What happens when the child you’ve spent your life advocating for grows up?
Pam Minelli, of Jupiter, Florida, is the mother of a 28-year-old son with autism and the author of The Kindness of Strangers: Letting Go of My Son with Autism. Her family’s journey began decades ago, when autism was far less understood and getting the right diagnosis, education, and support often meant fighting to be heard.
Pam joins Erin to talk about raising her nonverbal son, Andrew, navigating schools and IEPs, finding community, and celebrating victories that other families might take for granted. She also opens up about one of the most difficult chapters of motherhood: preparing for Andrew to move into a group home, watching him thrive there, and discovering that knowing something is right for your child doesn’t necessarily make letting go any easier.
They also discuss the growing need for services for autistic adults, the realities families face when planning for lifelong support, and the lessons Andrew has taught Pam about patience, advocacy, and allowing someone you love to follow their own timeline.
It’s a candid conversation about autism beyond childhood, the complicated emotions of caregiving, and what it means to help your child build a life that can exist beyond your own.
Find more about Pam and her advocacy here.