Navigating Life as we Know It
113 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsNavigating Live as we Know It seeks to build an educational and entertaining way to help the people around those with Special Needs better find the way to live their best, most self-determined life possible, and how to manage the challenges of the systems
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Episodes
Transforming Adversity into Growth for Parents of Disabled Children
March 02, 2024 12:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBWhen you first discover you'll be parenting a child with disabilities, the road ahead can seem daunting and lonely. Kris Burbank and Linda Hoopes join me to shed light on this path, offering wisdom from their book "Embracing Another Normal." Together, we unpack the resilience necessary for such a journey, sharing personal stories and strategies that resonate not just with parents, but anyone facing adversity. The podcast unfolds the reality of raising children with unique needs, unwrapping ...
64. Visual Thinking in a "Talky Culture" with Temple Grandin
November 13, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBEver wondered how one's mindset shapes their success? Join us as we explore this theme with the remarkable Dr. Temple Grandin, an autism advocate who turned her diagnosis into a testament of resilience. She shares her journey from a non-verbal childhood to becoming a professor at Colorado State University and a celebrated author. Listen in to this riveting conversation and learn about her fervent advocacy for people with disabilities, her views on the value of different thinking styles, and ...
63. Inclusive Journeys: How Accessible Go is Changing Travel
October 06, 2023 00:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBNavigating the world with a disability can often feel like an uphill battle, especially when it comes to travel. We've experienced it firsthand as we journey with our son Lliam. Our struggles sparked a conversation and led us on a journey to understand more about accessibility. We found ourselves crossing paths with the passionate advocates behind AccessibleGo – a leading accessible travel website in the US that's revolutionizing the game for travelers with disabilities. Today, we're thrille...
Inclusive Journeys: How Accessible Go is Changing Travel
October 06, 2023 00:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBNavigating the world with a disability can often feel like an uphill battle, especially when it comes to travel. We've experienced it firsthand as we journey with our son Lliam. Our struggles sparked a conversation and led us on a journey to understand more about accessibility. We found ourselves crossing paths with the passionate advocates behind AccessibleGo – a leading accessible travel website in the US that's revolutionizing the game for travelers with disabilities. Today, we're thrille...
62. Thoughtful Spaces And Joyful Places - Custom Joy
September 25, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 53.5 MBWhen we first spoke with Tiffany Dill several months ago it was about her Universal Design Consulting firm, Blue Day 2. As of July 1, 2023, she has combined her talents and passion for accessible design with Gretchen Kingma, who, like Tiffany, has experience as an Occupational Therapist. Gretchen is also a top producing realtor in the St. Louis area who founded Empowered Homes to fill the gap in real estate services for people with disabilities and adults who wish to age in place. Together T...
61. Magic Mystery Tour
August 01, 2023 02:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBMoving out of a family home is one of life's "exciting, sad, happy, and scary" events. There are so many changes that come with having a place of your own. But...there is also growth and independence. There are new things to discover and experience - for parent care providers and for the young adult who is spreading their wings. Todays story is about Will McAllister and his transition to his own apartment and a new independent life! It is also a story about parental faith and steadfast love ...
Magic Mystery Tour
August 01, 2023 02:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBMoving out of a family home is one of life's "exciting, sad, happy, and scary" events. There are so many changes that come with having a place of your own. But...there is also growth and independence. There are new things to discover and experience - for parent care providers and for the young adult who is spreading their wings. Todays story is about Will McAllister and his transition to his own apartment and a new independent life! It is also a story about parental faith and steadfast love ...
60. With Liberty and Access For All: MDRC
July 17, 2023 19:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBWe all have two basic needs as human beings. One is to be authentic, to live our lives in a manner that reflects our true selves. The other human need is to be accepted within a community. When these two need conflict, when the community to which we belong does not accept our authentic self, the most common reaction is to "mask" that part of our identity that puts us at risk of being excluded from our association with other community members. The MDRC mission is to "... cultivate disabi...
Sweet Dream are Made of These: The ZPod Story
June 19, 2023 15:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBMany people seem to have a "problematic" relationship with sleep. We take medications to keep us awake...and we take medications to make us sleep. But sleep...a GOOD night's sleep, is essential to our psychological and physical health. Autism is one of those disabilities that can manifest itself in a broad spectrum of sensory issues...and often the ability to sleep through the night is seriously affected. Most of us know what it feels like to suffer from sleep deprivation, because if a...
