Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Advocacy & Caregiver Stories

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  Your Child’s Anxiety Isn’t the Enemy | Jennifer Cohen Harper 15.09.2026 35min

  What if the goal isn't to make your child's anxiety disappear? Jennifer Cohen Harper, founder of Little Flower Yoga, joins Sarah Kernion to explore childhood anxiety, nervous system regulation, sensory overwhelm, mindfulness, and what children actually need from us when they're struggling. Jennifer reframes anxiety as information rather than an enemy and explains why reassurance like “you're okay” or “take a deep breath” may not reach a child whose nervous system is already overwhelmed. Instead, parents can reduce overstimulation, increase connection, use sensory anchors, and first regulate themselves. This conversation explores the difference between supporting and accommodating anxiety, why overwhelmed children often cannot learn in the hardest moment, and how parents can build capacity without making children feel they need to be fixed. The inchstone? Ask yourself: What is my role right now? In This Episode00:00 Why the goal isn't eliminating childhood anxiety02:01 Navigating anxiety instead of trying to make it disappear03:18 Anxiety is information05:37 Normal anxiety versus anxiety that disrupts daily life06:14 Supporting children without doing everything for them08:10 Two things that make anxiety worse: overwhelm and disconnection09:28 Reducing sensory overstimulation11:13 Using one sensory experience as an anchor12:18 How sensory input can help children orient to safety14:36 Why parents need to orient themselves first16:46 Regulation, co-regulation, and connection18:03 When a parent's need to “fix it” can increase anxiety19:08 Why helping others can build competence in children21:44 Mindfulness for parents and children22:09 Not every difficult parenting moment is an emergency23:38 Don't teach the skill during the overwhelm24:33 Connection can look different for different children26:02 Build skills after the nervous system settles28:50 Jennifer's “layers of sound” mindfulness practice31:28 Why mindfulness isn't simply about calming down32:55 Teaching children to trust their bodies34:09 The question parents can ask themselves in an anxious moment35:22 Being with your child instead of immediately changing them Topics DiscussedChildhood anxiety, nervous system regulation, co-regulation, sensory overwhelm, mindfulness, sensory anchors, parenting anxious children, autism and anxiety, caregiver regulation, emotional resilience, window of tolerance, connection, accommodation versus support, parental anxiety, body awareness, child development, and building capacity. Key Questions Answered1. Should parents try to eliminate their child's anxiety?2. What does it mean to say “anxiety is information”?3. When does normal childhood anxiety require additional support?4. Why doesn't reassurance always work when a child is overwhelmed?5. How are sensory overwhelm and anxiety connected?6. What is a sensory anchor, and how can parents use one?7. Why should parents regulate themselves before trying to regulate their child?8. What's the difference between supporting anxiety and accommodating it?9. Should parents teach coping skills during a meltdown or anxious episode?10. How can children gradually develop greater capacity for uncomfortable feelings? Resources Jennifer Cohen Harper is a mindfulness and yoga educator, equine assisted learning facilitator, author, and founder of Little Flower Yoga, widely recognized for its trauma-informed school programming and training for educators and mental health providers. Jenn has spent two decades helping children and caregivers navigate anxiety and build inner resources. She is also the founder of Mindfulness with Horses, where she facilitates retreats for adults and families to build connection, compassion and courage. Jenn’s work has been featured in nota...
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  Can One Autism Spectrum Really Hold All of This? A Conversation with Laurie Dove of Everyday Autism Essentials 11.09.2026 26min

