Christmas is over, and so is Hanukkah. And we may have missed the official date for Festivus, December 23rd, but is there ever really a bad time to air grievances? Of course not. And we have plenty of them. Join us as we share all the things that grind our gears in the special needs world. This is not an episode of solutions, but rather a space to recognize all the things that drive us batty and a place for you to know that we see you from our side of the trench. Happy Festivus!

Origins of Festivus

Join us as we explore all of the things giving us life and the things that could make great gifts for the people in your orbit, or yourself! Emphasis on yourself. We cover everything from tools and audiobooks to amazing water bottles, skincare for aging and acne-prone skin, items for dads, items only an autism parent would understand, and some of the people on the internet who do content we love!

Meg's Sanity Helpers:

Roku Remotes

Roku Remotes

Portion Cups

4oz. Portion Cups

Multicharging Cables

Multi-Charge Cables

Spot Carpet Cleaner

Bissell Pet Pro Cleaner

Snag Tool

Snag Nab It Tool

Clothesline

Retractable Clothesline

Tiles

Tile Tracker

Angie's Auditory Love:

Ragey Spotify Playlist

IEP Meeting Rage Playlist

Life Changing Audiobook

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse

Owala

Owala Free Sip

Oil Spritzer

Spritz or Pour Oil Dispenser

Laundry Baskets

Laundry Hamper

Slippers

Slippers

Clover Hooks

Clover Crochet Hooks

Angie Discovered Skincare:

Acne Serum

DRMTLGY 24 Hour Acne Serum

Matte Tinted Moisturizer

DRMTLGY Matte Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46

Peptide Botanical Cleanser

DRMTLGY Essential Cleanser

gOAT Cleanser

DRMTLGY g(OAT) Cleanser

Undereye Concealer

DRMTLGY Luminous Eye Corrector SPF 41

Gold Undereye Patches

Grace & Stella Energizing Eye Masks

Pumpkin Mask

DRMTLGY Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

Night Cream

DRMTLGY Peptide Night Cream

Not Skincare but Stuff Angie Likes

Hippy Deodorant

Little Seed Farm Rosemary Patchouli Deodorant Cream

SipHerbals Coffee Replacement

Sip Herbals Faux Joe

On Cloud 5 Shoes

On Cloud Shoes

Work Lights

LED Work Light

Sketchers

Sketchers Slip-Ins

Boxer Briefs for over pullups

BAMBOO COOL Boys' Boxer Briefs

Sensory Jumpsuit

Adaptive Clothing for Kids Special Needs Autism Sensory Jumpsuit Anti-Strip Romper with Back Zipper

Lume Products

Lume Full Body Deodorant

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo that doesn't sting your eyes!

Shea Moisture Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Apple Cider Vinegar & Salicylic Acid For Removing Buildup System for a Healthier Scalp

Clip Goggles

Swim Goggles

Wireless Headphones

Wireless Headphones

Detective Costume

Detective Costume

Metal Detector

Metal Detector

Tile Covers

Tile Tracker Covers

Tile Slim

Slim Tile Tracker

Farmhouse Metal Filing Cabinet

Farmhouse Metal Filing Cabinet with a Drawer and 4 Adjustable Shelves with Large Barn Door

Blood of my Blood Outlander Prequel

STARZ Outlander Blood of my Blood

Marco Polo

Marco Polo Video Messaging App

Shawna the Mom

Shawna the Mom

Purely Chickens

Purely Chickens

Jen Hamilton

Jen Hamilton

Simply Chickens

Simply Chickens

Cheese and Quackers Homestead

Cheese and Quackers Homestead

Dunkin Ducks

Dunkin Ducks

Happy Acres Homestead

Happy Acres Homestead

Rancher Nicki

Rancher Nicki

Lala Sewz

Lala Sewz

One Sweet Day Memory Quilts

One Sweet Day Memory Quilts

Sugar Spun Run

Sugar Spun Run

Sugar Spun Run PB Frosting

Hot Mess Express - Women-Owned Nonprofit - Jen Hamilton referenced

Hot Mess Express

After a three year hiatus, Angie and Meg are back, and this time, Angie is in the hot seat. After completing her doctorate, Angie is here to share with us how and why she did it, and what it all means. You'll find out about her research which was dedicated to learning about caregivers who started businesses with and for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to provide a pathway to meaningful employment. Truly, her work was an extension of idea behind this podcast. Tune in and find out what she learned about caregivers and herself!

