Creating Opportunities For Teens & Adults With Special Needs & Disabilities

Individuals with disabilities are 7 times more likely to be victims of sexual assault, yet they typically are not taught about their bodies nor boundaries for themselves and others. How can we begin these much needed conversations? To help us navigate this space is Katie Thune. Katie is an educator, author, and advocate for people with disabilities. She has her Teaching License in Health Education, and Special Education K – 12, as well as her MA in Education and worked as a teacher for Saint Paul Public Schools for 12 years. She has done extensive curriculum writing on relationships and sexuality education that can be found, along with other resources, on the website sexualityforallabilities.com   In this episode Katie shares foundational things we can be teaching our loved one such as consent, rules and guidelines around some of the grey areas, public vs private spaces, compliance vs appropriate non compliance, and necessary vs exploitive touch.  Related Episodes: Episode 69: Self Determination with Complex

As caregivers, we want to be there for our loved ones and we want to be there for many years. Caregiver health is much more important and complicated both physically and emotionally than for the general population. How should we be approaching this important aspect of our role? Today’s guest, Betsy McNally Laouar not only trains gold medal olympians but is also an autism mom and has been Kim’s personal trainer for over a decade. In this episode Betsy and Kim talk about their complicated journeys toward health and the ways physical fitness is different, and necessary, for caregivers. Find links to Betsy's best selling books and website on the show notes at www.lomah.org/podcastseason3/76 Related Episodes: #75 - Physical Fitness in the Special Needs Community #74 - Caregiver Emotional and Mental Health

Maintaining healthy fitness levels is challenging enough for the general population and can be even more complicated for those with disabilities. What can we do about some of the common barriers so our loved one with special needs is on a path toward health? To talk to us about fitness in the special needs community is Ryan Lockard, founder and CEO of Specialty Athletic Training. Since its launch in 2012 Specialty Athletic Training has exclusively trained individuals with special needs. Ryan is going to share with us what his learning curve looked like on making fitness fun for his client and some ideas on how to pay for a trainer using available waiver funding. While Ryan is not a registered dietitian, food is certainly a very large piece of the fitness puzzle and we talk about it and a few things that have brought his clients success. This is the second episode in a twelve part health series. Topics in the series are: caregiver emotional/mental health, medical cannabis, training physicians to treat special

We know caregiver self care is important but we don’t do it. Why? What is the missing link between knowing what we should be doing and actually doing it? Rose Reif is the owner of Reif Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Qualified Developmental Disability and Mental Health Professional. She is also Board Certified in providing Telemental Health. Her clients are teens and adults with disabilities and caregivers. In this episode on caregiver mental and emotional health, Kim talks about her own mental and emotional struggles and success the last 15 years as Rose identifies the missing link between knowing the importance of self care and actually taking action. Links to all items discussed can be found at Related Episodes: #51 Aching Joy with Jason Hague #43 Closet Confessions of a Special Needs Parent #26 Trauma Indicators in Individuals with Special Needs

The advocacy series ran January 2019 - April 2019. This episode includes a recap and a 60-90 second clip from each episode in the series and 2 things that have changed in the way Kim approaches advocacy as a result of her time speaking with the guests. Season 3 and a new series will begin mid May 2019 so make sure you have tapped subscribe to ensure these episodes find their way to you once published. Thank you, guests and listeners, for an amazing Season 2!  You can find us on Instagram as journey2lomah and on Facebook as LOMAH.  

What is your advocacy style? Some of us are outspoken and confident while others of us are timid and slow to react. Often advocacy comes with images of anger and confrontation but what if that is not the way we are wired? Can we still be strong advocates? Michelle Sullivan discusses her advocacy style and journey. There was a time Michelle did not believe her voice had any power but now she is a leader in the disability community bringing change and also empowering others to do the same, all while staying true to her personality and voice. She is the founder of The LIttlest Warrior and host of the Advocate Like a Mother Podcast. Links to content mentioned in the show can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/72   “Finding Your Advocacy Style” concludes a 3 month series on advocacy. Episodes in the series include: #61 & #62 - Inclusive Housing and Social Change #63 & #64 - Inclusive Education: Overcoming the Resistance #65 - Inclusion in Faith Based Settings #66 - Advocating Against the Sexual As

