"Accommodating these children is like giving them a lifeline, and these children are worthy of it." That line from Christine Bauereis stays with you.
Christine didn't find out she was autistic and ADHD until her 30s. The clarity came the way it does for so many parents, after her own kids were diagnosed. She looked at her son's reports, then back at her own childhood, and the whole picture finally made sense.
Christine is a mom of three in central Massachusetts, part of a blended family. Her 14-year-old, her 10-year-old son Archer, who has ADHD, and her youngest, River, who is six and autistic. River is level two, verbal with moderate support needs, and as she puts it, just wonderful.
In this Seen and Heard episode, Christine gives Rob an honest look at their days. The mornings that used to be a battle, before a new psychiatrist, an ADHD diagnosis, and medication she calls life-changing turned school refusal into a kid who pops up asking if he has school today. The afternoons that get hard, because River masks all day and lets it out when he is finally home and safe. And a win that will stay with you, a three-hour food drive she and River did together for families in Worcester, the first full day they ever got through without a single meltdown.
But the heart of this one is Christine's voice as an advocate. When her district's entire SEPAC, the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, resigned because the district would not collaborate, she didn't go quiet. She stood up at a town meeting and said the thing every parent in that room needed to hear. Special education isn't a choice. It is a right.
What you'll hear
Finding out she is autistic and ADHD in her 30s, after her kids
How an ADHD diagnosis and medication turned school refusal into excitement
Why masking all day leads to afternoon meltdowns at home
The Worcester food drive that became their first meltdown-free day
When the whole SEPAC resigned, and what she did next
Why she begs parents to listen to autistic adults
"Special education isn't a choice. It is a right."
Christine Bauereis
About the guest
Christine Bauereis is a mother of three in central Massachusetts and a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD woman who did not learn she was neurodivergent until her 30s, after two of her children were diagnosed. Her youngest, River, is six and autistic, level two with moderate support needs. She is also a special education advocate who spoke up publicly after her district's entire Special Education Parent Advisory Council resigned.
About your host
Rob Gorski is the founder of The Autism Dad, a blog and podcast dedicated to supporting parents raising kids on the autism spectrum. As a dad of three autistic sons with over 25 years of experience, Rob brings lived experience, honesty, and heart to every conversation.
Rob's book, So Your Child Was Just Diagnosed with Autism, lands December 29, 2026 from Fair Winds Press. Updates and preorder: theautismdad.com/book
Sponsor
[SPONSOR READ TThis episode is sponsored by Time To Evaluate. If you've tried to get your child, or yourself, evaluated for autism or ADHD, you know the wait can be months, even years. Time To Evaluate does it with live telehealth, often within two weeks, from home. A self-paced intake in your own words, one licensed psychologist start to finish, and a formal report you can use at school. One flat fee, no waiting room. Better outcomes, without the wait. Visit timetoevaluate.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is special education a right or a choice?
It is a right. As Christine Bauereis puts it, special education isn't a choice, it is a right. Children with disabilities have a legal right to an accessible education and to appropriate accommodations, and she argues it is the job of the adults in a community to make sure that right is honored.
What is a SEPAC?
A SEPAC is a Special Education Parent Advisory Council, a group of parents that advises a school district on special education. In Christine's district, the entire SEPAC resigned because the district would not collaborate, which is what moved her to speak up publicly at a town meeting.
What is level 2 autism?
Level 2 autism describes someone who needs substantial support with social communication and with restricted or repetitive behaviors. Christine's six-year-old son River is level two, verbal with moderate support needs. As she says, no matter the level, it is still hard, and every parent's hard is valid.
Why do autistic kids often melt down in the afternoon?
Many autistic kids mask, meaning they hold in their stress and suppress their natural responses to get through a demanding school day. When they get home and finally feel safe, everything they have been holding in comes out, which is why meltdowns often hit in the afternoon and early evening rather than at school.
Can a child have both autism and ADHD?
Yes. Christine's son River is autistic and also received an ADHD diagnosis, and starting ADHD medication was, in her words, life-changing for his mornings and his school refusal. Christine herself is a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adult.
Resources mentioned
More Seen and Heard episodes: listen.theautismdad.com
Preorder Rob's book: theautismdad.com/book
If you found this episode helpful, please follow The Autism Dad Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Visit listen.theautismdad.com for past episodes, resources, and ways to support the show.
You can find Rob at theautismdad.com, on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at The Autism Dad, and on YouTube at The Autism Dad. New episodes drop every week at listen.theautismdad.com.
