In this episode of the Extra Lucky Podcast, Taryn is joined by Potty Training Consultant Allison Jandu and Disability Advocate & Parent Elena Croy to discuss The Adaptive Toolkit for Potty Training Children with Disabilities. They share their personal experiences with potty training, the challenges faced by parents in the disability community, and the importance of celebrating your version of success in potty training. The conversation emphasizes the need for individualized strategies and the significance of recognizing small wins throughout the journey. 

Taryn, Allison, and Elena also peel back the curtain on their collaborative journey in creating a resourceful book aimed at helping parents navigate the potty training process for children with disabilities. They emphasize the importance of empowerment, community support, and the need for accessible resources. The discussion covers various themes including the IEP process, readiness for potty training and collaboration with care providers. They also reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the book creation process, highlighting the significance of providing a comprehensive guide for families.

You can find all the info about the book at www.pottytrainingchildrenwithdisabilities.com which has info on all contributors, links to favorite products and exclusive coupons from our sponsors. 

You can learn more about Allison Jandu, the Potty Training Consultant on social media @pottytrainingconsultant. 

Learn more about Taryn, Jess & the Extra Lucky Community on Instagram @extraluckymoms, @tarynlagonigro and @jessquarello

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

It’s an ELP takeover with Rise Pediatric Intensive Therapy! 

In this conversation, Nicole Readie and Aliza Sackin, co-owners of Rise, discuss their backgrounds in occupational and physical therapy, their journey to founding Rise, and the importance of intensive therapy for children with disabilities. They emphasize the significance of neuroplasticity, the need for parent support, and the unique challenges faced by families navigating therapy. The discussion highlights the collaborative approach of Rise and their commitment to creating a supportive environment for both children and parents.

You can follow along with Rise and the incredible patients they get to work with daily @riseintensivetherapy. 

Learn more about Taryn, Jess & the Extra Lucky Community on Instagram @extraluckymoms, @tarynlagonigro and @jessquarello

Want to take over the podcast? Email us at [email protected] with your idea!

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

In this episode of the Extra Lucky Podcast, hosts Taryn and Jess sit with Heather Sachs and Stephanie Smith Lee from the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) to discuss both their personal journeys and the critical advocacy work they are involved in. The conversation highlights the significance of policy changes, the challenges faced by families in the Down Syndrome community, and the current political landscape affecting disability rights. The guests share insights on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the need for federal oversight in education, and the broader implications of advocacy for all individuals with disabilities. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the critical roles of Medicaid in supporting individuals with disabilities, the implications of proposed work requirements, and the importance of advocacy in protecting these essential services. They emphasize the need for community support and personal well-being amidst the challenges of navigating healthcare policies and legislative actions.

You can stay up to date on all the latest going on in disability policy by following @ndscongress and by signing up for their advocacy alerts here. 

Learn more about Taryn, Jess & the Extra Lucky Community on Instagram @extraluckymoms, @tarynlagonigro and @jessquarello

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

In this episode of the Extra Lucky Podcast, Taryn and Jess sit down with Amanda Owen, a children's book author and nonprofit founder, to discuss her journey growing up with her brother Nick, who has a rare disability. Amanda shares her experiences as a sibling, her transition from teaching to founding Puzzle Pieces, a nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities, and her insights on caregiving and community inclusion. The conversation highlights the importance of communication within families, the impact of Amanda's books, and the small steps individuals can take to create inclusive communities. Amanda emphasizes the need for resilience and the power of sharing stories to inspire others. 

Amanda recently published her first book, Rarely Different, to help disability parents navigate the beautiful, challenging and often unspoken uncertainty of raising both a neurotypical child along side a child with a disability.

You can pick up Amanda’s new book at https://piecesofme.org/my-memoir/ and find her on Instagram @piecesofmebyamanda where you can see all of her work.

Learn more about Taryn, Jess & the Extra Lucky Community on Instagram @extraluckymoms, @tarynlagonigro and @jessquarello

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

In this episode, Taryn and Jess kick off Season Two of the Extra Lucky Podcast the same way they did Season One, by interviewing each other! They reflect on their experiences from Season One, discuss the fun and challenges of podcasting, highlight memorable guests, and share personal insights gained from their conversations. The hosts also touch on the importance of advocacy, the impact of social media, and the lessons learned from their guests. They share behind-the-scenes stories and set goals for the new season, emphasizing the need for vulnerability and community engagement. Taryn and Jess also discuss their aspirations for the podcast, including dream guests and the importance of elevating voices within the disability community. The conversation touches on personal connections, inspirations, and lighthearted moments, culminating in reflections on what makes them feel extra lucky in their lives.