59. Sweet Dream are Made of These: The ZPod Story
June 19, 2023 15:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBMany people seem to have a "problematic" relationship with sleep. We take medications to keep us awake...and we take medications to make us sleep. But sleep...a GOOD night's sleep, is essential to our psychological and physical health. Autism is one of those disabilities that can manifest itself in a broad spectrum of sensory issues...and often the ability to sleep through the night is seriously affected. Most of us know what it feels like to suffer from sleep deprivation, because if a...
They Listen, They Care
March 06, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBIndividuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families often find themselves dealing with complexity and even intentional obfuscation as they navigate the path of Medicaid eligibility and benefits That is why we find it exhilarating when along that path we find individuals with expertise and empathy. I have discovered both those qualities in Marianne Huff. Although Marianne's highest level of expertise is in the mental health arena...the rules governing Med...
58. They Listen, They Care
March 06, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBIndividuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families often find themselves dealing with complexity and even intentional obfuscation as they navigate the path of Medicaid eligibility and benefits That is why we find it exhilarating when along that path we find individuals with expertise and empathy. I have discovered both those qualities in Marianne Huff. Although Marianne's highest level of expertise is in the mental health arena...the rules governing Med...
57. Collaborating and Trust, some help with planning for the future
December 08, 2022 14:00 - 46 minutes - 31.6 MB"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry!" is an old and unfortunately true statement. And "best laid plans" often "go awry" for two reasons. 1) poor planning...or no planning, and 2) people don't work collaboratively to create solutions that work for all concerned. Both are a result of human error. And both are avoidable. But we all know that within families and friends differing points of view on how to solve a problem can wreck havoc on the best relationships. And that is most u...
56. Barriers to the Ballot
July 21, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBVoting is a constitutional right for an overwhelming majority of Americans, but the reality is people with disabilities, racial minorities and economically challenged individuals face far more obstacles to voting than most voters. Unsubstantiated allegations of mass voter fraud were circulated and amplified after the 2020 presidential election and conspiratorial politicians laid plans for another, more devastating voter fraud scheme.... to suppress voting by mail and drop box through height...
55. An Anecdotal Field Guide for The Rest of Us
July 07, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBIn this new book, Tracee offers you the tips she remembers, stories of adversity and success, to document her personal battles with self and others in a position to grant or deny life-saving tools, equipment, and the access to freedom we all hold dear but often take for granted. The author encourages all of us to use the Field Notes daily to meet success and navigate each one of life’s seemingly impossible hurdles. Topics in the book include: employment, mental health, education, family, phy...
55. An Anecdotal Field Guide for The Rest of Us
July 07, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBIn this new book, Tracee offers you the tips she remembers, stories of adversity and success, to document her personal battles with self and others in a position to grant or deny life-saving tools, equipment, and the access to freedom we all hold dear but often take for granted. The author encourages all of us to use the Field Notes daily to meet success and navigate each one of life’s seemingly impossible hurdles. Topics in the book include: employment, mental health, education, family, phy...
54. Vitalxchange - The Uber of Diability Resources
June 24, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBIf you set out to climb the Himalayas it would be wise to hire a sherpa. Why, you ask? Because the climb may be treacherous and your mistakes very costly! A sherpa has been on the path many times and knows how to climb to the top with positive results. How much do you want to leave to chance? The same may be said about navigating the challenges and obstacles ever present for people with disabilities. Legal planning, financial planning, benefits planning, educational programs, work incentives...
53. A Deep Dive into Courage
May 06, 2022 01:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBThere is a gulf between changing a world and changing THE world, and the difference is the people who help build the steam needed to bring about true and lasting change to the way a society approaches a topic. Earlier this season we discussed the life and advocacy of Bill Rush and some of the people around him on his quest for a life on his terms. We had a chance in the followup to talk with a contemporary of his, John McGill, who offered insight into the changing of the disability landscap...
52. Advocacy and Education for Independence
April 14, 2022 12:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBAffordable, accessible housing, transportation and internet availability are serious issues for people with disabilities in just about every state in the USA. It is especially problematic in rural areas. As if these challenges weren't enough, the crew of the Disability Resource Network in Huntsville Alabama opened for business during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, quarantine and social distancing would have been the straw that broke the poor camel's back. For Davina P...
51. It's BROKEN - Let's Fix It: Support the NADSP
April 03, 2022 01:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBImagine engaging an architect to create plans for the perfect house to fill all your needs.... You are excited about turning this dream into a reality…but then discovering there is no one to do the excavation for the foundation. Also, there is only one carpenter to work on the frame...and that craftsman can only work 12 hours a week on your project. There is a shortage of plumbers...so you will have to make do with an outhouse until one is available. And an electrician? Sorry...only one is a...
