Happily Ever Autism

05/11/2025

Tonight, Ethan and I went to vote. 🧡
Every day I see his incredible strength, his joy, his desire to understand and his determination to be heard. Before we voted, we sat together with a sample ballot and talked about the issues — what they mean, who they affect, and why they matter. Then he made his own decision — because his voice counts just as much as anyone else’s.
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We voted for the people who stand up for resources and programs that support individuals like Ethan — especially as we see more and more of those supports being taken away.
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We voted for a future that values people of all abilities.
For programs that lift people with disabilities instead of cutting them down and out. For a future that listens to voices like his. Because his voice matters. His vote matters.
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And tonight, his presence reminded me that change begins when we refuse to let anyone be left out of the conversation.  As we left, with a hand on my heart,  I gave thanks that he has the ability to do this. He left saying that voting made him feel “incredible”.
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Not too bad for a simple Tuesday night. 😊

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28/10/2025

Feeling Grateful 💜⚽️

I just wanted to take a moment to give a huge thank you to Stacy Carpenter and the other amazing soccer moms! 📣📣📣

Since coming back from his college experience and being able to continue his volunteer work with the Barberton Athletic teams, Ethan just completed his 7th year assisting the team’s athletic trainer and helped with water for both the Barberton soccer and football teams, and recently some of the moms surprised him with a basket full of candy, a heartfelt thank-you note, and photos from the season with one of his fav players! 💜

It was such a thoughtful gesture that truly meant the world to both of us. Ethan has been welcomed, appreciated, and treated with such kindness and respect by this wonderful group of families. Seeing him included and valued in this way fills my heart with so much gratitude. 💕

Thank you all for recognizing him and for showing what true community looks like. Your kindness reminds me why I love this team and community and the people who make it so special.
🙏⚽️💜

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28/09/2025

✨Happy National Son’s Day to my angel on earth! ✨

Ethan, I looked up the definition of pure love and saw your name there. 🤗 Thank you for showing us how to just love and not judge. Your happiness and joy radiates and brings healing to anyone who crosses paths with you.

The world will tell you that you have disabilities, but oh contraire mon frere! I say you have different abilities and a special uniqueness of qualities that the world needs now more than ever. And boy oh boy, even in your silence, can people learn so much from you if they have the heart to feel it. 🧡

you are my sonshine…🎵🎵☀️
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14/09/2025

I found myself standing in tears—tears of fear, hope, and joy all at once that one day Ethan came home from school.

Ethan looked at me, confused and curious, asking, “Mom, why are you crying?” And in that moment, I couldn’t even explain. Because what had just happened was so much bigger than a simple action.

We’d been working for months on something that seems so small to most people: first learning HOW to use a key to unlock the door (that hand movement can be difficult for a child that has muscle weakness in their hands), to progressing to conversations of WHY and WHEN  to unlock the door. For Ethan, this was not small. It was a step toward independence, a test of trust, and a milestone that only a parent walking this unique road could truly understand.

As I stood hidden, watching him come home and face a locked door for the first time, every motherly instinct told me to open it. To rescue him. To spare him confusion. But I didn’t. I waited. I let him figure it out.

And then I heard it—knock, knock, knock.
I froze. My heart ached. Everything in me wanted to run and open that door. Again—knock, knock, knock. And then again, even louder. He was asking for help the only way he knew how, and I was just on the other side, silently crying, whispering to myself, “Don’t open it. Let him try.”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, came the sound I will never forget: the keys jingling. The lock turning. The door opening. And in he walked, smiling, as if it was no big deal.

But for me? It was everything.

That moment reminded me that progress doesn’t always come in leaps. Sometimes it comes in the quiet click of a door unlocking—or even in the knocking that comes before it. A reminder that hope is alive, growth is happening, and that independence, while scary, is possible.

Ethan may never realize the depth of what he accomplished yesterday. But I will never forget it.

