Conversations with Coach Dinny
Reflections on Autism, Life & Everything in Between
This is a space where I share lived experiences, thought pieces and insights from my journey as an autism mom.
Here, I explore the realities of caregiving, personal growth and womanhood, while also reflecting on the systems we live within and how they shape our experiences, our choices and our capacity to cope.
I write about the intersections of autism, family life and the world around us – from the pressures of modern living to the deeper questions around identity, purpose and healing.
While this is certaintly not a space for perfect answers, my hope is that through these reflections, you are able to see parts of your own journey more clearly and begin to connect with your own parth in a more conscious and supported way.
Navigating The Diverse Experiences Of Autism: Why The Conversation Needs To Change
The ultimate trigger on my autism journey is encountering people who passionately claim that autism is not a disability and does not need to be “fixed”. Understandably, these sentiments are often voiced by highly functional autistics who live independently and...
Collaboration in Advocacy: Creating Real Solutions for Our Community
I have observed with deep disappointment the hostility that larger advocacy foundations often direct towards emerging foundations and autism startups. This is particularly disheartening, as autism is far bigger and more complex than any single person or...
The Power of Community: Finding Strength in Others
Over the past few days, I have been reflecting on my life in earlier years and comparing it to recent times, particularly regarding the financial challenges that seem to have intensified as we navigate our autism journey. It’s fair to say that this has not been...
Parental Aggression: A Reflection On Autism And Acceptance
The other day, while taking my son for his quarterly check-up at Baragwanath Hospital, I witnessed an encounter that took me back to some of the most challenging moments of my journey as an autism mom. Sitting in the waiting area, I observed a young mom enter...
Transforming Loss Into Strength: Lessons From My Autism Journey
For the longest time, loss was a constant companion on my autism journey, and now that I have seen it for what it is, I can feel the grip gradually loosening. I have learnt that many of the things I once clung to, some of sentimental value, others less so - had...
Things I Have Had To Unlearn And Relearn As An Autism Mom
Being an Autism Mom is a journey like no other, and along the way, I’ve realized that much of what I thought I knew about parenting needed to be unlearned and redefined. Autism doesn’t follow the rules of conventional parenting, it has its own playbook....
Disciplining An Autistic Child: My Journey Of Love, Struggles And Lessons Learned
It goes without saying that parenting is hard, a fact that any parent will tell you, however parenting an autistic child takes a level of resilience and adaptability that cannot be taught in traditional parenting manuals. Personally, this has been one of the hardest...
Give Yourself Grace
Today, I would like you to give yourself some grace, because even through all the chaos that many can never even begin to comprehend, I see you. Standing. I see you, waking up every single day to fight, and with strength depleted for the day, I see you,...
Things I Wish I Knew When My Son Was Diagnosed With Autism
When my son Tumelo received his formal diagnosis of autism at 2-years and 7- months, it truly was merely just a confirmation as Uncle Google had long addressed my concerns. My biggest advantage at the time was that Tumi is a twin and as you can imagine, the...