50. Faith Love & Courage Pt 3
January 08, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 53.3 MBEpisode 3 - Life together and Changing the World Most movements for social change are identified with a few prominent and well-known leaders. For instance, people like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, among others, are associated with the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The truth is…these individuals provided a voice and a face to the movement, but without the thousands who heard ...
Faith, Love & Courage Pt 2
December 22, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBEpisode 2 - Love and the Audacity of Change Most movements for social change are identified with a few prominent and well-known leaders. For instance, people like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, among others, are associated with the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The truth is…these individuals provided a voice and a face to the movement, but without the thousands who heard them...
49. Faith, Love & Courage Pt 2
December 22, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBEpisode 2 - Love and the Audacity of Change Most movements for social change are identified with a few prominent and well-known leaders. For instance, people like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, among others, are associated with the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The truth is…these individuals provided a voice and a face to the movement, but without the thousands who heard them...
48. Faith, Love & Courage Pt 1
December 15, 2021 20:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBFamily, Faith, and the Seed of Self Advocacy Most movements for social change are identified with a few prominent and well-known leaders. For instance, people like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, among others, are associated with the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The truth is…these individuals provided a voice and a face to the movement, but without the thousands who heard them...
47. Caring About and Beyond
December 02, 2021 20:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBIt is not ever comfortable discussion what happens after someone dies. But when it comes to the death of care providing parents conversations need to happen and plans must be made. Legal, financial and Medicaid Planning are important, of course, but living a full life is more than providing these core necessities. Life as we know it (and aspire to live it) includes meaning, purpose, identity and being “seen” by the members of your family...whether that “family” is the product of biology or ...
46. The Many Flavors of Medicaid Waivers 301 - Children's Waivers & Independent Facilitation
November 18, 2021 20:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBWhen you have a child with a developmental or intellectual disability your life gets complex. Often it becomes overwhelming. Navigating a path to find the right resources is essential. Today's episode is about two Medicaid Waivers that provide valuable supports, The Michigan Waiver for Children and the Michigan Waiver for Children with Serious Emotional Disorders (SED). We also cover the basics of Michigan's Children's Special Health Care program. If you don't live in Michigan, your ho...
45. The Many Flavors of Medicaid Waivers 201
November 10, 2021 20:00 - 40 minutes - 27.5 MBImagine yourself on a vacation to a country where your native language is not spoken. Let's say Portugal. You do not know how to speak or read Portuguese, but you are given a map to help you get around.... but the map (of course) is printed in Portuguese. You can see the roads and have a vague idea of where you are going, but the map does not tell you what the BEST route is. And you won't know what lies between your current location and your destination because....YOU CAN'T READ PORTUGUESE! ...
44. The Many Flavors of Medicaid Waivers
November 03, 2021 19:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBOur show today is “The Different Flavors of Medicaid Waivers” …. but you are also going to hear a lot of discussion about person-centered-planning (PCP) and the proper use of two assessment tools associated with person centered planning process... the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) and the Psycho-Social Assessment (PSA). Why?? Because assessment tools, person-centered plan and Medicaid Waivers all work together for benefit of the individual at the center of the plan. To help explain how all...
43. Navigating The Risks/Rewards of Relationships
October 27, 2021 19:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBGrowing up can be hard. Especially the teenage years. And even more so if the teenager in question has social skill deficits. As humans we are all "hard wired" for relationships with other humans. Individuals living with autism often want to develop skills necessary to make and keep friends. They need to learn the skills necessary to navigate various social situations in which they may not feel comfortable. And they also must learn how to manage conflict and rejection. Parents and care provi...
Being Here Now, an introduction to NLAWKI's Mindful Moments
September 29, 2021 19:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBI'm probably showing my age...but some of you might remember the routine of "defragging" your computer to allow it to work more quickly and efficiently. It was once described to be as allowing your computer to take some time to put files away and "clean up" it's desk. This was it was able to work better. Well, wouldn't it be nice to defrag your mind on occasion? Just to put away the loose ends and clutter that we tend to accumulate and bog down our brain and sap our energy? Well, you can def...
