There is a delicacy to it. There’s fear, there’s worry, there’s guilt, there’s shame. There are so many emotions that come with this. There is a sense of compassion, but also the need to hold that space and validate any and all feelings that are coming up for that family.

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This is *Practitioner Perspectives in Autism Care*, a Neurosage Hub podcast. Building hope, walking together.

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Welcome to the Neurosage Hub Podcast. I’m Justin Barton, happy to be back with you. I’m here again with Ashley Tamayo and excited to sit down and talk with her. Ashley, why don’t you take a minute and introduce yourself for those who this may be their first time listening to us.

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Thank you, Justin. I appreciate that. Hello everybody. My name is Ashley. I am a licensed clinical social worker supervisor. I am a practitioner and a parent myself. Right now, I have the opportunity to blend my background in social work and clinical psychology with the curriculum and innovation team at Neurosage Hub.

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Thank you for being here and being willing to walk through these questions. Today we’re jumping into a topic that is really important for both practitioners and parents, especially for those on the receiving end.

So here’s the question: How can practitioners go about informing parents that their child may be autistic?

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This is a challenging response because there is a delicacy to it. There is a sense of compassion and really just taking yourself as a practitioner out of it and being present with what is being delivered.

First and foremost, you have to be educated with what you’re stating to an individual. As practitioners, we can sometimes find ourselves down a rabbit hole of information that is incorrect or outdated. You have to stay current with the facts, research, and evidence that are out there.

It can be detrimental and harmful to share false information with a vulnerable family. So you have to be clear, and you have to be educated on the information you are delivering.

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How does one go about being clear and stating the facts while also being compassionate? How do you approach that?

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It’s very important. Sometimes you have to take off that practitioner hat because medical terminology and jargon are not helpful. You’re not writing a thesis. You’re speaking to a family. You’re speaking to humans.

You also have to understand how that information is received. Because of stigma and what may already be understood in the community, this can land with fear, worry, guilt, and shame. There are so many emotions that come with this.

So it’s about finding that balance, being educated and clear, while also holding space with compassion. It’s a finesse, but it’s very important if you’re going to do this work.

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You mentioned guilt from a parent’s perspective. I shared earlier that my daughter was about 10 before we realized something needed to be looked at, and there was a lot of guilt there. We saw it, but didn’t recognize it as anything more than just her being quirky.

How do you communicate in a way that helps parents feel less guilt?

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It’s difficult because we can only control ourselves. But as professionals, we want to be a safe space. We want to provide a sense of community and help families understand they are not alone in this journey.

Sometimes in that initial moment, you’re not going to accomplish everything. And as a practitioner, you have to be okay with that. You may not receive gratitude or appreciation when sharing something so vulnerable and serious.

It’s about not personalizing that response. It’s about helping families understand there is a community and that they are not alone.

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What families really need in that moment is not for the provider to personalize what happens when the information is delivered. What is needed is to share what has been observed, offer information and support, and validate any and all feelings that come up.

No feeling is false. No feeling is incorrect. No feeling is without value.

Sometimes we also have to sit with silence. Practitioners don’t need to fill every moment with words. It’s about holding space for a family experiencing very raw and real emotion.

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That’s really valuable advice. You also mentioned sharing resources when the family is ready. That’s something we aim to support at Neurosage Hub, providing a place where practitioners and families can access community and resources.

Do you have any additional thoughts?

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Neurosage Hub is a platform to help educate and support. We want practitioners and families to feel like they have the tools they need. Whether we’re filling in gaps or complementing what’s already in place, the goal is to provide personalized and intentional support and care.

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I love that. One of the taglines of Neurosage Hub is that the platform organizes access, and practitioners deliver the care. We’re not replacing practitioners, just supporting access to resources.

Before we wrap up, any final thoughts?

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Practitioners should find the balance between being educational and informative while also remembering they are sitting across from another human. This is a sensitive moment and deserves to be handled with compassion, warmth, and empathy.

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Thank you, Ashley, for sharing that with warmth, empathy, and professionalism. I know this will help many people approach this conversation differently.

To everyone listening, thank you for joining us on the Neurosage Hub Podcast, where we build hope and walk together on a structured path forward for the autism journey.