✨ For him, it was normal.
✨ For me, it was a victory.
✨ For us, it was everything.

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🧡🧡 Note:  this post was a reflection from a day nine years ago, hoping you find inspiration in it to walk through any fear you may be facing with your child. ✨

08/05/2025

Making you happy makes me happy. ❤️ Happy Birthday E! 🎂🎈

04/05/2025

Hi 👋 for those that don’t know me…I'm Dr. Rebecca Delaney.

For over 20 years, I’ve been on this autism journey with my amazing son, Ethan, who is now 23. What started as advocating for him as a mom grew into a lifelong mission—personally and professionally—to support individuals and families in the autism community.

Ethan’s progress has been nothing short of incredible. Through functional medicine, targeted supplementation, and a deep focus on the gut-brain-immune system connection, I’ve watched him grow from being non-verbal to verbal—and so much more. Every step of the way, I’ve researched, learned, and applied what I could to help him thrive, including supporting him through two enriching years in non-degree college programs at Kent State and Bowling Green State University for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Professionally, I continue to educate and consult holistic and bio-medical modalities through Happily Ever Autism LLC. For the past three years, I also brought and spearheaded the Summer Youth Work Program for children with disabilities at my workplace, as well as mentor families through the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Works4Me program, helping them navigate employment options for individuals with disabilities.

I also engage in public speaking for the autism community, sharing Ethan’s story to offer hope, build bridges, and remind others that acceptance and faith will always go further than fear. Although parenting may not have turned out as we anticipated or expected, we can choose to bring happiness into our journey. There is so much possibility out there—and I’m here to help others see it too.

Happily Ever Autism 🧡

04/05/2025

Welcome to Our Page! 🧡

For those who are new here, Ethan and I want to say a big hello and thank you for joining us and being part of our journey!
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Our hope and prayer is that by sharing our experiences, we can educate, inspire, and empower others walking a similar path. From Ethan’s initial diagnosis and being completely nonverbal, to becoming verbal and thriving—including completing two years of collegiate-level education—his growth has been incredible.
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We’ve overcome many challenges and continue to seek new perspectives from different summits ⛰️ in life. By sharing Ethan’s story, we hope to be a source of support and encouragement to others.
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Yesterday, we were honored to be invited to speak again, this time at our city’s public school system and the county’s developmental disabilities organization's Transition Fair. It was a great day! As a bonus, we also got to stop by the venue’s gift shop and add another LeBron James bobblehead to Ethan’s collection.
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12/03/2025

As Ethan has gone through different stages and different ages, I always purposely and consciously looked for opportunities and experiences to help him continue to grow and develop further.  Below is an article I wrote from an experience I’ve had when he was in his early youth years, and as I read it and look back upon that time, it  remind me just how far he’s come.
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But at the time what seemed insurmountable became surmountable. Not only was it an opportunity for him to grow outside his own box, but it was also opportunities for me to grow outside my own box of fear and possibility for him.  We havFinding Cooper's Voiceneyed together, with me right beside him, growing along the way. It’s been such an evolving and learning journey for me.
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Finding Coopers Voice published the article below that I wrote, and I share it with you, to help any momma, father, or caregiver going through something similar. To give you hope where there is fear, love where there is sadness, and possibilty where there seems impossiblity.  I had to walk through my own fear sometimes to help my son grow. So,  keep going and keep growing! 🧡xoxo


https://www.findingcoopersvoice.com/2018/03/11/releasing-my-doubts-and-fears/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3jdDW6dSSJchloBqCSB7sS9wTRRqM06uP3Hvjpj5ARm-OxVrU8SL141ZU_aem_Up3odR9fP4CzmquA3Ax_jQ&deeplink_ref_surface=instagram_direct&direct_share_include_copy=1&fb_entity_type=unknown

I know that these are my fears, not his. Fears that I know all mothers can relate to, but especially those mothers of autistic children.