WPFP4: Leaning on Faith and Dancing, with Single Mom Gladys Richter
In this episode
Gladys Richter openly shares what her son, who happens to be non-verbal living with autism, has taught her about the beauty of human connection, hard work, and faith. Gladys is a single mother of two boys who moved to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico. When her son Gaby was first diagnosed, she thought he had a disease. As she began to adjust to life turned upside down, she discovered he had deep and majestic lessons to offer. Today, Gladys is working to educate others in her community about autism to empower parents and diminish stigma.
What You’ll Learn
How a parent communicates with a child who is non-verbal
How Gladys adjusted her career to accommodate for her son’s needs – and crushed it
Tips on choosing the right services and becoming an effective advocate
What helped Gladys shift from anger and despair to gratitude and optimism
How to really listen when people tell you hard things
How Gladys blows off steam and remains strong as a single mom
Resources Mentioned
Based in Rhode Island, The Autism Project is a collaboration of parents, professionals and community members who provide quality support, training, and programming for children and adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families and those who work with them.