Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Advocacy & Caregiver Stories

Castos Description
Episode Summary
What happens when a special education teacher spends years working with profoundly disabled students—and then realizes the biggest lesson wasn't about teaching at all? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with former special education teacher and Unspecial Podcast host Zack Ponder to explore caregiver stories, autism advocacy, neurodivergent parenting, and why presuming competence changes everything.
Full Episode Description
Before launching the Unspecial Podcast, Zack Ponder spent years teaching students with profound autism, complex communication needs, and significant disabilities. Those experiences fundamentally changed the way he understands intelligence, behavior, caregiving, and human connection.
In this thoughtful conversation, Sarah and Zack discuss what it means to presume competence, why outward behavior rarely tells the full story, and how educators, parents, and clinicians can better support children by seeing their strengths before their limitations. Zack shares stories from the classroom that forever shaped his understanding of autism communication, emotional regulation, and the incredible capabilities that often remain hidden beneath motor planning challenges. zack-sarah.txtTXT
The conversation also explores fatherhood, caregiver resilience, nervous system regulation, homeschooling, balancing family life during a spouse's cancer journey, and why caring for yourself is essential if you hope to co-regulate with the children who depend on you.
Together, Sarah and Zack examine why parents should trust what they observe, why difficult conversations strengthen advocacy, and how small moments of connection often become the most meaningful inchstones.
In this episode, we discuss:
autism advocacy through presuming competence
caregiver stories from both the classroom and home
neurodivergent parenting and emotional regulation
profound autism care and communication
autism education strategies
caregiver mental health and nervous system regulation
fatherhood and disability caregiving
special education advocacy
why connection matters more than compliance
finding hope through everyday inchstones
Whether you're raising an autistic child, working in special education, supporting neurodivergent families, or simply trying to become a calmer parent, this episode offers a hopeful reminder that every child deserves to be seen beyond what the world immediately notices.
In This Episode
02:30 — Why Zack left special education but never left the mission
05:00 — What profound autism taught him about seeing the unseen
08:00 — Caregiver burnout and protecting your nervous system
11:00 — Co-regulation begins with the parent
14:00 — Presuming competence in non-speaking children
17:00 — The classroom story that changed everything
20:00 — Fathers, strength, and disability parenting
24:00 — Why advocacy should create collaboration—not conflict
27:00 — Finding hope in the smallest everyday moments
Resources
Learn more about Zack Ponder and listen to the Unspecial Podcast, where he shares conversations with parents, educators, and disability advocates.

Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for more conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting that help families feel seen, supported, and understood.

Read more essays on the Inchstones Substack.

Can you tell the truth about disability parenting without losing hope? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with caregiver advocate Elyse Davis to explore caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, grief, resilience, and why honest conversations help families feel less alone.

After years of feeling like she didn't quite fit anywhere, Elyse Davis decided to stop softening her family's story.
Instead of repeating comforting platitudes, she began speaking honestly about the emotional complexity of raising a child with significant developmental disabilities—the grief, the love, the frustration, the joy, and the deep transformation that can all exist at the same time. Her words resonated with thousands of caregivers who quietly thought, Finally, someone said it.

In this conversation, Sarah and Elyse explore what happens when families give themselves permission to hold contradictory emotions without guilt. They discuss disability parenting, caregiver mental health, sibling dynamics, communication challenges, navigating educational systems, and why parents should never have to minimize their reality to make others comfortable.
They also explore the often-overlooked complexity of children whose diagnoses don't fit neatly into one category, the importance of individualized communication supports, and how parents become their child's most effective advocate by learning to trust what they observe every day.
This episode explores:
caregiver stories and honest conversations
autism advocacy beyond labels
neurodivergent parenting and complex diagnoses
caregiver emotional support
navigating IEPs and educational advocacy
sibling relationships in disability families
grief, resilience, and acceptance
why hope grows stronger when it's built on truth
Whether you're newly navigating a diagnosis or years into your caregiving journey, this conversation offers something rare: permission to tell the truth about your life while still believing in your child's future.
In This Episode
02:00 — Why Elyse stopped sugarcoating disability parenting
06:30 — Holding grief and joy at the same time
10:45 — Raising neurotypical and disabled siblings under one roof
15:30 — Living between diagnoses and not fitting into one community
20:00 — Sign language, communication, and trusting your child's strengths
25:00 — Navigating IEPs and advocating within broken systems
30:00 — Why caregivers must trust what they see
34:00 — The evolving meaning of "Welcome to Holland"
Resources

Connect with Elyse Davis on Instagram for honest reflections on disability parenting, advocacy, and caregiver life.
Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting, featuring parents, clinicians, researchers, and advocates working to help families feel seen and supported.

