LOMAH Disability Podcast
182 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 96 ratingsThe LOMAH Podcast is an award winning show that runs topical series deep diving into an issue for 10-12 episodes with interviews from expert guests, including self advocates. Your host, Kim, has a teenage daughter with level 3 non speaking autism who will require 24/7 support the rest of her life. Like many parents, Kim has a lot of important questions. She does not claim to know the answers for her child nor yours but does promise to search for them and share what she is discovering along the way. You will notice a striking difference in the earlier shows compared to the most recent as she has grown and evolved as a result of listening to expert guests and self advocates.
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Episodes
#171 - 40 Years of AAC Use
July 12, 2022 02:44 - 27 minutes - 53.9 MBThis last episode in the series is right in step with how all good things should conclude and that is with a bit of fun. You are about to listen in on a conversation with plenty of laughter and bad jokes that I had with a man who has been using AAC since the 80’s and who has been living in his own place with hired supports for 20 years. We travel down memory lane recalling accommodations that thankfully have been replaced with better options but also those that have stood the test of time. ...
#170 - Asserting Authority & Directing Care as an AAC User
July 05, 2022 03:14 - 53 minutes - 96.2 MBAAC users often have to, first, assert authority over their self care staff. Our guest who exclusively communicates via AAC shares tips and tricks she has learned over the years on hiring and training staff. About the Guest Hannah Foley is the Product & Service Development Intern and an Ambassador at PRC-Saltillo, where she develops training and implementation supports for PRC-Saltillo language systems. She also represents PRC-Saltillo at speaking engagements and other events. Hannah pre...
#169 - AAC in Medical Settings
June 28, 2022 04:13 - 32 minutes - 55.9 MBCommunication between provider and patient is a crucial component of quality care which is why extra thought and planning need to be arranged for augmentative and alternative communicators. About the Guest: Jessica Gormley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP of The Patient-Provider Network Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathologist, Research Coordinator and Interim Director in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. Dr. Gormle...
Using The Entire AAC Device
June 21, 2022 06:10 - 43 minutes - 80.4 MBThe internet has swung the door wide open for alternative and augmentative communication users, yet often the creative use of these tools is never introduced. It’s time to expand how AAC users maximize devices as well as how to navigate online communities that they now have access to via AAC. About the Guest: Tiffany Joseph Known as Nigh Functioning Autism on instagram, Tiffany has 3 neurodivergent children and is autistic. Tiffany’s ultimate goal is for nonspeaking individuals to all ha...
#168 - Using The Entire AAC Device
June 21, 2022 06:10 - 43 minutes - 80.4 MBThe internet has swung the door wide open for alternative and augmentative communication users, yet often the creative use of these tools is never introduced. It’s time to expand how AAC users maximize devices as well as how to navigate online communities that they now have access to via AAC. About the Guest: Tiffany Joseph Known as Nigh Functioning Autism on instagram, Tiffany has 3 neurodivergent children and is autistic. Tiffany’s ultimate goal is for nonspeaking individuals to all ha...
#167 - AAC Slang, Slurs, Swearing...and Censorship
June 14, 2022 05:53 - 44 minutes - 79.8 MBMany AAC users are dependent upon others to program language onto their device. Despite what research shows regarding common language in various age groups, it is common practice to censor slang, slurs, and swearing even for adults. About the Guest: Hali Strickler is an AAC services coordinator for TechOWL at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. She received both her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from Temple University. Hali is a ...
AAC with Spoken Communication
June 07, 2022 04:51 - 35 minutes - 66.4 MBBrittany Dube is and autistic partial AAC user who shares the stigma she often experiences when choosing AAC over her spoken voice despite how AAC makes her more communicative. Links to Mentioned Content: Etsy has several sellers creating personalized communication boards. Brittany’s came from the seller Coatney Creations. The quote referenced came from an article about partial AAC use in communicators with speech written by Alyssa Hillary Zisk and Elizabeth Dalton. It was published in...
#166 - AAC with Spoken Communication
June 07, 2022 04:51 - 35 minutes - 66.4 MBBrittany Dube is and autistic partial AAC user who shares the stigma she often experiences when choosing AAC over her spoken voice despite how AAC makes her more communicative. Links to Mentioned Content: Etsy has several sellers creating personalized communication boards. Brittany’s came from the seller Coatney Creations. The quote referenced came from an article about partial AAC use in communicators with speech written by Alyssa Hillary Zisk and Elizabeth Dalton. It was published in...
165 - More Than Requests: Using AAC for Authentic Communication
May 31, 2022 05:06 - 37 minutes - 69.1 MBOften, AAC is used for nothing more than to make requests. While requesting wants and needs is important, AAC can offer much more to complex communicators and those who wish to know them. About the Guest: Kate McLaughlin, M.S., CCC-SLP Kate McLaughlin is a speech-language pathologist specializing in AAC - alternative and augmentative communication for individuals with complex communication needs. She believes that autonomous communication, inclusion, and self-determination are fundamen...
164 - AAC Series Intro + A Few Life Updates
May 24, 2022 15:34 - 17 minutes - 32.6 MBThe new series will focus on "Doing More With AAC". This episode gives a peek at the topics that will be covered with expert guests, many who are AAC users themselves. The second half shares a few life updates relevant to the LOMAH tagline "Planning the future for our daughter with disabilities and inviting you to fumble through it with us". There has been some great news regarding the next 3 years (Miranda's transition years ages 19-22) as well as an update even closer to home.
#163 - A New Way to Find and Fund Adult Services
March 08, 2022 06:27 - 55 minutes - 96 MBMost adult supports are chosen via eligible providers on HCBS waiver lists. However, some states have been toying with a new method that offers more flexibility and choice. In this conversation we explore what families have and have not liked about the newly rolled out Self Determination Program and why our family has decided to move away from provider lists and into this new option of funding supports. About the Guest: Sonni Charness, Founder of Guidelight Group Sonni Bendetson Charness...
#162 - Conservatorship vs Supported Decision Making
March 01, 2022 06:13 - 51 minutes - 94.5 MBConservatorship has long been the route to providing supports to disabled individuals with they turn 18. However, a new option called supported decision is an alternative that supports the person in making their own decisions rather than giving up rights through the conservatorship option. About the Guest: Lauren Butterworth, Esquire PLLC received her Bachelor of Science from Penn State in education and was a teacher prior to returning to school for her law degree. She now owns her own l...
#161 - 18 Years Later: What We Got Right and What We Would Have Done Differently
February 22, 2022 07:32 - 49 minutes - 88.6 MBGeege Taylor, who you may know from the reality TV show Leave it to Geege, joins Kim for a reflective chat. They both have been parenting autistic children for over 18 years and have a list of things they feel they did really well as well as a few things they would have done differently. About the Guest: About the Guest: Geege Taylor Geege Taylor is an autism advocate and writer who produces and stars in Leave it to Geege, a reality series on The Lifetime Network. The show celebra...
#160 - Survival Mode
February 15, 2022 06:20 - 55 minutes - 99.7 MBOur family barely survived and is just now emerging from a hard two years that where spiraling into aggression, self injury, and rapid regression for Miranda. It took intention to make it through to the other side as a caregiver. This episode shares some of the struggles and impact they had on Kim's mental and emotional health. Joining and contributing to the conversation is Mary Susan McConnell. Kim and Mary Susan swap caregiving stories and strategies that point to the truth that hard se...
#159 - Our Empty Nest Plan: 4 Years Out
February 08, 2022 06:33 - 25 minutes - 48.8 MBWe have set a deadline for Miranda to be independent of us, her parents by the age of 22. While she will always require significant care and continual supervision, we have a 5 year plan to phase those supports to others while at the same time honoring her life as a young adult. We are now 4 years out. Listen to the 5 years out episode published January of 2021 before this one where we are 4 years out. The 5 years out episode from last year goes into the details of the overall plan and th...
#158 - Life Update & Mini Series Intro
February 01, 2022 05:51 - 28 minutes - 51.2 MBIn this first episode of year/season 6, the first 10 minutes lay out what is to come in the new mini series. The last 15 minutes are spent sharing personal situations that have impacted the family.
