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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 my own life exactly where that road leads. Yoga saved my life. When Rocco was diagnosed, when life felt too heavy to carry, it was the small daily deposits into my own energetic bank account that kept me standing. This episode is me handing you that same framework.  In this episode I talk about:  Why self-care has lost all meaning for most parents, and what to replace it with.The energetic bank account framework and why parents of autistic and neurodiverse children have higher withdrawals than anyone else, regardless of where their child falls on the spectrum.Why small deposits, a five minute walk, an extra glass of water, 15 minutes of movement, compound over time in ways that will surprise you.The research showing mothers of autistic children are 50% more likely to experience active depression symptoms than parents of neurotypical kids, and what to do about it today.Why the all-or-nothing mentality is quietly keeping you stuck.You make time for things you want to do. The question is whether you believe you are worth it.   If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com. Note: I originally recorded this episode in 2024 for my previous podcast, The Full Potential: Thriving with Neurodiversities Podcast. At the time, Rocco was 14. The content is timeless and I am bringing it here because every parent in this community deserves to hear it.   Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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.  I used to leave IEP meetings in tears. Fighting for the most basic things he deserved. Feeling like the system had all the power and we had none. Yesterday was something else entirely.  In this episode I talk about:  What Rocco said in that room and what it felt like to watch my nonspeaking son sit at the head of the table like he belonged there, because he does.Why this moment did not happen overnight, and what four years of slow, steady, cumulative progress in RPM and letterboard communication actually looks like from the inside.What changed in the tone of the meeting when Rocco was in the room, and why systems respond differently when a nonspeaking child has a voice they can no longer ignore.What Rocco has told us privately about wanting to earn a high school diploma and be held to a higher standard, and what it meant for him to finally tell his team that himself.Why the road feels impossibly slow while you are walking it, and what I want every parent still waiting for their breakthrough to know today.Rocco is not special because he is Rocco. He is special because he is human. And his story is simply evidence of what becomes possible when we presume competence, support communication, and refuse to give up.   Your child's story is still being written. Every single step matters. If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com. Support the show

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 desperately need and almost never receive real guidance on. Laura is not just an expert in her field. She is also the parent of an adult child with an intellectual and developmental disability. She has lived this.  I found her while frantically searching the internet for resources for my own son Rocco. I landed on her website and immediately exhaled.  In this episode we talk about:  Why what is happening in your non-speaking child's body during puberty is biologically identical to what is happening in their same-age neurotypical peers, and why that changes everything about where you start.Why watering down information based on perceived ability instead of biological age is one of the most common mistakes schools and parents make.How to start the conversation without having one big overwhelming talk, and what to say when your child asks something you are completely unprepared for.The private versus public framework that works especially well for neurodiverse kids, and why rules-based language lands better than shame.The resources that actually exist right now for families, from picture-based social stories to video tools designed specifically for neurodiverse learners. Your child deserves this information. Not a watered-down version. Not someday when you feel ready. Now.   Connect with Laura Holland at allabilitywellness.com or at [email protected]. If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com.   Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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 Joe, an open speller you may already know from her social media page. She is someone I deeply respect, not just as a professional but as a parent who has lived this.  We did not hold back.  In this episode we talk about:  Why real food is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for a non-speaking autistic child, and why feeding an already agitated nervous system with processed food is making everything harder.The history of how the food industry got us here, and why what your parents ate and what you ate as a child is genuinely not what is on the shelves today.Why you cannot presume your child's intelligence in the spelling room and then eat junk in front of them and expect them not to notice. They are watching everything.What ARFID actually is, why no one is talking about root causes, and why putting band-aids over bullet holes will never get you the progress you are looking for.Why mixed messages, whether about food, sleep, or screen time, are quietly making your child's nervous system harder to regulate, and what it looks like to finally get consistent.Why some children, like Rocco, are Ferraris. They require the best possible fuel, but when you give it to them, they outperform everything. And why that level of care is not a burden. It is a privilege. Stop overthinking it. Keep it simple. Real food, consistent habits, and the courage to take your power back today, not when everything is perfect.   Connect with Betsy at betsyonthego.com for her food subscription and resources, and find her on Instagram at @betsyonthego.  If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com. Support the show

