Ep. 143 – When Life Didn’t Let Up: Grief, Child Protective Services, and a Mother’s Fight to Hold it Together with Eugenia

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, host Rashidah speaks with Eugenia Woods, a mother, grandmother, and advocate from Long Island, New York, whose autism parenting journey was shaped by bullying, grief, homeschooling, and a difficult encounter with Child Protective Services.

After her son Juan received an autism diagnosis at age 9,Eugenia found herself fighting for his educational needs while navigating multiple personal and family challenges.

When the school system failed to provide the support he needed, she made the courageous decision to homeschool him for six years—despite facing scrutiny and resistance along the way.

Eugenia shares her story of resilience, advocacy, anddetermination, offering hope to parents who are fighting for their children while trying to hold themselves together.

 

In this episode, we discuss:

0:00 – Intro & welcome

0:50 – Being a parent of color in the autism space

2:20 – Stigma in Black & Brown communities

3:40 – Sensory tools & educating family

4:58 – Early signs at ages 2–3

6:05 – Juan's late diagnosis at age 9

6:40 – Fighting for a neuropsych eval

10:20 – Navigating IEP meetings

11:35 – Bias from school professionals

13:10 – Your right to record meetings

14:20 – Being dismissed as a Black mother

17:57 – CPS called by the school

18:41 – Going to court against the district

19:15 – When did the signs first appear?

23:20 – The pediatrician who actually listened

26:00 – School anxiety, regression & bullying

28:10 – "I'm sad and no one cares"

31:45 – CPS case resolved

32:50 – Homeschooling begins

34:41 – 6 years of homeschooling

38:00 – Finding resources at the library

41:33 – 18 rejections; Gersh Academy says yes

42:48 – Juan thrives; the teacher who changed everything

45:40 – Pursuing Juan's GED during COVID

47:13 – Waiting for the results

48:44 – He passed!

49:40 – Loss & grief during the pandemic

51:21 – Juan's suicidal ideation

53:20 – A mother's heartbreak

53:51 – Eugenia's COVID hospitalization & kidney failure

56:20 – "Mom, who will care for me when you'regone?"

57:15 – Healing through community & faith

59:40 – Juan's gift: tech skills & purpose

1:00:12 – Eugenia's liturgical dance ministry

1:02:20 – Laughing with Juan now

1:04:50 – Hiding her illness from her kids

1:07:10 – Give yourself 5 minutes

1:09:15 – Finding herself again at 50

1:10:30 – Becoming a grandmother

1:11:05 – First college grad in the family

1:14:31 – How to connect with Eugenia

1:15:10 – Eugenia's published book

1:17:00 – Women's empowerment organizations

1:18:27 – Emmy-winning play & acting work

1:19:20 – You can't tell God what you won't do

1:23:20 – What being a badass means to Eugenia

1:24:15 – Encouragement for struggling parents

1:25:35 – Outro

 

Connect with Eugenia:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/genias_gems

Facebook: Genia Lin

 

Connect with Autism for Badass Moms:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast

 

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