Lived & Learned
Lived.
Hannah is a wife, mother, and late-diagnosed autistic adult whose journey has been shaped by years of masking and having her challenges overlooked. Growing up undiagnosed, she learned to try to blend in, often at the expense of her own well-being, never fully understanding why certain things felt harder for her than they seemed for others. Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult was both a relief and a revelation—it gave her a framework to understand herself better, but it wasn’t a final answer. Instead, it was the beginning of a deeper journey of self-discovery and unmasking. Now, her greatest passion is using her lived experience to support autistic children, their parents, and the professionals who work with them. Through Lived & Learned, she hopes to give advocates the insight she wishes her own had and help providers better understand the real needs of the autistic community.
Learned.
Jessica is a mom of two autistic boys whose journey has been shaped by navigating the challenges and joys of raising neurodivergent children. Through trial, research, and connection with the autistic community, she has learned how to advocate for her kids in a world that often misunderstands their needs. From navigating therapies and education systems to embracing neurodiversity and self-directed learning, she has gained insight that goes beyond what professionals typically teach parents. While she brings knowledge from parenting, her perspective is always evolving as she listens to autistic voices and adapts to her children’s individual needs. Through Lived & Learned, she hopes to share what she’s discovered with other parents and professionals, creating conversations that center both lived experience and practical, real-world parenting strategies.
Lived & Learned.
Bringing together both lived and learned experiences is essential to truly understanding and supporting the autistic community. Parents and professionals often rely on research, therapies, and expert recommendations, but without the voices of autistic individuals themselves, critical insights can be missed. Likewise, autistic adults have firsthand knowledge of what it feels like to grow up in a world that isn’t built for them, but parents and providers navigate the systems that shape a child’s daily life. By merging these perspectives, Lived & Learned creates a space where real-world parenting strategies meet authentic autistic experiences, fostering a more informed, compassionate, and effective approach to advocacy, support, and inclusion.
Lived & Learned is a small, intimate in-person event designed to foster real conversations between autistic individuals, parents, and professionals. By keeping the group size limited, the setting allows for deeper discussions, personalized insights, and a sense of connection that larger events often lack (not to mention less of a chance of sensory overstimulation and overwhelm). The event begins with a talk from Hannah and Jessica, where they share their experiences and perspectives—one from living as an autistic individual and the other from parenting autistic children. This is followed by a roundtable discussion, where attendees can ask questions, share their own experiences, and engage in meaningful dialogue. The goal is to create a welcoming and open environment where everyone can learn from each other and leave with a greater understanding of autism from both lived and learned perspectives.
To learn more or reserve your spot, fill out the form at the button below!
