Dedicated Mother

Grand Rising,

I am a Dedicated Mother, a fierce advocate that fights for families who are neurodivergent and involved with the child welfare system. I am working to make changes within the system and as a single, black mother of two children who are special needs. I share my experience and story to empower other neurodivergent families and those with mental health to not give up and to keep being themselves. Know that you are loved by God and by me as well. Which is why I'm working on a system rap album that shapes my resilience pushing through the child welfare system and being an autistic mother as well. Autism is real and I'm asking professionals and readers to educate themselves on how to treat neurodivergent families and how to communicate with them effectively without cultural bias.

My new single "Hear US!! Drops next Friday (October 3rd at 12amCST on all streaming platforms) I cannot wait for everyone to hear it and thank you for your amazing feedback.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

The intersection between child welfare involvement and autism is rarely discussed, yet deeply important. Families like mine, who live at this crossroads, often experience systems that misunderstand us, mislabel us, and misinterpret our realities. Being an autistic parent raising autistic children while navigating Child Protective Services (CPS) has taught me firsthand how much work still needs to be done to educate professionals, dismantle biases, and create a system that truly supports families instead of tearing them apart.

Intersectionality means recognizing how overlapping identities—such as race, disability, gender, and class—shape people’s experiences within systems of power. For me, being a Black autistic mother raising Black autistic children has created a unique set of challenges when dealing with CPS. Each identity carries stereotypes, and when those stereotypes combine, they often lead to increased surveillance, harsher judgments, and fewer supports. This is the reality that many neurodivergent families of color live through, though it is rarely acknowledged.

One of the most difficult aspects of child welfare is how autism is misunderstood. Too often, professionals are not trained to recognize what autism looks like in children of color or in adults. For example, my children’s sensory meltdowns or difficulty with transitions may be seen as “bad behavior” instead of what they really are: a communication of distress and a need for support. My own differences in communication, body language, or emotional expression as an autistic mother can also be misinterpreted as uncooperative, unfit, or disengaged. Instead of being asked, “What supports would help you and your children thrive?” the assumption becomes, “You are not doing enough.”

Documentation becomes another trap. When I honestly write about struggles in visitations, hoping to show my commitment to transparency and growth, those words are sometimes twisted into evidence that I cannot manage my children. Honesty is framed as negativity. Struggles are framed as failures. Yet no parenting handbook exists—there is no perfect parent, and there are no perfect children. Parenting autistic children requires patience, structure, flexibility, and community support. It also requires grace, something CPS rarely extends to parents who already sit at the intersection of disability and racial bias.

To educate readers, it is important to emphasize that neurodivergent families need to be seen in context, not comparison. Comparing an autistic child’s behaviors to those of a neurotypical child is unfair and harmful. Comparing an autistic parent’s communication style to an assumed “ideal” neurotypical parent is also unjust. Instead, professionals and community members must learn to meet families where they are and view challenges through a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming lens.

So how can systems and individuals do better? First, education and training are essential. CPS workers, guardians ad litem, foster parents, and service providers need consistent training on autism and intersectionality. They must learn how autism presents differently across cultures, genders, and ages, and how to separate trauma responses from disability traits. For example, a Black autistic boy who shuts down in class may not be “defiant”—he may be overwhelmed by sensory input and trauma. A Black autistic mother who takes longer to process information is not “lying” or “unfit”—she may need time to regulate before responding.

Second, professionals must shift from judgment to collaboration. Instead of writing reports that only highlight negatives, there must be equal focus on progress, strengths, and resilience. Families like mine are resilient not because the system saved us, but because we learned how to survive it. We need caseworkers and guardians to see us as partners, not problems.

Third, language matters. Professionals must be mindful of how they speak to and about neurodivergent families. Asking questions with curiosity instead of accusation, offering resources instead of ultimatums, and recognizing cultural strengths can change the dynamic completely. For example, instead of saying, “You don’t discipline your children enough,” a better approach is, “What calming strategies work best for your children, and how can we support those at school or visits?” That small shift turns blame into support.

Finally, accountability must exist within child welfare. Too many families have been fractured due to misunderstandings, biases, and failures to provide appropriate accommodations. CPS must be held accountable to the laws that already exist under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure that autistic parents and children receive accommodations and supports. My family’s story should not have to repeat itself for others.

At the heart of intersectionality between child welfare and autism is a simple truth: families are human. We are not case numbers, not stereotypes, and not deficits. We are people doing our best in a world that often misunderstands us. For me, being autistic does not make me a bad mother. It makes me a mother who loves differently, thinks differently, and parents differently—and that difference should be valued, not punished. My children are not broken, misbehaved, or too much. They are autistic boys full of energy, love, and potential.

To anyone reading this essay who works in child welfare, I ask you to pause before judgment. Ask questions with compassion. See families with nuance. And most of all, extend grace. Parenting is hard for everyone, but parenting while autistic, Black, and under CPS involvement comes with an extra weight. That weight does not need to be made heavier by the very systems that claim to help.

My lived expertise is not just a testimony of pain—it is also a testimony of resilience. Families like mine can thrive when given respect, support, and understanding. Intersectionality shows us that child welfare must evolve to meet the needs of diverse families, not force families into narrow molds. The future can be different if we choose to listen, learn, and act with empathy.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

Hear US! Track #9 drops October 3rd at 12amCST. I am excited for this one ❤️

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1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

I have a new email address for any music questions. You can ask them at dedicatedmother3325@gmail.com

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

Heavy is finally Out!! So Manipulated Track #6 and Hear Us #9 will be the next two Singles!! But I will have to push out the date in order to memorize them both. Track #9 Hear Us drops October 3rd at 12amCST. Manipulated drops late December. Stay tuned for more.

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

Surprise!! I am dropping two singles in Late August, early September. I have been doing sneak peaks of Heavy which is track #6 and I feel Manipulated needs to be added to my upcoming album. Since Manipulated was just created, I felt like it was a part of me surviving through the system and staying motivated or uplifting for my family and for others. Survivors of the System is Part 2 leading off from the negative experience I dealt with CPS, Part 1 was called Story of A Broken System. And being manipulated was how it all began with me, my whole life. I am thankful to be sharing my journey with you all and am excited for this. These songs are definitely the ones you don't want to miss. Our stories are written, but they're not over yet. Power to the people!!

Stay tuned!!

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3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

Coming sometime this year. Stay Tuned. Oppression drops this Friday!!

4 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

Next Album: Survivors of the System is coming.

Us Survivors are still here fighting and our stories are not over yet. I hope this one will encourage other mothers and fathers not to give up. Our babies need us.

Stay tuned for more.

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

My new single Dedicated Mother is now out on Spotify!! I am in the works of a system rap album. I cannot wait for this new chapter and as I seek strength and wisdom through God. I would like to take time to process everything and get everything ready for my new era to be an uplifting singer after all of this. God is good all the time and it's time I listen to what he is telling me. I can no longer be selfish to my Father upstairs. I hope everyone had a blessed Easter.

6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Dedicated Mother

God Sees Me EP comes out January 1st, 2025 @ 12amCST. I will be taking a break after these three new songs!! I need to focus on my babies before I can even consider trying to achieve a music career. Seem to Let Go drops November 22nd at 12amCST.

Nobody but GOD!!!

11 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1