Thriving in the Midst of Chaos: Parenting With Special Needs Kids
134 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWelcome to Thriving in the Midst of Chaos! This show is about surviving parenthood while having a child with special needs, while attempting to keep your self and your sanity intact. We share our experiences and discuss how we survived, what worked for us, and what didn’t work for us. This is a nonjudgmental space, to realize that we all actually WILL live through this and to make thriving in parenthood an actual possibility. We will also be sharing fails, nails, and comical tales, as well as one self-care strategy each week that helped keep us sane.
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Episodes
Maximizing Communication With Your Child With Guest Rosemarie Griffin
January 13, 2022 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBEpisode 124:Maximizing Communication With Your Child With Guest Rosemarie Griffin In this episode, guest Rosemarie Griffin discusses ways to maximize your communication with your child and ways to help them grow their communication skills. Links: Website Podcast Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please...
Demystifying the IEP With Guest Beth Liesenfeld
January 06, 2022 11:00 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBEpisode 123: Demystifying the IEP With Guest Beth Liesenfeld In this episode, we discuss OT in the schools and understanding all the parts of the IEP, to make everything work for each child. Links: Website Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store, or wherever...
Partnering With Care Professionals With Guest Craig Parks
December 30, 2021 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBEpisode 122: Partnering With Care Professionals With Guest Craig Parks In this episode, guest Craig Parks discusses the best ways to partner with care professionals. Links: Website Email Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store, or wherever you find your...
Divorce and Special Needs Parenting
December 23, 2021 11:00 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBEpisode 121: Divorce and Special Needs Parenting In this episode, Jessica speaks candidly about going through and coping with divorce during the pandemic, while raising children with special needs. Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store, or wherever you find your podcas...
Betsy Stover's Experience With Medical Trauma
December 16, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBEpisode 120: Betsy Stover's Experience With Medical Trauma In this episode, Betsy Stover, the lovely podcast host of Why Mommy Drinks, discusses her experience with helping her child cope with medical trauma. Her youngest son, Odie, went through two open heart surgeries, one at 2 and one at 5. He coped really well at age 2. However, the doctors didn't listen to him or show him respect after this second surgery and did not explain any medical procedures to him or provide any form of pain ma...
I Hate Potty Training
December 09, 2021 11:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBEpisode 119: I Hate Potty Training In this episode, Jessica discusses the trials and tribulations of potty training children. Spoiler alert: She hates it! Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store, or wherever you find your podcasts, Leave us a 5-star review, to help us kno...
All Out of Money
December 02, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBEpisode 118: All Out of Money In this episode, Jessica discusses the financial toll being chronically ill and raising children with special needs can take, as well as ways to find funding for needed expenses. Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store, or wherever you f...
Thriving Through The Holidays
November 25, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBEpisode 117: Thriving Through The Holidays In this episode, Dr. Koonce discusses the best ways to thrive through the holidays with children who have special needs. She also discusses helpful at-home ABA strategies. It is important to prepare for the holidays with your special needs kids for many reasons, including loss of routine, change in structure, trying to set a new routine for a short time, having other people living in or visiting in our space, more planning for things that are new,...
The Impossibility of Finding Therapies
November 18, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBEpisode 116: The Impossibility of Finding Therapies In this episode, Jessica discusses how hard it can be to slog through therapies, therapists, insurance, funded programs, and the like to try, and fail, to find the proper therapies for your kids. Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in ...
Navigating Insurance - Again!
November 11, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBEpisode 115: Navigating Insurance - Again! In this episode, Jessica discusses the trials and tribulations of finding therapies that will take your insurance, as well as finding funding to finance different therapies. Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store, or wherever y...
Parenting Special Needs Kids While Being Chronically Ill
November 04, 2021 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBEpisode 114: Parenting Special Needs Kids While Being Chronically Ill In this episode, Jessica discusses having a chronic illness/disability while raising special needs children who are constantly in crisis. Spoiler alert: It isn't easy! Email us if you have any questions or ideas! We are now on instagram! Check out updates on our website. Follow Thriving on Twitter. Check us out on Facebook! We are also on Pinterest! Please subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes ...