42. The Right Place To Land - Finding the Best Nest
September 22, 2021 18:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MB"There's no place like home!" In the Wizard of Oz Dorothy said these words and clicked the heels of her ruby slippers three times. Instantly she was transported back to her farm home in Kansas. This makes for an enduring story...but getting into the right home presents a little more of a challenge today. Especially if you live with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. You have many obstacles to contend with, such whether you want a roommate(s), where you will live...house, apartm...
41. Forgiveness: The Pathway from Emotional Pain to Growth
September 15, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBEveryone has heard the phrase "forgive and forget." That isn't always possible, or even advisable. It is important to remember. To recall emotional pain that has played a destructive role in the course of your life and in your relationships. With these memories it becomes even more important to forgive, or to ask forgiveness, so you may convert the hidden pain your have experienced in your past from suffering to growth. A very empathic person, Shannon has accumulated great knowledge and...
40. Finding The Emerald City
September 08, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBRemember Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz? She had an impossible task. First retrieve the broom stick of the Wicked Witch and deliver it to the Wizard of Oz who would grant her wish to return to her home in Kansas. Doesn't life feel like that sometimes? Impossible task? Improbable goals? Flying Monkeys all around you? Attempting to find and secure affordable, community based, appropriately supported housing during a skyrocketing real estate market makes snatching a witch's broom stick look easy,...
39. Letting Go and Letting Grow
September 02, 2021 22:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBIt's hard to let go of things...and I have a garage filled with items I should have let go of years ago. But I keep thinking, maybe I'll find a use for this "thing." But I hardly if ever do. It is much different letting go of people, but it is natural and necessary when raising children to "let them go" in order to "let them grow." We learn by facing new life challenges, often making mistakes in the process, but learning from our experiences! I have personally made my share of mistakes and h...
38. A Short Bridge to Inclusion
August 26, 2021 21:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBBridges create opportunities for connection. They empower travel to visit people and places that might otherwise be inaccessible. And they often unite people together to pursue common goals. Some are span enormous distances while others are measured in feet and inches. Today’s show is about one of the world’s smallest bridges. But it may be one of the most important bridges you will ever cross. The “bridge” we explore today is named Zavikon, a company founded by our guest, Rebecca Beam. Zav...
37. The Risks of "Integrated Care"
August 18, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBThe Space Shuttle, with over 2.5 million parts, 230 miles of wire and 1,060 plumbing valves was once described as the most complex "machine" ever made by man. For successful results it's mission requirements complex systems and a flawless degree of accountability were essential. Flaws in those complex systems resulted in the disasters of Columbia and Discovery. Our health care system, experienced from a patient perspective, appears to rival the Space Shuttle in complexity. But in the case of...
36. Charting The Labyrinth of Planning and Services
August 11, 2021 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBMost of us at one time or another have driven down a dark road and found ahead of us a deer transfixed, staring into our headlights? Have you ever felt like you have something in common with the deer? In the disability community we face a labyrinth of rules, regulations, benefit levels, service options, waivers, forms and...well you get the picture. It all looks more like and obstacle course than a path forward. It's in unchartered waters like these that a navigator, someone who knows and ha...
35. A Proven Recipe for Inclusive Employment
August 04, 2021 21:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MB"You can't age out of being in a family" according to Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Director of the Friendship Circle in Bloomfield Michigan. Over the past 27 years as children within the Friendship Circle have grown so has the capacity of Friendship Circle to meet their employment needs and enhance the quality of their lives. The Soul Cafe and Soul Studio, launched in 2016, are located inside the Friendship Circle’s Farber Center where they provide a loving and inclusive environment that en...
34. A Party with a Purpose - Coordinating Goals and Support for a Self Determined Life
July 28, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBToday’s episode is an interview with Annette Downey, the Executive Director of Community Living Services, an organization that provides Independent Support Coordinators, (abbreviated as ISCs) for Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Kent Counties in Michigan. And as of July 2021, CLS has expanded their services to Ottawa County. For non-Michiganders tuning in I think you will find this interview relevant as well. No matter where you live in the United States or its territories, people with disabili...
Special 4. The Art of Conversation via Chat Chains
July 14, 2021 21:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBWe're back and we've got a new trick! NLAWKI Returns a couple weeks ahead of our OFFICIAL SEASON 2 START DATE with a special release about a new way to learn conversation skills - CHAT CHAINS! Check out the links below and make sure you tune in to our official Season 2 startup on the 28th of July! Most neurotypical individuals learn to communicate naturally as we grow and mature both verbally and through body language. Individuals with autism and various other developmental disabilities fa...