Laura Hatcher is on the leadership team of The Little Lobbyist. The Little Lobbyists are families of children with complex medical needs and disabilities who seek to educate legislators about our community by showing up in-person with our children (and their trachs, ventilators, oxygen tanks, feeding tubes, wheelchairs, all the stuff) so they can see first-hand who is impacted by laws and programs. Most importantly, they want legislatures to see our kids are just KIDS; who go to school, love to play, and deserve access to the health care, education, and community inclusion they need to grow up to live their best lives. The little lobbyists also seek to educate families with complex medical needs about legislation that impacts us and to empower us to be strong advocates. In this episode, Laura gives us a pep talk to encourage and equip us to be voices for the disability community. Links to content mentioned can be found in the shownotes at www.lomah.org/podcast2/71 Related Episodes: #70 - Do This Not That: Les

How can we best come alongside individuals with differing abilities? Are we unknowingly offensive or even oppressive? Angela West, self advocate, tells us. Angela is a woman in her 30’s with cerebral palsy. She holds a masters degree, was a Senate Health Education Labor and pensions committee intern, studied at Virginia Partners in Policymaking, and is a former therapeutic recreation activity leader. Using an augmentative communication device as well as her own voice with an interpreter, Angela answers two questions: 1) What are we unknowingly doing as parents, providers, and supporters of individuals with disabilities that may come across as disrespectful? 2) What types of things did Angela’s parents and supporters do well when she was young to bring her to a place of accomplishment as an adult? Related Episodes: Ep. 69: Self Determination with Karrie Shogren from March 2018 Ep. 49 & 50: Person Centered Planning with Erin Sheldon from September 2018 Ep. 28: A Student's Perspective with Jessica from Febru

Self determination is the process by which one controls his or her own life. Most would agree it is important but does that mean we know how make it a reality for all individuals with disabilities, especially those with complex communication needs? Karrie Shogren, Ph.D. is a professor at Kansas University in the Department of Special Education, a Senior Scientist in the Life Span Institute, and Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. Her research focuses on self-determination and systems of support for students with disabilities and she has a specific interest in the contextual factors that impact student outcomes. She has published over 130 articles in peer-reviewed journals, is the author or co-author of 10 books, and is the lead author of the Self Determination Inventory. The above inventory can be found on the self determination website created by Dr. Shogren and Kansas University which also contains, guides to the self determination learning model, implementation, suppleme

Changing Spaces is an advocacy movement bringing adult sized changing tables to public bathrooms. When in need of diapering, individuals with disabilities must either be changed on the floor of a public restroom or return home. In this episode, Christina Abernethy, coordinator of Changing Spaces Pennsylvania, discusses why the need for adult sized changing tables goes beyond hygiene and dignity but also is an inclusion movement. She shares how you, too, can participate in bringing adult sized changing tables to your local community and beyond. Links to the content discussed in this episode are at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/68

      Ashley Kim is the director and national coordinator of the advocacy coalition Together for Choice. Together for Choice is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to unite, to protect, and advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and thrive in a community or setting of their choice.  The conversation covers the complexity of the issues surrounding new HCBS waiver rulings and also the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is a must listen to conversation if you plan on utilizing government funding options for quality of life in adulthood.   Show notes with links to mentioned items in this episode can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/67  Related Episodes: Episodes #13 & #14: Campus Model of Housing Episodes #19 & # 20: Independent Apartment Community Model of Housing Episode #18: 5 Housing Insights Episode #23: Creating a Housing Community Episodes #62 & #62: Inclusive Housing

Individuals with disabilities are 7x more likely to be the victim of sexual assault. After learning of her sister’s abuse our guest, Julie Newart, began an advocacy organization called Natalie’s Voice. Mission Natalie’s Voice is a family-driven sexual assault prevention advocacy organization aiming to: Raise awareness that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are highly vulnerable to sexual assault. Empower caregivers with effective planning tools. Build a community around response so that perpetrators are brought to justice. Vision Each and every non-verbal person with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have their voice be heard, by way of loving care providers, through effective planning, adaptive technology, and a cohesive agency response system, in the face of the sexual assault epidemic. RELATED EPISODES: #36 - Trauma Indicators for Individuals with Special Needs - Dr. Hoover #40 - Cameras in Special Needs Classrooms - Dr. Dusty Columbia Embury  #44 - Sexua

Individuals with differing abilities have much to contribute and our communities are lacking without their presence and influence. This is true in faith based settings as well. Sandra Peoples is a leading voice and encourager in the special needs community via her online groups, 3 published books, a long running blog. and as a contributor and editor at Key Ministry. Listen in to this conversation as Sandra and I chat about how important it is for individuals with disabilities to be seen and understood in faith based settings. We follow up with encouragement for families, resources for churches, and nudges for everyone to move forward.

