Host Rashidah introduces a raw episode of Autism for BadassMoms on grief, autism parenting, divorce, and coping, featuring guest Emily Fell, a 45-year-old Wisconsin mom to 15-year-old Grace, diagnosed with autism at 2.5. Emily recounts the 2008 pregnancy and birth of her first daughter,Katie, who had hydranencephaly, was delivered by C-section with Emily suffering severe blood loss and transfusions and lived two days. Emily describes Grace’s traumatic birth in 2010, vaccine-related reactions, developmental regression,extensive early interventions including ABA, and later conflicts in her marriage—especially over vaccines—leading to her husband moving out in 2016 and divorce finalized in 2018, plus financial stress and foreclosure.
Emily shares past self-medicating with alcohol, recent sobriety, homeschooling Grace using spelling to communicate, and plans for a center/community for non-speakers with respite and ABA partners targeted for April 2026 and provides her TikTok contact.
In this episode, we discuss:
00:00 Podcast Intro
00:43Grief and Autism
02:46 Meet Emily Fell
04:52 Pregnancy and Shocking Ultrasound
08:50 Katie’s Birth and Medical Crisis
13:20 Saying Goodbye to Katie
16:04 Pregnant Again After Loss
17:44 Grace’s Birth Complications
23:19 Regression and Autism Diagnosis
26:15 Marriage Strain and Vaccines
29:11 Husband Moves Out and Fallout
32:58 Black Cloud and Getting Sober
34:21 Quitting Alcohol Clarity
35:24 Divorce Boundaries Strength
36:44 Grace Therapy Reflections
39:49 First Word Mom Moment
42:04 School Battles Presume Competence
46:55 Homeschool Spelling Breakthroughs
49:24 Spiritual Walk Revelation
52:14 Building Non-Speaker Community
56:15 How to Reach Emily
58:09 Advice for New Moms
01:03:22 Final Encouragement Outro
01:03:56 Guest Application Call
Connect with Emily:
TikTok: emilygrace.do.homeschool(Emily & Grace Do Homeschool)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amazing_grace_homeschool
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@amazing_grace_homeschool?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091213029569&mibextid=LQQJ4d
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-fell-presume-competence/
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