Lindsay Passodelis' Experience Growing Up With CLOVES Syndrome
October 28, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBEpisode 113: Lindsay Passodelis' Experience Growing Up With CLOVES Syndrome In this episode, guest Lindsay shares her experience growing up with CLOVES syndrome. CLOVES is a rare overgrowth syndrome with vascular anomalies. Congential lipomatous overgrowth vascular malformation epidermal nevus spinal skeletal anomalies (CLOVES). Everyone has different symptoms, of which there are many. It is caused by a genetic mutation in PIK3CA gene. It is not hereditary. Medical exams would pick up the ...
Lia McCabe's Experience Raising Two Daughters With Autism
October 21, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBEpisode 112: Lia McCabe's Experience Raising Two Daughters With Autism In this episode, guest Lia McCabe discusses her experience raising two children with autism, as well as giving back to the autism community. She noticed signs right away in her first daughter that something was amiss. However, the signs in her other daughter were totally different. She noted that it was hard to get the diagnosis of autism with her first daughter, because she didn’t know much about autism at the time...
Journaling For Mindfulness With Guest Josephine Atluri
October 14, 2021 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBEpisode 111: Journaling For Mindfulness With Guest Josephine Atluri In this episode, Josephine Atluri discusses using journaling to help with mindfulness and parenting. She discussed ways to engage in mindfulness along with your child, as well as ways to communicate in a mindful way with your child. She provides examples for when mindfulness worked in parenting for her. Discussed the importance of examining expectations as a parent and to set intentions in your interactions with your c...
Updates, Crises, and Overwhelm
October 07, 2021 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBEpisode 110: Updates, Crises, and Overwhelm In this episode, Jessica gives updates on her life and the life of her family. She discusses updates on her health conditions and recent surgery, crazy stressors, and mental health difficulties that accompany autism. She discusses how hard it is to get good medical care and how impossible it is to get adequate care for children with special needs. Jessica lays out how she obtained help for Benji’s mental health crisis in Virginia. Spoiler alert, ...
Executive Functioning Tips From ADHD Coaching With Dr. Norrine Russell
September 30, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBEpisode 109: Executive Functioning Tips From ADHD Coaching With Dr. Norrine Russell In this episode, Dr. Norrine Russell discusses the benefits to ADHD coaching and provides tips to help with executive dysfunction. Her son and daughter both have autism, ADHD, and anxiety. She noted that one of the hardest parts of parenthood is feeling alone. Although her children have the same diagnoses, they have very different presentations. ADHD coaching is about teaching skills that kids with AD...
Learning An Instrument When One Has Special Needs With Guest Delwyn McKenzie
September 23, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBEpisode 108: Learning An Instrument When One Has Special Needs With Guest Delwyn McKenzie In this episode, Delwyn McKenzie discusses the usefulness of learning an instrument for children with special needs. She grew up playing instruments, and made sure her children learned instruments, too. Early on in her childhood, her daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia. She noticed that her daughter had more difficulty learning an instrument than her other children did. This led Delwyn re-evaluate he...
Promoting Reading In Children With Learning Disabilities With Guest Dr. Maria Cleary
September 16, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MBEpisode 107: Promoting Reading In Children With Learning Disabilities With Guest Dr. Maria Cleary In this episode, Dr. Maria Cleary discusses reading literacy and and the importance of continuing to read throughout childhood. Her daughter was showing learning delays when she was young and was found to have left-brain hemiatrophy. Her daughter did well in special education classes in public school until middle school, when things started to change. She started to notice that things were d...
Using Summer To Create An Amazing School Year With Guest Dr. Laura Reber
September 09, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MBEpisode 106: Using Summer To Create An Amazing School Year With Guest Dr. Laura Reber In this episode, guest Dr. Laura Reber discusses maximizing your summer to help your child with the school year. She discussed the importance of learning executive functioning skills. To help transition from school to summer, keep schedules similar (meals, sleep, activities), set expectations that the children are aware of, consider ESY, and ask the school what you can do at home to maintain skills over t...