  Can one autism diagnosis adequately describe people whose abilities, challenges, communication, independence, and lifelong support needs may be radically different? In this episode of the INCHSTONES Podcast, Sarah Kernion sits down with fellow autism mother Laurie Dove for a candid conversation about the autism spectrum, diagnosis, profound support needs, parenting, nervous system regulation, advocacy, and what happens when families with very different lived experiences try to talk honestly with one another. This isn't a conversation about deciding whose autism is harder.It isn't a competition. It's a conversation about whether we can acknowledge the enormous heterogeneity within autism while maintaining dignity and respect for everyone who carries the diagnosis. Sarah and Laurie explore how broad the autism spectrum has become and why that can sometimes make conversations about autism confusing for parents, autistic adults, clinicians, advocates, and the public. They discuss the importance of listening to autistic people who can describe their internal experiences while also making room for families caring for children and adults who cannot reliably communicate their needs and may require substantial lifelong support.The conversation also moves from the abstract debate about autism into the minute-to-minute reality of caregiving.For some families, everyday activities that appear simple from the outside can require enormous amounts of preparation, patience, regulation, and co-regulation. Sarah and Lori discuss the role a parent's nervous system can play in those moments and why understanding behavior requires looking beyond what is immediately visible. They also wrestle with one of the most difficult dynamics in modern autism advocacy: how to disagree without dismissing another person's lived experience. Acknowledging profound autism does not require minimizing autistic people with lower support needs. Listening to autistic adults does not require ignoring parents caring for children with significant disabilities. And recognizing differences across the spectrum does not mean measuring whose life is harder. There has to be room for more than one truth.The goal of this conversation isn't to settle the autism debate.It's to make the conversation itself more honest.To ask another question.To listen again.And to remain curious enough to recognize that understanding autism may require us to hold experiences very different from our own. In This Episode00:00 Why difficult autism conversations need to happen out loud01:59 What an autism diagnosis means today05:50 Understanding the enormous differences across the autism spectrum06:52 Why heterogeneity matters when talking about autism12:02 Parents, advocacy, and making room for different perspectives18:04 The minute-to-minute realities of autism parenting19:31 When everyday life requires constant regulation and support23:58 Bridging very different experiences of autism25:41 Why we need to talk about what's actually happening26:20 Autism isn't a contest or competition29:56 Ask another question and listen againTopics DiscussedAutism spectrum disorder, autism diagnosis, profound autism, autism heterogeneity, autism advocacy, special needs parenting, caregiver stories, nervous system regulation, co-regulation, daily caregiving, autistic lived experience, parental perspectives, support needs, autism identity, respectful disagreement, community, curiosity, and making room for different experiences across the autism spectrum. Key Questions Answered1. Can one autism diagnosis adequately describe people with radically different support needs?2. What does heterogeneity within the autism spectrum actually mean for families?3. Why can conversations about profound autism beco...
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  When Your ZIP Code Determines Your Child’s Autism Services | Danielle Fields 09.09.2026 22min

  What happens when the autism services your child needs simply aren’t available where you live?Danielle Fields knows the answer because she moved across four states trying to find them.In this episode of the INCHSTONES Podcast, Sarah Kernion sits down with Danielle, mother and fierce advocate for her 19-year-old autistic son, Paul, to talk about the extraordinary decisions families make when their children’s educational and support needs aren't being met. Danielle began her journey in California, where Paul was diagnosed with autism at age two. She quickly discovered one of the most frustrating realities of special needs parenting: being told what services your child needs means very little when there aren't enough people available to actually provide them. So she moved. From California to Nevada. From Nevada to Georgia. And eventually from Georgia to New Jersey. Each state taught Danielle something different about autism services, special education, IEPs, and advocacy. But the moves came with enormous costs. Danielle had been preparing for law school before Paul's diagnosis changed the trajectory of her life. Repeatedly relocating meant leaving jobs, rebuilding professionally, moving farther from family and friends, and expending the kind of emotional, physical, financial, and mental energy that caregivers of children with significant support needs understand all too well.Then, in New Jersey, something happened Danielle wasn't expecting. Paul's own public school team told her they didn't believe the next available district program was appropriate for him. They recommended an out-of-district placement, opening the door to a private special education program chosen around Paul's individual needs. Danielle and Sarah discuss the difference between accepting the program a system happens to offer and advocating for the education an individual child actually requires. They talk about IEPs, out-of-district placement, caregiver exhaustion, the professional sacrifices mothers make, rebuilding community far from home, and what happens when advocacy becomes part of motherhood itself. Danielle also shares one of the simplest strategies she uses when fear and uncertainty become overwhelming: write it down. Put the fear on paper, get it out of your head, and begin identifying what you can actually do next. Ultimately, this conversation is about trusting yourself enough to keep asking a deceptively simple question: What does my child actually need?Because children with disabilities shouldn't have to reshape themselves around whatever services happen to be available. Our systems should be able to respond to the child standing in front of them. Resources:Learn more about special education, IEP advocacy, and the educational rights of students with disabilities through the U.S. Department of Education’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) resources.Subscribe to the INCHSTONES Podcast for caregiver stories, conversations about nonverbal autism, and honest perspectives on special needs parenting, profound autism, communication, advocacy, caregiver wellbeing, special education, IEPs, and raising children with significant support needs. About Danielle FieldsDanielle M. Fields is the proud mother and "mama bear" advocate for her 19-year-old son, Paul, who was diagnosed with autism at age two. She remains deeply committed to autism advocacy and intends to continue that work throughout her life. Danielle Fields (Facebook)@team_uv_3 (Instagram)@thedmarieaesthetic (Instagram)@autismadvocacysupermom (Instagram) In This Episode:00:00 When autism services depend on your ZIP code02:01 Meet Paul: Danielle's 19-year-old autistic son03:26 Realizing California couldn't provide the services Paul needed05:18 What moving for autism services cost Danielle personally and pr...
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  Who Plans for This? A Father's Life with Profound Autism | Mike Hanner 03.09.2026 27min