#157 - Therapy Series Recap
November 16, 2021 06:23 - 23 minutes - 43.3 MBThe therapy series included 10 interviews challenging us to consider the why and how behind therapy choices. This episode offers snippets from each conversation. Thus concludes our 5th year and 5th season. The LOMAH Podcast will return in January with a life update about the many big changes taking place as we march closer and closer to Miranda's adult years. There is a lot happening! Late January or early February will bring the start of a new series. Be sure you have tapped subscribe...
#156 - Therapy From a Client's Perspective
November 09, 2021 06:19 - 55 minutes - 99.7 MBWhat does therapy look like and feel like from the perspective of the client? A woman in her 20’s who has been in therapy since infancy shares her experiences and observations of how things changed as she aged and what she feels is important during the teen to adult transition years. About the Guest: Hanna Foley Hannah Foley is the Product & Service Development Intern and an Ambassador at PRC-Saltillo, where she develops training and implementation supports for PRC-Saltillo language syst...
#155 - Supporting Families in Rural Settings
November 02, 2021 05:25 - 48 minutes - 88.4 MBFamilies living in rural and frontier setting may live hours away from the nearest specialist and have a small pool of therapists and providers from which to choose. How can a support system and work force be formed for these families? Links to Mentioned Content: Telehealth and telepractice regulations vary by state. Therapy-focused national associations track these regulations, by state. AOTA State Actions Affecting OT in Response to COVID-19 Virtual School-based Services via Tele...
#154 - The ABA Debate
October 26, 2021 04:54 - 47 minutes - 85.9 MBDoctors tell parents of autistic kids not just to do ABA therapy but a lot of ABA therapy and as early as possible. Meanwhile, autistic self advocates are loudly saying under no circumstances should ABA be a therapy option. Who is right? About the Guest: Brian Middleton, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA Brian Middleton started Bearded Behaviorist as an effort to make understanding behavior fun and interesting. Dedicated to open-source education, Brian is a founding member of the Open-Source Educational ...
#153 - The Need for Niche Therapy
October 19, 2021 06:16 - 43 minutes - 79 MBComplex needs necessitate a more specialized approach toward therapy. Often the “Big 3” of speech, OT, and PT are not specialized enough to address complex needs. This episode takes a look at how niche therapies fold in the The Big 3 and where trends seem to be headed. About the Guest: Laura Hayes, MS, CCC-SLP Laura Hayes is a speech-language pathologist with over 12 years of augmentative communication experience in both school and medical settings. Laura has presented locally and at ...
#152 - Education and Therapy Customization
October 12, 2021 04:51 - 42 minutes - 76.9 MBIf the traditional format of education during the day and therapies in the afternoon are not advancing your objective, you CAN break the mold. Listener turned guest, Jess Fraga is venturing out of the box this year. Rather than slot her twin boys into what is already established with education and therapies she is creatively customizing a day that is focused on how to best meet goals. She shares how her boy’s days are structured, where she found people to help, utilizing resources for fund...
#151 - Dwindling Adult Therapy Options (caused by well meaning but misguided advocacy efforts)
October 05, 2021 05:32 - 38 minutes - 73.6 MBAdulthood often comes with a narrowing of therapeutic options that unfortunately are becoming even more thinned out due to recent policy. In this episode we pick up from a line of thought introduced in episode 150 regarding supports that affirm Neurodiversity and how value is ascribed to disability communities. Ableist lines of thinking are having a catastrophic impact on support services for the most vulnerable. These impacts in policy will be very hard to reverse once implemented and many ...
#150 - Neurodivergent Affirming Approaches to Self Injurious Behavior
September 28, 2021 05:29 - 52 minutes - 93.4 MBWhat does it look like to support self injurious behavior in a way that is affirming to the individuals neurotype? Are the approaches being suggested in the neurodivergent affirming therapeutic practices movement just wishful thinking or are they game changers for the many looking for help in this area? We conclude with a conversation about what self determination truly looks like when considering independent living outcomes and goals. We highly suggest listening to this episode with a c...