Moving away from segregated and toward an inclusive school environment often is met with resistance or even a lack of self awareness. How can parents, educators, therapists, admins, and those wishing to make changes effectively bring to light areas in need of consideration and also come against resistance to change? The conversation with Dr. Causton continues in part 2 of Inclusive Education. In part 1 we discussed stages schools move through on the journey to inclusive schooling and also common misconceptions that cause resistance to the idea. In this episode, next steps are given for parents, administrators, and teachers who wish to gather a team and move their school away from segregated settings toward inclusive settings.  The shownotes are packed with amazing (and many free) resources that can be used by teams right away. Find them and everything we discuss at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/63 Related Episodes:  Episode #57: Pep Talks & Twitter Chats Episode #56: Accessible Educational Materials Epis

Moving from segregated to inclusive school settings is often met with resistance. Does the resistance hold merit and how can educators, students, and parents come against it? What stages do schools pass through when moving toward more inclusive settings? Dr. Julie Causton, founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling joins us for a two part episode. Dr. Causton was a Professor in the Inclusive and Special Education Program in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University for the past 14 years. Dr. Causton’s particular areas of expertise are school reform, inclusive teacher training, collaboration, humanistic behavioral supports, lesson planning, and providing invisible adult supports.  She also provides independent educational evaluations in due process hearings across the nation relying on her legal knowledge and practical experience. She is published in over 30 academic journals and has written 6 books for school professionals about inclusive education that are widely read by school teams and t

The conversation continues with Micaela Connery, CEO, and founder of The Kelsey which is a mixed ability/mixed income housing model and social change organization for individuals with and without disabilities.  Part 2 of the interview begins with a conversation about bringing self advocates and other stakeholders to the same table when creating housing solutions. The last half of the conversation begins when Kim poses the question "Does advocating for inclusive models mean advocating against intentional communities?" Micaela shares her thoughts on what is currently a hot topic in disability circles. Links to items mentioned in the episode can be found at www.lomah.org/podcast2/61 Related Episodes: Intentional Communities: The Campus Model on Episodes #13 & #14, Independent Apartment Communities on Episodes #19 & #20 Peer Advocates on Episodes #49 & #50 (Person Centered Planning)  

Micaela Connery is the founder and CEO of a new inclusionary housing development called The Kelsey which is focused on creating an environment of mixed ability and mixed income. The Kelsey aims to be more than a housing development, they aim to be a social change organization expanding inclusion possibilities for individuals with disabilities. Part 1 of the interview focuses on the logistics of creating The Kelsey and why it is a desirable, yet never before created, model of housing. We are introduced to the term "inclusion natives" and learn why the city of San Jose was chosen as the first Kelsey housing development. Part 2 is an interesting discussion about how a parents motivation to create housing comes from a different angle and also why, for the future of policy, it is important for inclusionary housing to be an option. The question asked, "Does advocating for inclusionary housing mean advocating against intentional communities/campus models?" led to an interesting discussion. Part 2 of the conversation

What information will you find on the LOMAH Special Needs Podcast and who is on the other side of your speakers? This quick episode answers these questions. Show notes with helpful links of each episode can be found on the LOMAH website under the Podcast tab. 

In this episode, Kim shares what she learned and is implementing from guests in the technology series. Along with these lessons are clips from each guest so listeners have a quick reference to find episodes of interest.   Additional episode detail from the series and links can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/59   Episodes in the tech series: #48 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication #49 & #50 - Person Centered AAC #52 - Curated and Reviewed Apps #53 - Is Technology the Caregiving Solution #54 - Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training #55 - Technology & Teachers #56 - Accessible Educational Materials #57 - Pep Talks & Twitter Chats #58 - Easy Technology Solutions

Reasonably priced and easily accessible technology marketed toward able bodied individuals also has the alternative perk of bringing independence and improving quality of life for those with disabilities. Venkat Rao of The Assistive Tech Blog shares several examples in this episode as well as his favorite products just entering the market Links to mentioned content can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/58  Related Episodes: #56: Accessible Educational Materials w/ Luis Perez #53: Is Technology the Caregiving Solution w/ Simply Home #52: Curated and Reviewed Apps w/ Bridging Apps #49 & #50 Person Centered AAC w/ Erin Sheldon