Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Advocacy & Caregiver Stories

Who will care for my child when I can't? For parents raising children with profound autism, the question of adulthood can feel impossibly far away—until suddenly it isn't. Nicole Milo's son Caleb entered residential care at five and spent 17 years living hours from his family. As adulthood approached, Nicole confronted the disability-services cliff and realized the existing options didn't match the life she envisioned for him. So she began building another one. Nicole joins Sarah Kernion to discuss profound autism, residential care, guardianship, adult services, caregiver grief, advocacy, collaboration and House of Hope, the micro-residential model she created to bring Caleb back to his community. This is a conversation about planning long before 21—and allowing ourselves to ask a question many exhausted parents have stopped asking: What would the best possible adult life for my child actually look like? Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction to Nicole Milo and House of Hope(00:01:21) - The emotional toll of raising a child with profound autism(00:03:37) - Sending Caleb to residential school and the guilt of distance(00:05:59) - Learning to surrender and trust caregivers(00:07:16) - Deciding to build a solution before the cliff hits(00:09:28) - Facing fear and committing to action despite uncertainty(00:12:00) - Faith, grace, and pushing through weakness(00:13:27) - Collaborative advocacy instead of adversarial fighting(00:16:10) - Give and take with schools and agencies(00:18:38) - Facing judgment from the community over resources(00:20:20) - The transition cliff and guardianship challenges(00:21:22) - Designing the micro residential model and staffing gaps(00:24:18) - Helping other families find hope and vision(00:27:25) - Closing reflections and gratitude

Parents of neurodivergent children become extraordinary observers. We notice what happened before the meltdown, how our child slept, what changed at school, which transition was difficult and what worked last time. The problem? We're also exhausted...and much of that knowledge lives entirely inside our heads. Allison Dickin, mother, UX researcher and founder of Neuraparent, joins Sarah Kernion to explore how AI can help parents recognize patterns without pretending technology knows their child better than they do. They discuss behavior as information, why generic parenting advice often fails neurodivergent children, reducing the cognitive load of tracking, trusting parental expertise, and using technology to turn thousands of small observations into greater clarity. The goal isn't to optimize or “solve” our children. It's to remain curious about them and give what we're already noticing somewhere to live. Parents of neurodivergent children become data collectors almost by accident. We remember the difficult transition before a meltdown, the night of poor sleep, the food our child didn't eat, the strategy that worked twice but failed the third time, the teacher's observation and the subtle shift nobody else would necessarily notice. The information is valuable. The person carrying it is also exhausted Allison's path began with her own son. Generic advice about boundaries, consequences and rewards didn't adequately explain what she was seeing. A major shift came when she encountered Ross Greene's idea that children do well when they can. Instead of asking how to stop a behavior, Allison began asking what might be getting in her child's way.That same curiosity became foundational to Neuraparent. Rather than asking exhausted parents to maintain elaborate spreadsheets, the platform allows them to quickly record what they're noticing and, over time, look for larger patterns: What consistently helps this child? What makes things harder? Which parenting strategies seem to backfire?  Sarah and Allison also confront an important tension in the age of AI. More data isn't automatically better, and technology shouldn't become another demand for optimization. The promise isn't that an algorithm will know a child better than their parent. It's that technology might help organize what the parent already knows.Because parental intuition isn't the opposite of data. Often, it's where the data begins. Topics DiscussedNeurodivergent parenting, AI and parenting, parenting technology, pattern recognition, caregiver cognitive load, parental intuition, behavior as communication, ADHD parenting, autistic children, meltdowns, emotional regulation, caregiver regulation, parenting strategies, IEP advocacy, parent expertise, caregiver burnout, parenting data, child behavior patterns, individualized parenting, Ross Greene, collaborative parenting, caregiver confidence and tracking progress. Download NeuraParent Here and Get Started Today! Subscribe to the INCHSTONES Podcast for caregiver stories, conversations about nonverbal autism, and honest perspectives on special needs parenting, profound autism, communication, behavior, caregiver mental health, education, advocacy, technology and raising children with significant support needs. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction to Alison Dicken and Neuroparent(00:01:48) - Alison's Parenting Journey and Early Struggles(00:05:01) - Shifting Perspectives: Kids Do Well If They Can(00:06:41) - Believing Your Child and Trusting Your Observations(00:07:58) - Technology, Data Overload, and Optimization(00:09:18) - How Neuroparent's Check-In Feature Works(00:10:33) - Outsourcing Mental Load and Staying Regulated(00:12:05) - Parents as Experts and the Value of Validation(00:13:31) - Advocacy, Confidence, and Using Data to Empower Parents(00:15:39) - Vision for Neuroparent Across the Parenting Journey(00:17:06) - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

What should good ABA therapy actually look like in 2026? Leah Gross, founder of Circle Care Services and an occupational therapist and BCBA, joins Sarah Kernion to discuss how ABA has evolved and why autism therapy should be individualized, collaborative, compassionate, and built around the whole child.Leah brings sensory regulation, environment, play, communication, and behavior into the same conversation. She and Sarah discuss behavior as communication, why parents must help shape the care plan, how skills should generalize into real family life, and the difference between building agency and simply teaching compliance. For parents navigating ABA, the question becomes less “Is ABA good or bad?” and more: Does this therapy help my child communicate, feel safe, build meaningful skills, and participate more fully in their own life? Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Leah Gross and the Debate Around ABA(00:01:37) - Leah's Journey from OT to BCBA(00:05:35) - Blending OT and ABA: Seeing the Whole Child(00:08:59) - Founding Circle Care Services(00:11:15) - How Modern ABA Has Evolved(00:13:08) - What Excellent Modern ABA Looks Like(00:15:16) - Environment, Motivation, and Flexible Care Settings(00:19:25) - The Onboarding Process at Circle Care(00:21:09) - Care Coordinators and Continuity of Support(00:23:39) - Why Parent Involvement Is Central to Success(00:25:42) - Generalizing Skills Into Real Family Life(00:27:26) - Understanding Behavior as Communication(00:29:42) - Debunking ABA Myths and Embracing Child-Led Play(00:31:14) - Closing Thoughts: Goals, Growth, and Gratitude