Elyse Davis is a disability mom, content creator, and advocate who shares the honest realities of raising a child with complex needs. Through storytelling, faith, and humor, she explores disability parenting, advocacy, grief, guilt, motherhood, and the everyday moments that connect us. Known for saying the things many parents are thinking but rarely say out loud, Elyse has built a community where families feel seen, understood, and a little less alone as they navigate the unexpected journey of disability parenting.

What happens when the life you planned disappears overnight? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with former TMZ executive producer Evan Rosenblum to explore caregiver stories, disability parenting, neurodivergent families, and how raising a child with profound disabilities transformed his understanding of purpose, fatherhood, and joy.

When Evan Rosenblum's daughter Sydney arrived at just 25 weeks gestation, everything changed in an instant. After 143 days in the NICU, multiple surgeries, a traumatic brain injury, and a long list of medical diagnoses, Evan found himself navigating a reality he never imagined while desperately trying to hold onto the life he thought he was supposed to have. 

In this deeply honest conversation, Sarah and Evan explore what happens when identity, career, expectations, and parenthood collide. Together they discuss the emotional journey of becoming a special needs father, processing grief, balancing work and caregiving, and learning to see disability not as the end of a story—but the beginning of a completely different one.

Evan shares how leaving his career at TMZ allowed him to embrace a new definition of success, why his daughter Sydney became one of his greatest teachers, and how his son is growing into a compassionate sibling whose understanding of disability is quietly changing the world around him.
This episode is about more than disability. It's about what happens when life forces you to become someone new.

Whether you're navigating an autism diagnosis, raising a child with profound disabilities, supporting neurodivergent families, or simply searching for hope inside an unexpected life, this conversation is a reminder that joy can exist alongside grief—and that sometimes the life you never planned becomes the one you were always meant to live.

In This Episode
02:00 — Sydney's birth at 25 weeks and surviving 143 days in the NICU
06:15 — Identity, work, and trying to hold onto a "normal" life
09:30 — Processing grief after a life-changing diagnosis
13:00 — Why fathers experience caregiving differently
17:15 — Anger, healing, and emotional recovery
21:00 — Raising siblings alongside children with disabilities
25:00 — Inclusion, friendship, and changing the next generation
29:00 — Adventure, surfing, Disney, and giving children full lives
33:00 — Living in the present instead of fearing the future

Resources
Learn more from Evan Rosenblum by reading his Substack, where he writes about fatherhood, disability, caregiving, and finding meaning through unexpected life experiences.

Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for more conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting featuring parents, clinicians, researchers, and advocates helping families thrive.

An autism diagnosis changes everything—but it should never become the only thing you see. In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with longtime friend and autism mom Nora Canzoneri for an honest conversation about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and learning to parent the child before the diagnosis.

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Full Episode Description

When Nora Canzoneri’s son Cam received his autism diagnosis in 2018, she walked out of a developmental pediatrician’s office with a diagnosis, a list of books, and instructions to find ABA therapy. Like so many parents beginning an autism diagnosis journey, she was left with more questions than answers.

Years later, Nora reflects on what she wishes she had known from the beginning: while autism is an important part of her son’s life, it is not the whole story.

Together, Sarah and Nora explore neurodivergent parenting, caregiver experiences, the pressure to act quickly after an autism diagnosis, and the cultural expectations that quietly shape how parents measure progress. They discuss the urgency many families feel to “do everything right,” the grief of letting go of imagined timelines, and the freedom that comes from recognizing inchstones instead of milestones.

The conversation also explores family travel, adapting expectations, sensory regulation, anxiety, and raising an autistic child who continues to surprise everyone—including his mother—with his humor, memory, resilience, and personality.

