Hi my friends, I'm Shannon.
I’m a mom and the founder of Not Your Average Autism Mom, Inc., a national nonprofit supporting families living alongside autism through education, coaching, and community.
I’m 56, and being “Mom” to two incredible young adults is the greatest joy of my life.
My son, Jordan, was diagnosed with autism at five and is now 29. He’s the heart behind everything I do — my greatest teacher and my daily reminder that progress looks different for every child.
My daughter, Maddie, 27, graduated college in 2021 with a major in Communications and a double minor in Sports and Business. She now serves as Associate Director of Athletics for External Relations at her alma mater. Watching her grow into the woman she is today — after growing up alongside autism — has been one of my proudest journeys as a mom.
Through the hard, the healing, and the hope — being their mom will always be my greatest accomplishment.
Dave - The Final Piece of Our Family Puzzle
Dave is my forever person — the calm to my chaos and the steady presence that grounds our family.
When he came into our lives, he knew nothing about autism. But he didn’t need to — he simply showed up, with an open heart and a willingness to learn.
He’s faced every challenge right alongside us, with patience, humor, and unconditional love. Over time, he became one of Jordan’s favorite people — and truly, one of mine too.
You’ll hear stories about Dave in the Membership and on the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast because he’s part of all of it — our adventures, our laughter, and even our lessons along the way.
He chose us. And together, we are home.
When Jordan was little, milestones came slowly — and some didn’t come at all.
I’ll never forget the day I got the phone call from his school. The one where they told me he couldn’t stay in his seat, that he was taking his clothes off, and that he’d need a harness on the “special bus.”
That moment broke something open in me.
Not because of the words themselves, but because it made me realize how different our path was going to be.
There was no one in my world who understood what we were going through.
No roadmap. No community.
Just me, trying to hold it all together while everything I’d imagined about motherhood was unraveling.
I was heartbroken. I was scared. And I had no idea where to turn.
I never spent time asking why Jordan had autism. Instead, I focused on how to make his life the best it could be.
When his father and I divorced after his diagnosis — which happens far too often in our community — I made a promise to myself and to him: that I would show up every single day, no matter how hard it was.
Those years were filled with challenges, but also with deep lessons in patience, advocacy, and love. Jordan taught me how to see progress differently, how to slow down, and how to celebrate what truly matters.
As I learned to navigate the system, I found my purpose. I became a Special Education Advocate and later a Certified Life and Parent Coach, spending more than a decade helping families find their voice in the world of special education.
In 2015, Jordan graduated with a special diploma — a milestone that will forever be one of my proudest moments. A year later, we moved from Florida to North Georgia when Maddie left for college. Jordan now attends an Adult Day Program where he continues to thrive with an incredible team who truly understands him.
Our life isn’t what I once planned, but it’s better in ways I never could’ve understood back then.
Support for Your Journey
There are endless therapies, programs, and services for your child — and in time, you’ll find the ones that fit best.
But this space, this is for you.
I’m not a therapist. I’m a coach, a mentor, and a mom who’s been exactly where you are. I know what it feels like to carry the weight of it all and still wonder if you’re doing enough.
Through Not Your Average Autism Mom, I help moms like you learn how to navigate the hard moments, protect their own peace, and find community with others who truly get it.
Our private membership is built around three things:
đź’¬ Coaching that helps you manage your mind and emotions so you can respond instead of react.
📚 Education that gives you clarity and confidence in your child’s educational journey.
🤝 Community that reminds you that you’re never walking this road alone.
Because becoming a Not Your Average Autism Mom isn’t about fixing your child — it’s about finding yourself again. It’s about learning to live a life that isn’t consumed by confusion, exhaustion, or feeling like you’re failing.
Here, you won’t just feel welcome — you’ll feel wanted.
We show up on the good days and the hard ones.
And together, we remind each other that we are, truly, better together.
The life you planned was never promised — but it’s still yours to love.