There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to supporting autistic people and their families.

I’m Nicole Hood. I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst Ⓡ, I have a Master of education in Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of science in psychology from Brigham Young University. I have been around neurodivergent people my whole life, some formally diagnosed, some not. I have cousins and a nephew on the Autism spectrum who were my introduction to Behavior analysis. I spent 4 years working with autistic children in clinical and educational settings prior to founding the Autism Resource Network. 

As I spent more and more time learning about and serving this community, it became apparent to me that while lots of help exists, most parents don’t know where to go or how to even start getting support for their children. I also realized that most families whose children were diagnosed are typically handed a list of ABA providers without a conversation about the specific supports their child would need or if ABA was right for them. I encountered dozens of families during my time in private practice for whom ABA wasn’t the right fit, but the parents had felt pushed down that path without being provided any alternatives or education.

While on leave following the birth of my second child in 2024, a close friend of mine called asking for help because their pediatrician had recommended her daughter get diagnosed with ASD, and she was handed that list of potential diagnosticians without any further information.  We spent over an hour discussing the diagnosis process, what to look for in potential therapists, and what to expect as they began this journey with their little girl. I realized how little there is for the adults making these decisions early on in an autistic person’s life to help them make meaningful, informed choices for the child’s long-term quality of life. I knew that with my education and professional background I could begin to bridge that gap for these families, and thus the idea for the ARN was born!

I want to empower parents and caregivers to make the best decisions for their own children. You know your child better than any therapist ever will, and your values may not always align with what the therapist or teacher is telling you that you “have to do”. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to supporting autistic people and their families. By providing educational resources, connection to services and community, and individualized caregiver training, my hope is that every family who has received an ASD diagnosis for their child will be able to make the right decisions for themselves and feel empowered in setting their child up for long-term success, however that looks for each unique situation.