  What happens when a father whose career is built around managing risk is handed something he can’t plan his way out of? In this episode of the INCHSTONES Podcast, Sarah Kernion talks with autism advocate and corporate risk management professional Mike Hanner about raising his eight-year-old son Kingston, who is nonspeaking, autistic, and has apraxia. Mike spends his professional life anticipating what could happen, assessing uncertainty, and building systems designed to protect people from risk. Then came profound autism. Kingston met early developmental milestones, used words, sang and danced. Mike describes the pain of watching his son lose previously used speech and skills and the years it took him to understand that Kingston’s inability to reliably speak did not mean there wasn’t far more happening inside him. That realization changed the questions Mike began asking. Instead of only asking how to manage a symptom or behavior, he became increasingly interested in what might be happening underneath it. His office now contains multiple whiteboards filled with treatments, tests, therapies, diagnoses, and questions - a visual representation of a father determined to keep learning. Sarah and Mike talk candidly about navigating conventional medicine alongside Mike’s interest in biomedical and functional approaches. Mike is equally clear about something important: he is skeptical of anyone claiming to have one solution that works for every autistic child. The conversation instead centers on curiosity, collaboration with qualified practitioners, individualized decision-making, and the difficulty of evaluating emerging or contested approaches when your child cannot reliably tell you what hurts or how they feel.They also explore something discussed far less often: what profound autism can do to the family system.Two parents can love the same child completely and still have dramatically different capacities, coping styles, beliefs, and approaches to helping that child. Mike discusses the friction that can create inside marriages and partnerships - and why caring for the family itself cannot become an afterthought. Underneath the entire conversation is a question with no simple answer: How do you prepare for a future you never planned for? Mike’s answer isn’t certainty. It’s learning to live differently with uncertainty. Find your people. Ask better questions. Avoid the landmines other families have already encountered. Remain hopeful about what may be possible while preparing responsibly for significant lifelong needs.And above all, don’t become so consumed by the answer you’re still searching for that you miss the progress already happening. Because sometimes the progress isn’t a milestone. It’s an inchstone. Mike Hanner is a national employee benefits risk management executive who has spent his career helping employers navigate the complexities of group health insurance and healthcare strategy. More importantly, he is a father to an 8-year-old son with profound regressive autism. Mike and his family have spent years navigating the often-overwhelming world of autism: specialists, therapies, testing, treatments, schools, insurance, and the constant search for answers. He joined Sarah Kernion on Inchstones to share a father’s perspective on raising a child with significant support needs, navigating the many landmines families encounter, and advocating for his son every step of the way. Subscribe to the INCHSTONES Podcast for honest caregiver stories about nonverbal autism, special needs parenting, profound autism, caregiver burnout, disability, communication, family life, and the realities of raising children with significant support needs.
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  What If It’s Not “Bad Behavior”? Understanding Your Autistic Child with Dr. Amy See 01.09.2026 20min

