Autism Caregiving and Community with We Are Brave's Jessica Patay

Autism parenting often places caregivers in prolonged states of stress, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. In this conversation, Sarah Kernion speaks with Jessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together, about the power of community support, emotional resilience, and advocacy for families raising children with disabilities and complex needs. Jessica shares how parenting her son Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, transformed her understanding of caregiving and led her to create spaces where mothers and caregivers could feel seen, supported, and connected. The discussion explores the emotional realities of autism parenting, including the importance of vulnerability, shared stories, and acknowledging the invisible labor caregivers carry. The episode also highlights Jessica’s expanding work through retreats, support networks, and her books Becoming Brave Together and the newly released Suddenly Brave Together. While Becoming Brave Together focused on heroic caregiving stories from mothers navigating disability and rare conditions, Suddenly Brave Together expands the conversation through deeply personal letters and reflections that offer validation, hope, and solidarity to caregivers in the thick of altered parenting journeys. At its core, this conversation reframes autism parenting and caregiving as experiences that require more than endurance—they require sustainable community, emotional honesty, and systems designed to support the entire family. Find all of Jessica's work at WE ARE BRAVE TOGETHER. Chapters (00:00:01) - Inch Jones: We Are Brave(00:00:54) - The Special Needs Autism Support Group(00:06:30) - In the Elevator With Amy(00:07:01) - Suddenly Brave: Caregiving with a Cancer Diagnosis(00:12:11) - How to Parent a Special Needs Child(00:14:28) - Bookmark: The Power of Community(00:19:08) - Wonders of the World:(00:24:07) - Wonders of the World: Respite Care