Creating Opportunities For Teens & Adults With Special Needs & Disabilities

Effectively utilizing assistive technology for individuals with special needs requires more than access to the latest gadgets, apps, and tools. More important is the process leading to the correct gadget, app, and tool. Mike Marotta is an assistive technology support specialist with an extensive resume spanning 30 years with the special needs population. In this episode, Mike shares the process he uses and gives us the confidence to do so as well. He points us to places our questions can be answered (hint: hashtag!).   Be sure to check out Mike's podcast called Assistive Tech for All. Links to items mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/57

Accessible Educational Materials make it an exciting and promising time for those with print disabilities. Luis Perez points us to the many available resources. Luis Perez is the technical assistance specialist at the National Center on Accessible Materials at CAST. He has multiple degrees and publications. He is an Apple distinguished educator, a Google certified educator, president elect of the inclusive learning network, and selected as the 2016 outstanding inclusive educator by the International Society for Technology in Education.   Show notes for this episode include several links and can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/56

Dr. Stephanie Talalai is a special education teacher at the A. Harry Moore School which is known for its creative utilization of technology for students with special needs and disabilities. Dr. Talalai is largely responsible for this reputation. Several years ago she saw the need to implement more technology so she both created and filled a position within the school to do so. She is a Google Certified Educator and in this episode gives us ways to share, learn, and implement technology into special education settings even when on a tight budget. Links to mentioned content at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/55   Related Episodes: Secondary and Post Secondary Education Series - Episodes #24 thru #34 Cameras in Special Education Classrooms - Episode #40 Lockdown and Crisis Drills in Special Education Classrooms - #46

Social cognition and self advocacy do not always come naturally so may need to be taught. A program at the Center for Brain Health in Dallas Texas called, Charisma, is teaching clients these and other social skills via a game based learning environment. Avatars are created for the client and therapists while real time and customized social situations play out in the virtual world. Therapists are able to offer immediate feedback to the client that research shows carry over into real life social settings. Tandra Allen, an SLP with the Charisma project, joins us to discuss how the program works and who it is working for. Shownotes and a video of what the "game" looks like can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/54 Related Episodes Episode 28: College & High School, A Student's Perspective Episode 25: College & High School, Think College Episode 4: The Caregiving, Celebrating Balancing Act

How is the adult special needs community going to receive adequate supports, maximum independence, and safety with the limited budgets available in most states? Could technology be the answer? Jason Ray from Simply Home joins us for a discussion on how homes customized with technological adaptations are providing dignity and independence for those with disabilities while saving service providers and families thousands of dollars.   Links to items mentioned in this episode are at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/53

Ipads and smartphones have been game changers for individuals with special needs. Device apps are providing an avenue for communication, learning and independence. BUT, there are over 2 million apps to choose from with over 1000 being added to the store every day. How can we possibly keep up with what is available and know if they are applicable? This conversation with Cristen Reat, cofounder of Bridging Apps, is going to save you time and money by pointing to an up to date, curated, reviewed, and filtered lists of apps. Some of these apps you may never have considered using in the unique ways suggested for an individual with differing abilities.   Links to everything mentioned in the episode can be found on the show notes at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/52   Related Episodes: #48-Augmentative & Alternative Communication (communication apps)  

Jason Hague, author of Aching Joy joins us to discuss the tension we often experience when feelings of joy are paired with feelings of pain. Should we strive to feel one more than the other? Is that even possible? What about hope? Should we allow it into our lives or is keeping the expectations low our only shot at happiness? Show notes available at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/51 which include links to Jason's work and also the 2 videos we mention in the episode.  

Part 2 of our conversation with Erin Sheldon, CEO of Integration Action for Inclusion, focuses on how to stay person centered with augmentative & alternative communication device users. Related Episodes: #49: Person Centered Planning #48: Augmentative and Alternative Communication #34 - Non FAPE? 5 Things to Do Before the IEP Meeting #33 - Homeschooling With a Twist #29 - College of Adaptive Arts #28 - College & High School: A Student’s Perspective  

Person centered planning is not a system or policy but rather a way of thinking. It asks that we momentarily put aside what is currently offered and focus on what is important to an individual with special needs before thinking about what is important for them to fit in the existing system. Our guest is Erin Sheldon who is the CEO of Integration Action for Inclusion, an organization supporting and empowering inclusion advocates.   Related Episodes: #33 - Homeschooling With a Twist #34- Non-FAPE? 5 Things to Do Before the Next IEP Meeting #29 - College of Adaptive Arts #21 - College & High School - A Student's Perspective

Rachael Langley is a speech language pathologist specializing in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).   Rachael talks with us about ***finding an AAC specialist***aided facilitated stimulation***communication autonomy***avoiding prompt dependency***overcoming obstacles parents, teachers, and support staff face in becoming fluent AAC users   BONUS MATERIAL IN SHOWNOTES***developing literacy skills in nonverbal learners***portable carrying cases***compatible AAC software***links to everything mentioned in the show SHOWNOTES AT www.lomah.org/podcast2/48

