Ep. 134 - Finding Your People in the Middle of Autism with Julianna

About this episode

Julianna Scott shares her journey of navigating autism with her son and the importance of finding supportive friendships.

In this powerful and informative episode of Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidah sits down with Julianna Scott, a mom from San Jose and mother of two adult sons, one of whom is autistic. Julianna shares her journey of early diagnosis at just two years old—following prematurity, speech delays, and intense meltdowns—and what it looked like to navigate those early years. From diving deep into research to utilizing therapy and focusing on her son’s specific needs, she opens up about the reality behind advocating while still trying to understand it all. But this episode goes even deeper. Julianna reflects on the moment that changed everything—meeting her long-time friend Kelley Jensen in a gymnastics class. What started as a simple connection turned into a lifelong friendship rooted in honesty, humor, and zero judgment. Together, they built something bigger: the Refrigerator Moms Podcast and a resource-rich platform aimed at challenging outdated narratives and empowering parents to think critically. They also tackle the history and harm behind the “refrigerator mother” theory—reclaiming the narrative, unpacking guilt, and confronting misinformation that once blamed mothers for their…

People in this episode

Host: Rashidah Cartwright

Guest: Julianna Scott

Topics covered

• autism advocacy
• parenting
• friendship
• mental health
• support networks

Keywords

• autism
• parenting
• friendship
• advocacy
• mental health
• support
• Refrigerator Moms Podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Places: San Jose

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