Navigating Autism with Kailee: Advocating Without Apology and Our Family’s Dental Visit Story | E65

Hey, What’s Up! It’s Tommy. Today I brought my favorite co-host back on the mic, my wife Kailee. We talk about the real stuff, like why our non-speaking autistic son, Wyatt, needs anesthesia for dental work, what recovery looks like at home, and how we advocate for simple accommodations that make tough days doable. We share waiting room wins, a funny fudgesicle start, the time-change chaos, and what helped when Wyatt hit a rough patch afterward. We also cover our current support stack, like Camu Camu for vitamin C and electrolytes, and adding omega-3s again. If you are staring down a dental cleaning under anesthesia, I want you to hear this. You are not alone, and you can ask for what your child needs without apology. We wrap with a quick teaser for next week’s holiday prep chat.

Key Takeaways

• Dental cleanings under anesthesia can be necessary for autistic kids. Plan for it, and give yourself grace.
• Advocate early. Ask for a private waiting room, a later or quieter slot, and skip unhelpful “pre-consults” when they add stress.
• Recovery can be bumpy. Irritability, distance, sleep changes, and OCD-like behaviors may show up for a bit.
• Prepare for waits. Bring backup clothes, wipes, and a calm plan for bathroom breaks.
• Simple supports can help. We used camu camu for vitamin C, added electrolytes, and are restarting omega-3s.
• Hold your ground kindly. The medical team provides a service. Clear requests make the day better for everyone.
• Moms carry a lot. Dads do too in different ways. Offer each other grace, tag in, tag out, and keep talking.

If this helped, share it with a parent who needs encouragement. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com for more episodes and resources. Got questions or want us to cover something specific in the holiday series? Email me anytime at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com. Find more at spectrumincamouflage.com.

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Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families. If you have questions, ideas, or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.