Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Advocacy & Caregiver Stories

What does autistic adulthood actually look like? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with autistic young adult Zach Ennis and his mother, Stacy Ennis, for a powerful conversation about independence, self-advocacy, friendship, community, and building a meaningful life with autism.

Too often, conversations about autism stop in childhood. Zach’s story offers something many families are searching for: a glimpse into adulthood, possibility, and the supports that help autistic adults thrive.

Zach shares what he enjoys most about his life, from community dinners, theater classes, movies, friendships, and independent living skills to advocating for adults with disabilities. He speaks candidly about communication, relationships, self-confidence, and his hopes for the future. His message is simple but powerful: work hard, be kind, support others, and believe in your potential.

Sarah and Stacy also explore the evolution of motherhood, autism advocacy, acceptance, and the unexpected gifts that come from raising and supporting a neurodivergent child into adulthood. Together they discuss communication beyond speech, independence, dignity, self-determination, and why autistic adults deserve opportunities to build full and meaningful lives.

This episode explores:

* autistic adulthood and independence
* autism advocacy and self-advocacy
* neurodivergent parenting across the lifespan
* community living and social connection
* autism and communication differences
* supporting autistic adults
* friendship, purpose, and belonging
* motherhood and lifelong caregiving

This conversation is a reminder that autism is not the end of a story. For many families, it is the beginning of a different story filled with growth, connection, community, and possibility.

In This Episode

00:00 – Introducing Zach and Stacey Ennis
01:15 – Zach shares what he enjoys most about life
02:10 – Building independence through community and daily living skills
03:00 – Friendship, communication, and social connection
03:45 – What Zach wishes people understood about him
05:00 – Accomplishments and learning independent living skills
06:10 – Feeling seen through autism self-advocacy
07:20 – Challenges that people may not notice
08:15 – Living your best life and future goals
09:00 – Zach’s message about autism and kindness
10:15 – What Zach has taught his mother about life
12:30 – Friendship, family, and growing into adulthood
15:15 – Daily connection between mother and son
16:20 – Acceptance, advocacy, and finding joy
18:00 – Communication beyond speech and traditional expectations
20:00 – Seeing the person beyond the diagnosis

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, autism advocacy, neurodivergent parenting, profound autism experiences, and conversations that illuminate the humanity behind every diagnosis.

An autism diagnosis changes more than a child’s future. It changes the people who love that child too. In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Bari Shore for an honest conversation about autism parenting, childhood apraxia, community, motherhood, and the unexpected personal growth that emerges from raising a neurodivergent child.

When Bari’s son Dean received his autism and apraxia diagnosis during the pandemic, she found herself searching for answers, support, and connection. Like many autism moms, she experienced relief, grief, uncertainty, and determination all at the same time. But perhaps the biggest surprise was not how much her son would grow. It was how much she would grow too.

Together, Sarah and Bari discuss autism parenting, caregiver stories, autism diagnosis journeys, motherhood identity shifts, advocacy, sibling relationships, and the importance of finding people who truly understand your family’s reality. They also explore why support does not always come from large groups, how community can be built one conversation at a time, and what happens when parents learn to celebrate inchstones instead of milestones.

This episode explores:

* autism parenting after diagnosis
* childhood apraxia and autism
* caregiver stories and community
* motherhood identity and personal growth
* sibling relationships and autism
* advocacy and communication
* autism diagnosis grief and acceptance
* parenting autistic children in the present moment

For parents navigating autism, apraxia, developmental delays, or the uncertainty that follows diagnosis, this conversation offers honesty, perspective, and hope.