#149 - Neurodivergent vs. Ableist Therapeutic Practices
September 21, 2021 05:44 - 52 minutes - 91.4 MBNew methods of therapy are beginning to take hold that emphasize neurodivergent affirming practices. What does this even mean and how does it expand or change the scope of traditional therapeutic focus? This is the first of two episodes on the topic. About the Guest: Jacklyn Googins, MSOT Jacklyn (she/her) graduated from UNC Chapel Hill’s Master’s of Occupational Therapy program in August 2021. Jacklyn is the co-founder of OTs for neurodiversity, a paradigm-shift in social media advocacy...
#148 - Finding Clarity Among So Many Therapy Options
September 14, 2021 04:15 - 50 minutes - 91.8 MBFrom the start, referrals and advice and options abound. How do we make smart decisions and put boundaries around therapy so as to choose the best option and know when it’s time to bail. About the Guest Kimberly Richey is a former librarian, researcher, massage therapist and Rolfer with over 20 years of experience. She is also on a unique parenting journey with her son, Eli, who has disabilities. Kimberly’s goal is to support other parents navigating and advocating for their children...
#147 - Pros & Cons of the Most Common Therapy Models
September 07, 2021 05:28 - 42 minutes - 76.9 MBThe most common settings for occupational, physical, and speech therapy are clinics, schools, homes, and in the community. This episode explores the pros and cons of each and introduces the new series where we rethink the what, when, where, why, and how of therapies we choose to use. About the Guest: Sara Hall, OTR/L Sara Hall is a pediatric occupational therapist and the owner of SOAR Pediatric Therapy, a community-based private practice specializing in unique and tailored therapy servi...
#146 - Literacy Series Recap
June 15, 2021 05:59 - 38 minutes - 70.4 MBIn this final episode of the literacy series, Kim shares how she is implementing into Miranda's literacy instruction what the guests have taught and what she has learned from the book Comprehensive Literacy for All. Along with specific episode/guest mentions from the series and page references from the book Kim shares: How at the beginning of the series it was confusing to understand the way literacy and communication were and were not the same when using a speech generating device. Wha...
#145 - Thoughts From a Nonspeaking Autistic on Communication and Literacy
June 08, 2021 04:27 - 36 minutes - 67.4 MBShe was denied access to appropriate educational opportunities and a robust communication system for the first 18 years of life. But now, she has a degree in education policy and is a grad student studying curriculum instruction. A self advocate shares what it was like to live with trapped thoughts for 18 years and what was helpful and harmful on her journey toward communication and literacy. About the Guest: Jordyn Zimmerman, B.Ed. Jordyn is a graduate student of education at Boston Col...
#144 - Emergent Literacy Strategies with Cortical Visual Impairment
June 01, 2021 05:29 - 56 minutes - 102 MBDespite what research tells us about time learners need in emergent literacy environments, learners with CVI and significant disabilities are often expected to immediately jump into conventional strategies. This episode shares emergent literacy strategies, specifically in writing, for learners who have difficulty seeing and who have significant physical impairments. About the Guest: Gretchen Hanser, PhD Dr. Hanser has worked in the field of assistive technology and literacy for student...
#143 - Comprehensive Literacy in the IEP
May 25, 2021 06:05 - 46 minutes - 87.2 MBIf it’s not in the IEP then there is a good chance it won’t be an educational priority. Comprehensive literacy involves several areas of instruction. What should assessments and goals look like when using comprehensive literacy approaches toward literacy? About the Guest Stephanie Spadorcia is the chair of the Teaching and Learning department, which consists of Early Childhood, Elementary. Middle School, High School, and Special Education programs. Her research and teaching focuses on li...
#142 - Literacy for All Requires All of Us
May 18, 2021 06:03 - 46 minutes - 84.9 MBBringing all learners, regardless of disability, to a place of literacy is going to require specialized skill sets from the therapy team, leadership from the special education teacher, involvement of para professionals, and follow through at home. This episode offers insight from a public high school education team that have discovered how bring it all together for comprehensive literacy instruction. About the Guests: Ashley Larisey is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and clinical ...