Bassie Shemtov's Experience Creating Inclusive Communities and Employment Opportunities
September 02, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBEpisode 105: Bassie Shemtov's Experience Creating Inclusive Communities and Employment Opportunities In this episode, guest Bassie Shemtov discusses how to create friendship and inclusion in the community. She and her husband began their career by working in the addictions community. However, Bassie didn't feel as if they were offering everything they could. She reached out to the community, and the community recommended they offer support for teens. They started pairing teens with childre...
Alexa Bigwarfe's Experience of Twin-To-Twin Transfusion, Infant Loss, and Transformation Through Writing
August 26, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBEpisode 104: Alexa Bigwarfe's Experience of Twin-To-Twin Transfusion, Infant Loss, and Transformation Through Writing In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe discusses her experience with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and child loss. During her third pregnancy, she should have been followed as a high risk pregnancy with a maternal fetal medicine doctors, although the OB who was following her did not do her due diligence and missed the twin-to-twin transfusion. At the 12 week scan, her doctor n...
Raising a Child with STXBP1 With Guest Chloe Weber
August 19, 2021 10:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBEpisode 103: Raising a Child with STXBP1 With Guest Chloe Weber In this we discuss rare genetic disorder called STXBP1. Guest Chloe Weber’s son Remy has a rare genetic disorder called STXBP1. This condition affects syntax and binding protein. For these individuals, their bodies don’t make enough of the protein,the protein is misfolded, and the proteins can affect the brain. The condition can cause delays, cognitive impairments, ataxia, apraxia, parkinsonian tremors, and epilepsy. R...
Spinal Muscular Atrophy And ADHD With Guest Trudy Citovic
August 12, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBEpisode 102: Spinal Muscular Atrophy And ADHD With Guest Trudy Citovic In this episode, guest Trudy Citovic discusses raising a child with spinal muscular atrophy. Her daughter, Alina, was diagnosed with SMA when she was 5 years old. She never lost any skills but started experiencing weakness and less stamina. She was about to lose skills when she was formally diagnosed. Her nanny initially picked up on the symptoms, as Alina was not developing at the same rate as another child of the sam...
Raising A Micropreemie Who Uses A Feeding Tube With Guest Gaby Grinberg
August 05, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.8 MBEpisode 101: Raising A Micropreemie Who Uses A Feeding Tube With Guest Gaby Grinberg In this episode, guest Gaby Grinberg discusses prematurity, NICU stays, and feeding journeys. Her daughter Lana Rose was born at 24 weeks gestation, weight 11 ounces. There was no initial sign that she would go into labor early, as her pregnancy was pretty normal. At the 20 week ultrasound, it was found that she had intrauterine growth restriction and reduced amniotic fluid. They completed numerous tests ...
Raising a Child With Spinal Muscular Atrophy With Guest Megan Fabrizi
July 29, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBEpisode 100: Raising a Child With Spinal Muscular Atrophy With Guest Megan Fabrizi In this episode, guest Megan Fabrizi discusses raising children with spinal muscular atrophy. When Liam was born, he was having difficulty regulating his temperature. He wasn’t moving his body. At his 4 month visit, he was diagnosed with hypotonia. The pediatrician was concerned and got him in immediately to a neurologist. When he was 5 months old, he got genetic testing and was diagnosed with SMA Type 1. Me...
Raising a Child With Multiple Complex Medical Conditions With Guest Tammy Flynn
July 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 73.3 MBEpisode 99: Raising a Child With Multiple Complex Medical Conditions With Guest Tammy Flynn In this episode, guest Tammy Flynn discusses raising children with complex medical conditions. Her son Marcus has numerous complex medical conditions, including Ehlers Danlos syndrome, Sherman’s kyphosis, EOE (eosinophilia of the esophagus), a bleeding disorder, encephalopathy upon birth, low tone, poor fine motor skills, differently shaped ear canals, slow motility, reflux( as a child), and cancero...