In This Episode

00:00 – Finding friendship and community after diagnosis
02:00 – The long road to an autism and apraxia diagnosis
03:30 – Pandemic parenting and noticing developmental differences
04:30 – Relief, grief, and finally having answers
05:15 – Becoming “the autism mom” and identity shifts
06:00 – Why community became essential
06:45 – Cycles of research, burnout, and recovery
07:50 – Is autism parenting unfair?
08:45 – Celebrating inchstones instead of milestones
09:20 – Why the world should adapt to autistic children
10:30 – Learning to advocate for yourself as a parent
11:45 – Autism parenting and perspective
12:30 – Advice for parents receiving a new diagnosis
13:45 – Staying present instead of spiraling into the future
15:15 – Raising autistic boys and trusting your instincts
17:00 – Seeing the child beyond the diagnosis
18:20 – Becoming stronger through autism parenting
19:45 – Relationships, community, and what matters most

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, autism advocacy, neurodivergent parenting, profound autism experiences, and the lessons hidden inside the smallest inchstones.

Why do so many autism moms feel like they can never fully relax? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Kerry Stevens for an honest conversation about caregiver burnout, autism motherhood, hypervigilance, and the invisible emotional load that comes with parenting autistic children.

Kerry shares the reality of raising her son Connor while balancing work, therapies, school meetings, financial pressure, and the constant responsibility that many special needs caregivers quietly carry every day. Together, Sarah and Kerry explore autism parenting, developmental delays, caregiver exhaustion, IEP advocacy, and the emotional experience of living in a near-constant state of fight-or-flight.

Their conversation touches on the grief that can follow an autism diagnosis, the pressure to help your child “catch up,” and the difficult process of accepting a path that looks different than the one you imagined. Kerry speaks candidly about leaving a job that could no longer accommodate the realities of caregiving and the emotional impact of being told her son’s needs were “too much.”

This episode explores:

* caregiver burnout and autism motherhood
* parenting autistic children while working
* hypervigilance and nervous system exhaustion
* autism diagnosis grief and acceptance
* developmental delays and communication challenges
* IEP advocacy and trusting parental intuition
* balancing therapies, finances, and family life
* learning to understand non-speaking communication

This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, and families navigating autism parenting, caregiver burnout, developmental delays, and the relentless emotional labor that often comes with raising autistic children.

In this episode:

00:00 – The invisible workload of autism motherhood
01:30 – Leaving a job because caregiving demands became too great
03:00 – Grieving the motherhood journey you imagined
05:15 – Living in constant fight-or-flight as an autism parent
07:00 – Why autism caregiving never truly shuts off
08:30 – Acceptance, therapy, and processing diagnosis grief
10:45 – Wanting your child to “catch up” after diagnosis
12:00 – Early intervention, ABA, and moving quickly after diagnosis
13:30 – Learning your child’s body language and communication patterns
15:00 – The daily realities of autism caregiving
16:45 – School routines, therapies, and medical support
18:00 – Home safety, elopement fears, and constant vigilance
19:45 – Reading emotional cues from non-speaking children
21:15 – Financial stress and caregiver burden
22:45 – IEP advocacy and the power of parental intuition
24:30 – Why autism moms deserve more support and understanding

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

What happens when autism parenting becomes physically, emotionally, and mentally consuming? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Alyssa Sierra for a raw conversation about profound autism, aggressive behaviors, caregiver exhaustion, sibling dynamics, and the emotional process of letting go of expectations.

Alyssa shares the story of her son Gabriel’s autism diagnosis during the pandemic and the moment motherhood shifted from “typical” parenting into a completely different reality. Together, Sarah and Alyssa discuss profound autism, parenting autistic children with severe behaviors, autism family support, caregiver burnout, and the invisible emotional labor autism moms carry every single day.

The conversation explores:

the grief of realizing your parenting path looks different
navigating aggressive and self-injurious autism behaviors
raising neurotypical siblings alongside autistic children
the emotional complexity of discipline in neurodivergent homes
why profound autism parenting feels different even within autism communities
finding joy and beauty inside developmental differences

Sarah and Alyssa also talk openly about survival mode, motherhood identity, sensory overwhelm, and why releasing rigid expectations can create more peace for both parents and children.

This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, and families navigating profound autism, developmental delays, severe behaviors, and the emotional complexity of raising neurodivergent children while trying to stay emotionally grounded themselves.

