Usually, Caleb counts down the days leading up to his birthday with excitment. This year, he woke up on his 15th birthday with debilitating anxiety about the prospect of getting one year closer to adulthood. In this podcast, Caleb talks about his anxieties related to all the elements of becoming an adult and strategies we can utilize to overcome some of his stressors.

Imagine Spokane offers evidence-based, integrated treatment for mental health and co-occurring substance use issues in teens. Their outpatient center offers support for teens and their families during the road to recovery. Their specialized teen treatment programs are designed to support the whole family.

Contact Imagine at: 509.800.5738

Learn more about their outpatient programs:

About Us

Mark your calendar for a family outdoor concert awareness event at the Spokane Pavilion on October 29, 2023 with performance by country music entertainer Chris Young along with local.

May is Williams Syndrome Acceptance Month. Joining me for this episode of Isaac’s Autism in the Wild podcast is self-advocate Laine Anderson who shares with me her journey as a young woman living with Williams Syndrome. We chatted about her early years along with some of the medical  challenges associated with Williams Syndrome.

Show Notes:

https://williams-syndrome.org/

In this short episode, little sister Kelly joins her mom Holly to talk about their journey finding her a counselor. Their solution may be an opportunity that could help others find support they need, sooner rather than later.

On this week’s episode, Maria Jennings joins me to discuss the dynamic that having a child with a disability has made on our neurotypical children and how we have each noticed a higher level of independence and self-advocacy skills.

Show resources

Holly shares her experience using combination door knobs in her home which increases safety and provides a means for neurotypical siblings to have their own secure space. https://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Keyless-Digital-Electronic-Security/dp/B00KS3JC30?pd_rd_w=c3bUq&pf_rd_p=07da9b2f-52f3-4fa6-b605-4458a1e54cf1&pf_rd_r=6R7D68GAYSBMFW69TFMK&pd_rd_r=6e8a228e-37d3-478b-833f-4e7d1cf0cd97&pd_rd_wg=7uwUR&pd_rd_i=B00KS3JC30&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_36_i

Holly also explains the benefit of registering an ISAAC Alert (911 dispatch note linked to your home address) if you have locking interior doors and window at your home: https://theisaacfoundation.configio.com/page/programsisaacalert

Families who are interested in accessing ISAAC Foundation’s Sibling Spotlight program can find the registration link here: https://theisaacfoundation.configio.com/page/siblingspotlight

In this episode of ISAAC’S Autism in the Wild we talk to parents that all are raising both children on the spectrum and children that identify with the LGBTQIA+ community in some way.  We have seen a large number of our kiddos with autism questioning their own identity or genders as well as several of the neuro-typical siblings exploring their identities as well. We discuss this connection and determine if we feel these are attention seeking behaviors or simply valid self exploration. We also discuss the challenges of parenting these children-the process of switching pronouns/names, and dealing with the critical views of extended family or communities that are less accepting.

This week on ISAAC’S Autism in the Wild our host Holly is joined by another VERY special guest, her son Tyler. Tyler is 17 years old and was the only child in the family to have spent time with Isaac as they were only 11 months apart in age.

Tyler is an aggressive advocate for those with autism and other special needs. He is very close to his brother Caleb and acts as a mentor to him which, as a 17 year old young man, comes with its pros and cons We joke, but you will hear throughout this episode, what a passionate and kind young man Tyler is.

We discuss Tyler’s early memories of Isaac, how the ISAAC Foundation has impacted him throughout the years, and the struggles that he has experienced. Take a listen, we are sure you will be inspired by some of the charismatic gems of wisdom Tyler shares in-between the curse words.

In this episode we are joined by Desiree Kameka Galloway of The Autism Housing Network. Holly had first learned of their work as well as the Madison House Autism Foundation a few years back while attending a conference about “Life After High School.” Holly was so impressed with Desiree’s presentation and has used their site as a reference to our families for years.  The ISAAC Foundation has been receiving more and more calls from parents regarding concerns for long term living situations for their adult children in recent years so we reached out to Desiree to see if she could explain some of the housing options that exist and what the Autism Housing Network can do to help families as they determine the long term plans for their loved ones.

Contact Info:

Madison House Autism Foundation

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In this episode we discuss bullying, we have talked about this in the past in other episodes but felt that we had enough content to re-visit and dedicate an entire episode.  We have three moms joining our host Holly and all of them have dealt with bullying to some extent when raising their children.  Each of the parents recount the situations and share how the issues were resolved. We also discuss how the world has changed and cover how the bullying of 2021 compares to the “bully standards” of the 1990s when we were living the middle/high school experience.

UPDATE: Be sure to listen after the closing statements, we get a little update from Holly regarding Caleb’s rocket project in school

References:

Power of words: TikTok video by _iamdiosa_

Join us for a special episode of ISAAC’S Autism in the wild, our 100th episode!

To commemorate we held our first group in-person podcast recording since before the pandemic.  It was amazing to see people’s faces again and enjoy some of the camaraderie we have been missing out on (including opening up some One Tree Cider).

For this episode we are joined by parents: David, Michelle, Maria,  Angela, Chevy, and Karly, some of the voices you regularly hear and a few newer ladies we know you love!  Full Disclosure-with a group this size we barely got through introductions before we had to wrap–so this is a two part special!  Listen in to this part and part two which will be available immediately!