Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Haithcock.
Hi Monique, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
On February 17, 2014, my son Cameron received a diagnosis of severe autism. While this day didn’t change who he is, it transformed me in the most profound way. When a parent receives a diagnosis on their child, our life changes instantly, leaving us with little to no support or guidance for parents new to autism.
After my son received his diagnosis, I went through a period of eight years feeling overwhelmed and depressed. I realized I needed to rediscover what brought me joy and strength. Eventually, I found happiness in movement and giving back to my community. Helping others became my source of fulfillment, healing and purpose.
From the challenges we faced throughout this journey, I felt passionate about providing support for parents new to autism. I realized parents need support from day one. After spending 14 years in the corporate world supporting the IT industry, I made the leap to transition to a role where I could provide parent support, equipping them with autism resources while sharing self-care strategies.
During COVID, I embarked on this new chapter of my life, where I left my corporate America 9-5 job to focus on my son’s needs, our family, my health all while receiving a scholarship to become an Integrative Wellness and Life Coach, primarily for neurodivergent families.
Today, my mission is to empower parents with the support, resources, and self-care tools essential for leading balanced and fulfilling lives. This mission built, The Autism Guide, LLC.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Where do I start? There are so many challenges along the way we experience as parents raising autistic children. The journey following a diagnosis is overwhelming, followed by big emotions like grief, guilt, and uncertainty about my son’s future. Our family faced:
Lack of guidance, resources and parent support
The financial strain of buying a home before we were ready, while paying out-of-pocket for therapies and interventions, and covering unexpected medical bills, it took a toll on both our finances and marriage.
Feeling isolation, we come to realize we can only share our struggles and challenges with certain people who truly understand our daily lives.
Advocating for my sons’ needs is still a constant battle across various systems, from education to healthcare, requiring relentless effort to secure the support and accommodations he deserves.
And the day-to-day challenges of parenting an nonspeaking autistic child (now teen) —communication barriers, sensory needs or moments of dysregulation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
At The Autism Guide, we offer complete parent support that covers everything from the initial diagnosis to maintaining family wellness. We provide personalized guidance and strategies, incorporating Integrative Wellness and Life Coaching to ensure parents feel equipped, from day one.
PARENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Parent Support Workshop Series: A five-week online workshop covering the next steps after receiving a diagnosis for your child.
Personalized Strategy and Mentoring Sessions: Benefit from tailored support through monthly sessions for check-ins, action planning, and strategic supportive discussions.
Workshops: Delve into a range of topics, including early childhood support, school-related challenges, AAC and communication strategies, financial wellness, transitional support, family wellness, and beyond.
CONSULTING SERVICES
We offer consulting services to service providers and non-profit organizations, delivering strategic parent feedback on parent resources and experiences, business development, process improvements, and enhancements to community and parent programs.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Giving back to the community has been a significant contributor to my success, fostering a sense of purpose, community engagement, and a positive impact. I’m also relentless in pursuit of my goals. If one door closes, I’ll knock on another until I find the right opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheAutismGuide.Org
- Instagram:@theautismguide & @wellness.withmo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhaithcock/
Image Credits
Monique Chavez @lostincheeto
