The People of Penn State

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

April 08, 2024 Penn State Alumni Association Season 3 Episode 58
The People of Penn State
Episode 58 — Autism and Neurodiversity Advocacy With Sarah Kernion '06
Show Notes

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.

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Timestamps for our conversation with Sarah

0:00 — Intro

1:48 — Sarah's Penn State story

9:40 — What is neurodiversity?

10:55 — Personal connections to autism and neurodiversity

22:00 — Recognizing signs of autism

31:16 — How Sarah became an advocate for  neurodiversity

38:45 — Milly & Mack’s Marchers

40:19 — Lightning Round Q&A

50:42 — Outro