Stacie Sherman

Ode to Jelly Am I OK? How do I answer that? Right now I feel like I will never be OK. My 23-year-old daughter is moving into a group home in days, and I’m not OK. Externally, I guess I’m OK. I woke up today, I didn’t cry. I got stuff done. I just packed another suitcase full of Brielle’s belongings. Her comfy t-shirts and sweatpants, some toys and stuffed animals she hasn’t touched in years.

Am I OK? How do I answer that? Right now I feel like I will never be OK. My 23-year-old daughter is moving into a group home in days, and I’m not OK.

The Challenges of Autism: A Mama’s Perspective I wish we could cure autism. I understand that some people may not believe autism needs to be cured, and I respect that. Autism is a wide spectrum, and I know it well. There are many incredible people in the world with a type of autism that makes them unique, talented, special, and amazing. My two kids with autism are unique, talented, special, and amazing.

Autism is a wide spectrum, and I know it well. My two kids with autism are unique, talented, special, and amazing. But I don’t see their autism as a gift. It has been a struggle for them both, and it breaks my heart to see them struggle.

Paul Aronsohn has brought attention to heartbreaking stories of disabled individuals abused in group homes; families desperate to control their violent children with severe autism; parents struggling to access services in a state awash with them.

Read more here: staciesherman.com/2025/09/15/n...

NJ’s Disability Watchdog Is Leaving Unfinished Business After seven years as New Jersey’s government advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, Paul Aronsohn is still struck by the indifference. Year after year, Aronsohn brings attention to heartbreaking stories of disabled individuals abused in group homes and neglected on buses; families desperate to keep their violent children with severe autism from hitting them and themselves; parents struggling to access services in a state that has plenty of them.

“Creating that safe space has been important," Aronsohn said. “We have given individuals and families a place that they can go.”

Stacie (@brokenroad)

No matter what I’m writing about lately, the subject somehow always veers toward worrying about Bree in her future group home. Every day I wait for them to call or email and tell me they are ready for her to move in. I know it’s coming, I just don’t know when.

substack.com/@brokenroad/...

Raising Twins with Autism: A Family’s Journey When Mary gave birth to identical twin sons on Christmas Eve in 1988, she felt like she had won the lottery. But within two years, she knew her boys were not developing like others their age. Robert and James didn’t seem to notice if Mary was upset, nor did they miss her when she wasn’t home. They didn’t interact with each other and behaved as if they were deaf.

“We had a lot to teach them,” Mary said. “But they had far more to teach us.”

AI Images, Real Emotions Do I wish she didn't have autism? You bet I do.

Do I wish she didn't have autism? You bet I do.

Trump, RFK Jr. Promise Big Autism 'Announcements' U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told President Donald Trump that his agency will have information about what's causing autism within weeks.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told President Donald Trump that his agency will have information about what’s causing #autism within weeks. #disabilities

Soul Fatigued Imagine having to build a padded room in your home to keep your daughter safe.

Soul Fatigued

Imagine having to build a padded room in your home to keep your daughter safe.

I’m going to answer those questions the best I can, while I still can. And no matter what anyone says, no matter how much it hurts or how personally I take it, I do know that I am doing the right thing. For her and for me.

But I can’t guarantee my living. I am Brielle’s mom and sole guardian and I would do anything for her, but life is a gift that doesn’t come with a firm end date.

What if I died and nothing was set up for Brielle? Who would take care of her? Where would she go? What would she do?

As if I was kicking her out because I couldn’t handle it any more.

I would care for Brielle at home for many more years. I would give up the sleep, the vacations, the sitting down, if I knew for sure I would be there for all of those years to come.

A few weeks ago, when I told someone about Brielle’s pending move, they said something that bugged me. I know they didn’t mean any harm. They had no idea how sensitive I can be. But when I told them Bree was moving into a group home, they asked me if she had become too much to handle at home.

As I stood in the middle of the house, I could picture Brielle in it, her home, comfortable and happy.

I’m happy for her. I really am.

Everything will be OK. I know it.

But that doesn’t erase the ache in my heart.

