Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Advocacy & Caregiver Stories

There are parts of profound autism parenting that most people will never witness and many would never believe. In this episode, Autism Mom Sarah Kernion and Jamie Hrobar, a mother navigating one of the most extreme and misunderstood forms of autism, speak openly about her 21-year-old son, whose life is shaped by relentless self-injury, aggression, fragile communication, and complete dependence for every daily living skill.

Jamie’s story is one of unimaginable intensity: her son hit himself (once counted at 40,000 times a month),  lives with constant neurological distress, and struggles to communicate even the most basic needs. She shares not just the clinical realities, but the emotional ones—what it feels like to love a child whose body is at risk every day, and to parent in a world that does not understand or support families facing profound autism.

This episode is not meant to shock; it is meant to validate, humanize, and bear witness. It honors Jamie’s courage and the countless caregivers who live in crisis-level conditions with little acknowledgment or help.

For families walking similar paths, this conversation says: You are not imagining how hard this is. You are not alone.
For those outside this reality, it offers a rare chance to understand the truth of profound autism—and why meaningful support must begin with seeing these families clearly.

This is Jamie’s story. And it is the story of so many others who deserve to be heard.

Jaime Hrobar is a writer, autism mom, and advocate who shares hope, humor, and authenticity, through her Facebook page Homebound and Healing—a blog about autism, family, recovery, and spirituality that explores finding peace, joy, and perspective through life’s hardest moments.

A mother of two children on the spectrum, including a twenty-one-year-old son with profound non-speaking autism, Jaime draws on over two decades of firsthand experience with IEPs, disability rights, therapies, and complex behavioral challenges. She uses her experience to guide others through education systems, therapeutic supports, and the emotional realities of parenting, making her a trusted advocate and source of encouragement for families navigating similar journeys.

You can find all of her work here:

https://www.facebook.com/HomeboundandHealing

https://www.jaimehrobar.com

https://www.instagram.com/jaimehrobar/

Motherhood in the autism community is not about perfection, it’s about connection. Autism Moms Sarah Kernion of INCHSTONES and Jess Carrawa of 'If You Know One', open a deeply honest conversation about the courage it takes to be vulnerable, especially in a world that often misunderstands both parenting autism and autism motherhood.

Their exchange moves through discomfort and into understanding, showing how sharing raw experiences builds a bridge between isolation and belonging. Together, they unpack how community, authenticity, and empathy can transform the weight of parenting into something lighter—something shared.

At its heart, this conversation is a portrait of modern motherhood in the age of social media: imperfect, interconnected, and beautifully real.

Jess Caraway is a mom of two, an ever-evolving advocate for her autistic daughter, a passionate supporter of all forms of communication, gestalt language detective, and founder of the If You Know One Project. She dreams of a world that understands autism, and accepts accessibility, inclusion, and presuming competence as beneficial for everyone.

Jess strives to connect with her Instagram community by sharing a glimpse into her family’s journey with an autistic daughter/sister in a way that inspires others to embrace the perspective shift that just because your experiences look different does not mean they are not still good.

Instagram: @jess_ifyouknowone

Etsy shop: ifyouknowone.etsy.com

Sarah is the writer and host of INCHSTONES: The #1 voice of autism mothers & caregivers of children with profound nonspeaking autism.

Autism parenting isn’t a race, it’s a reorientation. Autism Mom Sarah Kernion and fellow Autism Mom and author Kathleen Somers unpack the quiet revolution of slowing down in a world that rewards speed in their autism parenting journeys. Through honest reflection, they question inherited expectations and challenge the myth of “catching up.” Their conversation illuminates what happens when parents stop measuring progress against typical milestones and start witnessing growth on their child’s unique timeline.

This dialogue invites autism parents to trade anxiety for awareness, performance for presence, and pressure for patience. It’s about conscious parenting that honors both the child’s nervous system and the parent’s emotional bandwidth. The result is a gentler rhythm—where profound autism, neurodiversity, and deep connection can finally breathe.

Kathleen's Book Barely Visible can be purchased here.

Kathleen Somers, a debut author, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, and works as a freelance graphic designer. She is a passionate observer of humanity who believes in the power of connection that comes from each of us sharing our individual stories. When Kathleen isn’t busy with her career as a creative, she is out on her bike finding new roads to explore, or spending time with her son, opening his eyes to everything the world has to offer. She lives with her family in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

If you’re an autism parent, you already know autism doesn’t come with a tidy instruction manual—it comes with plot twists, hard truths, and surprising joy. In this episode, Autism Mom, Sarah Kernion, and Kit Perez  (writer, intelligence analyst, therapist, behavior analyst!) delve into orientation and the beautifully complicated reality of raising autistic kids and how it completely rewires your sense of “normal.” They unpack what happens when you stop chasing the imaginary perfect family and start orienting yourself to the world you actually live in where meltdowns, breakthroughs, and quiet victories all share the same calendar.