  What if the behavior you’re trying to change is actually telling you something? In this episode of the INCHSTONES Podcast, Sarah Kernion talks with developmental psychologist and learning support specialist Dr. Amy See about nonverbal autism, special needs parenting, behavior, nervous system regulation, and learning to see the whole child before deciding what their behavior means. Parents of autistic children become accustomed to watching closely. Is my child listening? Why aren’t they responding? Why could they do this yesterday but not today? Is this refusal? Inattention? A sensory issue? A developmental delay? A behavior we need to correct? But Dr. See encourages parents and educators to slow down before assigning meaning. Because the same child can look very different in different environments. A child who struggles in a bright, noisy classroom may function very differently at home. A child who appears unable to participate in one environment may demonstrate far more ability when they feel calm, safe, connected, and regulated. For children with nonverbal autism, non-speaking autism, or significant communication and motor challenges, that distinction becomes especially important. What a child can demonstrate in a particular moment isn’t necessarily the same as what that child understands. Sarah shares what she has observed with Milly and Mack: even a response to something they understand can sometimes arrive much later than expected. A glance, movement, transition, or acknowledgment that takes longer to appear doesn’t necessarily mean the original language wasn’t received. Sometimes processing simply doesn’t happen on our timetable. Dr. See introduces a simple framework she uses when looking beneath behavior: capacity, safety, and regulation.What capacity does this child have in this moment? Do they feel safe and secure in this environment? Is their nervous system regulated, or is it overloaded? Rather than beginning with “Why is this child behaving this way?”, those questions allow parents, teachers, and clinicians to become curious about what the behavior may be communicating.Sarah and Amy also explore the pressure many special needs parents feel to turn nearly every moment into an opportunity for progress. When your child is developmentally behind, letting them wander through the backyard, play independently, or engage in an activity without a therapeutic objective can almost feel irresponsible.But play has value precisely because it isn’t always directed toward an outcome. Children need opportunities to rest, explore, consolidate what they’re learning, follow their interests, and experience connection without constantly being asked to perform. And sometimes one of the most powerful ways to connect with a nonverbal child isn’t asking them to enter our world at all. It’s entering theirs. Watch what brings them joy. Sit beside them. Pick up the object they’re fascinated by. Repeat the movement. Listen to the song. Join the play. Because before we decide what a child needs to learn next, we may need to become much better at seeing the child who is already in front of us. In This Episode00:00 – Why INCHSTONES looks at the whole child01:45 – Dr. Amy See's background in developmental psychology and learning support02:45 – Why every child begins to make more sense when we understand what they need03:25 – Observing children before trying to change them03:55 – Nature and nervous system regulation04:55 – Why environment can completely change a child's behavior05:55 – Non-speaking autism, apraxia, and what children can demonstrate06:45 – Why calm environments can reveal different abilities08:05 – Developmental age versus ch...
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  Your Child Isn't the Only One Dysregulated: Special Needs Parenting with Stacey Uhrig 26.08.2026 33min

  Special needs parenting can keep a caregiver's nervous system on high alert long after the immediate crisis has passed. In this episode of the INCHSTONES Podcast, Sarah Kernion talks with Stacey Uhrig, founder of Flip Your Mindset, about caregiver burnout, nervous system regulation, chronic stress, and what happens to parents after years of caring for children with significant support needs. Autism families spend enormous amounts of time learning about their children.Communication. Behavior. Sensory needs. Therapies. Education. Regulation. But Sarah and Stacey turn the lens around and ask a different question: What happens to the parent? Stacey explains why parenthood can expose coping strategies and patterns that may have been operating quietly for decades. Perfectionism. People pleasing. Conflict avoidance. Caretaking. Deprioritizing yourself to meet everyone else's needs. Those adaptations may once have served a purpose. But combine them with the demands of special needs parenting, nonverbal autism, intensive caregiving, and chronic uncertainty, and caregivers can eventually feel like a shell of who they once were. Stacey introduces the idea of the “invisible backpack” we each carry: our lived experiences, the meaning we've assigned to them, what we've learned to believe about ourselves and others, and the coping strategies we've developed along the way. Sometimes we're still carrying things that no longer belong in the backpack.Sarah and Stacey explore what happens when those old patterns collide with the extraordinary demands of raising a child with disabilities—and why caregiver wellness isn't another responsibility parents should feel guilty about failing to accomplish. It's part of sustaining yourself for the long haul. They also explore parts work and polyvagal theory, including how Stacey uses these frameworks with clients to understand stress responses, anxiety, overwhelm, shutdown, perfectionism, people pleasing, and the feeling so many adults describe as: “I don't even know who I am anymore.” And then there's co-regulation. Sarah shares how raising children with profound support needs has forced her to recognize something uncomfortable but powerful: her children experience her regulation, too.The morning routine still happens. The pull-up still needs changing. Teeth still need brushing. Transitions still need navigating. A parent's internal state doesn't erase the child's disability, but it can influence the environment in which both parent and child are trying to function. Stacey describes this as an invitation to stop believing the only solution is changing the child. Sometimes the environment changes when we change how we enter it. This is not another conversation telling exhausted special needs parents to meditate, take a bath, or add one more item to their self-care checklist. It's a conversation about understanding what's happening inside you. Because caregiver burnout isn't always evidence that you're incapable of carrying your life. Sometimes it's information about how long your body has been carrying it.Learn more about Stacey Uhrig and Flip Your Mindset, including her work around nervous system regulation, parts work, trauma, and personal transformation. WEBSITE: www.flipyourmindset.com● PODCAST: www.flipyourmindset.com/podcast● INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/staceyuhrig● LINKED IN: www.linkedin.com/in/staceyuhrig● YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/@flipyourmindset● BRAINZ MAG ARTICLES -www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/stacey-uhrig Stacey Uhrig is a Certified Trauma Care Practitioner and Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner, as well as the host of the Flip Your Mindset podcast. She is the creator of The Calm CodeTM, an 8-week program to help individuals heal anxiety from within, and the HURRTTM Survey, a tool to assess hidden stress and res...
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  Stop Looking for Someone to Tell You What to Do: Autism Parenting with Len Arcuri 21.08.2026 33min

