FORT LAUDERDALE – Military life can be both stabilizing and challenging for families raising a child with autism.
While the structure and predictability of service routines can offer comfort, frequent relocations, deployments and changing support systems can disrupt the consistency many children with autism rely on to feel safe and regulated. For parents, it becomes a constant balancing act between meeting the demands of military service and advocating for their child’s developmental, educational and emotional needs.
It is a journey retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jaime B. Parent and his wife, Elizabeth “Tracy” Parent, navigated firsthand. Their new book shows families how to do the same.
“We got a lot of help when Bryan was first diagnosed in 1988,” Jaime recalled. “So much so that my wife, Tracy, changed careers and became a special educator to pay it forward after learning from the compassionate professionals who worked with our son. We made a pact that when it was our turn to help other families, we would remember how we struggled and dedicate ourselves to supporting young families the way we were supported a long time ago.”
In their new book, “The Mission at Home: Navigating Military Assignments, TRICARE, Education, Benefits, and Everyday Life with Your Child on the Autism Spectrum,” Jaime and Tracy draw from decades of experience as parents, military family members and professionals to offer clarity and compassion for families navigating autism amid the unique demands of military life.
Their insights blend practical strategies with empathy, helping readers manage healthcare, education, benefits and transitions during service and beyond.
“Even when services technically exist, waitlists, eligibility differences between states, and gaps between military and civilian systems can leave families feeling like they’re always starting over,” Tracy said. “The emotional labor of this repetition – on top of the everyday demands of military life – can be exhausting.”
“The Mission at Home” goes beyond school and healthcare concerns and provides guidance to help families:
- Ease transitions for children with autism after a military move
- Manage a military career with a child with autism or another disability
- Plan for school transitions and advocate effectively for their child
- Navigate TRICARE, EFMP and other military programs with confidence
- Develop a long-term financial strategy
- Prepare for life after service, including housing and employment options
- Reduce stress and strengthen family resilience through proven tools
“Autism requires lifelong work and strategies,” Jaime said. “Your mission at home matters as much as the one in uniform.”