With equal parts humor and honesty, Sarah and Kit talk about the friction between old expectations and new realities, and why dismantling outdated beliefs isn’t failure—it’s growth. They explore how healing your own past pain changes the way you show up as a parent, why joy is a deliberate choice (not a lucky accident), and how asking, “What is true today?” can keep you grounded when everything feels like too much. Above all, this conversation reminds you that your situation doesn’t define you, your child is not a project to “fix,” and some of the deepest bonding moments are found in the small, weird, wonderfully simple joys of everyday life.

Autism and parenting performance are at the heart of this conversation between Profound Autism Mom Sarah Kernion and Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Chief Clinical Officer at Avela Health. Together, we unpack what performance really looks like in everyday parenting, for us and for our kids. Together, we explore how context, expectations, skills, and capacities interact, and what happens when there’s a mismatch between what’s being asked and what’s truly possible in the moment.

Dr. Anderson offers a compassionate, autism-informed lens on behavior and performance, reminding us that people do well when they can. We talk about why it’s not only okay—but often essential—to step back, drop certain expectations, and honor real limits so that both caregivers and autistic children can thrive.  

✨ Find your stride with strength-based autism care.
Visit Avela Health to get started and see how personalized, compassionate support can help your child and your family thrive.

Autism parenting and consciousness intersect in this incredible Inchstones episode!  Cognitive neuroscientist and consciousness researcher Dr. Julia Mossbridge joins us to explore her new book "have a nice disclosure" which invites you on a journey that unites science, spirit, and wonder into one life-changing exploration of who you truly are. Autism Mom Sarah and Dr. Mossbridge share the deeper currents of love, connection, and ethical education especially for non-speaking people. We talk about unconditional love as a practical healing force, how truth-telling shaped her writing process, and why anomalous cognition deserves careful attention rather than dismissal. Julia highlights the ethical responsibilities researchers and educators hold when working with non-speakers, and she shares concrete steps toward curricula that support meaningful communication. We also discuss advocacy often led by mothers, gendered patterns in emotional expression, and the reminder that trauma does not set a ceiling on growth. Throughout, Julia returns to a simple, radical invitation: participate in a love revolution grounded in empathy, relationship, and respect.

Dr. Mossbridge's new book "have a nice disclosure" can be purchased here on Amazon!

Click here to find all of Dr. Mossbridge's work.

Autism and autism parenting guide this week’s Inchstones Podcast as Autism Mom Sarah Kernion sits down with Brittany Vecero and Jada Watkins, two compassionate therapists in the field of ABA therapy, to discuss the heart of behavioral education, therapy, and care + the importance of trust, and the joy of working with children in special needs education and development.

Together, they explore how collaboration and communication between parents and therapists shape meaningful progress for children on the autism spectrum. The conversation dives deep into the emotional realities of therapy—navigating transitions, building consistent teams, and ensuring that every intervention is grounded in empathy and love.

Brittany and Jada also share how positive reinforcement, small daily changes, and partnership with parents can strengthen confidence, independence, and growth at home and in therapy sessions.

Key Takeaways:

Autism and autism parenting take center stage in this Inchstones Podcast episode, as host Sarah Kernion speaks with Peter Sullivan—a former Silicon Valley innovator turned health advocate—about how environmental factors influence the health and development of children with autism.

Peter shares his personal journey from the tech world to health advocacy, uncovering the links between electromagnetic fields (EMFs), chemical exposure, and neurological health. He explains how disruptions in calcium channels may affect brain function and why creating safe home environments can make a meaningful difference for families navigating autism parenting.

The conversation blends science, compassion, and hope—showing parents that small, consistent actions can support healing, reduce toxic load, and help their children thrive.

Peter is the founder of Clear Light Ventures.

In this episode of the Inchstones Podcast, host Sarah Kernion sits down with Shahriar Afshar, autism parent and founder of the Autism Innovation Lab, to explore how technology, community, and unconditional love are reshaping the future of autism parenting and neurodiversity support.

Together, Sarah and Shahriar discuss the emotional layers of parenting a child with autism—from grief and resilience to acceptance and hope. They unpack the gendered differences in how mothers and fathers process their child’s diagnosis, the growing role of AI in autism care, and how innovation can help families better navigate the daily realities of profound autism and caregiving.

This conversation blends empathy with forward-thinking solutions, revealing how collaboration between parents, technologists, and advocates can create a more inclusive autism community rooted in understanding, connection, and love.

Key Takeaways:

Profound Autism Mom Sarah Kernion sits down with Olivia Rojo (@praying_though_autism), an fellow autism mom and advocate, to discuss the unfiltered truth of caregiving and the lived experiences of families navigating profound autism.

Olivia shares what it means to be both mother and caregiver—to fight for inclusion, navigate systemic challenges, and still find beauty in small moments of connection. Together, she and Sarah explore how believing mothers is a crucial act of respect within the neurodiversity movement and the broader disability conversation.

The discussion highlights the importance of community, the necessity of self-care, and the quiet strength found in honesty. This episode is both a love letter to caregivers and a rallying cry for visibility—because every story of autism deserves to be heard and believed.

Key Takeaways: