Creating Opportunities For Teens & Adults With Special Needs & Disabilities

The 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 David Koppenhaver as a supplemental resource while listening to this literacy series. We will be referring to it often. Also recommended is the Talking with Tech Podcast. Additional resources will accompany each episode so do be sure to take a look at the show notes each week.

Turning 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 services. Trudy conducts person centered thinking programming at Parents Helping Parents, where she has enjoyed a 30-year career. Trudy is also the Executive Director of Journey of Choice, a parent-directed supported living agency, and is the founder of The BFF Project. Trudy is a Credentialed Person Centered Thinking (PCT) Trainer by The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices and utilizes the PCT tools in all aspects of her career and life. Links to Mentioned Resources Parents Helping Parents Parents Helping Parents

We 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 Group Gilfix & LaPoll Relevant episodes: Financial Planning Series: Episodes 101-112 from season 4 Transition Planning Series: Episodes 86 - 98 from season 3 Is Technology the Caregiving Solution - Episode 53 from season 2 Easy Technology Solutions for Individuals with Disabilities - Episode 58 from season 2 Person Centered Planning - Episode 49 from season 2 Housing Series: Episodes 11 - 23 from season 1

We 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 disappointments and surprising opportunities. We pick up the discussion where we left off last year. For the back story refer to episode 99 of The LOMAH Podcast  "Advocating FAPE for our Teenage Daughter"  as well as episode 111 of The Mama Bear Podcast with Mary Susan McConnell "What's the Plan." Both were published exactly one year ago in January, 2020

2021 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

Kim 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 your podcast app and follow @journey2lomah on instagram

This 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 the technology series (but completely unrelated) thus easy to miss.  Enjoy this unicorn republish of Kim’s favorite interview, ever!

This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes that have had the greatest influence on Kim's approach to disability and future plans. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation over 4 seasons, 4 years and 125 episodes of being a resource with high caliber guests providing dense information. Kim learns from the expert guests right alongside listeners. About this episode: If you, in any way, have an interest in creating lives of value, choice, and dignity for those with disabilities please listen to this republish of an episode from our advocacy series in season 2. It is one of the most important conversations we have had and focuses on considerations too many in disabilities circles are not even aware of nor taking into account.  Please, listen. Be informed.

This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes that were game changers for Kim, Miranda, and the family. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation over 4 seasons, 4 years and 125 episodes of being a resource with high caliber guests providing dense information. Kim learns from the expert guests right alongside listeners. Kim picked 5 episodes that have had the greatest influence on her approach to disability and future plans. What Kim learned from the guest in this previously published episode from season 2 hands down made the biggest difference in Miranda’s life and provided techniques for breakthroughs that were years in the making. She directs new listeners who message her to this episode all the time and uses daily what she, herself, learned. Unfortunately, it was published during the time episodes were kept under 40 minutes and it’s a shame because there was tremendous value in information the guest shared that didn’t make the episode. That information is, however, included on the LOMAH website

This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes that were game changers for Kim. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation over 4 seasons and 125 episodes of being a resource with high caliber guests providing dense information. Kim learns from the expert guests right alongside listeners. Kim picked 5 episodes that have had the greatest influence on her approach to disability and future plans. If you follow Kim on instagram at journey2lomah you have seen several times in IG Stories how the topic discussed in this episode from season 2 is now part of Kim and Tom's current 5 year plan to have Miranda successfully living in her own space, at her own address, by the age of 22 despite her significant support needs which will require 24/7 supervision.

The LOMAH Podcast publishes 10 - 12 episodes with expert guests on a single topic creating an in depth topical series. This final episode in the Complicated Behaviors Series provides a quick overview and guest clips from each interview as well as what is coming next. Episodes in the Complicated Behavior Series Included: Episode 115 - Moving From What to Why Episode 116 - Touching of Self and Others Episode 117 - Vocal and Verbal Stimming Episode 118 - Motivation and Masking on the Spectrum Episode 119 - Hyperphagia (Food Obsession) Episode 120 - Families in Crisis Episode 121 - Addressing the Disability Advocacy Divide Episode 122 - Fecal Smearing and Ingesting Episode 123 - Co-Occurring Conditions and Crisis Intervention Episode 124 - Medication as a Treatment Tool for Emotional and Behavioral Challenges  Episode 125 - Parenting Support From the Actually Autistic Community

Many diagnosed with autism are eager to come alongside parents to offer support and insight on how our children may be processing the world. In this episode we gain unique perspective from an autistic woman who is also a parent with autistic children. This final episode in our challenging behaviors series finds us coming full circle to the first episode which was about the importance of placing more focus on why a behavior happens over what the behavior is. *Note regarding language - The actually autistic community prefer to be called autistic rather than a person with autism* About the Guest Tiffany Joseph is diagnosed is diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and epilepsy. She is mom to three children, the two oldest are diagnosed with autism and ADHD while the youngest has sensory processing disorder and ADHD. She started the Instagram account nigh.functioning.autism because, as a parent to Disabled kids, she felt like there wasn't enough understanding and empathy for parents' fear of being overwhelmed and systemati

Medicine can be effective in the treatment of emotional and behavioral challenges but finding the right agent and especially the right dose can be tricky and time consuming. This episode covers: Determining factors indicating it’s time to consider medication as a treatment tool How to tell the medicine working Why it takes so long to find the right fit The need for markers, tests, or predictors to help choose a pharmaceutical route What to expect when starting a medicine Comparison of drug classes and options within those classes Dosing and the importance of finding the right provider and what to do if the wait list is long About the Guest Dr. Craig A. Erickson has worked to obtain continuous federal, foundation, internal, and industry funding supporting his and his collaborators' research over the last 10 ten years of his career. He is the inventor or co-inventor on many patents focused on translational treatment development in neurodevelopmental disorders that are held at Cincinnati Children

