Beyond the Spectrum.. every age, every need

May 26, 2021 | Episode  40

just Two Dads sit down the Executive Director of The Campbell Center, David Fields. 

David Fields was born and raised in Los Angeles. After graduating from U.C.L.A., he entered the teaching profession. After a brief stint in education, he worked for Xerox Corp  for 25 years. While working for Xerox, David volunteered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul holding various volunteer leadership positions. Given his corporate and volunteer management successes, David was offered the position of Executive Director of the Los Angeles Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. David’s career with the Society spanned 10 years. His background provided the perfect skill set for his new career opportunity as Executive Director of The Campbell Center in Glendale, CA.

David is married to his wife, Eleanor.  They have two sons, Richard and Jeff, and 3 grandchildren, Ava age 7, Baron age 4 and Cali age 3. David’s interests include gardening while listening to Jazz.

Website: https://thecampbell.org/

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May 19, 2021 | Episode  39

Today just one of the two dads, Shawn Francis, talks about what to consider when taking into account alternative living arrangements for loved ones.

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #AlternativeLivingArrangements

May 12, 2021 | Episode  38

In this episode just Two Dads, Shawn Francis & Brian Altounian, have a young sister warrior, founder, and CEO of Making Authentic Friendships, Juliana Fetherman.

Juliana is 24 years old, and has a 22 year old brother with ADHD and Autism. His name is Michael. Making Authentic Friendships (MAF) are also her brothers initials. He inspired this initiative. He is very lonely due to his lack of social skills and ability to make friends.

She just recently finished her MBA at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, but resides in Long Island. She is passionate about bettering the lives with those with autism and other special needs, and plan to dedicate her entire life to doing so.

Website: https://www.makingauthenticfriendships.com/

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #MakingAuthenticFriendships

May 5, 2021 | Episode  37

Shawn Francis & Brian Altounian, just Two Dads, discuss raising children with special needs and the impact it has on marriage. 

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialNeedsParentingandMarriage

April 28, 2021 | Episode  36

just Two Dads, Shawn & Brian, are joined by Brian's awesome daughter Jordan "Jo" Quinones, who an inspirational special education aid. 

They discuss one of the topics addressed in the book Manifesting for Non-Gurus by Robert MacPhee, who we are at our core.

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April 21, 2021 | Episode  35

Do you feel like your best days are behind you, that you are living them, or that they lie ahead? In this episode Shawn & Brian explore this topic.

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April 14, 2021 | Episode  34

just Two Dads discuss What it means to be a dad & how is that different when your child has special needs?

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #BeingADad

April 7, 2021 | Episode  33

Special Education Attorney & Special Needs Advocate Georgianna Junco-Kelman join Shawn & Brian in discussing special education needs.

Georgianna Junco-Kelman is the founder and managing attorney of The Law Offices of Georgianna Junco-Kelman located in Studio City, California. Ms. Kelman’s law practice is exclusively dedicated to the representation of students with disabilities from ages 3 to 22 years old. A fluent Spanish speaker, Ms. Kelman was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba and immigrated to the United States at the age of 10 years old. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Law, from the University of California at Los Angeles, graduating with Departmental Honors. She earned her Juris Doctorate Degree at the Whittier College of Law in Los Angeles, California and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1998.  She has served a combined 16 years in the Autism Speaks Southern California and Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration Boards of Directors.

Ms. Kelman initially practiced in the area of criminal defense for 7 years, amassing an impressive number of  “Set Aside” (case dismissal) findings in Driving Under the Influence Administrative Per Se hearings, of which she conducted over 3000. With no intention of leaving the criminal field, Ms. Kelman turned her aspirations to criminal prosecution but her career inadvertently and unexpectedly took a different direction. Ms. Kelman’s personal journey in the world of disabilities began in 2002, with the birth of her first child born with a congenital brain disorder detrimentally impacting his global development. Her personal experience with her son paved the way for her next professional endeavor, an exclusively special education law practice. The daunting experience in the attempt to secure her child’s special education services was an eye opener to the significant lack of educational supports and the shortage of adequate services to parents of children with disabilities. It was this rude awakening that ultimately led Ms. Kelman to the field of special education law.

Inspired by her own challenging journey with her little boy, and after meeting countless families desperately seeking assistance to navigate the tumultuous waters of the special education system, Ms. Kelman immersed herself in her next and most important life venture – shifting her career to the practice of special education law – creating the Law Offices of Georgianna Junco-Kelman in 2008, establishing herself as a respected leading expert in the area with a fiery and relentless approach.

“If it would not pass muster for my own child, it is not sufficiently appropriate for my clients’ children.” -Georgianna Junco-Kelman

Website: http://www.specialkidsattorney.com/home/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialkidsatty/

Organization: https://inclusionmatters.org/

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialKidsAttorney

March 31, 2021 | Episode  32

Shawn Francis & Brian Altounian, just Two Dads, have a heart to heart with Dina Kimmel, We Rock The Spectrum Franchise Owner. 

Dina Kimmel is the CEO & Founder of We Rock the Spectrum (WRTS), a kids gym franchise that caters to children with autism and special needs. An autism mom from Tarzana, CA, she is a passionate advocate for children and has dedicated her life to developing and growing resources for the special needs population. In 2010, she opened the first WRTS after her son, Gabriel, was diagnosed with autism and she struggled to find a place where both he and her neurotypical daughter, Sophia, could play together. We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym in Tarzana, CA saw instant success with the special needs community and there are now more than 80 locations worldwide! On the wall of her gym, Dina put the motto, "Finally a place where you never have to say 'I'm sorry.'" This message continues to resonate with parents of special needs children all over the world. Her aim to provide a safe, nurturing, and fun environment where children of all abilities could play and grow together and her mission of full inclusion has now become a global movement. 

Website: https://www.wrtsfranchise.com/

Organization: https://www.mybrotherrocksthespectrumfoundation.org/

Additional Resources: 

http://www.boulevardpediatrics.com/about-us/our-pediatricians/jeremy-f-shapiro-md-mph-faap

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #WRTSOwner

March 24, 2021 | Episode  31

Shawn Francis and Brian Altounian interview Sam Yebri, community activist, special needs advocate and candidate for LA City Council.

A graduate of Yale University and USC Law School, Sam Yebri is an accomplished litigator with his own firm in Century City. Sam is a long-time community leader, serving on the boards of Bet Tzedek Legal Services, special needs housing provider ETTA, the Jewish Community Foundation, the Anti-Defamation League, and several other organizations. He has also served as a Los Angeles City Civil Service Commissioner overseeing the City’s Personnel Department, on Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and on the board of the Friends of Westwood Library. Sam and his wife live in Westwood with their four young children. Sam is currently a candidate for Los Angeles City Council for the 5th District (www.SamForLA.com).

Website:  https://samforla.com/

Organization:  https://thecornerstonevillage.org/

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialNeedsActivist