Episode Details

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares personal lessons learned from more than 30 years of raising his profoundly autistic, nonverbal son Michael and discusses one of the greatest challenges families face: finding reliable caregivers for individuals with high support needs autism. He explains that while family members often help early on, trained and dependable support becomes essential as children grow older and behaviors become more complex. Mike emphasizes that the best caregivers are often patient, flexible, teachable, and compassionate rather than simply highly credentialed. He outlines seven practical ways families can build a strong caregiving team, including using respite resources, connecting with climbing communities, partnering with other parents, recruiting special education aides, exploring faith-based disability ministries, working with universities, and improving job postings with more professional titles. Throughout the episode, he encourages families to build a full “bench” of caregivers instead of relying on one person and reminds listeners that although the process can be exhausting, trustworthy and caring helpers do exist, and families do not have to navigate the journey alone. 

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