Marta Spirk, mother of triplets, joins me on the podcast to talk about how we can fill our cups so that we can remain well while caring for our kids, families, work and community.

Access the transcript and full show notes here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“There's no shortage of people who need whatever it is that you have to offer.”   Families who care for kids with disabilities suffer from disproportionate financial insecurity due to extra costs and higher demands on schedules and energy. Add COVID to that mix, and we’re all worried about money. This week on the podcast, Meg Brunson talks about how to monetize skills you already have, how to move past worrying about what people might think, and how to jump in before (you think) you’re ready!   ULTIMATE COURSE CREATION STARTER KIT

Access the transcript and full show notes here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Dr. Temple Grandin speaks about the error of limiting the opportunities of children with disabilities and recommends a strengths and interests based approach to stretch their minds, build capacity, make friends and become contributing citizens.

Access the transcript and full show notes here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“It's a less dangerous assumption that a student isn't learning because we're not actually using the most effective strategies. And it's a very dangerous assumption that the reason a student isn't making progress is purely because of their intellectual disability.”

Students with disabilities will experience two kinds of barriers to learning. One barrier is created by their disability. The other is created by people’s attitudes. Both kinds of barriers need to be addressed in order for kids to learn to their full potential. Erin Sheldon, MEd., teaches us about least dangerous assumptions, presumed competence and removing those barriers to learning so that kids can thrive.

Access the transcript and full show notes here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

What’s the most important thing you want for your kids? Did you think about love and connection and then get worried that it will never happen the way you envision?

In this podcast from October 2019, Dr. Julie Causton and I cover why placement matters, friendships, moving away from one-to-one educational assistants, and the long game of love and connection with students with difficult behaviours.

The long game of love and connection sounds nice, doesn’t it? Nice, but not easy.

You can read the full show notes and transcript here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Shelley Moore is blowing up special education. Don’t worry. She’s not a bomb threat. But she is pushing for an evolution of inclusive education that puts “special” in its place and focuses on a responsive education system that allows all kids to have their needs met.

You can read the full show notes and transcript here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

I have been talking with a ton of parents since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools. Some of us have enjoyed the break from therapy appointments and from all the little demands that pull us away from time with our kids. Some of us have been well supported by their schools.

But most of us experienced poor support, inappropriate support, inaccessible support or no support at all from our schools.

After parents identify their child’s education priorities, MatchUs connects students with teachers that can help. Sophia Johansson and Emma Fialka-Feldman share the story of how their grassroots program has already helped 190 kids connect with teachers.

The first step is identifying your priorities. This brand new, free masterclass can help.

The Special Education Priorities Matrix will help you focus on what matters most without overwhelming your child, yourself or your school team.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Paula tells her family’s story of pursuing inclusion through segregated placements and unsupportive systems. We don’t live in a perfect world. Many parents will not be able to just register their children in an inclusive school no matter how passionate their convictions. While keeping their positive inclusive vision in front of mind, they may need to work with deeply flawed options, keep advocating and move forward in baby steps.

Whether your child is in a segregated placement or an inclusive school, this upcoming free masterclass will help you set quality goals, reduce overwhelm, and include or exclude recommendations. Register here.

You can read the full show notes and transcript here.

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Ask yourself this question. “What would I need to do today if my children with Down Syndrome will be matriculating university students in the future?” This is a question that guest, Dr. Ann Marie Licata has been asking since her kids were little. She’s been embedding this vision into their IEP, their home life and their participation in community.

Dr. Ann Marie Licata is the Director of the Pennsylvania Inclusive Higher Education Consortium located at Millersville University.  She has built a community of 29 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania that align with authentic inclusion for students with intellectual disabilities.

She has every reason to be confident that her vision of higher education will be a reality for all of her children.

Links to success stories can be found in the show notes page.

If you want to make decisions today that create opportunities for growth and success in the future, register for my upcoming free masterclass, “The Special Education Priorities Matrix. Focus your efforts on what matters most without overwhelming your child, yourself and your school team.”

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in  Apple Podcasts. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Barb McKenzie’s daughter had Down Syndrome. Sadly, she passed away in her twenties. But not before she made friends, fell in love with Shakespeare, and made the commencement speech at her high school graduation.

Barb’s book, Reflections of Erin, is available for free from Inclusion Press. A video of Erin giving her high school commencement address is also available. Links are available on the show notes page.

Erin went to inclusive schools but Barb and the school team didn’t have all of the answers all of the time. They learned together. I’ve put together a FREE guide to help you ask your child’s school important questions that will help you and the school team assess how well they are doing at being truly inclusive.

Download the FREE guide: “Is This School Inclusive? 14 Questions Every Parent Should Ask.”

If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.