Learn more about Taryn, Jess & the Extra Lucky Community on Instagram @extraluckymoms, @tarynlagonigro and @jessquarello

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

In this episode of The Extra Lucky Podcast, Taryn and Jess speak with Carissa Menard from Hearts Connected, a mental health company specializing in virtual child life services. Carissa shares her personal journey with child life services, having experienced leukemia as a child. The conversation explores the various ways child life services support families through medical and non-medical challenges, the importance of addressing grief and loss, and the unique needs of siblings in medically complex families. The discussion emphasizes the significance of honest communication with children and the need for emotional validation. In this conversation, Carissa Menard discusses the importance of empathy in child life services, the role of siblings during medical challenges, and how parents can navigate feelings of guilt when one child requires more attention. She also shares insights about her organization, Hearts Connected, which aims to provide continuity of care for families and raise awareness about the role of Child Life Specialists.

You can learn more about Hearts Connected on Instagram @heartsconnectedllc or on their website.

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

In this episode of the Extra Lucky Podcast, hosts Taryn and Jess welcome Brett Garrison, a special needs financial advisor. Brett shares his personal journey into the field of special needs financial planning, emphasizing the importance of creating a secure financial future for children with disabilities. The conversation covers essential topics such as the significance of financial planning, debunking myths about who needs it, the steps families should take to start planning, and the differences between special needs trusts and ABLE accounts. Brett also discusses navigating government benefits and the importance of having a comprehensive plan in place. In this conversation, Brett Garrison discusses the intricacies of financial planning for families with special needs children, focusing on the importance of understanding government benefits like SSI and SSDI, the role of life insurance, common planning mistakes, and the need for community support and professional guidance. He emphasizes the importance of proactive planning and legislative advocacy to improve the financial landscape for individuals with disabilities.

You can find Brett and his 1847Financial Special Needs Planning Team on their website, Facebook or on LinkedIn. 

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of ⁠Sprouting Productions⁠. 

In this episode of the Extra Lucky Podcast, hosts Taryn and Jess interview Miracle Pelayo, an actress, model, and advocate for individuals with cerebral palsy. Miracle shares her journey from a challenging childhood filled with medical appointments to becoming a trailblazer in the entertainment industry. She discusses the importance of representation for disabled individuals in media, her campaign 'Making Cerebral Palsy Beautiful', and her aspirations for the future. Miracle emphasizes the need for inclusivity in fashion and the media, and how her disability has shaped her identity and mission to inspire others.

You can learn more about Miracle on her website, on Instagram @miraclepelayooffficial or on TikTok @miraclepelayo_

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

We’re not sure we can say enough about this episode to truly capture its meaning. Our dear friend April Aguilera took over as guest host to sit down with the incomparable Amanda Booth. These two mamas share the common experience of raising a child with a dual diagnosis of both Down syndrome and autism. You’ll get to hear about their experience through their own vulnerable words and witness the deep connection and love they have with their children, regardless of the gap in verbal communication. This is such an important conversation that is not often had in our community, and we thank these very busy women for taking the time to have it. 

Amanda Booth is a model and actress who became an advocate for inclusion in the media after giving birth to her son Micah, who has Down Syndrome and Autism. She has written articles globally for Harper’s Bazaar and been featured with her son as the first person with Down Syndrome on the cover of Vogue. She has received the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy award for her involvement with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in 2019. Branching out from being a social media advocate, she now produces inclusive projects which have been paving the way (at festivals like SXSW) for other actors with Intellectual Disabilities. You can find her on Instagram @amanda_booth or @lifewithmicah

April Aguilera lives in Savannah Georgia. Her second daughter, Paloma, was born with the unexpected birth diagnosis of Down syndrome and nothing was ever the same again. April processed her daughter's diagnosis through creating, and opened her one woman dramatic musical, A Sea Full of Stars, in New York in 2019. April has a graduate degree in screenwriting from The Savannah College of Art and Design, and while in graduate school she shot her multi award-winning drama film, For Paloma. April has honed her skills as a filmmaker by working in film and television for companies such as Sony, Apple, Showtime, and Array. You can find her @aprilm.aguilera, and support her latest project through her non-profit at www.projectmoonrose.com. 

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.

In honor of Thanksgiving, we are bringing you a bonus episode! This quick win is a meditation centered around gratitude.

We hope that you can take this bit of time for yourself anytime you need, to ground yourself about what truly matters and all that you accomplish day after day, just by existing in this world! This is great to come back to anytime during the busy holiday season and beyond.

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.