Dafne Wiswell's Story of Raising Children With Type 1 Diabetes and Ankylosing Spondylitis
July 15, 2021 10:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBEpisode 98: Dafne Wiswell's Story of Raising Children With Type 1 Diabetes and Ankylosing Spondylitis In this episode, Dafne Wiswell discusses her son’s experience with Diabetes Type 1 and her daughter’s experience with juvenile arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. Her son was diagnosed with Diabetes when he was 2. He started having accidents, drinking a lot of water, had reduced appetite, and experienced intermittent vomiting. Once a friend wasn’t able to recognize her child, she called ...
Raising a Child With Marfan Syndrome With Guest Allison Pullins
July 08, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBEpisode 97: Raising a Child With Marfan Syndrome With Guest Allison Pullins Episode 29: Raising a Child With Marfan Syndrome With Guest Allison Pullins In this episode, Allison Pullins discusses her experience raising a child with Marfan Syndrome. James was diagnosed with this connective tissue disorder when he was 2 years old. He experiences an aortic aneurysm, is very nearsighted, has dislocated lenses in his eyes, and low muscle tone. The first signs of something different was asymmet...
Alternative Childcare Solutions With Guest Shannon Parola
July 01, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43 MBEpisode 96: Alternative Childcare Solutions With Guest Shannon Parola In this episode, guest Shannon Parola discusses alternative child care options for families with special needs children. During COVID-times, child care has been very tough to find, and often not safe. Shannon discusses that there are numerous options for care for children, including Nannies, au pairs, nanny pods, nanny shares, family, friends, in-home daycare, daycare, and family babysitting shares. Some people moved clo...
Dawn Veselka's Story of Raising a Child With Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
June 24, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBEpisode 95: Dawn Veselka's Story of Raising a Child With Mixed Connective Tissue Disease In this episode, guest Dawn Veselka discusses her experience raising a daughter with a mixed connective tissue disorder. Her mix is juvenile arthritis, scleroderma, Raynaud’s and dermatomyositis. Sadie’s triggers are exposure to viruses, sunlight, and certain foods. They determined her triggers through trial and error. Her daughter, Sadie, started showing signs of her condition at 18 months. She starte...
Building Independence in Your Children With Special Needs With Dr. Sarah Allen
June 17, 2021 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBEpisode 94: Building Independence in Your Children With Special Needs With Dr. Sarah Allen In this episode, we discuss developing and promoting independent skill building in children with special needs. Guest Dr. Sarah Levin Allen, AKA The Brain Gal, discusses ways to minimize anxiety in children with autism. She also provides tips for how to help kids cope with changes within the family. For independence, remember to teach the skill. Don’t just rely on sticker charts. Things don’t always ...
Raising a Micropreemie With Autism With Guest Melissa Harris
June 10, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBEpisode 93: Raising a Micropreemie With Autism With Guest Melissa Harris In this episode, we discuss a mother’s experience raising a micropreemie. Melissa Harris has two children, one of whom was born at 24 weeks gestation. She found that she had a bincorniate uterus, and had to undergo several surgeries to fix the problem. While trying to become pregnant with her second, she experienced several miscarriages. She underwent several IUI’s to become pregnant. She had frequent hormone shots to...
Sensory Processing Disorder With Guest Candice Curtis
June 03, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBEpisode 92: Sensory Processing Disorder With Guest Candice Curtis In this episode, we discuss sensory processing disorder, meltdowns, and making it all work. Guest Candice Curtis’s, OT, oldest son is autistic. Throughout her training, she began to gravitate toward occupational therapy and sensory processing disorder. There are 8 different sensory systems. Our brains have to organize all of the sensory inputs, decide if it is important or not important, and make all of it available for us t...
The Science Of Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, The Joy of Living, and Positive Psychology, With Guest Dr. Rabia Subhani
May 27, 2021 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBEpisode 91: The Science Of Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, The Joy of Living, and Positive Psychology, With Guest Dr. Rabia Subhani Today, we discuss mindfulness, self-compassion, the joy of living, and positive psychology. Guest Dr. Rabia Subhani trained and worked as a pediatric neuropsychologist. However, after she had a child with autism, she found a different path and started working in the area of mindfulness. She found that when she changed her reactions and used mindfulness practices...
