Peg Kerswell is an author, advocate, and mother to a profoundly autistic daughter. She works for a local nonprofit organization that provides support to caregivers of children with challenges.

Her debut book, Girl Storm: A Memoir of chaos, humor, and resilience in the path of profound autism, gives the reader an immersive and visceral account of raising a child with severe disabilities.

In another life, she released two albums as musician Margaret Far. She was raised outside of Buffalo, New York, and currently lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and two cats.

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest, please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

About Alice:

"I was raised with three siblings, Pake, Reba, and Susie McEntire, two hard working parents, Clark and Jackie McEntire. 11 first cousins, a grandpap, John McEntire, two maternal Grandparents, Elvin and Reba Smith, and one extra special hired hand Louie Sandman, on a working cattle ranch in se Oklahoma in the 50's thru 1980. There wasn't much our bunch couldn't accomplish or trouble we kids couldn't get into. With horses, cattle, rattle snakes, muddy ponds, a ropin' pen, dogs, and worn out pickups what would anyone expect. I wouldn't trade my life for anyone's in the world. We were poor and didn't know it or care. 

I married my husband Robert in 1980 and we raised four children on our ranch in Lane, Oklahoma. Children are Vince Beck, Garett Beck Smith, Trevor Foran and Haley Foran. All my children still live in Atoka County, Oklahoma.

Our daughter Haley was born in 1986 with a condition called Trisomy 18 or Edwards Syndrome. She was the baby, and her condition was unknown to us at her birth, a complete surprise. 

We have done some research, and she is the second oldest living person in Oklahoma with this Syndrome. Life expectancy is about 24 hours if they survive birth. She is 39 years old today. 

I worked for Dept of Human Services for 28 yrs and worked for DDSD Developmental Disability Services Division for 5 years learning and delivering services to individuals with disabilities. I presently contract with the State of Oklahoma as an Agency Companion. 

In 1986, there were no educational services for children with disabilities in Atoka County.  I helped organize the parents and school administrators to create a coop that served the children in one location. Later that disbanded as the Administrators realized they could provide those services on their own campuses. Education and pushy parents can get things done. 

I retired in 2002 from DHS and worked caring not only for Haley but for our parents Clark and Jackie McEntire, who are now deceased. 

My husband and I operate two cattle ranches, an Air B & B in Atoka, and a small mom and pop cafe in Atoka. We are very active in our church and attend as many athletic functions as we can for the grands. We have 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. 

I worked for 11 years with the Atoka Trail Riders Assoc. to build a new facility South of Atoka in Tushka, Oklahoma. I am very proud of that accomplishment. My dad helped create this association in the early '60s and the original facility was torn down and we relocated to a beautiful location 11 years ago. We provide equestrian events, rodeos, tractor pulls, concerts, and Bull Ridings. Lots of action. We give scholarships and help with local charities.  

I am very civic, religious, politically minded and feel that all these attributes can be wrapped up in a way that we work together and get things accomplished for God's glory.  I just want to add that I never, since Haley was born, have been without help in caring for her. God gave me a blessing and helped me take care of her. I could write a book."

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Graham Caldow is the father of daughter with additional needs and so has personal experience of the issues faced by parents and guardians and the fears they often have about their child’s future. He understands how the journey can be tough, frustrating, and lonely. He knows it’s sometimes hard to imagine a future, where they are secure, have self-dignity, have purpose to their lives and have a community around them.

From his own experiences he realized his daughter needed a life plan so that there was clarity on what his daughter wanted both now and in the future. This made it easier to identify options and choose the ones that would enable her to live the life she wanted. Through having this life plan, his daughter has now finished full-time education and has moved to a paid part time job. She is actively managing her own life and finding her own community as well as building the skills she needs to control her day-to-day life.

Graham wants to share the approach he’s used with his daughter to support other parents and guardians on their journeys so they can answer that question What happens when I’m no longer around?

He believes the legacy we leave our children isn’t just the money we leave them, it’s the skills and self-belief that they can live the lives they want on their terms. Our greatest legacy is to help prepare them for that future.

