Autism Changemakers Podcast

  I originally recorded this episode in February 2024 for my previous podcast, The Full Potential: Thriving with Neurodiversities Podcast. I am bringing it here because every parent in this community deserves to hear it.   If IEP meetings have ever left you feeling intimidated, dismissed, or unsure of what your child is entitled to, this episode is going to change how you walk into that room.  I i...

 If self-care feels like one more thing on a list that is already too long, this episode is going to change how you think about it entirely.  I kept watching parents of autistic and neurodiverse children pour everything into their kids, their families, their advocacy, and leave nothing for themselves. Whether your child is nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or anywhere on the spectrum, I knew from m...

 This episode of the Autism Changemakers Podcast is one I have been waiting to record for a long time.  Yesterday, my 16-year-old son Rocco walked into his own IEP meeting and addressed his educational team directly using his letterboard. He looked around the room at the people who have worked with him and spelled: I am so grateful to all of you for helping me become the highest version of myself....

 If puberty has felt like a topic you are not ready for, not sure how to approach, or convinced your child cannot understand, this episode of the Autism Changemakers Podcast is going to change how you think about all of it.  I invited Laura Holland, founder of All Ability Wellness and sexuality educator with over 25 years of experience, to talk about the topic most parents of non-speaking children...

 If food has felt like a battlefield in your home, this episode of the Autism Changemakers Podcast is going to feel like someone finally turned the lights on.  I invited my dear friend and fellow autism parent Betsy Hicks Russ to join me for this conversation. Betsy has 30 years of experience working with picky eaters, is a podcaster on the Telepathy Tapes Now What series, and is also the mom of J...

 If your non-speaking autistic child is learning to spell, or you're looking for a provider and don't know what to look for, this episode of the Autism Changemakers Podcast is essential listening.  I am a Level 2 RPM provider and I have been supporting families on the spelling journey for years, including raising my own son Rocco, who is 16 and four years into communicating with a letter...

If you're parenting a non-speaking autistic child and you've never heard the word interoception before, this episode of the Autism Changemakers Podcast is where to start.  I sat down with Daria Kotenko, mom to nine-year-old open speller Raphael and creator of Spelling the Tea on Autism, to talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention in our world: the inner body exp...

 If you've ever shared something vulnerable about your non-speaking child on social media, or felt the pull to, this episode is for you.  I recorded this for the Autism Changemakers Podcast because I saw a post recently from a mom I respect deeply. She shared an honest, graceful moment after an intense day with her son. It was beautiful. And it also made something rise up in me that I knew I...

 If your non-speaking autistic child is making real progress — and you still can't enjoy it — this episode is for you.  I recorded this because I see it constantly in my work with parents of non-speakers. The spelling is improving. The sleep is better. The hard moments are fewer. And yet you're still bracing. Still scanning. Still waiting for something to go wrong. And then comes the gui...

 If you're a dad of a non-speaking autistic child who's been quietly carrying this alone — or a mom who wishes the dad in your child's life had more support — this episode is for you.  I invited Dr. Jonathan Chism, co-founder and president of the Autism Dads Social Club, to come on the Autism Changemakers Podcast and talk about something deeply underserved in our world: the experien...

 If you've ever asked another autism parent — what's the one thing that made the biggest difference for your child? — this episode is my honest answer.  People ask me all the time: Sara, what's the thing that transformed Rocco's journey? What's the magic bullet?  And I tell them: consistency.  Sometimes they're relieved. Sometimes they're disappointed. Because we...

 If you're parenting a non-speaking autistic child, there's a space you might be in right now that almost nobody is talking about.  You don't trust the system anymore. You've seen the gaps. You've watched experts underestimate your child and hand you a piece of paper that looks nothing like the child you know.  But you haven't fully stepped into trusting yourself yet...