This episode explores:

* autism advocacy through everyday parenting
* caregiver stories and shared experiences
* autism diagnosis journeys
* parenting autistic children beyond the diagnosis
* autism family dynamics
* caregiver emotional support
* autism parenting advice
* understanding neurodiversity through acceptance rather than comparison
* finding peace in the unexpected

Whether you’re newly navigating an autism diagnosis or years into your family’s journey, this conversation is a reminder that your child is far more than a checklist of behaviors or developmental milestones. They are becoming who they are—and you are becoming the parent they need.

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In This Episode

00:00 – Remembering diagnosis day and the emotions that followed

04:00 – Walking out with an autism diagnosis and more questions than answers

07:00 – The urgency parents feel after diagnosis

10:00 – Letting go of developmental timelines

13:30 – Expectations, acceptance, and finding inchstones

16:30 – Why autism parenting changes as children grow older

19:00 – Traveling with an autistic child and embracing adventure

23:00 – Understanding behavior through connection instead of fear

26:00 – Parenting the child—not the diagnosis

30:00 – Advice for parents beginning their autism diagnosis journey

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Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, champions autism advocacy, and explores neurodivergent parenting through honest conversations with parents, clinicians, researchers, and advocates helping families feel seen, supported, and understood.

Every mother begins with expectations. Few of us imagine how deeply motherhood will transform our identity.

In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with author and nurse practitioner Valerie Probstfeld, creator of To Mom Is to Love, for a heartfelt conversation about caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, grief, identity, and learning to choose love when life unfolds differently than expected.

Valerie shares the experience of becoming a mother in the NICU, where losing control forced her to rethink what motherhood truly means. Together, she and Sarah explore how unexpected diagnoses, profound autism, medical trauma, and unmet expectations reshape caregivers—and why healing often begins by releasing the illusion of control.

From autism parenting advice and caregiver emotional support to the role of nature, community, and nervous system regulation, this conversation reminds every parent that growth is rarely linear. Whether you’re raising a child with autism, navigating a difficult diagnosis, or simply learning to trust yourself again, this episode offers encouragement to recognize the sacredness hidden inside ordinary moments.

In this episode:

02:10 — Becoming “Mom” and the unexpected identity shift of motherhood

06:10 — Why unmet expectations can feel more painful than reality itself

10:20 — Medical trauma, grief, and feeling unseen as a caregiver

13:10 — Releasing the illusion of control through motherhood

15:00 — Nature, resilience, and why growth is never linear

18:00 — Water, nervous system regulation, and profound autism

21:15 — Why caregivers need community more than ever

24:00 — Choosing love over fear in everyday parenting

27:00 — Finding meaning through the smallest inchstones of motherhood

Resources

Learn more here about Valerie Probstfeld and her book To Mom Is to Love.

Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for more conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, and practical encouragement for families raising autistic children.

Read Sarah’s caregiver essays on the Inchstones Substack.

What if autism isn’t one condition to treat, but many different biological stories waiting to be understood?

In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with pediatric neurologist Dr. John Gaitanis to explore why autism care should begin with understanding the individual child—not simply the diagnosis. Together they discuss autism advocacy, root cause medicine, caregiver experiences, neurodevelopment, inflammation, motor planning, and why families often recognize important patterns long before medicine does.

Dr. Gaitanis challenges the idea that autism is a single biological condition, explaining why many children share a diagnosis while presenting with remarkably different medical histories, developmental pathways, and support needs. He shares why physicians should focus on understanding each child’s unique biology, why systemic inflammation and developmental regression deserve closer attention, and how artificial intelligence may help uncover patterns that families have recognized for years.

The conversation also explores the emotional side of neurodivergent parenting. Sarah and Dr. G discuss maternal pattern recognition, caregiver stress, nervous system regulation, sleep deprivation, and why supporting parents is inseparable from supporting autistic children.

Whether you’re navigating a recent autism diagnosis, raising a child with profound autism, searching for autism therapy options, or simply looking for thoughtful autism advocacy grounded in curiosity rather than certainty, this episode offers a hopeful framework for asking better questions.

