First-of-Its-Kind Book Helps Military Families Navigate Autism Across Assignments and Transitions

 Military life can be both stabilizing and deeply challenging for families raising a child with autism. While the structure and predictability of service routines can offer comfort, frequent relocations, deployments, and changing support systems can disrupt the consistency many children with autism rely on to feel safe and regulated. For parents, it becomes a constant balancing act between meeting the demands of military service and advocating for their child’s developmental, educational, and emotional needs.

It is a journey retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jaime B. Parent and his wife, Elizabeth “Tracy” Parent, navigated firsthand, and their new book shows other families how to do the same.

“We got a lot of help when Bryan was first diagnosed in 1988,” recalled Jaime Parent. “So much so that my wife, Tracy, changed careers and became a special educator to pay it forward after learning from the compassionate professionals who worked with our son. We made a pact that when it was our turn to help other families, we would remember how we struggled and dedicate ourselves to supporting young families the way we were supported a long time ago.”

In their new book, The Mission at Home: Navigating Military Assignments, TRICARE, Education, Benefits, and Everyday Life with Your Child on the Autism Spectrum, Jaime and Tracy Parent draw from decades of experience as parents, military family members, and professionals to offer clarity and compassion for families navigating autism within the unique demands of military life. Their insights blend practical strategies with empathy, helping readers manage healthcare, education, benefits, and transitions during service and beyond.

“Even when services technically exist, waitlists, eligibility differences between states, and gaps between military and civilian systems can leave families feeling like they’re always starting over,” Tracy Parent said. “The emotional labor of this repetition — on top of the everyday demands of military life — can be exhausting.”

Honest and thorough, The Mission at Home is the only book of its kind that goes beyond school and healthcare concerns and provides additional information to help families:

• Ease transitions for children with autism after a military move

• Manage a military career with a child with autism or another disability

• Plan for school transitions and advocate effectively for their child

• Navigate TRICARE, EFMP, and other military programs with confidence

• Develop a long-term financial strategy

• Prepare for life after service, including housing and employment options

• Reduce stress and strengthen family resilience through proven tools

“Autism requires lifelong work and strategies,” Jaime Parent added. “Your mission at home matters as much as the one in uniform.”

The Mission at Home: Navigating Military Assignments, TRICARE, Education, Benefits, and Everyday Life with Your Child on the Autism Spectrum

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release date: February 19, 2026

ISBN-13: 978-1538196823 Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Home-Navigating-Assignments-Education/dp/1538196824

###

TIP SHEET

The press release above may be published in part or entirety by any print, broadcast or internet/digital media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing.

Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

About the Authors

Jaime B. Parent is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel of the Biomedical Science Corps and a passionate advocate for military veterans and individuals with autism or other intellectual disabilities. He is a sought-after speaker at veterans and disability events as well as conferences in healthcare, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, including the College of Healthcare Information Executives (CHIME). Parent also established the EN-Abled Vet program, a one-of-a-kind internship that teaches disabled veterans entry-level healthcare computer skills, which was featured on television (CBS2 Chicago) and radio (WCBT Chicago).

Elizabeth Tracy Parent, Ed.S., is a dedicated educator, administrator, trainer, autism advocate, and military spouse with over 20 years of experience supporting children with autism and neurodiverse needs throughout multiple military moves. As a skilled consultant and presenter, she has partnered with school districts across the United States and internationally, including in Russia. She has developed online trainings and courses used globally, equipping educators and families with practical strategies for inclusion, disability awareness, behavior management, executive functioning, and educational intervention.

For more information, please visit www.themissionathome.com or find the authors on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeparent/ and www.linkedin.com/in/eliztracy-parent122.