51: I believe you: Trusting yourself and parenting differently with Jessica Otter

What happens when you know something is different, but the people around you keep telling you not to worry?

In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Jessica Otter, the autistic mum behind Aussie Autism Family and Social Spoons.

Jess shares the early years of wondering whether her son was autistic, being told to “wait and see”, and how hard it was when professionals and family members dismissed what she was noticing.

She also opens up about recognising her own neurodivergence, being assessed as autistic in 2024, and how understanding herself gave her permission to parent differently, lowering demands, supporting sensory needs and letting go of some of the rules around what family life is “supposed” to look like.

Together, Jess and Laetitia talk about trusting yourself, finding community, building work around your energy and creating a family life that works for the people actually living it.

✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 7 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇

🧠 Trust yourself when something feels different

🧠 Why “wait and see” can be so hard for families

🧠 Finding permission to parent differently

🧠 Lowering demands can support the whole family

🧠 Why flexibility matters for neurodivergent families

🧠 Finding work that fits your energy, not the other way around

🧠 The power of finding people who understand

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ABOUT THE GUEST 👇

Jessica Otter (she/her) is an autistic mum of two near Newcastle and the person behind Aussie Autism Family, an online community she created after searching for other Australian families like hers.

After supporting her son through his autism assessment, Jess began wondering about her own neurodivergence and was assessed as autistic in 2024. Sharing her family’s experiences online has helped her build the community she was looking for in those early years.

Jess also runs Social Spoons, a social media management business built around energy and flexibility. As she puts it: “Support that doesn’t account for your energy isn’t really support at all.”

In August 2026, Jess joined the What Families Actually Want from Professionals panel at the (Un)Conference, chaired by Laetitia.

📸 Instagram: @aussieautismfamily | @social.spoons

ABOUT THE HOST 👇

Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.

She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.

Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.

Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.