  What if one of the most powerful things you can do for your autistic child is stop waiting for someone else to have all the answers? In this episode of INCHSTONES, Sarah Kernion sits down with Len Arcuri, founder and host of the Autism Parenting Secrets podcast, for an honest conversation about special needs parenting, nonverbal autism, caregiver stories, root causes, and learning to trust what you observe in your own child. After his son was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe autism at 18 months, Len didn't want to become an autism expert. He didn't particularly want to be curious, either. He wanted what so many parents want after an autism diagnosis: someone to tell him what to do. Years later, Len sees that differently. He and Sarah explore why curiosity, humility, critical thinking, and open-mindedness can become some of the most important tools in special needs parenting. Parents don't need to know everything about autism. But they can learn to observe their child carefully, ask better questions, evaluate options thoughtfully, and become active participants in decisions about their child's health, communication, regulation, education, and support.The conversation goes deeper into root cause thinking and why Len believes parents should keep asking why. Why is communication difficult? Why is my child dysregulated? Why are certain behaviors occurring? Why isn't something working? For Len, root cause thinking isn't about finding one universal explanation for autism or one treatment that works for every child. It's about remaining curious about the individual child standing in front of you and making thoughtful decisions about where to focus limited time, energy, and resources. Sarah and Len also talk about something especially complicated for families navigating nonverbal autism, profound support needs, and special needs parenting: Can you fully accept your child as they are while still wanting more for them? Len shares candidly that he once confused acceptance with giving up. Looking back, he realized he was deeply attached to the future version of his son he hoped would emerge rather than fully accepting the child in front of him. Eventually, he discovered that the two ideas didn't have to compete. A parent can completely love and accept their child today while continuing to pursue better health, communication, regulation, connection, and quality of life. They also examine the parent's side of the equation.Caregiver stress isn't only about finding the next autism therapy or intervention. Sometimes the most important change begins with how a parent navigates uncertainty—their beliefs, nervous system, decision-making, expectations, and ability to stay grounded when they don't know what happens next.And that may be one of the greatest lessons of caregiver stories like Len's: parents don't need certainty to move forward.They need curiosity, discernment and the humility to change course when new information emerges.And they need to recognize that the years they've spent observing their child have given them knowledge that deserves a place at the table. Len Arcuri is a Private Strategic Advisor to parents navigating autism and other complex developmental challenges. After more than two decades in financial leadership as a CPA, CFO, and Six Sigma Master Black Belt, his son's autism diagnosis redirected his life's work. Drawing on nearly two decades of lived experience and more than 300 conversations with leading experts as host of the top 1% Autism Parenting Secrets podcast, Len helps parents think clearly, make better decisions, and lead with greater confidence. He believes parents are the single greatest force multiplier in a child's life. ResourcesListen to Len Arcuri's Autism Parenting Secrets podcast and learn more about his individualized advisory work with autism parents. Al...
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  Who Speaks for Profound Autism? The Fight Over the Future of Autism Research with Tyler Hudson & Olivia Rojo 18.08.2026 34min