Alyssa is a special needs mom to her beautiful 7-year-old son and also a mom to a neurotypical 2-year-old. Navigating both sides of parenting has its unique challenges, but it has also made her stronger, more compassionate, and deeply committed to advocacy. She is passionate about supporting families raising children with disabilities and believes every special needs family deserves the highest level of support from their state and government. Parenting a child with special needs comes with enough challenges; families should not have to fight to have their voices heard. Alyssa believes that every family's story matters and that sharing those stories is one of the most powerful ways to create understanding, change, and a better future for children with disabilities.

In this episode:

00:00 – Profound autism and the reality of caregiving
02:05 – Receiving an autism diagnosis during the pandemic
03:10 – Tunnel vision after diagnosis and needing a plan
05:00 – The grief of leaving “typical motherhood” behind
06:45 – Explaining autism to friends and family
07:30 – Aggressive behaviors and profound autism realities
09:20 – Parenting autistic children and neurotypical siblings differently
11:00 – The emotional complexity of discipline in autism parenting
13:00 – Why autism parenting expands emotional perspective
14:15 – Building community and finding supportive people
16:00 – What autism moms say privately versus publicly
17:10 – Finding joy inside neurodivergent parenting
18:00 – Why autistic children experience wonder differently
19:10 – Letting go of expectations in autism parenting
21:00 – Learning to survive difficult behavioral seasons
22:00 – Why positivity matters in caregiver burnout recovery

Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, an autism podcast sharing caregiver stories, profound autism realities, autism advocacy, and neurodivergent parenting.

Autism parenting, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting are at the heart of this episode of Inchstones as Sarah Kernion talks with Shannon Korza of Moms Talk Autism about grief, timelines, motherhood expectations, and parenting autistic children.

In this deeply honest episode of Inchstones, Sarah sits down with Shannon Korza for a raw conversation about autism diagnosis grief, the pressure mothers place on themselves after diagnosis, and what it means to let go of the timelines society teaches us to chase.

Shannon shares the emotional reality of receiving her daughter Gracie’s autism diagnosis after initially living in denial and fear that she would never be “enough” as a mother. Together, Sarah and Shannon explore autism parenting, caregiver burnout, sibling relationships, sensory differences, IEP goals, autism advocacy, and the deep grief that can surface when life no longer looks the way you imagined it would.

The conversation also dives into the hidden emotional labor autism moms carry, the pain of watching autistic children struggle socially, and the shift that happens when parents stop forcing neurotypical expectations onto neurodivergent children.

This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, and families navigating autism diagnosis journeys, parenting autistic children, disability advocacy, and the challenge of balancing hope with acceptance.

In this episode:

00:00 – Autism parenting and motherhood expectations
01:00 – Shannon’s reaction to her daughter’s autism diagnosis
02:30 – Grieving the fear of not being “enough” as a parent
03:45 – Parenting autistic children versus neurotypical siblings
05:00 – Why grief and brokenness carry so much shame for mothers
06:30 – Learning to sit with autism grief instead of avoiding it
07:00 – The Christmas moment that changed Shannon’s perspective forever
09:10 – Why autism parenting can still feel unfair years later
10:00 – Autism is not a “superpower” conversation
11:15 – Watching autistic children struggle socially
13:40 – Sibling relationships and protecting autistic sisters
16:00 – The emotional growth autism parenting can create
18:00 – Sensory meltdowns and judgment from strangers
19:00 – Celebrating tiny wins in autism parenting
21:00 – Advice for parents receiving a new autism diagnosis
22:00 – Letting go of developmental timelines and comparison
24:00 – Creating IEP goals that actually fit your child and family

Listen to more episodes of the Moms Talk Autism Podcast and follow Inchstones with Sarah Kernion, an autism podcast sharing caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism, and neurodivergent parenting.

Autism parenting, caregiver burnout, and caregiver stories are at the heart of this episode of Inchstones as Sarah Kernion talks with Tash Dillmon of Moms Talk Autism about grief, marriage, mental health, and parenting autistic children after profound loss.

