Beyond the Spectrum.. every age, every need

March 17, 2021 | Episode  30

just Two Dads (Shawn Francis & Brian Altounian) is joined by Autism Personal Coach founder, Doug Blecher for a chat.

Doug Blecher is the founder of Autism Personal Coach, an organization that for the last 8 years has provided coaching to autistic teens and adults to help them reduce their daily overwhelm and get the things they want and need in their lives.  The coaching Autism Personal Coach provides is in person or through zoom, so no matter where you live you can access these coaching services. In addition to this, Doug hosts or co-hosts three podcasts in which he talks with autistic adults about their daily experiences, successes, challenges, and gets their advice. To learn more about Autism Personal Coach visit autismpersonalcoach.com

Learn how coaching can help you

https://calendly.com/autimspersonalcoach/60min

Listen to the Autism Stories Podcast

https://anchor.fm/autism-personal-coach

Listen to the Info Dump Files Podcast

https://anchor.fm/infodumpfiles

Listen to the Intersections on the Spectrum Podcast

https://anchor.fm/intersections-on-the-spectrum

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismPersonalCoach

March 10, 2021 | Episode  29

just Two Dads, Brian Altounian & Shawn Francis, sit down with music professor Bret Lieberman. 

Bret Lieberman brings to YIC over 20 years of experience working as a mild/moderate special education teacher specializing in working with young adults on the autism spectrum. Lieberman holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from California State Bakersfield and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from California State Northridge. Additionally, Lieberman is a Certified Autism Specialist with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and is also a certified New World of Work Instructor, a curriculum developed under the Doing What MATTERS for Jobs and the Economy framework of the California Community Colleges system, which is the largest higher education system in the nation with 72 districts and 115 colleges serving over 2.1 million students each year.  

Lieberman was awarded Golden Valley High School’s first Teacher of the Year award in 2005. Lieberman was also named one of the Santa Clarita’s 51 most influential people in 2010 by the Santa Clarita Signal, and in 2014 was honored as one of the 40 under 40 awardees for making a difference in the Santa Clarita community from the Magazine of Santa Clarita. Additionally, Lieberman was honored as one of Canyon High School's Most Influential Teachers. Lieberman also possesses over 20 years of experience in producing musical events throughout the greater Los Angeles area and Santa Clarita Valley. Lieberman is the executive producer and creator of the Summer Meltdown Arts and Music Festival. The Summer Meltdown is the only festival in the world that provides young adults with disabilities an opportunity to produce a concert event side-by-side with music professionals working within the entertainment industry.  

Website:  https://www.yicunity.org/

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialNeedsMusicEducator

March 3, 2021 | Episode  28

just Two Dads sit down with intuitive health expert Aimee Ibarra.

Aimee is passionate about helping others take back their power and reclaim their voice through health and wellness. Her passion stems from her own successful weight loss journey where she lost 87 pounds and experienced a total mind & body transformation. She has since created a life of purpose around inspiring and empowering others through online programs, one on one coaching, and workshops to create their own health and wellness success story!

Website: https://www.intuitivehealthwithaimeeandron.com/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/180378916532347

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

#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #IntuitiveHealthCoach

February 24, 2021 | Episode  27 

“just two dads”, Brian Altounian & Shawn Francis are joined by special needs Warrior & then some, Susan Fink. We can’t wait for you to hear her story!! 

Susan Fink is a marketing executive by trade, a 42 year old single mom, and and autism advocate, supporting other families who have children with autism/special needs through her podcast "Rise with the Light" and helping others push through what they are going through to reach their goals, working through their challenges as a mindset coach.  She believes her purpose on Earth is to help other people, to take what she has been through, and what she has learned and worked so hard to push through, the deepest darkest times in my life, so that she could help others do the same.