  Who gets represented when the government decides the future of autism research? In this episode of INCHSTONES, Sarah Kernion is joined by advocates Tyler Hudson and Olivia Rojo for an urgent conversation about profound autism, caregiver stories, special needs parenting, and the families asking federal autism research to better reflect people with the most significant support needs. At the center of the conversation is the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) and its working draft for the next federal autism strategic plan. Sarah, Tyler, and Olivia discuss why the proposal has generated such intense debate—and why families raising children with profound autism believe this moment could help bring greater attention to a population they say has too often been missing from autism research.But this conversation goes far beyond one government document.What should autism research be trying to understand? Should researchers investigate causes, regression, medical complexity, communication challenges, gastrointestinal problems and other co-occurring conditions? How do we improve quality of life for autistic people today while still investigating the most disabling presentations of autism?And perhaps most importantly: who speaks for autistic people who cannot advocate for themselves? Tyler and Olivia discuss the tension between autism self-advocacy and parent advocacy, including their concern that conversations about autism acceptance can sometimes fail to represent families living with profound disability. They argue that acknowledging severe disability does not diminish an autistic person's dignity—and that accepting an autistic person and wanting to understand the causes of their suffering are not mutually exclusive. Olivia also shares the reality behind her advocacy: she is moving to another state seeking better care for her daughter while leaving her older daughter behind. Her family's experience opens a larger conversation about autism sibling dynamics, caregiver stress, profound care needs, and what happens when today's siblings become tomorrow's next of kin.Tyler shares his own family's experience trying to understand his son's recurring gastrointestinal problems and the exhaustion of parents being told, once again, that they are essentially responsible for experimenting, observing, adjusting, and trying to determine what helps their child.The three also confront a difficult reality of nonverbal autism and special needs parenting: much of the labor and suffering involved is invisible to people who have never lived it. Families may navigate dysregulation, communication barriers, medical issues, hypervigilance, sibling impact, and uncertainty about lifelong care—while simultaneously being criticized for talking publicly about those realities. This isn't a conversation asking for pity.It's a conversation asking for visibility, research, better systems, and the willingness to remain curious about what we still don't understand about autism. As Sarah says near the end of the episode: Severity is not the opposite of dignity. Families can fully love and accept an autistic person while still asking why they are suffering, what medicine may be missing, and what science still needs to understand.In This Episode00:00 — Why Sarah, Tyler and Olivia came together for this conversation01:55 — What families should understand about the IACC working draft03:25 — “Autism is not a reason to stop looking”03:50 — Profound autism and representation in autism research06:35 — Why visibility matters for families with significant support needs07:05 — Olivia's decision to move states seeking better care for her daughter08:45 — Profound autism, terminology and representation09:50 — Who advocates for autistic people who cannot self-advocate?14:05 — What the proposed autism research framewor...
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  What Fiction Can Teach Us About Special Needs Parenting | Jacqueline Friedland, Author of Breathing Underwater 14.08.2026 22min

  What can fiction reveal about special needs parenting that facts and statistics sometimes cannot? In this episode of INCHSTONES, Sarah Kernion talks with author Jacqueline Friedland about Breathing Underwater, her new novel exploring autism, caregiving, adolescence, independence, identity, and the extraordinary power of having one person who refuses to stop believing in you.Jacqueline was raised by a professor of special education and began writing fiction in part because she believed stories could create empathy and help people see experiences outside their own. In Breathing Underwater, that mission takes shape through Leo, a 16-year-old autistic boy, and McKenna, a college swimmer whose seemingly successful life is quietly falling apart.Their relationship raises questions that will feel deeply familiar to many special needs parents: How much support is enough? When does helping become holding on too tightly? How do we prepare autistic children for adulthood when so many services disappear after high school? And how do we learn to live without certainty about what comes next? Sarah and Jacqueline also discuss the enormous importance of swimming and water safety for autistic children, including the elevated risk of drowning that helped inspire Jacqueline's novel. Their conversation moves beyond statistics, though, into the sensory and emotional experience of water—and the connection, regulation, and joy that can sometimes exist there. They also explore caregiver stories, maternal identity, invisible labor, the desire to control every variable, and the difficult practice of allowing other people to help. Jacqueline shares one of the central realizations she had while developing Leo: difference does not automatically mean something needs to be fixed. A child's challenges and strengths can coexist, and autism cannot be reduced to one universal experience or one universal solutioAt its heart, this conversation is about support—not saving someone by changing who they are, but becoming the person who remains beside them while they discover what they're capable of.In This Episode01:30 — Why Jacqueline chose fiction to tell stories that matter03:00 — Writing an autistic teenager instead of a young autistic child05:00 — The “services cliff” after high school and preparing for adulthood06:00 — How much support is too much—or not enough?07:45 — Why one person believing in a child can change everything09:45 — Autism, swimming, water safety, and drowning risk11:15 — The sensory experience of being underwater13:00 — Caregiving and the realization that not everyone needs to be “fixed”15:30 — Invisible labor, motherhood, stress, and learning to relinquish control18:30 — McKenna, college-student homelessness, and what happens without a support system20:00 — Why there is no “struggle Olympics” in parenting21:00 — Finding beautifully typical moments inside nonverbal autism22:30 — Why caregiver stories can increase empathy and change how we see one anotherJacqueline Friedland is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction. After earning degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and NYU Law School and practicing as a commercial litigator, she received her MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Her novels have earned multiple honors, including Readers’ Favorite Gold Medals, a Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of the Year selection, and a SheReads Best Book Club Pick. Her sixth novel, Breathing Under Water, arrives from Harper Muse in August 2026 following acclaim from Booklist, People, Zibby Owens, and the Jewish Joy Book Club. She lives in Westchester, New York.Read Jacqueline Friedland's Breathing Underwater, a novel exploring autism, caregiving, identity, swimming, sup...
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  Autism Advocacy: Why Access to Care Matters More Than Ever | Dr. John Gaitanis on Meadow 06.08.2026 8min

