Sara Wicker

Sara Wicker wears many hats. A native Tennessean with a background in health administration, she is also a singer, and a mixed-media artist. But most importantly, Sara is a devoted and self-described “24/7 mom” to three boys: Bryson, Lennon, and Ezra. Sara values her close relationships with her boys above everything and wants them to always know that she is their safe space. 

As Ezra was growing, Sara noticed he wasn’t meeting developmental milestones that other toddlers his age were. Following her instincts, she brought her concerns to his pediatrician, and just before Ezra’s second birthday, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Shortly after his diagnosis, Ezra was enrolled in applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. 

ABA and speech therapy provided Ezra with the skills and confidence to meet developmental milestones. During one particularly special speech therapy session, Ezra made intentional eye contact with Sara and mimicked firetruck sounds for the first time, through skills he learned through playing with toys alongside his therapist. Sara describes that moment as her most special memory of Ezra. ABA therapy not only gave Ezra foundational skills to thrive, but it also gave Sara a community of other parents sharing similar experiences and facing the same obstacles. 

Ezra continued to make progress in ABA therapy. That is until his ABA provider began to experience challenges finalizing contracts with his insurance company. These unfinalized contracts meant that Ezra was going to lose his services and his community. Seemingly out of options, Sara called the Tennessee Justice Center. TJC helped create a special agreement between Ezra’s insurance company and his ABA provider, and Ezra stayed in his ABA therapy program to ensure he stayed on track developmentally. 

Sara’s hope for Ezra’s future, and for all children with autism, is “Everything. I want him to have everything that is possible for a neurotypical child. The world is not black and white, and there are so many ways to go about something. I want Ezra to feel capable and comfortable in the world around him, to not feel tied down by his diagnosis… and to feel fulfilled.”

The Tennessee Justice Center is proud to honor Sara Alsup Wicker as a 2026 Mother of the Year for her fierce loyalty and dedication to her family and her community. 

Photo by Janet and Randall Foster

Published in 2026