The Circle Gets Smaller, Until We Build Something New

Hey family, it’s Michael, back again with a Tuesday message.

When Christian was first diagnosed, I remember how quickly the world shifted.

So many questions, so few clear answers. So much advice, but little that felt truly relevant. And everywhere I turned, it felt like someone wanted to sell me something, or recruit me.

That’s when I started asking myself:

Where are the voices that actually understand this journey?

Not just the therapy world, though that’s part of it. But the coaches who help parents breathe again. The tech founders creating apps our kids can actually benefit from. The professionals who serve with purpose and know what it means to walk this road.

And honestly, back then, I couldn’t find them.

That’s part of what led to create The Autism Voyage® in the first place.

1. We launched the blog because everything we read was outdated, written years ago, and not by people like us.

2. We launched the newsletter to connect with families directly, without noise, without fluff.

3. We incorporated into financial services because most people only saw our families and kids as numbers, not futures to protect.

And somewhere in the middle of building all that… Our circle stayed small. Too small.

So when other parents started asking me,

• “Do you know someone who does X?”

• “Is there a platform that helps with Y?”

I found myself saying no far too often.

Not because those people didn’t exist.

But because we weren’t connected yet.

That’s where the idea for The Special Needs Collective was born.

And before you ask, no!, there aren’t hundreds of listings (yet). That’s intentional. We don’t believe in launching big. We believe in letting the right things grow. This is built from the ground up, one trusted connection at a time.

A trusted directory, not built overnight, but shaped by experience.

A place where parents can discover purposeful professionals.

A space for coaches, founders, mentors, and services who serve our families, outside of just clinical care.

Because not every parent is looking for therapy.

Sometimes they’re looking for a sense of direction.

📱A better app.

🧠A parenting coach.

📋 A guide who understands the emotional weight behind every IEP meeting and bedtime meltdown.

We’re starting small, but with purpose.
This isn’t about building big. It’s about building right.

P.S. Two simple things you can do:

👥 If you're a professional, coach, service provider, founder, nonprofit, or creative who serves this community in an online capacity, click here to learn more about being listed. You don’t need to have a huge brand. Just a real heart and real value.

📬 If you're a parent, keep an eye out. The Special Needs Collective is launching in the coming weeks. It’s made for you. No noise. Just resources you can trust.

This didn’t start as a business idea.
It started because our world got smaller, and we wanted to make it wide again.

Let’s grow this together.

With love,
Michael
Dad, Advocate, and Founder of The Autism Voyage®

Parent Tip of the Week:

Your family depends on your income. Here’s how to protect it.

Planning ahead is another way we love and protect our families.

I recently shared a carousel on LinkedIn about 5 Reasons to Prioritize Disability Income Insurance for Families with special needs. If you missed it, you can find it here:

It’s worth a read, and maybe a share with someone who might need it.

📢 Important Reminders

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