 If you're parenting a non-speaking autistic child and your letterboard journey feels messy and nothing like the polished videos you see on social media — this episode is for you.  Jennifer Kenny, an Autism Changemakers member and mom to 15-year-old Sarah, joined me just one week after something extraordinary happened: Sarah spelled her very first open-ended sentence. After years of doubt, de...

 If you're parenting a non-speaking autistic child and you've ever looked at someone else's life and thought — how are they okay when I'm barely holding it together — this episode is for you.  I recorded this one because of a conversation I had with one of my Autism Changemakers members. She's in a really hard season right now, and she asked me something that stopped me in...

 If you’re raising a child with non-speaking autism and Autism Awareness Month doesn’t feel supportive, I want you to know you’re not alone.  In this episode, I’m sharing why April can feel so heavy for parents of non-speaking and minimally speaking autistic children—and what I do to protect my energy during this time. I talk about the impact of online advocacy, nervous system regulation, and why...

 If you’re parenting a child with non-speaking autism and feel like you’re constantly advocating for more than the system expects, this episode will resonate deeply.  In this conversation, Sara Intonato speaks with educator, researcher, and parent Dr. Vaish Sarathy about why many traditional life skills classrooms limit non-speaking and minimally speaking students—and why separating communication,...

 If you’ve been searching for non-verbal autism help or support for raising a non-speaking autistic child, this episode is for you.  This episode is part of The Quiet Work That Changes Everything — a mini-series for parents of non-speaking autistic children who want to move from survival to presence — and enjoy their kids again.  Parenting a non-speaking autistic child can feel overwhelming in way...

 If you’re parenting a non-speaking autistic child and feel like you have to hold everything together, this episode is for you.  This episode is part of The Quiet Work That Changes Everything — a mini-series for parents of non-speaking autistic children who want to move from survival to presence — and enjoy their kids again.  So many parents of non-speaking kids live in a constant state of respons...

If you’re raising a non-speaking autistic child and feel like you’re barely surviving, this episode is for you.  This episode is part of The Quiet Work That Changes Everything — a mini-series for parents of non-speaking autistic children who want to move from survival to presence — and enjoy their kids again.  In this final part of our non-verbal autism help series, we talk honestly about support...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and colleague Austin, a seasoned spelling coach and fellow parent, to crack open what it really means to live the spelling lifestyle with non-speaking children. I dive into: How Austin journeyed from traditional autism therapies to embracing spelling as a transformative, everyday practice The unseen (and often surprising) ways our assumptions get challeng...

 In this episode, we step into the transformative experience of walking the Camino de Santiago—not as a romanticized pilgrimage, but as a raw journey of self-discovery, nervous system healing, and collective support.  We explore:  How changing your environment uncovers patterns, perspectives, and truths you can’t access when you stay put  Why movement and walking in nature provide insights that si...

 In this episode, we peel back the curtain on the hidden world of lead exposure and the far-reaching impact it can have—often where you least expect it.  I explore:  How my personal journey with my autistic son sparked a relentless search for answers about environmental toxins  Eric Ritter’s unexpected path from drug testing kits to pioneering at-home lead detection  Eye-opening truths about where...

 In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of healing and transformation with Alessandra Miele—a parent, clinician, and functional medicine health coach.  I explore:  How Alessandra’s intuition and background in yoga guided her through her son’s recovery from autism using biomedical interventions What it really looks like to navigate overwhelm, guilt, and non-linear healing as a family ...

 In this episode, we dive into the often-unspoken pattern of parents investing everything into their autistic non speakers—while neglecting their own needs.  I explore:  Why self-worth and victim mentality quietly shape how parents prioritize their child over themselves The hidden cost of martyrdom and chronic burnout Fresh strategies for expanding your time, energy, and resources so you AND your...

 In this episode, I dive deep into the realities of surviving—and actually enjoying—the holiday season as a parent of a non-speaker.  I explore:  Why I choose “joyful chaos” over overwhelm, and how you can create it in your own home My go-to strategies for sticking to protocols that support my child's well-being, especially when routines go out the window How daily brain games and co-regulati...