For many parents, the onset of puberty in their child can feel overwhelming.

That’s especially true when the child is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum.

For Tiffany Jackson of Madison Heights, it wasn’t just a milestone in her daughter’s life, it was a call to action.

The result: “Daisi’s First Flow: Let’s Go!,” a brightly illustrated, heartfelt, and practical book created to help neurodivergent girls navigate their first periods with dignity and understanding.

The book was inspired by Jackson’s daughter, Daijah, a 13-year-old diagnosed with autism at age 4. Nonverbal but vibrant, Daijah sparked Jackson’s creativity and compassion in ways neither of them could have predicted.

“I kept getting asked how Daijah handles her cycle,” Jackson said. “So I thought — why not write a book?”

That simple idea blossomed into a deeply impactful project that is now being praised by parents, teachers, therapists and caregivers. Although Daijah is nonverbal, her presence, personality and needs shaped every page. Jackson wrote the book “with her and for her,” she says. “It’s Daijah’s story — even if I had to be the one to tell it.”

As the founder of Change the World for You, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children with autism, Jackson has worked to fill gaps in resources, representation and education. But this was personal. She remembered the confusion and fear she felt when Daijah first started her period — at just 10 years old — and wanted to make sure other parents wouldn’t feel the same sense of being unprepared.

“Most parents won’t be a deer in headlights like I was,” she said. “That’s the whole point.”

“Daisi’s First Flow: Let’s Go!” follows the character Daisi — a fictional version of Daijah — on her journey to understanding puberty. Through colorful pages and easy-to-follow storytelling, Daisi learns to navigate new emotions, sensory changes and physical realities with the support of her family. The book includes a period communication board and a downloadable tracking app to help nonverbal or minimally verbal girls share what they’re feeling.

“I can only guess how Daijah is feeling sometimes,” Jackson said. “She’s not going to come and tell me she has cramps or feels bloated. I have to observe. So, having tools like the communication board helps families like ours so much.”

The book also breaks ground by addressing an often-overlooked intersection — autism and adolescence. While most puberty resources are written with neurotypical readers in mind, Jackson’s book centers on the needs of autistic girls who may struggle with sensory overload, routine changes or expressive communication.

Schools, therapy centers and parents across the region are already incorporating the book into their resource collections. Some are even laminating the communication board for easy, on-the-go use.

Jackson isn’t stopping with just one book. Daisi, the character, originally came to life through another project Tiffany has in the works — a cookbook called “Dining with Daisi.”

“A lot of children on the spectrum are picky eaters — or as I say, they just like what they like,” Jackson said. “Daijah used to be the same way. But now she’s trying new foods and we started making videos about it. The feedback has been incredible.”

“Dining with Daisi” will feature recipes Daijah has tried (and loved — or not so much), from stuffed mushrooms to Shirley Temples. It’s another tool Jackson uses to connect with other families while highlighting the day-to-day joy, humor and triumph that comes with parenting a neurodivergent child.

What continues to amaze Jackson most is the response she’s received — not just from families of girls on the spectrum, but from others, as well.

“Mothers are telling me thank you,” she said. “They’re saying: ‘Now I can read this with my daughter. Now I have something to help me explain things.’ Some girls who aren’t on the spectrum are reading it, too. That’s beautiful.”

Through it all, Daijah remains the light guiding her mother’s path.

“She inspires me every day,” Jackson said. “She’s just unbothered. Happy. … She’s getting ready to … go to high school. It’s a big change, but she’s handling it like a champ.”

And for those walking the same path, Jackson has this reminder: “Just because they’re on the spectrum doesn’t mean they’re not going through the same things. Everything you do for yourself, you have to do for them, too.”

“Daisi’s First Flow: Let’s Go!” is available at Amazon and ctw4you.com.