When a nonspeaking autistic child can't reliably tell you their stomach hurts, they're exhausted, or something feels different, how do parents make sure everything happening in their body isn't simply attributed to autism? Greer McGuinness, registered dietitian, functional medicine practitioner, founder of Biomedical Healing for Kids, and autism mom, joins Sarah Kernion to explore that question. Greer shares her son's developmental regression, her search for answers, and why she began looking more closely at nutrition, gut health, testing, and co-occurring medical concerns.They discuss the tension between conventional and functional medicine, individualized care, caregiver observation, and why supporting a child's health doesn't require rejecting or trying to “fix” who they are.The question underneath it all: Are we looking at the whole child? In This Episode00:00 When everything gets attributed to autism01:31 Greer's son's early development and regression04:45 Receiving an autism diagnosis and questioning what changed05:34 Following the traditional autism therapy path06:23 The friend who introduced Greer to biomedical conversations07:48 Studying functional medicine and autism research09:16 Beginning supplements and noticing changes in her son10:36 Using data to track progress12:03 Where Greer starts with families: nutrition and gut health13:17 Co-occurring medical conditions versus “just autism”14:54 What do we actually know about the gut and autism?15:42 Why Greer wants conventional and functional medicine to work together16:40 Supporting health versus trying to “cure” autism18:20 Profound support needs and communication20:00 Why another family's success doesn't predict your child's response20:38 When a popular protocol made things worse for Greer's son21:40 Parent intuition, experimentation, and discernment22:35 Working with conventional and functional practitioners24:11 Why parents often look to doctors for permission25:03 When Greer disagreed with her developmental pediatrician27:30 Standard of care versus individualized care28:27 Looking at an autistic child's health isn't the same as trying to fix autism29:47 Greer's resources for familiesTopics DiscussedProfound autism, nonspeaking autism, developmental regression, functional medicine, biomedical approaches to autism, nutrition, gut health, gut microbiome, feeding challenges, constipation, sleep, co-occurring medical conditions, supplements, individualized care, caregiver observation, parent advocacy, conventional medicine, functional testing, autism research, and whole-child health.Key Questions Answered1. How can parents distinguish autism-related differences from possible medical problems?2. What does a biomedical or functional medicine approach to autism actually mean?3. Where does Greer suggest families begin when exploring whole-child health?4. Why does she focus on nutrition and gastrointestinal health?5. What can constipation, sleep changes, feeding issues, or behavior potentially tell parents?6. Why can the same supplement or protocol affect children differently?7. How can parents document changes rather than relying solely on memory?8. Can conventional and functional medicine work together?9. How can parents advocate when their clinician disagrees with an approach they want to explore?10. Can parents accept their autistic child while still investigating pain, discomfort, or co-occurring health problems? Resources Greer McGuinness holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Detox Specialist, Certified Master Herbalist, Certified Lyme Specialist, and a Certified Mental Health Specialist. Based in New York, she owns Biomedical Healing for Kids, a vi... Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Greer Guinness and the episode topic(00:01:07) - Her son's regression and diagnosis journey(00:03:00) - Being told 'this is just how autism presents'(00:06:20) - Discovering biomedical Facebook groups(00:07:44) - Diving into functional medicine and grad school research(00:09:16) - First breakthrough: son writing his ABCs(00:10:08) - Tracking data and measurable progress(00:11:13) - Where to start: gut health and nutrition foundations(00:13:10) - Co-occurring conditions vs 'just part of autism'(00:14:40) - Uncertainty in gut-brain science(00:15:41) - Bridging functional and mainstream medicine for kids(00:16:34) - Responding to 'different, not less' criticism(00:17:29) - A father's story of communication breakthrough(00:18:41) - Honoring maternal intuition and individualized data(00:19:46) - The Nemechek protocol experience: good, bad, and ugly(00:21:19) - Trusting mom gut instincts on treatments(00:22:27) - Advocating with pediatricians as a bridge(00:24:48) - Facing dismissiveness from a developmental pediatrician(00:26:50) - Demanding respect as a parent and clinician(00:27:22) - Standard of care vs individualized treatment(00:28:49) - Closing thoughts and resources

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... Chapters (00:00:01) - Introducing Jennifer Cohn Harper and anxiety in kids(00:02:10) - Reframing anxiety as information, not the enemy(00:05:16) - Distinguishing normal anxiety from overwhelming anxiety(00:07:42) - Reducing overstimulation and increasing connection(00:11:15) - Sensory anchors and orienting to what's real(00:14:38) - Parent self-regulation and co-regulating with kids(00:17:30) - Practicing imperfectly and building competence together(00:19:06) - Redefining success and milestones in parenting(00:21:50) - Presence over fixing in intense moments(00:25:06) - Modeling mindfulness as an ongoing practice(00:29:43) - Nervous system adaptability over calmness(00:31:36) - Asking 'what is my role right now?'(00:33:48) - Closing thoughts and Omega course details