Being A Special Needs Dad Of A Nonverbal Autistic Child with John Fela

Becoming Parents Podcast
December 2025

On the Becoming Parents Podcast, John Fela, father of a child with a disability (autism/nonverbal), discusses challenges with the labor and birth process as well as expectations vs reality both parents faced after their son was born.

Following birth, there were choices that had to be made for their child’s care, who was a preemie and experienced constant failure to thrive.

John discusses their journey of wrestling with opinions of family/doctors, navigating early stages of his child’s diagnosis, questions and dilemmas he and his wife faced as parents, and opinions of doctors and specialists as to the best protocols or treatments.

John Fela is a national disability advocate, does a variety of speaking at conferences, podcasts, blogging, and has a personal memoir of his journey.