In this episode:

03:10 — Why “autism” may describe many different biological conditions
07:30 — Maternal pattern recognition and why caregivers often notice problems first
10:05 — Systems thinking versus siloed medicine in autism care
14:00 — Why two autistic children can have completely different biological profiles
18:15 — Artificial intelligence and the future of autism diagnosis and personalized medicine
21:05 — Whole-body dyspraxia, motor planning, and autism communication
27:20 — How physicians can move beyond diagnostic labels to see the whole child
35:45 — Caregiver burnout, chronic stress, and protecting parent health
41:05 — Why trusting maternal intuition matters throughout the autism diagnosis journey

Resources

Learn more about Dr. John Gaitanis and Meadow BioSciences.

Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for more conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, profound autism care, and practical support for families raising autistic children.

Read more caregiver essays on the Inchstones Substack.

What does autism teach a father about strength? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage for an honest conversation about autism fatherhood, faith, mental health, and how raising a nonspeaking autistic son completely transformed his understanding of success, purpose, and what truly matters.

When Tommy’s son Wyatt began losing language around age two and a half, everything he thought he knew about fatherhood changed. As a construction business owner, husband, and father, he spent years believing strength meant fixing problems. Autism forced him to discover a different kind of strength: presence, surrender, and learning to live one inchstone at a time.

Together, Sarah and Tommy explore autism parenting, profound autism, fatherhood, caregiver mental health, marriage, faith, and the quiet transformation that often happens inside parents long before anyone else notices it.

This conversation explores:

* autism fatherhood
* nonspeaking autism
* profound autism
* caregiver mental health
* autism parenting and marriage
* faith during difficult seasons
* living in the present moment
* autism advocacy
* parenting beyond societal expectations
* finding joy in inchstones instead of milestones

Tommy also shares his experience navigating anxiety, depression, and the realization that while he could not fix autism, he could become a different father because of it. His story offers encouragement for autism dads, caregivers, and families searching for hope grounded in reality rather than false promises.

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In This Episode

00:00 – Introducing Tommy and Spectrum in Camouflage
02:00 – Becoming a father after years of waiting
04:00 – Wyatt’s autism regression and losing language
06:00 – Anxiety, mental health, and feeling powerless
08:00 – The mountain where everything changed
10:00 – Why autism brought Tommy to his knees
12:00 – Faith, surrender, and finding purpose through autism
15:00 – Success versus significance in fatherhood
17:00 – The hidden expectations parents carry
19:00 – Why inchstones matter more than milestones
21:00 – Learning to see growth differently
23:00 – Autism, communication, and presence beyond words
25:00 – Living where your boots are: staying present today
28:00 – Parenting typical and autistic children differently
31:00 – Mental health, nervous system regulation, and resilience
33:00 – Speaking openly so other autism dads feel less alone

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism experiences, neurodivergent parenting, and honest conversations that help families feel seen, understood, and less alone.

What happens when years of caregiving, hypervigilance, grief, and responsibility finally catch up with a mother? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Libby Hudson for an unfiltered conversation about profound autism, marriage, caregiver burnout, grief, and what it takes to survive when your family’s needs seem bigger than your capacity to carry them.

Libby and her husband Tyler Hudson have become respected voices in the profound autism community, but behind advocacy and awareness lies a deeply personal story. As their son Lyric entered adolescence, a devastating family loss triggered profound behavioral changes, escalating aggression, and years of living in a near-constant state of vigilance and fear.

Libby shares what it felt like to lose her father, watch her son struggle to process grief he could not communicate, and navigate the impossible reality of loving a child while simultaneously fearing what dysregulation might bring next.

Together, Sarah and Libby discuss:

* profound autism and adolescence
* caregiver burnout and nervous system exhaustion
* grief and autism
* marriage under chronic stress
* maternal hypervigilance
* supporting autistic adults
* emotional collapse and resilience
* the importance of asking for help
* finding purpose after survival mode

The conversation also explores something rarely discussed openly in autism spaces: the cost caregiving can have on a mother’s body, identity, relationships, and health. Libby shares how years of accumulated stress ultimately contributed to a stroke and the difficult changes her family had to make to survive.