Recognizing that a new diagnosis or co occurring condition exists in addition to an already existing autism diagnosis can be tricky. Our guest is one of few doctors in the country specializing in identifying and treating cooccurring conditions in autistic patients. She shares insight on identifying and treating cooccruing conditions as well as advice for parents should things escalate to a crisis situation. About the Guest: Dr. Robin Gabriels, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Gabriels has over 30 years’ experience developing intervention programs along with assessing and treating a variety of pediatric and adult populations. Dr. Gabriels established the Neuropsychiatric Special Care program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, one of the few nationally-recognized specialized psychiatric inpatient and day treatment units for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual disabilities. Dr. Gabriels’ resea

Scatolia and coprophagia, also known as fecal smearing and fecal ingesting are among the least researched areas within the circle of complicated behaviors. Our expert guest shares reasons and solutions for this often unspoken and isolating behavior. About the Guest: Kate Reynolds worked for the UK’s NHS for 18 years, seven of which were in HIV/AIDS during the 1990s in and around London. She worked as a senior nurse, trained counsellor and trainer. Both of Kate’s children were on the autism spectrum, one with Asperger syndrome and epilepsy; the other having intellectual disabilities. She has written eleven published books, nine for Jessica Kingsley Publishers including What to Do about Smearing. She is working on a new series of books about sexual health for adults with autism and learning disabilities for Hachette publishers. Kate runs workshops for professionals and parent carers, speaks at national and international conferences, has written numerous articles and is a consultant for schools, other professio

Disability advocates have made great strides in recent years with headway in inclusion efforts and employment equality. While one segment of the disability community continues the hard work of bringing about needed change and celebrate victories along the way, there is another segment with more significant and debilitating disabilities being agressively silenced. Because policy and research are driven by awarenesses, the silencing of this segment of the disability community has come at the great cost of diminishing programs and supports for those who need them most. Can we come together and honor everyone's reality? About the Guest: Jill Escher is an autism research philanthropist, president of the National Council on Severe Autism, immediate past president of Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area, a housing provider to adults with developmental disabilities Related Episodes: Episode 120: Families in Crisis - Lack of Supports and Nowhere to Go w guest Vance Goforth Episode 94: Disability Employment - Is I

A family was in crisis.  Windows were getting kicked out of moving vehicles. Injuries were mounting on both parent and child. There were dislocated shoulders, eye damage from head butts,  and teeth being knocked out from head banging. All experts said treatment was needed ASAP. The problem? There was no where to go.    About the Guest Vance & Kristy Goforth live in East Tennessee with their five children Joshua, Reagan, Emma, Camden and Anna Claire.  A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Vance is employed at a local power utility in the substation and metering department.  Vance & Kristy started a advocacy page and support group in 2018 on Facebook; A Voice for Joshua, after facing years of challenges trying to get treatment for their son Joshua’s behavioral disorder.  Vance is also a volunteer advocacy ambassador through Autism Speaks for the 3rd congressional district in Tennessee.  He also serves on the leadership council for the National Council for Severe Autism. Links to Ment

It is with sadness we learned Camp Krem fell victim to the California wildfires this week. For over 60 years Camp Krem celebrated the disability community and it was atop the mountainside camp many came to discover who they were and what they could become.  Today we pause our current series to share and remember what Camp Krem has meant to our family and republish episode 05 where Alex Krem Jr. expresses the ways he has seen campers change and grow. We also learn the legacy behind the 60 plus years of operation now in its third generation. Bonus: An appearance by Piggie Smalls  We love you Camp Krem!

Hyperphagia is a common characteristic of Prader-Willi Syndrome and is an extreme, unsatisfied, drive to consume food to the point of being life threatening. This episode discusses the best ways to provide food security for those with hyperphagia such as what to put in the IEP, navigating social gatherings, food schedules, and tips for storing food. About the Guest Jessica Patay is a mother, wife, and advocate/cheerleader for Special Needs Mothers.  She has been married to her husband, Chris, for 23 years and they reside in the Palos Verdes area in Southern California. They have two sons and a daughter, all teenagers.  Their second son, almost age 17, was born with a rare, medically complex genetic disorder, called Prader-Willi syndrome. Because Jessica is passionate about serving, mentoring, and inspiring other Special Needs Moms, she launched and leads a non-profit organization called We Are Brave Together.  WABT provides resources, respite, support groups, mentoring and inspiration for moms caring for chil

Being autistic can be really hard. Especially when societal norms are working against nuerodiverse acceptance and the common traits associated with autism. This episode looks at how to move beyond the stigma of masking, negativity, obsessions and motivation to use them as advocacy tools for a more neurodiverse culture. For this episode Kim collected questions from the @journey2lomah instagram community and presented them to Rose Reif, LCMHC, CRC, BC-TMH. Rose Reif is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Qualified Developmental Disability and Mental Health Professional. She's also Board Certified in providing Telemental Health. Rose supports people with disabilities and the people who love them in her counseling practice in Cary, North Carolina. You can learn more by visiting RoseReif.com Mentioned in this Episode Fogg Behavior Model Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model Blog Post: Special Needs Parents and Corona Virus Stress Blog Post: 4 Reason