In this powerful international episode, Rashidah sits down with Dalisse — originally from Honduras, now living in Barcelona — who is raising two boys on the autism spectrum: Adrian and Guillermo. Both boys were diagnosed around 17 months old, but while Dalisse was learning to navigate autism evaluations, therapies, and advocacy for her children, she was also beginning a life-changing journey of her own—receiving her own autism diagnosis as an adult.
Together, Rashidah and Dalisse discuss the emotional realities of parenting while discovering your own neurodivergence, the similarities and differences between autism support in Spain and the United States, and why community is essential for autism moms everywhere.
Out of her family's journey came something powerful. Dalisse is the co-founder of Loving Pieces Books, a publishing company dedicated to creating inclusive children's books where autistic children can see themselves represented. What began as a way to support her own sons has become a mission to help families around the world embrace neurodiversity through meaningful storytelling.
In this episode, we discuss:
0:00 — Meet Dalisse from Barcelona, Spain
1:09 — Early Signs & The Road to Diagnosis
2:00 — "Wait and See" — A Universal Experience Across Borders
5:43 — The 2 AM Google Spiral
6:53 — Explaining the Diagnosis to Family & Grandparents
9:19 — Processing the Guilt: "Am I a Bad Mom?"
9:57 — Two Boys, Two Very Different Journeys
21:05 — Autism Resources & The System in Spain vs. the US
28:41 — From Digital Marketing to Children's Books
35:07 — Loving Pieces Book
42:47 — Traveling with Autistic Kids
51:40 — Dalisse's Own Autism Diagnosis & Healing Her Inner Child
54:32 — Advice for the New Autism Mom
55:30 — What Makes Dalisse a Badass Mom?
Connect with Dalisse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovingpiecesbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovingpiecesbooks/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loving-pieces-books-autism-childrens-books/posts/?feedView=all
Website: lovingpiecesbooks.com
About Loving Pieces Books
Dalisse and her husband created Loving Pieces Books — a series of illustrated children's books written for autistic kids and their families, available in 4 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese & Catalan). Books mentioned:
- Autism: My Invisible Backpack
- Autism: This is How I Party
- Autism: A New School Year
- Autism: Calming the Chaos
- Autism: Confidence Starts Here
- (Coming soon) Autism: Our Travel Adventure
Purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0iRC3eRC
Autism for Badass Moms is the award-winning podcast where no autism mom is left behind. Each week, host Rashidah shares honest conversations with mothers around the world about autism, advocacy, resilience, and the realities of raising neurodivergent children.
Website: https://www.autismforbadassmoms.com
Follow Autism for Badass Moms:
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast
If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another autism mom, caretaker, or provider. Together, we're building a global community where every mom feels seen, heard, and supported.