#141 - New Models of Team Collaboration and Literacy Initiatives
May 11, 2021 06:26 - 44 minutes - 81.6 MBChanges require new ideas and ways of thinking. When considering literacy instruction and the teams responsible, where is the path of least resistance? This episode is a brainstorming session yielding ideas such as whole team vs segmented IEP writing, how to spearhead a comprehensive literacy movement in your school, and how Covid may have introduced models of instruction that bring more consistency to each child’s team. About the Guest: Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP Joining us is Chr...
#140 - An Alternative to Big Box Curriculum
May 04, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 90.5 MBMany educators are required by their district to use prepackaged curriculum sets. While these sets are very user friendly, they often do not follow a comprehensive literacy approach to learning and assume reading level equates thinking level. As a result, many learners are either left behind or lack access to age appropriate materials and cognitive concepts. About the Guest: Don Johnston, M.S. Don didn’t read his first book until the 9th grade after he was inspired by a very special teac...
#139 - The Comprehensive Literacy Approach: Putting It All Together
April 27, 2021 06:33 - 54 minutes - 93.9 MBComprehensive literacy instruction at the emergent stage includes shared reading, predictable chart writing, alphabet and phonological awareness, writing, and self directed reading. Comprehensive literacy instruction at the conventional stage includes reading comprehension, word study, writing, and self directed reading. This episode gives a fly on the wall look at how to put all of these aspects together to support literacy instruction should you have your learner for the entire day, or onl...
#138 - Literacy Instruction & Physical Disabilities: Casting a Vision for Doubters
April 20, 2021 06:08 - 49 minutes - 89.3 MBIs there a part of you doubting literacy is truly possible for ALL learners regardless of degree of disability? Or, perhaps you are on the other side of the ring trying to convince others that lacking the ability to see, or move extremities, or speak does not exclude literacy possibilities. This conversation addresses common belief barriers and removes them with a new vision from an educator who has experienced the truth that literacy is truly possible for ALL. About the Guest: Dr. Carolin...
#137 - Literacy Instruction & Physical Disabilities: Choosing the Tools
April 13, 2021 06:40 - 53 minutes - 96.6 MBGiven the right accommodations everyone is capable of reading and writing, even those with the most significant physical disabilities. This is the first of 3 episodes tucked into our 15 episode literacy series that will focus specifically on learners with physical disabilities. Here, we learn of several tools that make literacy instruction accessible and how to choose the best accommodations. About the Guest: Gretchen Hanser, PhD Dr. Hanser has worked in the field of assistive technology...
#136 - Conventional Reading Strategies
April 06, 2021 05:20 - 59 minutes - 106 MBIt is important for learners with disabilities to have ample time in emergent reading and writing skills so as to build a solid platform for conventional literacy strategies. How do you know when that platform is ready to support more complex literacy instruction? This episode answers that question and lays out the areas to focus on when teaching conventional reading strategies, specifically for learners with disabilities. About the Guest: Dr. Sally Clendon Sally Clendon, PhD is a speech...
#135 - Writing Strategies for Learners with Disabilities
March 30, 2021 05:57 - 39 minutes - 70.7 MBLearners move through 14 stages of writing as they progress. This episode focuses on the earlier stages of writing and how we can best support learners with disabilities in moving through each while avoiding common mistakes. About the Guest: Jane Farrall Jane Farrall is a speech pathologist and special educator passionate about literacy, AAC and assistive technology. After 30 years in the disability and assistive technology field, she has lots of practical experience working with people ...
#134 - Emergent Reading Strategies for Learners with Disabilities
March 23, 2021 05:44 - 55 minutes - 100 MBOften learners with disabilities are not provided ample opportunities for emergent literacy skills to solidify. This episode presents 4 questions to identify if our learner needs more time with emergent literacy strategies and several practical applications to build emergent reading skills. About the Guest Sofia Benson-Goldberg PhD, CC-SLP works as a research assistant at the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies. Prior to starting her PhD studies, Sofia had her dream clinical job w...
#134 - Emergent Literacy Strategies for Learners with Disabilities
March 23, 2021 05:44 - 55 minutes - 100 MBOften learners with disabilities are not provided ample opportunities for emergent literacy skills to solidify. This episode presents 4 questions to identify if our learner needs more time with emergent literacy strategies and several practical applications to build emergent reading skills. About the Guest Sofia Benson-Goldberg PhD, CC-SLP works as a research assistant at the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies. Prior to starting her PhD studies, Sofia had her dream clinical job w...
