“You don’t have good days and bad days — you have good moments and tough moments. And if you only count the bad ones, you’ll miss all the silver linings.”- Tara Cohen

In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Tara Cohen, Executive Vice President at Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Jewelry, joins us to share the story of her son Will’s autism diagnosis, her advocacy journey, and how one act of compassionate customer service changed the course of her life. Tara opens up about the early signs she noticed, the fight for an accurate diagnosis, the grief and fear that followed, and the resilience she discovered while raising a child with complex needs. She offers raw honesty about the emotional valleys families experience after a diagnosis, what true support looks like, and how she learned to find gratitude and joy in unexpected places. Tara’s story is one of fierce love, advocacy, and the power of human kindness—and a beautiful reminder that while we can’t always choose our path, we can choose how we walk it.

Key Topics

• Tara’s journey from worried mom to executive at Lauren’s Hope

• Early signs of autism and fighting to be taken seriously

• The emotional impact of receiving a diagnosis

• How compassionate customer care changed everything

• Navigating guilt, grief, and caregiver burnout

• Learning to find “silver linings” and build a new normal

• Advice for newly diagnosed families

• The importance of communication tools and adaptive devices

• What Tara loves most about being Will’s mom

About Today’s Guest

Tara Cohen is the Executive Vice President at Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Jewelry. Her connection to the company began when she purchased a medical ID for her son Will after his autism diagnosis. A single compassionate interaction with the team at Lauren’s Hope transformed her experience as a parent and eventually led Tara to join the company herself. Now, more than a decade later, she helps lead a business dedicated to providing dignity, safety, and personalization to individuals with medical and developmental needs. Tara is also a powerful advocate, writer, and voice for families navigating disability.

Resources Mentioned

• Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Jewelry
  Website: laurenshope.com
  Social: @laurenshopeid
  Kids Section, Engraving Tips, Rare Disease Resources
  Customer Care: “a soft place to land” for newly diagnosed families

• Email Tara directly: tara@laurenshope.com

Connect With Us

• Child Life On Call App (SupportSpot): Support for parents and caregivers at your fingertips

• Instagram: @childlifeoncall

• Website: childlifeoncall.com

Did you like today’s episode? Give this episode a listen to hear another parent’s story about their child’s Autism diagnosis.