Inchstones by Saturday's Story

About Inchstones by Saturday's Story

INCHSTONES is a podcast about caregiver stories, nonverbal autism, and the realities of special needs parenting—hosted by Sarah Kernion, a mother raising two children with profound, non-speaking autism. Here, we talk honestly about the parts of autism and disability parenting that don't always fit neatly into an inspirational story: caregiver burnout, grief and acceptance, communication, sensory needs, advocacy, family dynamics, therapies, education, sibling relationships, and the uncertainty of raising children with significant support needs. But INCHSTONES is also about learning to recognize progress differently. Because when you're parenting a child with profound or nonverbal autism, the moments that change everything aren't always traditional milestones. Sometimes they're the inchstones: a new form of communication, a regulated transition, a moment of connection, a life skill practiced for the hundredth time, or something your child does today that once felt impossible. Through candid caregiver stories and conversations with parents, physicians, therapists, researchers, educators, advocates, and autistic voices, Sarah explores the questions families are actually asking about autism, special needs parenting, profound autism care, autism communication, caregiver mental health, autism therapy options, special education, sensory support, and life beyond childhood. There are no perfect answers here. There are real families, complicated conversations, practical insights, hard truths, unexpected joy, and a community that understands that progress doesn't have to look typical to matter. If you're raising an autistic child, parenting a nonverbal or nonspeaking child, navigating profound support needs, or looking for honest conversations about special needs family life, welcome to INCHSTONES. Because milestones aren't the only measure of a meaningful life.

Publisher

Sarah Kernion | Profound Autism Mom and Caregiver Advocate

Category

kids & family · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jan 2025

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

132 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   The Parts of Profound Autism We Don't Say Out Loud | Jillian Eisloeffel

   There are parts of profound autism that rarely make it into public conversation. Severe self-injury. Medical complexity. The fear of not being able to keep your child safe. And the isolation that comes when the world has no idea what life inside your home actually looks like. Jillian Eisloeffel, founder of Bobby's World Profound Autism Advocacy, joins Sarah Kernion for an intimate conversation between two mothers raising children with profound autism. Jillian shares how her son Bob began engaging in severe self-injurious behavior seemingly overnight, changing their family's life and beginning a difficult search for medical answers. She describes the emotional toll of trying to protect him, the barriers to accessing care, and what it means to advocate without a dependable support system. But this conversation is also about the joy of watching Bob reconnect with the world around him, and the profound meaning Jillian finds in the smallest moments of his life. Together, Sarah and Jillian explore why mothers share difficult stories publicly, why caregivers with the greatest responsibilities are often missing from advocacy spaces, and how we might build communities that meet families where they actually are. They also discuss the complicated relationship between honesty and advocacy: how to acknowledge the profound disability our children experience without diminishing their dignity, intelligence or humanity. Because loving our children completely does not require us to pretend that their lives, or ours, are easy. Honesty about profound autism isn't the opposite of love. Sometimes honesty is precisely what love requires. Guest: Jillian Eisloeffel | Bobby's World Profound Autism AdvocacyHost: Sarah Kernion | INCHSTONES PodcastMore conversations: www.inchstonespodcast.com

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Belonging Is More Than Being Allowed in the Room | Brooks Herring on Disability & Music

   What does disability inclusion look like when nobody is trying to make a statement—they're simply helping someone fully enjoy the moment?Nashville singer-songwriter, Navy veteran and former physical therapist Brooks Herring joins Sarah Kernion after a video of him singing a young woman's favorite song directly to her reached millions of people. Brooks shares how his relationship with disability was shaped by his younger brother Mark, who has Down syndrome, and why music has become one of the ways he creates connection across disability, veterans' communities and live audiences. Sarah and Brooks talk about accessible experiences, controlling the environment when outings feel overwhelming, the power of favorite songs and why the smallest moments can become enormous.Because belonging isn't simply being allowed into the room. It's getting to fully live in the room once you're there. Topics Discussed:disability inclusion, disability family stories, sibling relationships, Down syndrome, special needs siblings, inclusive communities, music and disability, accessible live music, disability advocacy, nonverbal communication, caregiver experiences, sensory-friendly outings, community participation, sibling advocacy, veterans, physical rehabilitation, joy, belonging, inclusion, sobriety, role models and meaningful moments. Key Questions Answered1. What does authentic disability inclusion look like in everyday life?2. How did having a brother with Down syndrome shape Brooks Herring's perspective?3. Why did Brooks' interaction with a young woman with disabilities resonate with millions of people?4. What can music offer when spoken language isn't the primary form of connection?5. How can caregivers make live music experiences more accessible or manageable?6. Why can quieter times and smaller environmental changes make community participation easier?7. What can artists do to help people with disabilities feel genuinely welcome?8. Why are seemingly small moments sometimes enormous for people with disabilities and their families?9. What's the difference between access and belonging?10. How can siblings and allies become meaningful advocates without making disability about themselves?ResourcesBrooks HerringFollow Brooks Herring for his music, live performances and work connecting with audiences through music.Watch the Viral VideoINCHSTONES Podcast Subscribe to the INCHSTONES Podcast for caregiver stories and honest conversations about special needs parenting, profound autism, disability, inclusion, communication, caregiver wellbeing and building meaningful lives for people with significant support needs.

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Who Will Care for My Child When I Can’t? Building a Future for Profound Autism with Nicole Milo

   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?

Who has been a guest on Inchstones by Saturday's Story

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Michelle Dempsey-Multack
• Andrea Li
• Sunita Theiss
• Greg Scaduto
• Bridgett Burrek-Brown

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

97

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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