Today we’d like to introduce you to Mamta Mishra.
Hi Mamta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I arrived in Cincinnati in May 1992 after marrying my husband, Pranav, who was training to become a physician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati quickly became dear to me, especially as it was where my elder son, Ankur, was born. Later, our family moved to Northport, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where my younger son, Parag, was born. We eventually settled in Gadsden, Alabama, choosing it as our home.
Our lives took a significant turn when Parag was diagnosed with autism at two years and seven months old. The news was devastating; learning that autism has no cure shattered me and triggered a period of denial. I clung to the hope that, with speech and occupational therapy prescribed by his pediatrician, Parag would eventually be fine. However, searching for information on autism led me to an overwhelming amount—over 531 million results in mere seconds—leaving me confused and adrift in a sea of knowledge.
Throughout this journey, my faith became a cornerstone. I often prayed, asking, “Why me, God, why me?” During one prayer, I heard my inner voice challenge me: “Parag has autism, are you going to mope, cry, or sulk, or are you going to do something about it?” That moment gave me courage and clarity. I resolved not to sink into despair, but instead to live a life filled with love, courage, and hope.
After a period of deep introspection, I decided to seek evidence-based knowledge to better understand and support Parag’s journey. This led me to Jacksonville State University, where I earned my second master’s degree in special education; my first master’s degree is in English literature from the University of Delhi, India. My journey forward truly began there.
In my presentations, I shared our homeschooling experience with Parag and began offering guidance to other families with autistic children. Tracking Parag’s progress became central to my papers and presentations, prompting professors to encourage me to write a book. At first, I didn’t think our story was worth sharing and dismissed the idea.
Eleven years after graduating from JSU, a simple moment in a flower shop inspired me to write my first book, Autism Our Journey and Finding Happiness. The shop assistant recognized me as “the candlemaker’s mom,” referring to Parag’s talents in making candles and cosmetics (https://paragcosmetic.com/). That recognition filled me with joy. Motivated, I started writing at my kitchen counter, and within two and a half hours, the first manuscript was complete. With God’s grace, I found a publisher who believed in our journey.
During the COVID pandemic, I counseled a student and was inspired to write my second book, Energy Management Mantras for Caregivers, a story I share in its pages. I continue to counsel families for free through my Facebook page, Autism Our Journey and Finding Happiness, which has grown to over 135,000 followers and is expanding every day.
I want everyone to know that none of this was planned—no mother anticipates having a child with special needs. The day I realized Parag is a blessing from God, that God makes no mistakes, I became his true guardian and advocate. In advocating for him, I naturally became an autism advocate and founded the Autism Foundation of Gadsden, AL. We are preparing to host our 5th Annual Autism Conference, “Together We Can Make a Difference,” on April 18, 2026, in Gadsden, AL, and we offer this seminar virtually as well.
This journey continues as we build connections and a supportive community, ensuring that no one feels alone in facing autism. We help each other by sharing and caring, strengthening our collective resolve to make a difference.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Navigating autism has been a challenging journey for me, as the condition is still largely misunderstood and we have yet to uncover its cause or cure. When Parag was diagnosed with classic autism, he was nonverbal and struggled to connect with others. I remember those early days vividly—how quiet and isolated he seemed, and how deeply I wished I could reach him.
As time passed, I’ve watched Parag blossom into a much more social individual, even though his verbal communication remains limited. Our family constantly seeks out and supports different ways for him to express himself. The most important thing is that Parag knows he is loved, valued, and included, and I see the happiness this brings him every day. One of his unique gifts is the ability to create extraordinary paintings, teaching himself to recreate images from memory. Watching him express his ideas through art fills me with pride and awe.
Seeing Parag struggle to fit into what society considers “normal” has brought me waves of guilt, rejection, anger, pain, and shame. The stigma surrounding autism, coupled with the hurtful remarks of others—like when someone once said to me, “Only one thing a woman could do right, and you could not even do that”—cut deeply and intensified my emotional struggle.
In my book, Energy Management Mantras for Caregivers, I describe three mental energy states: joy, happiness, and extreme sadness or depression. Finding true joy and happiness required me to go through a process of mental decluttering and healing. This was not only essential for supporting Parag, but also for learning to be kind to myself. Through healing, I discovered renewed strength, resilience, and a sense of purpose that continues to guide me today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My Work, Passions, and What Sets Me Apart
I am a special education teacher by profession and have had the privilege of running my son Parag’s homeschool for over 25 years. Throughout this journey, I have been dedicated to sharing the knowledge and practical experience gained from our home school with other caregivers and teachers, helping them support their own loved ones on the autism spectrum.
As the founder of the Autism Foundation of Gadsden, AL, I am honored to work alongside dedicated volunteers to organize our annual autism conference, “Together We Can Make A Difference.” Our fifth conference will be held on April 18, 2026, in Gadsden and is also accessible virtually, ensuring that support and information reach a wider audience. This event offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to a variety of professionals—including physicians, educators, first responders, BCBAs, social workers, and counselors—so that together, we can better serve the autism community and their caregivers with understanding and compassion.
I am also the author of two books: Autism: Our Journey and Finding Happiness, and my most recent Energy Management Mantras for Caregivers. My public Facebook page, named after my first book, has grown into a vibrant community of over 138,000 followers from around the world. Through this platform, I offer free counseling and support to families and individuals navigating autism’s unique challenges.
In addition to my work as a teacher, author, and advocate, I am a public speaker devoted to spreading awareness, hope, and practical, evidence-based solutions for autism. I strive to make a positive impact by empowering others with knowledge grounded in both research and lived experience—always infused with empathy and common sense.
Above all, I am most proud of being the mother of my two wonderful sons, Ankur and Parag. They are truly my blessings from God. My name, Mamta, means “mother’s love”—a gift from my parents that I strive to embody every day.
What truly sets me apart is my unwavering tenacity and “hopelessly hopeful” spirit that God has bestowed on me. I refuse to give up or give in, always pushing forward to spread hope and increase autism awareness. My guiding motto is beautifully captured in Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses”: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” This is the heart of my journey, and it is my deepest wish to inspire others to walk their own paths with “love, courage, and hope!”
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
One of the most pivotal qualities that has fueled my success is my ability to manage my energy effectively—a skillset I’ve honed and shared in my book, Energy Management Mantras for Caregivers. In physics, energy is defined as the “capacity to do work,” and I have embraced this concept as a guiding principle in daily life. By developing and practicing a set of practical tools—my mantras—I have learned to channel my thoughts and actions with intention.
These energy management strategies have enabled me to approach each day with greater satisfaction and a true sense of purpose. By mindfully directing my energy, I am able to maintain resilience, sustain my efforts, and find equilibrium even during challenging times. Whenever I stumble, I draw on these stories, anecdotes, and practical techniques—the very essence of my Mantras—to refocus, think positively, and realign my path forward.
Pricing:
- Hardcover- Energy Management Mantras for Caregivers $25.95
- Paperback-$20.95
- Kindle-$9.99
- Autism Our Journey and Finding Happiness $20.24.99
- Kindle $7.99 and audible FREE on trial
Contact Info:
- Website: https://a.co/d/4mxdft7
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autismourjourneyandfindinghappiness1
- Other: https://www.mamtajhamishra.com/
