From being unable to say the word "autism" aloud to embracing the term "severe autism," James Gutman shares his transformative seven-year journey with his son Lucas in this heartfelt episode. He recalls a pivotal moment when someone referred to his non-verbal son's condition as "the real autism," triggering both offense and reflection about how we label and understand neurodiversity.

James takes us through his evolution as a father and writer, revealing how his blog "Hi Blog, I'm Dad" (launched in 2017) chronicles their journey from fear to appreciation. He describes the early days of struggling to explain his son's silence to strangers, followed by years of growth that changed his perspective entirely. Rather than defending against pity or judgment, James now focuses on celebrating Lucas's unique way of experiencing the world—from the gentle finger games he plays with his sister to the fascinating way he studies his own hand in the sunlight.

The episode offers rare insight into parenting a child with severe autism, balancing the clinical realities with moments of pure joy. James reflects on how Lucas brings him happiness even during challenging moments, and how his son's unfiltered emotions have taught him to live more authentically. With his book "Hi World I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation" launching soon, James invites listeners to understand that while labels serve their purpose, they never tell the complete story. Pre-order his book now on Amazon to join him on this continuing journey of discovery and appreciation.

Preorder James Guttman’s new book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation”

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Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.