#133-Communication? Literacy? Or Both?
March 16, 2021 05:27 - 41 minutes - 74.7 MBLiteracy instruction has historically used mostly verbal strategies so when learners are non speaking how is literacy supposed to be taught? This episode addresses a common literacy instruction mistake used on learners utilizing speech generating devices. About the Guest: Tina Moreno, M.A. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Kent State University and attained her...
#132-Changing How We Think About Literacy and Disabilities
March 09, 2021 06:27 - 42 minutes - 76.9 MBThe tide is beginning to shift regarding how literacy is approached for students with disabilities, specifically those with complex communication needs. The first step is exploring what we believe to be true about students with disabilities. What are the dangers in assuming literacy is not possible? On the flip side, is assuming competence too simplistic? We will discuss these ideas as well as why access to the entire alphabet is needed, the gateway social media offers, and allowing the nece...
#131 - Literacy Instruction for Students With Disabilities
March 02, 2021 06:28 - 29 minutes - 52.9 MBThe next 12 episodes will focus on what is being discovered regarding literacy instruction for ALL students with disabilities. This first part of this introductory episode explains how to get the most out of the upcoming episodes in this literacy series. The second half of the episode retells the history of Miranda’s literacy instruction and why it has become a priority despite her age. We recommend purchasing a copy of the book Comprehensive Literacy for All by Karen Erickson and Dav...
#130 - The 18th Birthday To Do List
February 02, 2021 04:34 - 43 minutes - 78.4 MBTurning 18 is big milestone for all teens. When the teenager requires significant support needs due to disabilities there are additional considerations and things that must be done ahead of time to ensure the person with disabilities is protected and with wanted support services. In this episode we get a to do list and a pep talk to accompany the streamers and balloons. About the Guest Trudy Marsh Grable is a long-time advocate in the field of disability issues, family support, and servi...
#129 - Our Empty Nest Plan
January 26, 2021 06:38 - 49 minutes - 89.6 MBWe have set a deadline for Miranda to be independent of us, her parents in 5 years, at the age of 22. While she will always require significant care and continual supervision, we have a multi step plan to phase those supports to others while at the same time honoring her life as a young adult. In this episode Tom joins the conversation to share what we will be doing 5 years out, 4 years out, 3 years out, etc to eventually arrive at this big milestone. Mentioned in this episode: Guidelight...
#128 - Our Educational Journey
January 19, 2021 07:05 - 42 minutes - 78 MBWe are deviating from our typical format of deep diving with expert guests into a topic for a 12 episode series. Rather, we are spending 3 episodes to share 3 things (we hope) that will be happening for Miranda this year. In this episode we discuss our hope that she will return to school. The last two years have been a mix of public school, homeschool, NPS heartbreak, and Covid. In this episode Kim shares the roller coaster they can't seem to exit. The ride has offered deep disappointment...
#127 - Three Big Things Happening for Miranda in 2021
January 12, 2021 06:53 - 12 minutes - 22.5 MB2021 Is looking like it might be a big year. In this episode Kim shares three big things on the horizon for Miranda. Find Kim on Instagram as Journey2Lomah
5 Episodes That Changed Us (#5)
November 17, 2020 05:44 - 41 minutes - 74.6 MBKim picked 5 episodes that have had the greatest influence on her approach to disability and future plans. Listen to this republished episode from season 2 where a new friendship was formed that has continued to present day. While not the topic of this episode, the conversation opened Kim’s eyes to a gaping hole in her circle of friends. **Special Note** The next series will begin late January or early February of 2021. To ensure these episodes find their way to you, tap subscribe on ...
5 Episodes That Changed Us (#4)
November 10, 2020 06:49 - 38 minutes - 73.1 MBThis mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes. The 4th is a republished episode from Season 2 and is without question a unicorn in the line up of over 125 shows. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation of providing dense information and episodes so packed with resources that many listen to episodes more than once, and often take notes. This republished episode from season 2 is different and yet is Kim’s favorite interview that she has ever done. It was randomly tucked into t...