Her personal accomplishments stem from the work she does to help others, but she's able to do this because of what she has pushed through herself, some of the darkest times in her life, to include:

- cervical cancer

- brain surgery

- finalizing a divorce while 8 months pregnant (Separated from her ex, moved - out of their house and two weeks later found out she  was pregnant - and    decided to go it alone, while working full time and with a high-risk pregnancy)

an autism diagnosis for her son at the age of 3 

- losing 60 pounds primarily through making huge mindset shifts (She used to be 195 pounds, and have been able to keep off the weight for 2 years)

- being single, on a single income, advocating for her son and ensuring he has everything he needs to support him and his challenges

The BIGGEST accomplishment for her is going through all of this and coming out stronger, with a stronger mind, heart and wholeness, grounded and able to help other people. This is her purpose. 

SM Link Page:  https://linktr.ee/susanfink.rise 

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

#love #specialneeds #autismteaches #soldiersoflove #agentofchange

February 17, 2021 | Episode  26

just Two Dads have a sit down chat with entrepreneur, philanthropist, & mentor Jeff Levitan.

Jeff Levitan is a husband and father of five children, two of which are on the Autism Spectrum.  He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and business strategist who achieved financial independence over a decade ago and he has committed his effort to mentoring others to accomplish the same goal. He is a leader in the field of personal and professional development and he oversees a financial services agency that covers almost every state in the US and across Canada.  He founded a non-profit organization, All For One, that has built and developed prosperity centers in countries such as Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, and Uganda and he’s not done yet.  His commitment to enriching the lives of others is embedded in everything he does.  He is an accomplished author and does live seminars entitled Living Life On Purpose.

Website: https://allforone.org/

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #philanthropist

February 11, 2021 | Episode  25

just Two Dads talk to Susan B. Woods, a Development Consultant helping college-age Special Needs Students transition to successful college careers!

Susan Woods, M.ed, retired from Middlesex Community College in 2017 as the Associate Dean of Student Support Services.  Currently, Susan teaches as an Adjunct Faculty at Middlesex Community College and at Bunker Hill Community College, delivering courses focused on Developmental Disabilities, Special Education and First Year Experience Orientation for new college students.  She is also an Independent Professional Development Consultant, supporting the successful transition to college for students with disabilities and providing K-12 teacher training in “Effective Strategies for Students with Disabilities” and “Supporting students on the Autism Spectrum in the classroom”.   During her 27 years at Middlesex Community College, she managed Disability Support Services, alternative program models for students with significant intellectual disabilities and Autism, Personal Counseling, and 2 federally funded TRIO support programs for low income, 1st generation, and students with disabilities. Susan regularly provides training and workshops to educators on creating welcoming and inclusive environments, universal design for instruction, as well as training to HS teachers, staff, families and students to facilitate the successful transition of students with disabilities to higher education and post-secondary opportunities. Her consulting website is:  www.susanbwoods.com 

Susan splits her time between her homes in Waltham, MA and Sunapee, NH, where her interests include: travel, visiting adult children and families, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, trail walks with her rescue dog Darby, entertaining and cooking for family and friends, books, movies, NYC theater…and as a board member supporting farm based therapy at Cultivate Care Farm in Bolton, MA.

Website: https://www.susanbwoods.com/

Think College – College Search – Listing of nationwide programs which provide college and support models for students with intellectual disabilities https://thinkcollege.net/college-search

Top College Consultants – Listing of nationwide college models which provide support models for students on the Autism Spectrum https://www.topcollegeconsultants.com/autism-in-college/

LD Advisory – Nationally recognized author, podcast and blogger who provides guidance and support for students with Learning disabilities and ADHD considering college. https://www.ldadvisory.com/families_students/

Stairway to STEM - Resources for students on the autism spectrum transitioning from high school to college, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields https://www.stairwaytostem.org/

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialNeedsEducator

February 3, 2021 | Episode  24

In this episode just Two Dads sit down with radio talk show host Robert B. Moorhead.