This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, and families navigating profound autism, aggression, caregiver burnout, marriage stress, grief, and the emotional realities that often remain hidden behind advocacy.

In This Episode

00:00 – Living with constant hypervigilance and caregiving stress
02:00 – Reading nonverbal communication through behavior and body language
04:00 – The death of Lyric’s grandfather and profound grief
05:30 – When autism, adolescence, and loss collide
07:00 – Aggression, dysregulation, and fear inside the home
08:30 – The emotional toll of surviving crisis mode
10:00 – Why caregiving changed Libby’s health forever
11:30 – A stroke, burnout, and the body keeping score
13:00 – Marriage under pressure and redefining family roles
15:00 – Learning to ask for what you need
17:00 – Why flexibility matters in autism families
19:00 – Autism, relationships, and nervous system regulation
21:00 – The hidden emotional labor of autism motherhood
23:00 – Why support systems matter more than services alone
25:00 – Receiving an autism diagnosis 18 years ago
27:00 – Grief, acceptance, and adapting to reality
29:00 – The lessons profound autism has taught about life and love
31:00 – What makes Libby most proud as Lyric’s mother

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, profound autism experiences, autism advocacy, and honest conversations about neurodivergent parenting.

What happens when autism support moves beyond four walls and into nature? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Dr. Dana Spett, founder of Pony Power Therapies, to explore autism, sensory regulation, equine-assisted services, and why connection, movement, and nature can create powerful opportunities for growth.

Dana’s journey began as a mother searching for support for her own daughter. What started with one horse and four riders has grown into Pony Power Therapies, a community-centered organization helping children and adults with disabilities connect with horses, farming, nature, and themselves.

Together, Sarah and Dana discuss autism parenting, sensory regulation, maternal intuition, nature-based learning, disability inclusion, and the importance of creating environments where autistic individuals can thrive without pressure to conform. Dana shares why traditional approaches are not always enough and how horses offer a unique opportunity for regulation, confidence, connection, and belonging.

The conversation explores:

* autism and sensory regulation
* equine-assisted services
* nature-based support for autistic children
* maternal intuition and advocacy
* disability inclusion and community belonging
* farming, purpose, and meaningful work
* autism and nervous system regulation
* creating supportive environments for neurodivergent individuals

Dana also shares how Pony Power supports families across the lifespan, from young children with autism to adults navigating life after age 21, when many formal support systems begin to disappear.

This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, educators, therapists, and anyone interested in nature-based approaches to autism support, sensory regulation, disability advocacy, and helping neurodivergent individuals build meaningful lives and connections.

In This Episode

00:00 – The mission behind Pony Power Therapies
01:00 – Dana’s journey as a social worker and autism mom
02:30 – Following maternal intuition instead of rushing to medication
04:00 – Why trusting your gut matters in autism parenting
05:30 – Equine-assisted services and empowering families
06:30 – How autistic children respond to horses and nature
08:00 – Sensory regulation through movement and rhythm
09:30 – Why horses provide unique nervous system support
11:00 – Nature, regulation, and the family system
13:00 – Beyond traditional talk therapy approaches
14:30 – The role of nature in mental health and autism support
16:00 – Nonverbal communication and connection beyond words
17:30 – Why leaving the house feels impossible for some families
19:00 – Supporting dysregulated autistic children without judgment
21:00 – Creating safe spaces for neurodivergent families
23:30 – The autism service cliff after age 21
25:00 – Farming, employment, and meaningful purpose for autistic adults
27:00 – Disability inclusion and reimagining community support

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism perspectives, neurodivergent parenting, and conversations that challenge us to build more inclusive communities.

More about Dr. Dana Spett, DSW 

Dr. Dana Spett, DSW, an accomplished professional with a deep commitment to equine-
assisted services, nature, and social work is the Founder and Executive Director of Pony Power

Therapies, a nonprofit community-based center in New Jersey that connects children and adults
with disabilities or life challenges to the wonders of horses, farming and nature. Dana has
dedicated herself to creating an inclusive and transformative environment guided by nature.
Recognizing the power of nature to promote resilience and personal growth, Dana ensures that
Pony Power Therapies embodies true inclusivity in all aspects of its operations. Her focus on
Equine in Nature Assisted Social Work (ENASW) is reflected in her research and teaching, where
she centers on developing an ethical and competent practice model for this field. Dana
currently teaches master’s Level Social Workers at Rutgers University, Smith College, and
Ramapo College. Dana is a published author and accomplished speaker. When not working,
Dana loves spending time with her husband Steven, their three magnificent children and
partners, and their pack of small dogs at their beloved farm in Grafton, Vermont.