Successfully Navigating College and Employment With Autism, Part 3
May 20, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBEpisode 90: Successfully Navigating College With Autism, Part 3 To help with the transition to college, work on independence at home, bit by bit, select the goal with the student and start with the easiest one, rather than the hardest or most importance, then build up from there. Incorporate a reward system into the mix. It is helpful to help the child gain independence in communication with the teacher and have the student ask for the help and supports, especially starting in high school....
Successfully Navigating College With Autism, Part 2
May 13, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 82.2 MBEpisode 89: Successfully Navigating College With Autism, Part 2 In this episode, we continue our discussion of everything college for teens and young adults with autism. Guest Dr. Matt Segall discusses how to decide on the type of college that is right for the teen with autism. When deciding on the type of college to choose, pay the most attention to social maturity of the teen, executive functioning challenges and independence in using strategies to support academics, self-advocacy abili...
Successfully Navigating College With Autism, Part 1
May 06, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBEpisode 88: Successfully Navigating College With Autism, Part 1 In this episode, we discuss everything college for teens and young adults with autism. Guest Dr. Matt Segall discusses that nowadays, many teens with autism are going to college. However, a low number of them graduates. Those who do graduate tend to have a higher academic ability, good executive functioning skills in the areas of self-management and completing and turning in work, resilience, and the creation of a support team...
All Things Physical Therapy With Guest Lucia Montuonto
April 29, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBEpisode 87: All Things Physical Therapy With Guest Lucia Montuonto In this episode, guest Lucia Matuonto discusses physiotherapy! Physical therapists (PTs) work in rehabilitation and accident prevention. Their goal is to improve the patient’s quality of life. A child needs a PT when there are developmental delays, the child is not meeting milestones, or when there are birth defects, cerebral palsy, accidents, spinal cord problems, spina bifida, hypotonia, down syndrome, ataxias, dystonia, ...
Fostering and Adoption Journeys With Children With Special Needs With Guest Daniel Hall
April 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBEpisode 86: Fostering and Adoption Journeys With Children With Special Needs With Guest Daniel Hall In this episode, Daniel Hall discusses adoption and special needs. He and his wife have 5 children with special needs of varying degrees. Conditions ranged from Autism, drug exposure, Fetal Alcohol Symptoms, slowed processing speed, Reactive Attachment Disorder, developmental delays, PTSD, and possible Dissociative Identity Disorder. Daniel himself was in foster care as a young child, and wa...
Infant Feeding Challenges With Guest Mallory Millet
April 15, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBEpisode 85: Infant Feeding Challenges With Guest Mallory Millet In this episode, Mallory Millet discusses feeding difficulties in infants and young children. Her three children experienced their own feeding difficulties, including difficulty nursing and reflux. She shared their stories. She noted that both speech therapists and occupational therapists (and occasionally physical therapists) can be feeding therapists, with the right training. They can assist with bottle feeding, breastfeedi...
Divorce and Special Needs Children With Guest Jackie Harounian, Esq
April 08, 2021 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBEpisode 84: Divorce and Special Needs Children With Guest Jackie Harounian In this episode, we discuss divorce while having children with special needs. Guest Jacqueline Harounian, Esq, has found that her field has become very busy during COVID, with an increase in fighting, domestic violence, mental health issues, and substance abuse leading to divorce. A lot depends on the couple, how well they communicate, and whether they are willing to see eye to eye on a lot of issues affecting speci...
Momming With Autism With Guest Alicia Trautwein
April 01, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 63 MBEpisode 83: Momming With Autism With Guest Alicia Trautwein In this episode, we discuss raising children with special needs and different diagnoses. Alicia Trautwein has 4 children, 3 of whom are autistic. Alicia was diagnosed with autism at age 33, after her children were formally diagnosed. She knew that something was different about herself but doctors provided her with numerous incorrect diagnoses. However, for 3 years prior to her official diagnosis, she started to suspect that she ha...
