Activist and organizer Sarah McCorkle joins me for this series of conversations on autism and community. We had lots to cover, and are ever-conscious of the time of busy parents so we've split it into three parts!
Sarah, with her mother, runs the 'We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym' in Carmel, Indiana, a place for sensory-seekers, but moreover, a space for any and all children to interact with one another. It's so important for both neurodivergent and neurotypical children to play together and learn from each other.
Sarah emphasizes the significance of creating a community for both parents and children, noting how isolating being an autism parent can feel. There's a lot of organic community-building that happens at the gym.
We touch on the lack of resources in rural areas, and Sarah shares her own experiences as an autism mom, the challenges of navigating resources and the need to advocate for her children's needs.
We also look at breaking generational attitudes and finding creative solutions to daily challenges faced by autism parents, especially in a current world fraught with backlash, misinformation and wedge politics.
How to reach Sarah:
Website We Rock the Spectrum: Kids Gym for all Kids - Carmel, IN
on Facebook
on Instagram
on TikTok
Contact Tabitha:
staringdownthestorm@gmail.com