Blog Post #1: Navigating the Unknown

I was pretty confident that Navigating the Unknown would be the first topic I would write about. Partly because of the current state of equity and inclusion in the U.S., and partly because the unknowns that parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities face can feel unbearably heavy.

The anxiety and worry about what’s next—whether a week from now or ten years down the line—never really go away. As a parent of a child with autism, I thought the best way to manage was to take it day by day. And in some ways, that helps. But it doesn’t erase the anxiety. It doesn’t silence the questions.

You’ll hear people say, “Focus on what you can control.” And while there’s truth in that, it also risks shutting down the foresight that allows us to plan, to prepare, to protect. Nearly everything in life is out of our control—but when you’re a parent of a child with a disability, that anxiety exists on a deep level. The questions never stop.

But here's what I’ve learned: the unknowns don’t mean you're lost. They mean you're learning to navigate differently.

Grieving What You Expected

Before I could embrace the path we were on, I had to grieve the one I thought we were on. That’s a process people don’t often talk about. It’s not about loving your child any less. It’s about releasing the dream you once had and making space for a new one—one just as valuable, just as full of joy, even if it looks different from what you imagined.

Learning to Live in the Moment

Special needs parenting teaches you to be present in a way nothing else does. Sometimes the future feels overwhelming, and the what-ifs pile up faster than you can push them away. But then your child does something they couldn’t do yesterday—a word, a step, a smile—and suddenly, that moment is everything. We celebrate differently. And maybe, we love deeper because of it.

Finding Strength in Community

One of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered is the strength that comes from other parents walking similar paths. Whether it’s through online groups, support networks, or the silent nod of understanding from a stranger in a therapy waiting room, these connections remind me: I’m not alone. I hope this can become that space to connect and build a community.

Becoming an Advocate—Even When You’re Tired

As parents of children with special needs, we become warriors. We fight for services, for inclusion, for understanding. It’s exhausting. It’s relentless. But it’s also purposeful. Advocacy becomes not just a task, but a form of love. One that says: I see my child’s worth, and I won’t let the world look away.

Embracing the Unknown

The truth is, every parent faces uncertainty. But for us, the stakes often feel higher. The path less clear. And still—we go on. We learn. We adapt. We grow.

Facing the unknown doesn’t mean we have all the answers. It means we show up anyway. With love. With hope. With courage.

And somehow, that becomes enough.