Special Needs Superheros with Guest John Besold
March 29, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBBonus Episode: Special Needs Superheros with Guest John Besold In this episode, we discuss special needs superheros. Guest John Besold always believed in helping others, but when he experienced polymyosistis in 1999, his eyes were opened to the special needs world, during his several weeks hospital stay. His experience inspired him to write SPARQE. He decided to write a book where kids had special abilities rather than special needs. This book is best for kids ages 10-15, but can be useful...
Adoption Of Special Needs Children with Guest Dr. John Cranham
March 25, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBEpisode 82: Adoption Of Special Needs Children with Guest Dr. John Cranham In this episode, Dr. John Cranham discuss adoption of special needs children. His son Cornell was born at 23 weeks. He spent the first 6 months of his life on a ventilator and trached before moving to a transitional unit. John’s wife initially worked with Cornell in the hospital as his therapist, and then decided that they should take him home as a foster child. They thought about it for a while, and then decided to...
All About Dyslexia With Guest Lizzie Shearing
March 18, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBEpisode 81: All About Dyslexia With Guest Lizzie Shearing Today, we discuss all things dyslexia. Guest Lizzie Shearing discusses that dyslexia is a reading learning disability. Individuals process written words differently in their brain, such that they rely on the left frontal lobe, rather than more on the left posterior areas of their brain. They show inefficient patterns of brain activity. Dyslexia occurs in 1 in 10 people. Symptoms include difficulty with reading, reluctance to read ou...
LGBTQ In the Autism Community With Guest Danielle Sullivan
March 11, 2021 11:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBEpisode 80: LGBTQ In the Autism Community With Guest Danielle Sullivan In this episode, Danielle Sullivan discusses the gender and sexuality spectrum in the autism community. LGBTQ is very common in the autism community. There is also a high number of individuals who are autistic in the LGBTQ community. Individuals in the LGBTQ community have a higher likelihood of depression, anxiety, and suicidality as are individuals who are autistic. Therefore, support is really important. Start talkin...
Living With Autism While Parenting Special Needs Children With Guest Danielle Sullivan
March 04, 2021 11:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBEpisode 79: Living With Autism While Parenting Special Needs Kids With Guest Danielle Sullivan In this episode, we discuss inclusivity, organizational tools for special needs parents, and living as a parent with autism. Guest Danielle Sullivan discusses that all places should be as accessible and inclusive as possible, even for invisible disabilities. The world needs to consider light, noise, and visual clutter as well as physical disabilities. Listen to others when they suggest ways t...
A Blind View With Guest Ashley Wayne
February 25, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBEpisode 78: A Blind View With Guest Ashley Wayne In this episode, Ashley Wayne discusses parenting children with special needs through the lens of blindness. Ashley was born blind, as were her two older children. Her son also has cerebral palsy. She was initially worried about how she would be able to parent while blind. However, no one else appeared concerned, so she pressed on. She had done some babysitting in the past, and it hadn’t gone well. However, she found successful ways to paren...
Shaping Our Children Through Reading With Guest Sara Bradford
February 18, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBEpisode 77: Shaping Our Children Through Reading With Guest Sara Bradford In this episode, guest Sara Bradford discusses how children can benefit from reading children’s books about special needs. Her daughter has dyslexia and her older two children, as well as her husband, have autism. She discussed finding out during quarantine that her younger daughter has dyslexia, as school never picked it up. Sara chose to write children’s books about differences to make sure children could see thems...
Live Like Sean With Guest TJ Nelligan
February 11, 2021 11:00 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBEpisode 76: Live Like Sean With Guest TJ Nelligan In this episode, we discuss living like Sean; living your best life. When Sean was young, he was diagnosed with an intellectual disability. Guest TJ Nelligan initially began mourning the child he thought he was going to have. After that, life got busy managing doctor appointments, medications, and therapy appointments. A friend later told him about Special Olympics. TJ and Sean went to check it out and loved it. They and their entire family...