Future Planning Episodes

What actually happens when your autistic child turns 18? For many families, this transition brings overwhelming questions about guardianship, SSI, financial planning and long-term independence. But what most parents don’t realize is that guardianship is not always required and in some cases, it may not be the best option. In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr speaks with special needs planning attorney Melissa Donovan to break down the real decisions families face as their child approache...

What happens to your child with autism when you’re no longer there to care for them? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a deeply personal and practical guide to future planning for children with autism especially those with higher support needs. After a moment that exposed how unprepared systems can be, Mike walks through a 9-step planning checklist designed to reduce fear, uncertainty and costly mistakes. You’ll learn: • Why getting on Medicaid waiver lists early can mean acces...

What happens to your child with autism when you’re no longer there to care for them? It’s one of the most difficult and most important questions parents face. In this episode, Mike Carr shares his personal journey as the father of a 36-year-old son with profound autism. From early fears to real-world planning, this episode lays the foundation for what families need to know about lifelong care. You’ll learn: Why planning not worrying is the key to protecting your child’s futureThe 5 essential ...

Raising a profoundly autistic child comes with some of the most difficult questions a parent can face, especially when school-based support ends and adulthood begins. In this episode, Mike Carr, founder of Autism Labs and father to a 36-year-old son with profound autism, shares the five most common fears families experience: loss of services after age 21, long Medicaid waiver waitlists, confusion around SSI and SSDI, guardianship decisions and lifelong care planning. But the conversation doesn’t...

For parents and caregivers of profoundly autistic adults, one of the hardest questions is often: Who will provide lifelong care when we can no longer do it ourselves? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr explores what families should look for when evaluating residential care for adults with profound autism and complex support needs. Drawing from his experience as a parent to a profoundly autistic adult and his work with J13, Mike examines residential programs through a family-centered lens....

What happens when a profoundly autistic person ages out of the school system? For many parents and caregivers, the transition to adulthood can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr begins a new series focused on autism transition planning, aging out of school services, independent living, communication, vocational skills, and adult services. Mike draws from his family's experience raising Michael, his profoundly autistic adult son, and shares practical lessons they've l...

What happens when a family depends on Medicaid to support a loved one with profound autism and that funding becomes uncertain? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr discusses autism funding options and financial planning strategies that families may want to understand as they prepare for adulthood and the transition out of school services. Drawing from his family's experience supporting his son with profound autism, Mike provides a high-level overview of several potential sources of support,...

Finding residential housing for a profoundly autistic adult can be one of the most difficult decisions a family faces. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares five practical lessons for parents and caregivers who are researching residential programs, respite care and long-term adult services for autistic adults with complex support needs. Drawing from his family's experience raising a profoundly autistic adult son and from visiting residential programs, Mike explains why families should...

Autism 1 in 31: What Does It Mean for Profound Autism Families? Autism prevalence has changed significantly over the past several decades, but what do those numbers mean for families living with profound autism and significant support needs? In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr examines the latest CDC autism prevalence data and reflects on his family's experience raising a son with profound autism. The CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network estimated that a...

Creating a Safe and Structured Home for Profound Autism For families supporting someone with profound autism, the home environment can play an important role in safety, communication, daily routines and independence. In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares real-world lessons from creating a safer and more structured home for his son, Michael. Mike begins with a frightening experience involving Michael's pica behavior and a chlorine tablet near the family pool. That incident reinforce...

AI is changing the world, but can it truly support families navigating severe and profound autism? In this episode, Mike Carr, father of a profoundly autistic adult son, tests four leading AI tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini. His mission is simple but critical: determine whether AI can help parents find real-world solutions for caregiving, adult transition planning, and high-support needs. What he discovers is both promising and concerning. While AI tools can quickly generate re...