In this episode, you will get to hear snippets from each guest in the 12 part safety series and the three big takeaways from the host. Know bad things can and do happen. Know how to tell if something bad is happening. Know what to do. This episode is a quick listen and one to use if you are just finding the safety series and want to hear from each guest prior to choosing what to listen to next.  The safety series includes episodes #36 - #47

  Would your loved one with disabilities have the support necessary to stay safe in the event of an on campus crisis? Are you a special educator? Would you have all you need to keep your students safe?  needs. Combining her background as a special educator and mother to a son with disabilities, Dr. Laura Clarke and her colleague created one of the first and only crisis preparedness models for students with disabilities. This is an episode you are going to want to share with administrators or anyone responsible for the safety of children with special needs in a crisis situation.   Related Episodes: #37 Emergency Responder Training #40 Cameras in the Classroom  

Dr. Lauren Moskowitz is known for her work with self-injurious behavior in individuals with special needs. In this episode, she helps us understand why SIB is happening and discusses ABA as a method of treatment. Links to items discussed at www.lomah.org/podcast2/45   Related Episodes: #36 Trauma Indicators, #37 Emergency Responder Preparation, #39 Restraint & Seclusion

As parents, we need to be aware there is a heightened risk of sexual abuse for our loved ones with disabilities. Nora Baladerian is the director of the Disability and Abuse Project and the recipient of many distinguished awards. She conducts seminars and training across the country and is often consulted by attorneys litigating cases of assault on a victim with disabilities. Dr. Baladerian educates us on who the perpetrators are and why they target those with special needs. She teaches us 10 things to do when abuse is suspected, as well as tools to utilize before, during, and after sexual assault.   Links to items mentioned in this episode, including the Risk Reduction book, can be found at www.lomah.org/podcast2/44

The kids were in danger and didn’t even care. This is a raw and real look at how stress impacts our physical and mental capabilities to parent. (Please don’t judge.)   Related Episodes:   #36 - Trauma Indicators  #12 - Finding and Hiring Caregivers #08 - Vacation or Relocation? #07 - Vacation Hacks #04 - The Caregiving, Celebrating Balancing Act

What is the connection between autism and epilepsy? Does one cause the other or are other factors at play? When is the first seizure most likely to happen? Are they harmful? Can they be missed? When do we need to call 911?    Our expert guest, Dr. Roberto Tuchman, is chief of the neurology department at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, Florida. He has explored the autism/epilepsy connection for decades and is a highly sought after resource on the topic.   In Episode 42, Dr. Tuchman shares what he is discovering regarding the autism and epilepsy connection and also speaks to us as a practitioner who has much experience guiding caregivers who have a loved one with autism and/or epilepsy.  Related Episodes: 41 - Assistance Dogs

Have you considered adding an assistance dog to your team of support? Assistance dogs can bring independence, safety, comfort, dignity, companionship, (and cuteness) to the special needs team. The process is quite lengthy and choosing the right organization is important. Paws with a Cause has been training assistance dogs for those with disabilities since 1979 and is considered one of the best programs in the country. Deb Davis has been working with Paws with a Cause for 25 years and in this episode helps us understand the difference between assistance, service and therapy dogs. She tells us what to look for when choosing an organization including a long list of questions to ask. We learn the red flags that should give us "paws". We also will learn more about what to expect during and after the application process as well as volunteer opportunities.    Links to items discussed in the episode can be found in the show notes. Click here. 

We have seen too many stories on the news of cameras and other recording devices documenting poor treatment or abuse of special needs individuals. Would placement of recording devices in the spaces individuals with disabilities are receiving services help protect this vulnerable population? If, yes, then why isn't it being done and how can that change? Dr. Dusty Columbia Embury of Eastern Kentucky University leads the discussion on the topic from her perspective as a classroom educator, researcher, and mom of a child with special needs.    Content to items discussed in this episode can be found here. Related Episodes: #36 - Trauma Indicators of Individuals with Special Needs #39 - Restraint and Seclusion of Individuals with Special Needs

This episode is a must listen from beginning to end for parents, educators, and providers of individuals with disabilities. Restraining someone against their will or placing them in an area of seclusion where they can not get out are still widely used methods in the special needs community. Why? Today’s episode addresses this question.   Click here for links to content mentioned in this episode.

Wandering and elopement are stressful and scary scenarios that, unfortunately, can end tragically. Emily Diamond, a professor, and researcher at the Wright Institute in Berkeley joins us to provide ways parents can take a proactive approach of putting plans in place so that our loved one with disabilities can be found quickly should he or she go missing. Click here for links to information mentioned in this episode.