33. Nothing About Me Without Me 2; Finding Strength in Circles
May 19, 2021 21:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBImagine growing older...but never growing up. Never being allowed to make decisions or choices that influence your future, or bring you happiness. Never being able to "grab the brass ring" because the person(s) who make decisions on your behalf think it's either too risky, or beyond your ability to achieve. What a small and lonely world to live in! Today we present the second installment of a two part episode on supported decision making. We discuss the value of presuming competence......
32. Nothing About Me Without Me; Understanding the Dignity of Risk Pt 1
May 12, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBWe all seek advice from time to time. Especially when confronted with a challenge that is unique to us. Sometimes that trusted advisor is a friend who has expertise in solving the problem we face, or a professional who can help us navigate our way to a desired outcome. And if all else fails, today we have YouTube tutorials in just about everything from how to open a jar of pickles, to Do It Yourself brain surgery! Help and support pervades our environment, if only we seek it. Seeking support...
32. Nothing About Me Without Me; Understanding the Dignity of Risk Pt 1
May 12, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBWe all seek advice from time to time. Especially when confronted with a challenge that is unique to us. Sometimes that trusted advisor is a friend who has expertise in solving the problem we face, or a professional who can help us navigate our way to a desired outcome. And if all else fails, today we have YouTube tutorials in just about everything from how to open a jar of pickles, to Do It Yourself brain surgery! Help and support pervades our environment, if only we seek it. Seeking support...
31. Finding a Vision for Community's Future
May 05, 2021 21:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBCommunity (Cambridge Dictionary) “all the people who live in a particular area, or a group of people who are considered as a unit because of their shared interests or background.” Vision (Cambridge Dictionary) “the ability to imagine how a country, society, industry, etc. could develop in the future and to plan for this.” Everything starts with a Vision that grows through collaborative thinking and culminates in the birth of a new Community! Today we hear from Jennifer Knapp, Executive...
How to Bridge The Gap Between Disability and Employment
April 28, 2021 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBEveryone benefits when all are included! Many of us have experienced challenges obtaining employment. If you have a developmental or intellectual disability those challenges take on a whole new dimension. You have skills. You have abilities and interests. You want to “give back” to your community and be accepted for who you are. But too often the world does not understand your value… or what you have to offer. Today we speak with Dirk Bakhuysen with Beyond26 and Rev. Bill Gaventa who helpe...
30. How to Bridge The Gap Between Disability and Employment
April 28, 2021 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBEveryone benefits when all are included! Many of us have experienced challenges obtaining employment. If you have a developmental or intellectual disability those challenges take on a whole new dimension. You have skills. You have abilities and interests. You want to “give back” to your community and be accepted for who you are. But too often the world does not understand your value… or what you have to offer. Today we speak with Dirk Bakhuysen with Beyond26 and Rev. Bill Gaventa who helpe...
29. Let's talk about Disability, Housing, and the Awesome Power of Coalitions
April 21, 2021 21:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBOur culture places great emphasis on rugged individualism. Our heroes and role models are risk takers who face overwhelming odds and obstacles but, in the end, through grit and determination come out on top. They prevail! (with considerable help from those working behind the scenes) But behind every great and lasting accomplishment is a group of individuals who collaborate and create. They identify a host of challenges and obstacles and use their creative, collaborative genius to craft...
Let's talk about Disability, Housing, and the Awesome Power of Coalitions
April 21, 2021 21:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBOur culture places great emphasis on rugged individualism. Our heroes and role models are risk takers who face overwhelming odds and obstacles but, in the end, through grit and determination come out on top. They prevail! (with considerable help from those working behind the scenes) But behind every great and lasting accomplishment is a group of individuals who collaborate and create. They identify a host of challenges and obstacles and use their creative, collaborative genius to craft...
Let's Talk About Changing your Dreams...
April 15, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBEveryone wants to live a beautiful life, but in every life we are faced with challenges. Many of those challenges involve processing grief over the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or the loss of the dreams we had set for our lives. For parents providing care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities there exists a whole new level of stress and unrecognized grief that can shatter our dreams and blind us to the beauty of life that surrounds us. With her n...
28. Let's Talk About Changing your Dreams...
April 15, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBEveryone wants to live a beautiful life, but in every life we are faced with challenges. Many of those challenges involve processing grief over the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or the loss of the dreams we had set for our lives. For parents providing care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities there exists a whole new level of stress and unrecognized grief that can shatter our dreams and blind us to the beauty of life that surrounds us. With her n...