Robert B. Moorhead. Small business owner, Community activist, and senatorial candidate 2022. Federal grant writer, and Private Pilot. Has been an advocate for our young people for 20 years. The founder and creator of the down street people Youth in Action Program, St Thomas. The Boyz II Men mentorship program St. Croix. Morehead believes in the philosophy of I Am My Brother's Keeper. He has been a voice for localizing the Virgin Islands educational system to include VI and Caribbean history from grades K through 12.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.moorhead.5

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#justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #RadioTalkShowHost

January 27, 2021 | Episode 22

just Two Dads have a sit down with Emmy Nominated filmmaker Dan Habib.

Dan Habib is the creator of the award-winning documentary films Including Samuel, Who Cares About Kelsey?, Mr. Connolly Has ALS and many other films on disability-related topics.  Habib is a filmmaker at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. 

His latest documentary, Intelligent Lives, examines our society’s narrow perceptions of intelligence. The Intelligent Lives project also contains four short films focusing on effective practices in transition for youth with disabilities from high school to higher education and employment.

Habib received the Champion of Human and Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association, and the Justice for All Grassroots Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities.  In 2014, Habib was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.  

Habib and his wife, Betsy, live in Concord, NH, with their sons Isaiah, 24, and Samuel, 21. 

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Website: https://iod.unh.edu/projects/inclusive-communities

Projects: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xoko3nd70wv8bss/DRMP_ProductionPreview_email.pdf?dl=0

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#justtwodads #specialneedsparenting #inclusivecommunityfilmmaker

January 20, 2021 | Episode  22  

just Two dads have a heart to heart talk with Special Education Teacher Marc Esposito.  

Marc helps develop "self-direction" plans with families to improve their loved one's progress towards an independent future.   

He is a Special Education teacher at NYC DOE, program coordinator and a Community Habilitation coach, providing a tremendous amount of experience working with a wide range of ages and disabilities. The trainings and teaching techniques he employs are typically unavailable at an institutional level.   

His passion and dedication to his clients have embedded him as a resource and an expert in the special needs community.  

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LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-esposito-67052b192/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/specialeducation6/   

Organizations 

Forgotten Children of Haiti:  https://www.michaelespositoinc.com/fch

Foundation for Hope and Health Haiti:  http://www.fhhh.org/

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

#justTwodads #specialNeedsParenting #specialEducationTeacher

January 13, 2021 | Episode  21  

In this episode just Two Dads chat with Founder & Executive Director of WE Are Brave Together, Jessica Patay. 

 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 of Southern California. They have two sons and a daughter, all teenagers.  Their second son, 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 children or adult children, any age, with any diagnosis, disability or challenge. She believes in the power of gathering to empower, strengthen and uplift moms in their unique, diverse and difficult journeys. WABT offers support groups, workshops, retreats and inspirational events.  (During this quarantine, WABT is offering Zoom Support Group meetings. Jessica Patay is the host of Brave Together podcast, which can be found iTunes and Spotify. You can find out more about WABT at wearebravetogether.com and see their resourceful and inspirational posts on Instagram @wearebravetogether. 

Jessica Patay has always been a lover of words, ever since 2nd grade when she declared she wanted to be a famous “arthur.”  She has been blogging (off & on) since 2012 for moms and Special Needs Moms.  Her superpower is her honesty in truth- telling from the trenches of Motherhood.  She is a three-time alumnus with Expressing Motherhood, a stage show of storytellers and performers all sharing stories about motherhood.   

Two of Jessica’s favorite quotes are: 

 "This is the power of gathering; it inspires us delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: In a word, more alive" --Alice Waters 

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." --Leo Buscaglia

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 Website:  https://www.wearebravetogether.com

IG: @wearebravetogether      

FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/wearebravetogether

Email:  [email protected]  

Brave Together Podcast: iTunes  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-together/id1511571105 

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7WAuQtwwM2UbghMbevHN?si=ClH1ElXHTaSNh4TE17RvNw 

IG:  @bravetogetherpod 

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#justTwoDads #specialNeedsParenting #weAreBraveTogether