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Kelley Coleman is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports draws upon over a decade of advocacy, gained through her own journey

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Eileen Lamb, author of "All Across The Spectrum" and “Be The One,” is the founder of The Autism Cafe. She’s also a photographer, podcast host and the Director of Social Media at Autism Speaks. Born in France, Eileen now lives in Austin, Texas, with her two sons, Charlie (11) and Jude (8), and their sister, Billie (1). On her blog, she shares the ups and downs of raising two children with autism, one with profound autism,

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Tune in for a life update with Jess on new things she has been working on: book number 4, another documentary project, respite work, and more!

Jason Hague is an associate pastor of Christ’s Center Church, a mid-size church in Oregon, one of the least churched areas in the United States. He is a husband and a father to five children, including Jack, his seventeen-year-old son with non-verbal autism. Jason has written extensively on the subject of faith and autism, special needs families, and his own journey from grief to acceptance of his son’s condition. He blogs at JasonHague.com, and on his Facebook page, Jason Hague, writer. The success of his blog and the viral video he posted there, A Reflection of Aching Joy, led to his first book with NavPress in 2018. Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer was warmly received by church and special needs communities. The book won a Cascade Award for best memoir in 2019. Jason has been a guest on numerous podcasts and radio shows such as Focus on the Family, and his writing has appeared in Christianity Today, Ann Voskamp, Fathom Magazine, and Finding Cooper’s Voice. 

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to

Crystal Polk is a mental health therapist and Licensed Independent Social Worker in South Carolina, specializing in supporting parents of children with disabilities and medical needs through her practice, Better Tomorrow Therapy. Featured in the film "Unseen," Crystal's impactful work has gained recognition. While she may describe herself as a "nervous interviewee," Crystal thrives in her role on the other side of the chair as a therapist, where her passion for providing crucial support shines through. Her dedication to making a meaningful impact on mental health, sharing expertise, and contributing to the well-being of families facing unique circumstances is evident in her love for being a therapist. Beyond her clinical practice, Crystal actively contributes to professional development by conducting training sessions at institutions like the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), underscoring her commitment to knowledge-sharing in the mental health community.  

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to

Debbie, at 50, woke up to the realization that life was too short to be spent prioritizing others over herself. She ditched "I can't" for "Maybe I can," shedding her victim mentality and refusing to let struggles define her. Recently widowed, she's more determined than ever to share her message. Her debut memoir, "On Second Thought... Maybe I Can," earned praise from Jack Canfield, co-author of The Chicken Soup of the Soul® series. Through her memoir and engaging talks, Debbie courageously bares her soul, reminding others they're not alone. Life is tough, but she's proof that dreams are worth pursuing.

You can follow Debbie at:

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@debbierweiss

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie.r.weiss/

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

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/debbierweissauthor

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/maybe-i-can-with-debbie-weiss/id1676123222

Website: www.debbierweiss.com

Email: [email protected]

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to

Jessica Patay is the founder and executive director of We Are Brave Together (WABT), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports caregiving moms with children of all types of disabilities and neuro-diverse diagnoses. In addition, she is a sought-out speaker, podcast guest, writer and retreat coordinator, fundraiser, mother of three, social influencer, and a champion of self-care practices and their positive effect on motherhood. She is a contributing author to the forthcoming title, Becoming Brave Together: Heroic and Extraordinary Caregiving Stories from Mothers Hidden in Plain Sight. The book is set to release on May 1, 2024. Jessica excels at creating and supporting communities of caregiving moms and she is a visionary for the disability community world-wide.

Jessica's mission to combat the isolation and burnout that these moms and their families face by creating supportive, resourceful and empowering communities and meaningful connections. Her vision is that every family in the disability community is strengthened, equipped, and inspired for their unique journey. This vision has fueled WABT's growth in 6 years into an international community of over 2200 moms, representing all 50 states and 24 countries. Jessica has helped launch dozens of support groups throughout the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. In order to extend her outreach, Jessica hosts a podcast, "Brave Together with Jessica Patay," which offers a library of inspirational stories and resources for the disability community.

To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com.  If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to