Click here to discover more about Pony Power Therapies 
Instagram: @ponypowertherapies
Facebook: @PPTherapies
LinkedIn: @pony-power-therapies

Many parents of non-speaking autistic children carry a quiet certainty: my child understands more than they can show. In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with occupational therapist, researcher, and Spellers Method co-creator Dr. Dana Johnson to explore whole body apraxia, motor planning, communication, and why behavior may not tell the whole story.

For years, families have been told to trust observable behaviors as the primary measure of understanding. Dr. Johnson challenges that assumption by explaining how motor planning differences can prevent autistic individuals from reliably demonstrating what they know, understand, or intend to communicate.

Together, Sarah and Dr. Johnson discuss whole body apraxia, non-speaking autism, presuming competence, sensory regulation, motor coaching, and the ways parents are often dismissed when their observations don’t align with traditional clinical models.

The conversation explores:

* whole body apraxia and autism
* non-speaking autism and communication
* motor planning challenges
* presuming competence
* autism and regulation
* maternal intuition and clinical observation
* supporting autistic children beyond behavior-based assumptions
* co-regulation and caregiver support

Dr. Johnson also shares how her work evolved after listening to parents whose experiences challenged what she had been taught professionally. Her message is both practical and hopeful: understanding motor differences can fundamentally change how families, therapists, and educators support autistic children.

This episode is for parents, caregivers, educators, therapists, and anyone interested in communication, autism advocacy, profound autism, and understanding what may exist beneath observable behavior.

In This Episode

00:00 – Maternal intuition, autism, and the limits of observation
02:00 – Why parents are often dismissed by professionals
04:15 – The story that led Dr. Johnson to rethink autism therapy
05:45 – What whole body apraxia actually means
07:15 – Understanding motor planning and communication barriers
08:00 – Why behavior does not always reflect understanding
09:30 – The backpack example: motor planning in daily life
11:00 – Typical childhood behavior versus apraxia
12:30 – Why presuming competence matters
14:00 – How professionals unintentionally limit autistic children
16:00 – Reading ability, communication, and hidden competence
17:00 – Regulation, sensory overwhelm, and motor control
19:00 – Why parents must regulate themselves first
21:00 – The invisible pressure placed on mothers
23:00 – Co-regulation and caregiver support
25:00 – Building confidence through small wins and inchstones
28:00 – Supporting parents, not just children
30:00 – The fear every autism parent carries about the future

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion explores autism advocacy, caregiver stories, profound autism, communication, neurodivergent parenting, and the small inchstones that shape meaningful lives.

About Dr. Dana Johnson:

For more than 20 years, Dr. Johnson has worked alongside incredible families who have taught her what true resilience, patience, and hope look like. Through this work, she has learned that two things can be true at once: your child can struggle and make incredible progress at the same time.

Recognizing that too many professionals didn't know how to truly help these families, Dr. Johnson created her YouTube channel, “The Autism + Apraxia Doctor,” and expanded her reach across multiple platforms to educate professionals in the autism field. She specializes in helping individuals with complex autism, whole-body apraxia, and other neurodevelopmental disabilities develop intentional motor skills and improve their overall health.

Her mission is to empower families and professionals to see autism through a new lens, one that recognizes the body-brain connection, promotes health, and opens doors to possibilities many once thought were out of reach. Her work is rooted in a deep belief that her clients are capable, intelligent, and deserving of the support needed to unlock their full potential.

Dr. Johnson is the Founder of Spellers Center Tampa and Atlanta and the co-creator of the Spellers Method™. She holds a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy and a Ph.D. in Child Mental Health and Development.

Find her work here:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrDanaJohnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdanajohnson/
Website: www.drdanajohnson.com