  What happens when families know a treatment could help their child—but can't access it? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with pediatric neurologist Dr. John Gaitanis to discuss autism advocacy, autism therapy options, and why Meadow was created to help families access individualized care beyond a diagnosis.For many families, an autism diagnosis is only the beginning. The harder question often comes next: Where do we go from here? In this follow-up conversation, Sarah Kernion and pediatric neurologist Dr. John Gaitanis explore why so many parents struggle to access testing, treatments, and physicians willing to investigate the underlying biology affecting their child's health and development. Together, they discuss the vision behind Meadow, a telehealth platform designed to expand access to physician-guided care for autistic children and families. Dr. Gaitanis explains why treatments such as leucovorin, gut microbiome testing, mitochondrial support, and other evidence-informed interventions are often difficult for families to obtain—even when research demonstrates safety and potential benefit. Rather than promoting a single solution, he describes a whole-child approach that asks a different question:What is preventing this child from feeling and functioning at their best? Sarah and Dr. G also discuss communication, pain, nervous system regulation, caregiver advocacy, and why behavior should never be viewed in isolation. For many non-speaking autistic individuals, behaviors such as aggression or self-injury may be expressions of untreated pain, inflammation, sensory challenges, or an inability to communicate effectively. Looking beyond behaviors and searching for root causes has the potential to improve quality of life for both children and their families.  Whether you're beginning your autism diagnosis journey or looking for additional autism support resources, this episode encourages families to ask better questions, seek individualized care, and remain open to evidence-based approaches that prioritize the whole child.Resources Learn more about Meadow Health and Dr. John Gaitanis' work in individualized autism care. Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and neurodivergent parenting, featuring physicians, researchers, caregivers, and advocates working to improve the lives of autistic individuals and their families.
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  What a Special Education Teacher Taught Me About Presuming Competence | Zack Ponder 04.08.2026 28min

  Castos DescriptionEpisode SummaryWhat 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 DescriptionBefore 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.txtTXTThe 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 competencecaregiver stories from both the classroom and homeneurodivergent parenting and emotional regulationprofound autism care and communicationautism education strategiescaregiver mental health and nervous system regulationfatherhood and disability caregivingspecial education advocacywhy connection matters more than compliancefinding hope through everyday inchstonesWhether 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 Episode02:30 — Why Zack left special education but never left the mission05:00 — What profound autism taught him about seeing the unseen08:00 — Caregiver burnout and protecting your nervous system11:00 — Co-regulation begins with the parent14:00 — Presuming competence in non-speaking children17:00 — The classroom story that changed everything20:00 — Fathers, strength, and disability parenting24:00 — Why advocacy should create collaboration—not conflict27:00 — Finding hope in the smallest everyday momentsResourcesLearn 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.
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  Caregiver Stories: Telling the Truth About Disability Without Losing Hope | Elyse Davis 24.07.2026 32min

  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 conversationsautism advocacy beyond labelsneurodivergent parenting and complex diagnosescaregiver emotional supportnavigating IEPs and educational advocacysibling relationships in disability familiesgrief, resilience, and acceptancewhy hope grows stronger when it's built on truthWhether 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 Episode02:00 — Why Elyse stopped sugarcoating disability parenting06:30 — Holding grief and joy at the same time10:45 — Raising neurotypical and disabled siblings under one roof15:30 — Living between diagnoses and not fitting into one community20:00 — Sign language, communication, and trusting your child's strengths25:00 — Navigating IEPs and advocating within broken systems30:00 — Why caregivers must trust what they see34:00 — 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.
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  Caregiver Stories: What My Daughter's Disability Taught Me About Living with Evan Rosenblum 22.07.2026 32min

  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 Episode02:00 — Sydney's birth at 25 weeks and surviving 143 days in the NICU06:15 — Identity, work, and trying to hold onto a "normal" life09:30 — Processing grief after a life-changing diagnosis13:00 — Why fathers experience caregiving differently17:15 — Anger, healing, and emotional recovery21:00 — Raising siblings alongside children with disabilities25:00 — Inclusion, friendship, and changing the next generation29:00 — Adventure, surfing, Disney, and giving children full lives33:00 — Living in the present instead of fearing the future ResourcesLearn 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.
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  Parent the Child, Not the Diagnosis | Nora Canzoneri on Autism, Acceptance, and Letting Go 10.07.2026 32min

  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. ⸻ 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. ⸻ 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 ⸻ 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.
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  Caregiver Stories: Choosing Love Through the Unexpected Journey of Motherhood with Valerie Probstfeld 07.07.2026 27min