In this raw and deeply personal episode of Inchstones, Sarah sits down with Tash Dillmon for an honest conversation about autism parenting, surviving the loss of a child, navigating marriage through trauma, and the emotional realities many special needs caregivers silently carry.

Tash shares the story of losing Jack’s twin brother, Jameson, during pregnancy and how grief shaped her experience as an autism mom from the very beginning. Together, Sarah and Tash discuss autism diagnosis journeys, caregiver burnout, maternal mental health, suicidal ideation, neurodivergent parenting, identity loss, and the pressure many mothers feel to keep moving no matter how much they are carrying internally.

They also explore the power of partnership in marriage, the emotional depth autistic children often possess, and how parenting autistic children can radically transform the way families experience empathy, love, resilience, and presence.

This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, and parents navigating profound grief, emotional exhaustion, disability advocacy, and the complexity of raising neurodivergent children while trying to hold themselves together.

In this episode:

00:00 – Autism parenting and finding humor inside hard seasons
01:20 – Receiving an autism diagnosis after the loss of a twin
03:12 – Grief, therapies, and becoming a full-time autism caregiver
05:00 – Losing your identity while parenting autistic children
08:30 – Caregiver burnout and hitting emotional rock bottom
09:00 – Suicidal ideation and maternal mental health in autism parenting
11:45 – Childhood trauma, expectations, and emotional survival
14:15 – Marriage, grief, and surviving profound loss together
18:00 – How autism parenting transformed their relationship
20:00 – Faith, healing, and rebuilding identity through motherhood
21:30 – Why autism parenting can feel deeply unfair
24:10 – The emotional depth and empathy of autistic children
27:00 – How parenting autistic children changes the way you see humanity

Listen to more episodes of the Moms Talk Autism Podcast and follow Inchstones with Sarah Kernion, an autism podcast sharing caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism, and neurodivergent parenting.

Tash Dillmon lives in the Portland, Oregon area with her husband, her two children, Jack, her neurospicy one, and Sloan, her typical one, and her rambunctious dog, Kiki. She is a solo parent most of the time while her husband is putting out fires in the next city over, #firewifelife! Everyone in the family loves being outside, hiking, kayaking, and enjoying nature. Tash loves to exercise, be in her yard, and volunteer in Children's Ministries at her local church. While she’s not being her kids' Uber driver, she loves a good murder documentary and is happiest watching her kids play sports.

Autism parenting, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting are at the heart of this episode of Inchstones. Sarah Kernion and Jean Mayer of Moms Talk Autism share a raw conversation about parenting autistic children, grief, identity, disability advocacy, and finding yourself again after diagnosis.

In this deeply honest episode of Inchstones, Sarah sits down with Jean Mayer of Moms Talk Autism for a conversation about the hidden grief many autism parents carry, the loss of expectations, and the slow rebuilding that happens after your child’s diagnosis changes the life you imagined.

Jean shares what it felt like to move through Rory’s autism diagnosis, give up the career and identity she once expected, and become the manager, advocate, and steady presence her child needed. Together, Sarah and Jean explore caregiver burnout, autism family support, emotional regulation, ableism, disability inclusion, and the reality of living in what Jean calls “the forever trench.”

This episode is for every autism mom, special needs caregiver, and parent navigating neurodivergent parenting who has ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or changed by the journey. It is a conversation about grief, yes, but also clarity, growth, advocacy, sisterhood, and the truth that joy and grief can coexist.

In this episode:

00:00 – Why autism mom stories matter
01:37 – Jean Mayer shares Rory’s autism diagnosis journey
02:32 – The grief and identity shift after an autism diagnosis
04:50 – How family systems shape disability expectations
07:49 – The emotional energy of autism parenting
10:53 – Giving up a career to become your child’s advocate
11:28 – What feels unfair about raising an autistic child
13:28 – Why autism parenting can feel like “a forever trench”
18:05 – Talking honestly about autism grief without shame
20:35 – Ableism, motherhood, and learning to see differently
24:58 – Why disability belongs in every equity conversation
30:11 – What Jean would tell a mom with a newly diagnosed child

Listen to more episodes of the Moms Talk Autism Podcast and follow Inchstones with Sarah Kernion, an autism podcast sharing caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism, and neurodivergent parenting.

