Creating Opportunities For Teens & Adults With Special Needs & Disabilities

This 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. About the Guest: Tim Jin Tim Jin is a disability rights advocate with cerebral palsy. He is the Assistant Director of Communication Rights for Disability Voices United, an organization focused on improving education and services for those with developmental disabilities. Jin advocates for improving the accessibility of technology-aided communication for those with speech-related disabilities. Jin has been a member of boards for organizations such as Ability Central Philanthropy, CommunicationFIRST, and the Self-Determinatio

AAC 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 presents at school districts across the country on effective inclusion and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) implementation practices within homes, communities, and schools of those with complex communication needs. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago to complete her Assistive Technology Certification with a concentration in AAC for education. Hannah aims to pursue a professional career in AAC training and implementation to facilitate collaboration and effective training for impleme

Communication 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. Gormley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Handicapped from the State University of New York at Geneseo, a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Pennsylvania State University. She provides inpatient and outpatient augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services as well as completes AAC research and program development activities. Her research and clinical interests center upon improving inte

The 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 have early access to full communication and inclusion in educational settings from early childhood and beyond. She is an intern at Reach Every Voice, training to be an instructor and communication and regulation partner for nonspeaking or minimally speaking individuals of all ages. In today’s conversation Tiffany will use a combination of spoken voice and AAC voice. This episode is the 4th in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.

Many 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 Pennsylvania and New Jersey licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certified speech-language pathologist. Links to Mentioned Content: Article - A Child’s Garden of Curses by Kristin L. Jay and Timothy B. Jay Relevant Episodes: #116: Touching of Self and Others from July, 2020 in the Complicated Behaviors Series #77: Your Body, Your Boundaries from June, 2019 in the Health Series This episode is the 3rd in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.

Brittany 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 April, 2018 edition of The Autism in Adulthood Journal. This episode is the 2nd in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.

Often, 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 fundamental human rights. She partners with individuals with complex communication needs and their families to support their AAC journey. Kate is a certified member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and holds licensure as a speech language pathologist in the state of Connecticut. She has worked in home, school, and clinic settings with clients of all ages. Kate trains parents and professionals on proven strategies to support their learner’s authentic and autonomous communication. Links to Mentioned Content: Kate’

The 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.    

Most 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 brings over a decade of experience serving teens and adults with developmental disabilities and is an expert in community integration and employment supports. Sonni leads the team at Guidelight Group and also works personally with clients.  Sonni's work on transition-to-adulthood and employment has been published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation and in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. Sonni has been a featured expert on the LOMAH podcast and as a presenter at countless conferences includi

Conservatorship 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 law firm specializing in guardianship, powers of attorney, estate planning, trusts, and educational advocacy. Mentioned Links: Financial Planning Series - LOMAH Podcast episodes 101 - 112 National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making Special Needs Alliance Laurens FaceBook page

Geege 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 celebrates autism and follows the zany adventures of her family, including her 19 year old non speaking son, “Pootie,” along with a lively cast which features three other young adults with autism. She makes her home in Athenns, GA with her children and describes herself as a “happy hermit” who loves to get under blankets, eat junk food, and watch TV. You can connect with Geege on IG @geegetayor or FB @angiegeegedudley Leave it to Geege can be streamed on your cable network, the lifetime app, or at  mylifetime.com To hear Geege discuss di

Our 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 seasons are to be expected in the journey so it is important to have strategies that protect our physical, mental, and emotional health.  Mary Susan's heart beats big for caregivers and she is continually creating and sharing content to help us be our best selves for our kids. She has created a free downloadable book, a podcast, an online corse for entrepreneurs, an online corse to help caregivers reimagine their world, daily words of encouragement delivered to earbuds each morning, downloadables such as a free coloring book,

We 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 the why's behind those decisions. This episode shares how things are coming along and what will need to be accomplished this year in order to stay on track.

In 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.

The 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 and/or follow on your podcast app so those episodes find their way to you. Wishing you the happiest of holidays! 

What 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 systems. She also represents PRC-Saltillo at speaking engagements and other events. Hannah presents at school districts across the country on effective inclusion and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) implementation practices within homes, communities, and schools of those with complex communication needs. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago to complete her Assistive Technology Certification with a concentration in AAC for education. Hannah aims to pursue a professional career in AAC

Families 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 Telehealth ASHA Tracking of State Laws and Regulations for Telepractice and Licensure Policy Telepractice Services and Coronavirus/ COVID-19 ----- The National Bureau of Health Workforce  ECHO – Extension for Community Health Outcomes:  Find your state Assistive Technology Program F2Fs  Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs)  LEND programs  About the Guests: Molly Kimmel, OTR-L & Martin Blair, PhD Molly Kimmel is the Program Director of MonTECH, within the Rural Institute for Inclusive Comm

Doctors 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 Resources special interest group of ABAI. His social media pages and website are dedicated to dissemination of behavior science as well as pushing for inclusion of trauma-informed care standards in Applied Behavior Analysis and other human services. He  is the host of the Oh Behave! Podcast, and open-source licensed podcast. Brian is a proud autistic adult, loving husband, avid lover of sci-fi/fantasy, a “nerd” with something better to do, enjoys the great outdoors, cooking, musicals, puns, spending time with friends and dogs,

Complex 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 state, national, and international conferences such as the Missouri Speech-Hearing Association, ATIA, and the Pediatric Perspectives Conference. She has been published and supported both inpatient pediatric and educational augmentative communication research.  She currently hosts a podcast for her school district titled: “Innovative AAC Solutions”. She loves providing training, implementation resources, and guided direction to help with success using AAC.  She can be followed for more resources and ideas on Instagram @aac_innova

If 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 funding, and suggested educational materials.   Links to Mentioned Content: Blossom and Root Curriculum Call of the Wild and Free Special Book Episode 108: Finding Disability Financial Resources IEP and homeschooling considerations for each state This episode is part of a 12 episode series in Season 5 rethinking the what, when, where, why, and how of the therapies we choose.