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 letterboard as an open speller. And one of the things I am most passionate about in this space is something that does not get talked about nearly enough: the lesson plan model, why it exists, and what is quietly lost when we skip it.  Everyone wants to hear their child's voice. That desire is beautiful and it is real. But when we rush to open communication before the foundation is solid, we are building on ground that cannot hold the weight of what we are asking it to carry.  In this episode I talk about:  What a lesson plan actually is in the RPM model, and why it is so much more than a teaching tool. It is a framework for assessing learning channels, building skill and tolerance goals, and tracking real progress over time.Why focusing only on output, what your child spells, and ignoring input, what they are actually absorbing and learning, is one of the most common and costly mistakes families make.The surprising reason some parents quit spelling after their child starts communicating, and why the lesson plan model is what builds the parent buy-in that keeps families in the process long term.Why providers who let students set the frame for the entire session may be operating from people-pleasing energy rather than genuine support, and what that costs the student.Why open spellers still need lesson plans, and what teenagers and adults who have lost access to structured learning in their sessions are saying about it when they finally get to spell freely. The goal was never just communication. The goal is a full life. A life that includes learning, growth, relationships, education, and as much independence as possible.   Your child deserves that. And the lesson plan is one of the clearest paths to get there.   If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com.   Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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 experience of non-speakers, and why parent regulation is not optional if you want to support it.  Interoception is the ability to feel what's happening inside your own body. Hunger. Thirst. Digestion. Tension. It is something many non-speaking autistic children struggle with deeply, and it affects everything from motor planning to sensory regulation to their ability to spell. What Daria and I explored together is how much of this work starts with us as parents, not with our children.  In this episode we talk about:  What interoception is and why it is one of the most important things parents of non-speaking autistic children need to understand right now.Why your child's ability to connect to their body and develop better motor planning and regulation is directly tied to how regulated you are as their parent.Why you cannot fake calm around a non-speaking child, because they are perceptive enough to feel your state of stress or steadiness whether you say a word about it or not.What it actually means to presume competence when it comes to the body, and why believing this work is possible is where it all begins.What Daria and Raphael have built together as true partners in sharing their story, and what open spellers are telling us about what they need from the people around them. You cannot pour from an empty nervous system. And your child is already feeling everything you carry.   Connect with Daria and Raphael at spellingtheteaonautism.com, on Instagram @spelling_the_tea_on_autism, or on Substack at spellingthetea.substack.com. If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com.   Support the show

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 had to talk about, because there's more here than most parents realize.  What you share online about your child today can shape how people treat them tomorrow. Schools look at your social media. Districts look at your social media. People in your community, sometimes quietly, sometimes anonymously, are forming opinions based on what they see. And they're only seeing a glimpse.  In this episode I talk about:  The one question I always ask myself before posting anything about Rocco, and why it has nothing to do with shame.Why even tasteful, face-protected posts about hard moments can put your child's long-term opportunities at risk in ways parents don't always see coming.How inclusion decisions are made, and what professionals who've worked inside school districts have told me about what happens when they see repeated posts about meltdowns.Why social media can feel like support, but often isn't the safe place parents actually need.Where parents of non-speaking autistic children can bring the real, complicated, scary stuff without worrying about screenshots, judgment, or their child's reputation. Your child's story deserves to be told. And you deserve real support, not comment section support. Not likes and shares.   A private room full of people who already understand your life.   If this resonated, come find me, Sara Intonato, on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com.   Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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 guilt — because you know things are better, and you still can't feel it.  This is not a character flaw. It's what happens when hypervigilance has been your baseline for so long that your nervous system doesn't know how to receive the exhale — even when it's finally safe to take one.  In this episode I talk about:  Why your child's progress moves faster than your nervous system's ability to receive it — and why that gap is completely normal.The "waiting for the other shoe to drop" pattern that keeps autism parents stuck in survival mode even when things are improving.Why pouring everything into your child can quietly become another way to avoid slowing down and receiving support yourself.What it actually takes to move from survival mode to presence — and why it doesn't happen automatically.The one question I invite every parent to sit with: where am I still living on alert, even though things have changed?Your child's progress does not automatically create peace within you. You do. And you don't need to earn the right to receive support. You've already done that.   If this resonated, come find me on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com. Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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 experience of fathers. Jonathan is a professor of history at the University of Houston, an ordained minister, and a dad to a non-speaking son. He built the Autism Dads Social Club from scratch because dads are out there carrying so much — and not raising their hands for help.  In this episode we talk about:  Why the "strong man myth" keeps dads from asking for help, and why Jonathan built his community around socializing first — not therapy, just showing up together.What double isolation really looks like when you're already parenting a non-speaking child and COVID takes away the last connection you had.How finding purpose beyond your own household is what finally breaks the grip of isolation.What I know from my own son's life — that an engaged dad changes everything, and why dads need to hear that their presence matters more than they realize. You don't have to have it figured out to show up. That's the whole point.   Connect with Jonathan and the Autism Dads Social Club at autismdadssocialclub.org or on Instagram @autismdadshtown If this resonated, come find me on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com   Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us.    Support the show

