Understanding Grief and Advocacy in Severe Autism with Jill Escher

Sarah Kernion is thrilled to welcome Jill Escher, President of the National Council on Severe Autism, to the Inchstones Podcast.  Sarah & Jill open up about the rarely spoken realities of raising children with profound autism. They reflect on their parallel journeys—their grief, grit, and the relentless love that comes with raising children who may never speak or live independently. Together, they explore the complex reality of autism that often goes unspoken: the emotional toll of caregiving, the urgency for better research, and the importance of holding space for both science and lived experience. Jill shares her powerful advocacy work and calls for a more curious, compassionate, and courageous conversation in the autism community—one that welcomes uncomfortable truths and asks better questions. This episode is for anyone ready to look at autism with clear eyes and an open heart. Jill's work can be found on her website : https://www.jillescher.com/