Nine seasons. That is not a number I take lightly. When I started The Autism Dad Podcast, I was a dad in the thick of it, trying to figure out how to raise three autistic sons without a roadmap, without a community, and honestly without much hope that anyone else out there understood what our daily life actually looked like. Nine seasons later, I know they do. You do. And that means everything.
Season 9 kicks off with an episode that has been three years in the making. My girlfriend, partner, and biggest supporter Kelly Clark finally joins me to answer the questions you have been sending in since we went public about our relationship. We talk about how we met, how we navigate disagreements, what it actually looks like to protect a relationship when autism parenting is part of your daily reality, and the work Kelly is doing in Northeast Ohio that is quietly making the world safer for autistic people everywhere.
And at the very end, I share something I have been sitting on for about eight months. Something big. Something I hope will help a lot of families who are exactly where I was when my kids were first diagnosed.
Who Is Kelly Clark?
Kelly Clark is an autism advocate and educator based in Northeast Ohio. She works with the Autism Society of Greater Akron to train law enforcement officers, first responders, school staff, and courthouse personnel to better recognize and interact with autistic individuals. It is the kind of work that does not get nearly enough attention, and in this episode she pulls back the curtain on how those trainings work, why they matter, and how they have grown.
She is also my partner. And for three years, you have been asking about her. So here we are.
Everything I had been through over the years shaped me into the person I needed to be in order to see her for who she is.
Why Law Enforcement Autism Training Can Save Lives
This is the part of the episode I want every autism parent to hear, even if they skip everything else. Kelly's work through the Autism Society of Greater Akron is bringing real autism awareness into police departments, courthouses, schools, and first responder agencies across the region. And it is growing.
I shared a story in this episode that I have not talked about much publicly. Years ago I had to bring my son Gavin to the courthouse with me for something routine, just signing over a car title. He kept setting off the metal detector. Security moved in fast, and before I could explain anything, Gavin was being frisked by a deputy. He does not like to be touched. The situation could have escalated quickly. Thankfully it did not, but it highlighted something that autism parents navigate constantly: ordinary moments that the rest of the world takes for granted can become genuinely dangerous for our families.
That is what Kelly's training addresses. Not just awareness in the abstract, but practical tools for the people who are first on scene when something goes wrong. When first responders understand what a meltdown looks like, why eye contact can be threatening, why someone might not respond to verbal commands the way they expect, outcomes change. Lives change.
If you are in Northeast Ohio and want to connect Kelly with your local law enforcement agency, school, or courthouse, reach out through the Autism Society of Greater Akron.
How Rob and Kelly Met: The Full Story
Okay, here is the one you have been waiting for. The honest version.
I was coming out of a harder season in my life. I had made a deliberate decision to focus on myself, my kids, and the business, and to stop looking for anything else. I was walking the park with my mom every day. I was rebuilding. And then Kelly showed up in my world, and that resolve started to quietly dissolve.
We were connected through mutual conversations about twice exceptional kids, something I was still learning a lot about. What struck me immediately was how smart she was, how easy she was to talk to, and how she just made sense to me in a way that is hard to explain. For a while I did not even realize she lived in Ohio. I do not always read all the words. Kelly will confirm this.
I was at a speaking event, one of the first I had ever done, and I was terrified. The light at the end of the tunnel for me was that I was going to ask Kelly out when it was over. I got through it. I asked. I said something about her birthday, celebrating her, dinner, and it came out so ambiguous that I genuinely was not sure if I had asked her on a date or just proposed a friendly hangout.
I showed up an hour early. Did not realize I was early. Stood in the parking lot convinced she had changed her mind. She had not. She showed up, walked across the parking lot toward me, and that was it. I was done. That moment felt like the first day of my new life.
Three years later, here we are.
I kind of look at that as the first day of my new life. It was just a very pivotal moment.
Navigating a Relationship When Autism Parenting Is Part of the Picture
The questions you sent in about this were really good. How do we handle disagreements? When did we start feeling like a real team? How do we intentionally protect our relationship when autism parenting demands so much?
On disagreements
We have not had one. I know how that sounds. But the honest answer is that we both came into this relationship with a level of self-awareness and communication that makes conflict genuinely rare. We hear each other out. We recognize when the other has hit their limit. We do not push when someone needs to decompress. And if something does come up, we address it in real time rather than letting it sit.
