Why we started sharing our autism journey.
Five years ago, my son was transitioning from the Sapling stage of development (3rd–7th grade) into the Young Tree stage (8th–12th grade) within the Village Engagement Matrix™.
These recorded conversations capture growth, communication, self-awareness, relationship development, and lived experience as an emerging Young Tree.
Throughout this series, we explore three interconnected elements of the Village Engagement Matrix™:
The developmental progression of a child on the autism spectrum from Acorn to Oak Tree.
The parenting phases experienced while supporting growth and development across those stages.
The role village members play in helping children develop into confident, capable, and contributing adults.
In Episode 1, we discuss why we made the decision to publicly share portions of our autism journey and developmental experiences with the world.
Today, these videos provide an opportunity to retrospectively examine the growth and development of a child on the autism spectrum who is now a thriving Oak Tree—a university student who completed his first semester with a 4.0, a scholar and artist who marches in the marching band, and a young man establishing meaningful relationships while navigating life in college.
One of the greatest gifts of this season is that I continue to observe his growth and development.
In the Village Engagement Matrix™, high school graduation marked his transition from Young Tree into Oak Tree, and my transition from Navigator into Consultant.
At my son’s request, I moved with him to his college town.
Why?
Because he said college is like a 700-piece puzzle, and his mom is really good at puzzles.
My Oak Tree understood that having a trusted Consultant nearby would ensure that he transitioned into emerging adulthood with support, proximity, and clarity.
Through the lens of the Village Engagement Matrix™, these reflections illustrate how intentional engagement, developmental support, relationship-centered parenting, self-advocacy development, and opportunities to practice independence accumulate over time.🌱🌿🌳
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