  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.
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  Beyond the Autism Diagnosis: Seeing the Child Before the Label | Dr. John Gaitanis 30.06.2026 39min

  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 conditions07:30 — Maternal pattern recognition and why caregivers often notice problems first10:05 — Systems thinking versus siloed medicine in autism care14:00 — Why two autistic children can have completely different biological profiles18:15 — Artificial intelligence and the future of autism diagnosis and personalized medicine21:05 — Whole-body dyspraxia, motor planning, and autism communication27:20 — How physicians can move beyond diagnostic labels to see the whole child35:45 — Caregiver burnout, chronic stress, and protecting parent health41:05 — 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.
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  Autism Fatherhood: When My Son Brought Me to My Knees | Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage 25.06.2026 32min

  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. ⸻ In This Episode 00:00 – Introducing Tommy and Spectrum in Camouflage02:00 – Becoming a father after years of waiting04:00 – Wyatt’s autism regression and losing language06:00 – Anxiety, mental health, and feeling powerless08:00 – The mountain where everything changed10:00 – Why autism brought Tommy to his knees12:00 – Faith, surrender, and finding purpose through autism15:00 – Success versus significance in fatherhood17:00 – The hidden expectations parents carry19:00 – Why inchstones matter more than milestones21:00 – Learning to see growth differently23:00 – Autism, communication, and presence beyond words25:00 – Living where your boots are: staying present today28:00 – Parenting typical and autistic children differently31:00 – Mental health, nervous system regulation, and resilience33:00 – 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.
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  Why Autism Moms Never Stop Listening for Footsteps with Libby Hudson 16.06.2026 28min

  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 stress02:00 – Reading nonverbal communication through behavior and body language04:00 – The death of Lyric’s grandfather and profound grief05:30 – When autism, adolescence, and loss collide07:00 – Aggression, dysregulation, and fear inside the home08:30 – The emotional toll of surviving crisis mode10:00 – Why caregiving changed Libby’s health forever11:30 – A stroke, burnout, and the body keeping score13:00 – Marriage under pressure and redefining family roles15:00 – Learning to ask for what you need17:00 – Why flexibility matters in autism families19:00 – Autism, relationships, and nervous system regulation21:00 – The hidden emotional labor of autism motherhood23:00 – Why support systems matter more than services alone25:00 – Receiving an autism diagnosis 18 years ago27:00 – Grief, acceptance, and adapting to reality29:00 – The lessons profound autism has taught about life and love31:00 – 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.
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  Horses, Autism, and the Healing Power of Nature | Dana Spett of Pony Power Therapies 11.06.2026 26min

  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 Therapies01:00 – Dana’s journey as a social worker and autism mom02:30 – Following maternal intuition instead of rushing to medication04:00 – Why trusting your gut matters in autism parenting05:30 – Equine-assisted services and empowering families06:30 – How autistic children respond to horses and nature08:00 – Sensory regulation through movement and rhythm09:30 – Why horses provide unique nervous system support11:00 – Nature, regulation, and the family system13:00 – Beyond traditional talk therapy approaches14:30 – The role of nature in mental health and autism support16:00 – Nonverbal communication and connection beyond words17:30 – Why leaving the house feels impossible for some families19:00 – Supporting dysregulated autistic children without judgment21:00 – Creating safe spaces for neurodivergent families23:30 – The autism service cliff after age 2125:00 – Farming, employment, and meaningful purpose for autistic adults27:00 – 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 adultswith disabilities or life challenges to the wonders of horses, farming and nature. Dana hasdedicated herself to creating an inclusive and transformative environment guided by nature.Recognizing the power of nature to promote resilience and personal growth, Dana ensures thatPony Power Therapies embodies...
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  What If It’s Not Behavior? Understanding Whole Body Apraxia in Autism with Dr. Dana Johnson 09.06.2026 31min

  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 observation02:00 – Why parents are often dismissed by professionals04:15 – The story that led Dr. Johnson to rethink autism therapy05:45 – What whole body apraxia actually means07:15 – Understanding motor planning and communication barriers08:00 – Why behavior does not always reflect understanding09:30 – The backpack example: motor planning in daily life11:00 – Typical childhood behavior versus apraxia12:30 – Why presuming competence matters14:00 – How professionals unintentionally limit autistic children16:00 – Reading ability, communication, and hidden competence17:00 – Regulation, sensory overwhelm, and motor control19:00 – Why parents must regulate themselves first21:00 – The invisible pressure placed on mothers23:00 – Co-regulation and caregiver support25:00 – Building confidence through small wins and inchstones28:00 – Supporting parents, not just children30:00 – 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...