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 live in a world of Amazon Prime mentality — where we expect results fast, and when they don't come, we quietly start to wonder if we should just stop.  But consistency looks like nothing is changing — until suddenly, everything is different.  In this episode I talk about:  Why consistency is the most transformative thing I've done for Rocco — across diet, supplements, the letterboard, and everything in betweenWhy our instant gratification culture makes it harder than ever to stay the courseThe hidden subconscious reason we give up before things take rootWhat you actually need to give yourself to stay consistent long enough to see real progressMy own adult tantrum moment two weeks into tracking my macros — and what happened when I kept going anyway If you've been close to giving up on something that matters — the letterboard, a supplement protocol, your own self-care — this episode will remind you why you started.   If this resonated, come find me on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com. Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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 either.  So you get stuck in a loop. You feel a deep knowing — and then you hesitate. You look for someone to confirm it. You get mixed answers. And you come back to your original gut feeling, but less confident than before.  That loop is exhausting. And it's keeping you dependent on a system that was never designed specifically for your child.  In this solo episode I talk about:  Why this in-between space happens — and why it's not your faultHow autism parents are conditioned to defer to experts even when their gut says otherwiseWhy your proximity to your child is not bias — it's dataWhat it actually looks like to trust yourself from a grounded, anchored placeYou don't need more proof of who your child is. You need more permission to trust what you're already seeing.   If this resonated, come find me on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com.   Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It's where you don't have to explain yourself, and where you'll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child's brilliance. Come join us. autismchangemakers.com Support the show

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, detours, and messy sessions.  This is that conversation — raw, honest, and mom-to-mom.  In this episode we talk about:  What happened the day Sarah spelled her first sentence — and what Jennifer felt in that momentWhy the spelling journey is never a straight line, and why that's completely normalHow sensory differences impact communication and why there's no one-size-fits-all approachWhy what your child absorbs matters just as much as what they can spell out loudHow your co-regulation as a parent directly impacts your child's ability to communicate If you've ever doubted yourself or wondered if your child would ever find their voice — this episode will remind you to keep going.   The path is nonlinear. The voice is there.   If this resonated, come find me on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com. Support the show

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 my tracks: Sara, can you share the hardest things you've ever been through with Rocco? Because I just need to hear from someone who made it to the other side.  And I realized — she had no idea. Because from the outside, life looks pretty great right now. And it is. But it didn't start here.  A couple of summers ago, Rocco had a parasite that changed everything about him. His sleep, his moods, his anxiety, his behavior. It was like my child wasn't my child. I was soaking wet on the bathroom floor, dealing with a level of aggression I had never seen from him — terrified, exhausted, and spiraling into the thought of what if this is forever.  I didn't share it in real time. I needed to process it myself first. And I fiercely protected Rocco's dignity while we were in the thick of it.  But I'm sharing it now — because you deserve to know this isn't a highlight reel.  In this episode I talk about:  What happened during Rocco's parasite episode and why it changed his behavior almost overnightWhy "that's just autism" is one of the most dangerous things we say to parents of non-speaking kidsHow I cared for myself during one of the scariest seasons of our lives — and why that made all the differenceWhy hard moments don't pass by themselves, and what actually helps them shiftThe silver lining that came out of all of it: Rocco's very first open sentence on the letterboardHard seasons don't have to be forever. But they don't pass on their own either. They pass when you're willing to look deeper — at your child's body, their behavior, their communication. And you can only do that when you have energy to spare.   That energy comes from taking care of yourself. Not perfectly. Consistently.   If this resonated, come find me on Instagram @sara.intonato or learn more about Autism Changemakers at autismchangemakers.com.   Support the show

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 stepping away from social media can actually create more meaningful change at home.  In this episode you’ll learn:  Why Autism Awareness Month can feel overwhelming for autism parentingHow online spaces can drain your energy without helping your childWhy supporting yourself is essential to supporting your childHow to refocus on connection in non-speaking autismMy hope is that you walk away feeling more grounded, clear, and empowered to take your energy back where it matters most—your home and your child.   If this resonates, you can connect with me on Instagram @sara.intonato or explore more at autismchangemakers.com. Autism Changemakers is a private community just for parents of nonspeaking kids. It’s where you don’t have to explain yourself, and where you’ll always be surrounded by people who believe in your child’s brilliance. If you’re craving that kind of support, come join us. https://www.autismchangemakers.com/   Support the show

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, cognition, and motor skills is essential in autism education.  Dr. Sarathy shares her personal experience raising a nonspeaking autistic child who also has Down syndrome, and how choosing to presume competence challenged both educational systems and expectations within her own community. Together, Sara and Dr. Sarathy explore how nonlinear learning, communication approaches like spelling to communicate and RPM, and a regulated parent nervous system can dramatically change a child’s learning trajectory.  In this episode you’ll learn:  Why life skills classrooms often underestimate non-speaking autistic students How separating communication, cognition, and motor skills changes autism educationWhy presuming competence begins with the parent’s nervous systemHow nonlinear learning and spelling methods can unlock autistic communicationWhy curiosity from parents can transform a child’s educational pathMore than anything, this conversation reminds parents that their presence, regulation, and willingness to question the narrative can open entirely new possibilities for their child.   If you’ve ever wondered how much your child might be capable of when someone truly presumes competence, this episode offers both clarity and hope.   If this conversation resonated, you can connect with Dr. Sarathy at https://www.drvaishsarathy.com and Sara on Instagram @sara.intonato or explore additional resources at autismchangemakers.com   Support the show