Tons of open space for her to run back and forth like she likes to do. Girls close to her age for roommates. A big living room with comfy couches. Her own bedroom we could decorate with her own TV and space to be alone. A big backyard. A nice neighborhood in a welcoming town.

Check, check, check.

We visited her future group home this week. I wanted to hate it.

It was everything I could have wanted for my daughter, if I ever dreamed of her moving out. I don’t know that I did. But if I did, I would have wanted a big beautiful home in light colors with bright artwork on the walls.

Her Home We visited her future group home this week. I wanted to hate it. No such luck. It was everything I could have wanted for my daughter, if I ever dreamed of her moving out. I don’t know that I did. But if I did, I would have wanted a big beautiful home in light colors with bright artwork on the walls.

Her Home

We visited her future group home this week. I wanted to hate it. No such luck. It was everything I could have wanted for my daughter, if I ever dreamed of her moving out. I don’t know that I did. But if I did, I would have wanted a big beautiful home in light colors with bright artwork on…

Life in transition: A New Jersey mother and autistic daughter prepare for life at a group home I made the decision years ago to do everything possible to get Brielle into residential placement while I was still on this earth. At 23 years old, Brielle is a bit young, in my opinion, to move out.

Autism New Jersey republished my latest blog post, thank you!

Autism New Jersey is a nonprofit agency committed to ensuring safe and fulfilling lives for individuals with autism, their families, and the professionals who support them.

autismnj.org/news/prepari...

STACIE SHERMAN Journalist, Author, Blogger

Or you’re fighting an uphill battle that shouldn’t be so difficult. Your stories of hope, struggle and resilience matter. Please reach out and/or share this post.

Here’s to storytelling with purpose.

Stacie
www.staciesherman.com

If you have a compelling story to share or know of a visionary company or leader supporting workers with special needs, I would love to hear about it. Perhaps you are aware of a groundbreaking technology or a legislative proposal that could create significant change.

This next chapter is about using my voice to share stories that inform, inspire and advocate for change. It’s about shining a light on experiences too often overlooked.

Now, I’m turning my focus to a mission that’s deeply personal: writing about disability. As the mother of two children with special needs, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges, inequities and moments of extraordinary awe and beauty in the disability community.

Stacie Sherman sitting at her desk in her home office.

My time at Bloomberg shaped me in ways I will forever cherish. I had the privilege of working with some of the most talented journalists in the world, covering stories that mattered and learning every single day.

Life in Transition I drive with my left hand on the wheel and my right on my daughter in the back seat. My husband scolds me for it. He can pound sand. Brielle usually just humors me by holding my hand loosely for maybe a minute if I’m lucky. In recent weeks, she’s been holding on longer. Just yesterday, she grabbed my hand and held it so tight I thought there was something wrong.

Over the past month, Brielle has rarely slept past 5 am for us. Perhaps she wants to help keep me from sleeping in now that I’m out of work. More likely, she senses big change is on the horizon. 

I am definitely open to opportunities, so please keep an ear out and let’s catch up!

Back soon -- Stacie

It is the craziest thing to be plotting your next chapter. I’m hoping to figure it all out sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I am trying to adjust to other things, like my obsessive need to check my work email first thing every morning and get my news via the Bloomberg app.

In a strange twist, my unemployment came days before I got the news that my severely autistic daughter will soon be moving into a group home. So now I have more time to prepare, and more time to stress over it during and after her move.

For a long-time journalist, there are so many other options. I could teach. Write another book. Attempt to turn my personal blog into a hit. All of the above? Or is it time for a really big change? A career in public relations? Or maybe a career related to autism, a cause near and dear to my heart?

Since I announced I was leaving Bloomberg, so many friends have asked about my next step. I know I want to spend more time writing, something I never had enough time for. But what do I want to write about, who do I want to write for? I want it to be rewarding, and I want it to be meaningful.

But the prospect of working for Bloomberg called to me for many reasons, the top being a bigger paycheck. There was also the goal of working in a more stable environment as print journalism started its upheaval in New Jersey. Stability is what I craved, and what I got. But all good things must end.