On becoming a team
It was not a single moment. It happened gradually, through shared experiences and a lot of transparency early on. We both laid everything on the table right from the start. No filtering. No waiting for the right moment. That radical honesty created a foundation strong enough to carry us through real challenges without it ever feeling like we were against each other.
On protecting the relationship
We are both introverts. We both overthink. We both understand the particular exhaustion of autism parenting in a way that does not need to be explained. That shared context removes so much friction. When one of us is quiet, the other does not read it as anger or distance. We just know.
Date nights do not always mean going out. Sometimes they mean trash TV on the couch and not having to perform for anyone. We call those wins. We are deliberate about reconnecting when life gets heavy, and we adapt when the original plan falls apart, which in autism parenting happens constantly.
One of the things I said in this episode that I really mean: I do not ever wonder if she is secretly upset with me. She will just tell me. That kind of direct communication is something I did not always have, and I do not take it for granted.
The Big Announcement
I have been sitting on this for about eight months and I am so glad to finally be able to share it.
I am releasing my first book in early 2027. The title is Your Child Was Just Diagnosed with Autism: Real Talk, Support and Next Steps from a Dad Who Has Been There.
That title says everything about what I want this book to be. When my sons were diagnosed, there was nothing that spoke to me directly as a parent, as a dad, as someone who was terrified and overwhelmed and had no idea what came next. I am writing the book I wish I had. The one that does not sugarcoat it, does not drown you in clinical language, and does not leave you feeling more lost than when you started.
Preorder information will be coming soon. I will share it here, on the podcast, and across all the socials as soon as it is available. Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me and to Kelly for keeping me from overthinking this into the ground.
What Is Coming in Season 9
Beyond this episode, Season 9 has a lot in store. The Seen and Heard interview series is launching right after this episode, where I sit down with real autism families for honest, unfiltered 15-minute conversations about what their life actually looks like. No scripts. No polish. Just their truth in their own words.
We also have some things brewing with Aria, who may be doing some interviews of her own with kids. More on that as it develops. And we have worked on new logos and artwork for the season that I am really proud of.
Season 9 is going to be different. In the best way. I am glad you are here for it.
SHOW NOTES
Listen to This Episode
You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and at listen.theautismdad.com. If you find it helpful, please follow the show and leave a review. It makes a real difference.
About Kelly Clark
Kelly Clark is a passionate autism advocate and educator based in Northeast Ohio. As a representative of the Autism Society of Greater Akron, Kelly trains law enforcement officers, first responders, school staff, and courthouse personnel to better recognize and interact with autistic individuals, work that can quite literally change outcomes and save lives. Kelly brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience to everything she does, and her commitment to building a more understanding and inclusive community is evident in every conversation. She is also the partner of Rob Gorski, founder of The Autism Dad, and has been a steady, grounding presence behind the scenes of the podcast for the last three years.
About Rob Gorski
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.
What You Will Hear in This Episode
• Kelly's law enforcement and first responder autism training through the Autism Society of Greater Akron
• How Rob and Kelly met and why the story involves a very ambiguous dinner invite
• How two introverts who both overthink navigate a relationship with zero arguments so far
• What it actually looks like to protect a relationship when autism parenting demands everything
• Why date nights do not have to mean going out to count
• Rob's first book announcement: coming early 2027
• What is coming in Season 9, including the Seen and Heard series
Resources Mentioned
• Autism Society of Greater Akron: autismsocietyofgreaterakron.org
• VizyPlan: vizyplan.com/app -- use code theautismdad for your first month free
• Rob's book: Your Child Was Just Diagnosed with Autism -- preorder link coming soon
• Seen and Heard series: launching after this episode at listen.theautismdad.com
This Episode Is Brought to You By
If your mornings feel like a battle before the day even starts, I want to tell you about something that is genuinely changing that for families in our community. It is called VizyPlan, and it was built by a dad who gets it. The app uses AI to create visual routines with images of your actual child doing each step. Not stock photos. Not generic pictures. Your kid. Your home. Your routine. And it goes way beyond mornings. Calming tools, social stories, and advocacy support all in one place. A real autism playbook for life after diagnosis. Your family's photos and information stay private and protected. VizyPlan was built with that in mind from day one. When your child can see their day before they live it, everything shifts. Visit VizyPlan.com/app earn more and download the app. Use the code theautismdad to get your first month free. See your day.
Find the Show
The Autism Dad Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and at listen.theautismdad.com. You can find Rob at theautismdad.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @theautismdad