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Coffee With CaregiversAuthor: Jessica E Ronne
Join Jess Ronne, author, speaker, and caregiver advocate as she chats with caregivers about the joys and trials of raising a child with disabilities. Jess is also the founder of The Lucas Project, a non-profit which provides recognition & resources for special needs families & associate director of the Unseen film. She & her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, including their disabled son Lucas. Her story of beauty from ashes is detailed in her four books. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com Language: en Genres: Kids & Family, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Not What I Expected: Navigating Grief, Hope, and Autism With Ashley Jones
Episode 67
Saturday, 21 March, 2026
In this heartfelt episode of Coffee With Caregivers, host Jess Ronnie sits down with author and homeschooling mom Ashley Jones, who shares her raw and honest journey raising her seven-year-old son Gordon, who was diagnosed with autism and childhood apraxia of speech. Ashley opens up about the early signs she didn't recognize, the years of navigating therapies, meltdowns, and isolation, and the grief cycle that so many parents of children with special needs quietly live through — from denial and anger to bargaining and, slowly, acceptance.Ashley and Jess explore what it really means to hold two truths at once: loving your child completely while also grieving the life you imagined for them. From sensory challenges and avoidant eating to the unexpected gift of a mini farm full of goats, chickens, and one very content rabbit, Ashley's story is both deeply relatable and wonderfully specific. Her reflections on therapy, the value of the PCIT program, and learning to navigate the unsolicited opinions of those who mean well but don't truly get it will resonate with any caregiver who has ever felt utterly alone — and found their way through anyway.To connect with Ashley, visit her website at ashleyljones.com or follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @AshleyLJonesAuthor.
