Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Advocacy & Caregiver Stories

Sarah Kernion | Profound Autism Mom and Caregiver Advocate
  • 5.0 (35)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Biweekly

Inchstones with Sarah features autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting, sharing real-life experiences from mothers and caregivers with profound autism. We provide insights into autism family support, autism coping skills, and caregiver burnout to empower special-needs caregivers.

  1. Autistic Adulthood, Independence, and Living Your Best Life | Zach Ennis’ Story

    3h ago

    Autistic Adulthood, Independence, and Living Your Best Life | Zach Ennis’ Story

    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. Chapters (00:00:01) - Autism on Inchstones: Zach Ennis(00:00:54) - Living On An Independent Plan(00:03:03) - Zach's Life Story(00:04:51) - DustB House Community Member Zachary's Special Needs Moments(00:06:16) - Zachary on the Future(00:06:47) - Zachary Ennis on Autism(00:07:40) - What Has Zach Learned From His Life?(00:08:46) - The Reorientation of Having a Neurodiverse Child(00:09:51) - One Mother's Friendship With Her Autistic Son(00:12:31) - One Parent's Love Letter For His Mother(00:13:48) - Stacy's story of autism and the support of the community

    19 min
  2. What My Son's Autism Diagnosis Taught Me About Myself | Bari Shore's Story

    5h ago

    What My Son's Autism Diagnosis Taught Me About Myself | Bari Shore's Story

    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. Chapters (00:00:00) - Autism Mom on The Inch Jones Podcast(00:02:06) - Dean was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old(00:07:02) - Grief After A Loss: Is It Unfair?(00:08:40) - What Do You Tell An Autism Mom About Their Journey?(00:14:01) - Dean Has Autism, and He's a Boy Mom(00:16:54) - Barry on Love on the Spectrum

    20 min
  3. Why Autism Moms Never Fully Relax | Kerry Stevens' Story

    1d ago

    Why Autism Moms Never Fully Relax | Kerry Stevens' Story

    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. Chapters (00:00:01) - Autism Mamas of the Inchstones(00:05:09) - On Being a Mother of a Special Needs Child(00:08:01) - Mac's Cerebral palsy diagnosis(00:12:47) - How I Help My Child Get Ready For School(00:17:40) - Connor's caregiver and his school(00:22:33) - Sarah's story about her son on the Autism spectrum

    26 min
  4. Profound Autism and Letting Go of Expectations with Autism Mom, Alyssa Sieira

    1d ago

    Profound Autism and Letting Go of Expectations with Autism Mom, Alyssa Sieira

    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. Chapters (00:00:00) - May Is Autism Month(00:01:46) - Gabriel Was Diagnosed With Autism at 2(00:06:55) - One autism mom's experience with her typical daughter(00:12:10) - Gabriel's support system has been so open(00:15:44) - Letting go of expectations for your child(00:20:59) - Alyssa's Powerful Story

    22 min
  5. Autism Grief, Expectations, and Letting Go | Shannon Korza

    2d ago

    Autism Grief, Expectations, and Letting Go | Shannon Korza

    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. Chapters (00:00:00) - Inchtons: Momstalk Autism Podcast(00:00:38) - Shannon on Her Autistic Daughter's Diagnosis(00:05:21) - How I Learned To Love My Daughter's Autism(00:09:55) - How Autism Affects Sister-Sibling Relationships(00:14:53) - How to Help Your Daughter With Her College Entrance Essays(00:15:56) - What Has Been the Greatest Skill of Raising an Autism Child?(00:21:21) - Julie on the Catch Up Race(00:23:11) - Shannon Corza on Autism and the IEP

    26 min
  6. Autism, Marriage, and Surviving Caregiver Burnout | Tash Dillmon

    3d ago

    Autism, Marriage, and Surviving Caregiver Burnout | Tash Dillmon

    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. Chapters (00:00:00) - Moms Talk Autism on Inch Zones(00:01:10) - What You're Feeling As An Autism Mom(00:03:07) - Autism moms on the road to recovery(00:08:26) - One parent's story of contemplating suicide(00:09:12) - The One Thing You Can't Outrun Is Yourself(00:13:46) - In the Elevator With My Love(00:14:19) - "No More Tears For My Marriage"(00:14:51) - Jack's twin brother on his relationship(00:17:40) - The Healing Process of Losing a Child(00:21:14) - Jack's disability isn't unfair(00:22:14) - What is the Best Thing About Being Jack's Mom?(00:26:07) - The Great Things of People(00:26:36) - Tasha on Being a Mother(00:27:43) - Autism on Momstalk

    28 min
  7. Autism Parenting, Grief, and Finding Yourself Again with Jean Mayer of Moms Talk Autism

    4d ago

    Autism Parenting, Grief, and Finding Yourself Again with Jean Mayer of Moms Talk Autism

    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. Chapters (00:00:00) - May is about the moms of autism(00:03:47) - After a child's disability diagnosis, how do you cope?(00:10:13) - When You Have A Child, Does It Hurt?(00:14:16) - Autism and the Real World(00:16:31) - Special Needs Parents Talk About Their Grief(00:22:34) - In the Elevator With Grandpa(00:23:04) - "The World Gets Wrong" by Amy Poehler(00:23:39) - Disability in Equity Conversations(00:28:05) - What is one thing that you would tell a newly diagnosed child?(00:30:23) - Moms Talk Autism on Inchstones

    31 min
  8. Autism Diagnosis and the Pressure to Do Everything Right with Brittney Crabtree

    May 21

    Autism Diagnosis and the Pressure to Do Everything Right with Brittney Crabtree

    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. Chapters (00:00:00) - Moms Talk Autism(00:01:03) - What Do You Remember About Your Child's Autism Diagnosis?(00:04:11) - The Art of Accepting a Diagnosis With Autism(00:06:20) - Brittney Spears on Her Child's Autism Diagnosis(00:11:40) - How to Get the Best Out of an Autism Mom(00:14:17) - Does It Feel Like This Autism Diagnosis Is Fair?(00:16:04) - How Brittany's Autism Has Changed Her Life

    19 min
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5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Inchstones with Sarah features autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting, sharing real-life experiences from mothers and caregivers with profound autism. We provide insights into autism family support, autism coping skills, and caregiver burnout to empower special-needs caregivers.

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