The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenge has been learning publicly while navigating burnout, motherhood and neurodivergence all at once.
Starting a business alone means wearing every hat:
- strategist
- creator
- marketer
- coach
- administrator
- tech support
And doing it all while managing meltdowns, sleep regressions, personal sensory overwhelm and the weight of advocacy can feel intense.
I’ve also had to work through deep conditioning – the belief that I “should” be able to cope without support, or that needing rest makes me less capable. Unpacking that has been life-changing.
Another challenge has been unlearning the outdated ideas I was taught early in my career and choosing a path that aligns with the Autistic community, not with traditional compliance-based systems. That meant letting go of roles and expectations that no longer fit and carving out something new. But the reward has been immense: a business grounded in authenticity, attunement and true impact.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Pros:
- Freedom & Flexibility – I can parent the way I want to parent, honour my neurodivergence and build work around real life.
- Deep Purpose – My hyperfocus, lived experience and professional training come together in a way that finally makes sense.
- True Impact – I get to support families directly, in ways that create immediate relief and long-term change.
- Alignment – My values guide everything: connection over compliance, attunement over control, unrushed moments over busy days I forget to remember
Cons
- Wearing every hat – in the early stages, this can be exhausting.
- Learning curves – tech, marketing, and content creation take time and energy.
- Emotional labour – supporting families navigating intense situations requires careful boundaries and self-care.
- No guaranteed income – entrepreneurship demands resilience, creativity, and hope in the very early days.
But every challenge has been worth it. I’ve created a business that honours my neurotype, centres lived experience and supports families in ways the system simply doesn’t.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My vision is simple and powerful:
I want to see families who once felt overwhelmed, confused or isolated become confident, connected, attuned and deeply empowered.
Five years from now, I want the parents I’ve supported to say:
- “We understand our child now”.
- “We no longer live in survival mode”.
- “Our home feels calmer, safer and more connected”.
- “We finally have direction – without shame, guilt or fear”.
- “We live by our values and they are meaningful – parenting feels good again“.
I want to help shift the entire cultural narrative around Autism and PDA – away from control, punishment and “fixing”, and toward connection, safety and understanding neurological differences.
A big part of my mission moving forward is growing the Raising PDA Community – an accessible online space where families around the world can receive real-time support, practical tools and compassionate connection without waiting months or years for help.
I’m also building a growing library of resources, free education and accessible coaching options, because every family deserves support – not just the ones who can afford private therapy or navigate complex systems.
This work is deeply human. And I’m committed to it for the long haul.
Visit chantalhewitt.com to find out more and check out her podcast. You can also connect with her on Instagram.