If you'd like to learn about the caregivers she interviewed and the insights gained, here's a copy of her published dissertation. For some orientation to the document, Chapter 1 is the "Why", Chapter 2 is the "What", Chapter 3 is the "How", Chapter 4 is what I found, and Chapter 5 answers the final question, which is what does it all mean?

We are still here, and we have both missed you all.

Christina Adams, journalist, writer, disability advocate, and camel milk investigator, shares with us her powerful early intervention story of her son with autism and how she was able to help him through diet and camels. She outlines what she calls her "crazy camel journey" and how her research and travels to Isreal took her to a place of healing. She shares her website with us as a resource that details how camel's milk can help several conditions, from allergies and gut issues to neurodevelopmental issues. Join us as we learn about the amazing qualities of camels and how their milk can be a part of your healing journey!

Join us as we talk to Hannah Lowe, founder of the L-CMD Foundation and mother to Austin, who has LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy. Like many rare disease families we've talked to, her son's condition was caused by a random genetic mutation. There is no treatment or cure, and given how rare it is, they are unsure about his prognosis or life expectancy, making the mission even more urgent. The L-CMD Foundation she started inspires hope for a stronger tomorrow by seeking treatments and, ultimately, a cure. We talk about balancing grief with action, and Hannah exemplifies this in her graceful and determined approach to saving her son.

If you've ever worried about what adulthood might look like after high school or you've ever been inspired to create a meaningful space for your child to spend adulthood, tune in to our interview with critically acclaimed author, Cammie McGovern.

Cammie McGovern was awarded a creative writing fellowship at Stanford University, and has received numerous prizes for her short fiction. Her stories have appeared in many magazines including Glamour, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook and Seventeen , and she is the author of another novel, The Art of Seeing. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with her husband and three children, the eldest of whom is autistic. She is one of the founders of Whole Children, a resource center that runs after-school classes and programs for children with special needs.

This week we chat with Leylani Cardoso, warrior parent, and mother of Sophia, her daughter with Down Syndrome. Leylani and her family helped Sophia bring her passion for food and entertaining to life by creating the YouTube Channel Cheeky Sassy Me

For this episode, we share with you another Maryland parent and fellow autism mom, Lia McCabe, who started AutismWish.org which seeks to fulfill the wish lists of families across the country without all of the red tape of government programs. She and her husband also host a podcast called Embracing Autism, which is child focus and helps parents to understand and embrace their neurodiverse children. Give it a listen, follow, and subscribe to support their mission of helping families in the face of fear and the unknown.

We talk about:

Neurodivergent parenting

Empathizing with sensory needs

The formation of Autism Wish and the Embracing Autism Podcast

Accepting behaviors that are harmless

How IQ testing is not designed for children who are non-verbal

Maintaining a positive perspective

Growing to understand that a diagnosis doesn't mean future dreams are gone

Lia's website

Autism Wish

Autism Wish Facebook Page

Lia's Recommended Books

More Than Words: A Parents Guide to Building Interaction and Language Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Social Communication Difficulties by Fern Sussman

The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida

Other books mentioned

Autism Breakthrough by Raun K. Kaufman

An Early Start for Your Child with Autism: Using Everyday Activities to Help Kids Connect, Communicate and Learn by Sally Rogers

This episode is all about taking care of the caregiver. Rory Lawrence, mother of a child with complex medical needs and staff member with David's Refuge, talks with us about the organization she works for that pours into parents turned caregivers, and how she and her husband have found meaningful respite. We also talk about practical ways to weave in self-care that don't require a sitter but can actually make a difference.

Links

Sensory Pathway Booklet

The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties

Mae Bae Fan Club - Unique Apparel for Special Kids and Those Who Care for Them

David's Refuge

Rory's Email - [email protected]

David's Refuge Private Facebook Page