Seeing the Child, Not the Diagnosis with Jenn Bailey

What does it look like when a parent stops fighting the diagnosis and starts seeing the child more clearly?

In this episode of The Autism Roundtable, Leah Gross speaks with children’s author Jenn Bailey about parenting, perspective shifts, sensory overload, inclusion, and how stories can help children better understand themselves and each other.

Leah Gross welcomes author Jenn Bailey for a thoughtful conversation about autism, parenting, and the power of literature to foster empathy. Jenn shares her family’s experience navigating her child’s diagnosis, the supports that made a difference, and the mindset changes that helped her parent with more understanding. She explains how that journey inspired her to create books centered around Henry, a child whose perspective opens a window into the inner world of kids who may experience friendship, school, and sensory input differently. Together, Leah and Jenn explore inclusion, introversion, regulation, curiosity, and the importance of seeing each child as a whole person.

About The Guest:

Jenn Bailey is a children’s author and mother of three whose work has brought meaningful representation of autism into children’s literature. Inspired by her own family’s journey, she wrote A Friend for Henry, which went on to receive recognition from the American Library Association’s Schneider Family Book Award. She has since expanded Henry’s story into an early reader series designed to support both autistic and neurotypical children through thoughtful, accessible storytelling.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Jenn’s Personal Journey into Autism

02:30 The Diagnosis & What Changed

04:15 Parenting Shift: Seeing the Child Differently

06:10 Emotional Overload & The “Cup” Analogy

10:15 Where Frustration Turns Into Understanding

18:20 Helping Neurotypical Kids Build Empathy

22:00 Supporting Regulation & Emotional Needs

24:00 Jenn’s Message to Parents

Ready to better understand the inner world of autistic children and the power of empathy-centered parenting?

Tune in to the full episode for valuable insights.