Jean Mayer is a dedicated school board trustee in Pflugerville ISD in Texas, where she serves as Chair of the Government Relations Committee, a role she has held for consecutive years. With a strong commitment to governance integrity, transparency, and student-centered policy, she works to ensure that district decisions reflect both fiscal responsibility and the diverse needs of the community. Jean also serves on the Board of the Autism Society of Texas and actively collaborates with disability advocacy organizations across the state to advance equitable and inclusive policies.

In addition to her governance work, Jean is deeply engaged in family and systems-level advocacy. Through her work with Texas Parent to Parent, she provides medical training to first- and second-year medical residents, helping future physicians understand what it means to parent a child with complex needs through a trauma-informed lens. She is also a co-host of the Moms Talk Autism podcast, where she brings together professional insight and lived experience as the parent of a child with profound support needs. Across all of her work, Jean is committed to moving beyond awareness toward true inclusion, belonging, and meaningful systems change for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Autism motherhood often begins with a moment that shatters the future you thought you were building. Sarah Kernion and Brittney Crabtree of Moms Talk Autism reflect on the early shock of diagnosis, the grief of watching expectations collapse, and the pressure many autism moms feel to sprint into every possible intervention.

This is Part 1 of 2 with Brittney sharing what it was like to hear the word “autism” nearly 18 years ago, how she immediately moved into research and action mode, and why she now realizes she needed more balance and grace during those early years. The conversation explores the emotional intensity of autism diagnosis, the pressure surrounding early intervention, and the evolving grief that can come as the developmental gap between autistic and neurotypical peers becomes more visible over time.

Sarah and Brittney also discuss what happens when autism parenting forces mothers to let go of rigid future planning and instead learn how to live more fully in the present. Through honest reflections on isolation, support systems, burnout, and acceptance, this episode captures the emotional complexity of rebuilding motherhood after diagnosis—one inchstone at a time.

caregiver stories, autism advocacy, inchstones, autism parenting, nonspeaking autism, inclusive employment autism, autism adulthood, disability employment, social enterprise autism, autism community support, autism motherhood, spelling to communicate, neurodiversity, meaningful work disabilities, autism employment opportunities

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Autism motherhood often carries an unspoken fear about the future: what happens when childhood services end and adulthood begins? In this conversation, Sarah Kernion speaks with Kelly Castro about how that fear became the foundation for something larger than survival—a social enterprise creating meaningful employment and community for young adults with disabilities.

Kelly shares her journey as a mother, caregiver, and entrepreneur after realizing her son Carson deserved more than limited options and lowered expectations. What began as worry evolved into Carson’s Cookie Dough, a business rooted in inclusion, dignity, and purpose.

This episode centers caregiver stories and the reality many autism parenting families quietly hold: adulthood can feel uncertain, especially for individuals with higher support needs and nonspeaking autism. Through inchstones—small but meaningful steps—Kelly built opportunities not only for her son, but for an entire community of young adults too often excluded from traditional employment spaces.

The conversation explores autism motherhood, caregiving, entrepreneurship, and the power of community support in creating sustainable paths toward belonging and independence. At its core, this is a story about refusing to let fear define the future.

Kelly Castro is a mom and the founder of Carson’s Cookie Dough and Just a Taste of NJ, mission-driven businesses challenging how the workforce includes individuals with disabilities. Inspired by her 9-year-old son Carson, who is on the autism spectrum, and the reality that nearly 80% of autistic adults are unemployed, she set out to build a business where intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals are essential, not an afterthought. What started as a small bakery has grown into a multi-channel operation. Kelly is now building  scalable model to bridge the gap between education and employment, proving inclusion is not charity, but smart business.