Hi! I’m Jen Strait, the Founder and CEO of CAPE - Coaching Autism & Parental ​Empowerment. I’m a proud mama, wifey and a diehard BILLS fan.

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism the summer before she started ​kindergarten, I found myself searching for help, support, strategies, education, and answers. Almost ​a year in, I searched for the same help and support.

There are always places to call and people to reach out to. But I have found that not only is it difficult ​to get a human on the phone, but it’s even harder to jump through eligibility processes or wait out ​the waitlist.

What do we do in the meantime when these can take months, if not years?

My number one priority is and always will be her safety. I didn’t want to accept the bandaid answers ​like putting a GPS on her, or an ID bracelet, or a tether to myself. Sure, that may work in the interim, ​but I was determined to help give her the strategies and coping skills that would help her handle her ​emotions to avoid eloping (running away).

So I did everything I could to not only research, but to ensure her school setting would be the best ​environment for her both socially and academically. The dream team was formed and I could not be ​happier! Collaborating with the school team has been essential in my daughter’s progress, ​happiness, and success.

I continue to learn as much as I can from all the experts we are working with. From the special ​education teacher. The general education teacher. The speech therapist. The occupational ​therapist. The social worker. The psychologist. The behavior analyst. And we have jumped leaps ​and bounds.

Immersing myself in continuing education classes and courses has led me in becoming a Certified Parent Member, supporting an IEP team.

I know what that exhaustion feels like. I know what the frustration feels like. The “how am I ever ​going to have support to help my child when the system makes it so incredibly hard” feels like. The ​how can we do this another day feeling.

Determined to help parents or caregivers who support a child on the autism ​spectrum with everything I have learned and will continue to learn brings me incredible joy. Passion. Happiness.

That’s why I created CAPE. To support YOU with education, advocacy, resources, support and hopefully humor empowering you and your child! You are NOT alone!

Together. we win!