Episode 58 — Autism and Neurodiversity Advocacy With Sarah Kernion '06

Misconceptions of autism and the frequency in which people are excluded, threaten access to the vital information, resources and support autistic people and their families need.Sarah Kernion '06, a distinguished global speaker and neurodiversity advocate, is first and foremost a mother of three children, two of which have non-speaking autism. Through her work, she fosters a supportive community around the ‘inchstones’ vs milestones mentality of parents and neurodiversity, advocating for greater acceptance and valuing of the contributions of neurodivergent individuals in society.In 2023, Sarah officially launched Saturday’s Story, LLC, alongside a charity, Milly & Mack’s Marchers, Corps, supporting children with autism and their schooling and related services.  Connect with Sarah on Instagram and LinkedIn. Subscribe to The People of Penn State on your podcast platform of choice. Watch the video version of this episode. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps for our conversation with Sarah0:00 — Intro1:48 — Sarah's Penn State story9:40 — What is neurodiversity?10:55 — Personal connections to autism and neurodiversity22:00 — Recognizing signs of autism31:16 — How Sarah became an advocate for  neurodiversity38:45 — Milly & Mack’s Marchers40:19 — Lightning Round Q&A50:42 — OutroFor more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com