Living the Sky Life - Our Autism Journey

Pam Blanton, Founder and CEO of Partners4Housing, established the organization to create a better pathway for families of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to develop Shared Living solutions and identify compatible roommates. She brings 35 years of experience in special needs housing and possesses extensive expertise in navigating critical public benefits and housing resources, including SSI, SSDI, Medicaid-funded personal care services, state residential supports, supported employment income, and Section 8 housing subsidies.

Pam is a recognized leader in her field and has been honored for her longstanding commitment to expanding housing opportunities for people with disabilities, including receiving the Friend of Housing Award (2007) and the Margaret M. Sevy Lifetime Achievement Award (2025).

Visit the Partners4Housing website: https://partners4housing.com

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To purchase my books "Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism" or "Selling Vegetables to Drunks" click HERE or visit Amazon.com!

You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website lauriehellmann.com for all the links.

I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!

Karen is the mother and guardian of Eric, the Big Dude. He is a 52 year old gentleman who is nonverbal, profoundly autistic, and 6 feet, 5 inches tall. He was diagnosed as autistic in 1977.

Karen has been a registered nurse for over 50 years. She has worked in many areas of nursing, including hospital administration, clinical practice, and higher education. Her undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing emphasized the role of the nurse as a patient advocate. Her doctoral program included an emphasis on leadership in organizations. Those skills have helped her advocate for Eric, related to his diagnosis and education as a child and a teen and, in his adult years, for his quality residential care.

Since 1990, Karen also used her advocacy skills and nursing knowledge as a volunteer panel member for the Human Rights Authority of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. Panel members investigate potential violations of the rights of elderly, disabled, and mentally ill persons by schools, health care organizations, other service organizations, and jails/prisons. She has provided expert testimony on the needs of developmentally disabled persons and the financial implications of quality care in Illinois to committees of the Illinois General Assembly, hearings by legislators and state agencies, and in federal court as a member of a class action lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Human Services.

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To purchase my books "Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism" or "Selling Vegetables to Drunks" click HERE or visit Amazon.com!

You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website lauriehellmann.com for all the links.

I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!

I was so thrilled to sit down for another discussion with my friends the Turnings - who many of you know as the hearts and voices of the social media account 'Bacon & Juiceboxes.'

It's been a few years since they were on my show so we had plenty to catch up on regarding all things parenting autism ... navigating adulthood with our sons, Spelling to Communicate (S2C), bridging the gap between first responders and special needs families, financial planning and more!

Although we could've talked & laughed for many more hours, I know most listeners prefer short episodes, so I've broken our almost 2 hour recording into 2 parts.

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To purchase my books "Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism" or "Selling Vegetables to Drunks" click HERE or visit Amazon.com!

You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website lauriehellmann.com for all the links.

I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!

I was so thrilled to sit down for another discussion with my friends the Turnings - who many of you know as the hearts and voices of the social media account 'Bacon & Juiceboxes.'

It's been a few years since they were on my show so we had plenty to catch up on regarding all things parenting autism ... navigating adulthood with our sons, Spelling to Communicate (S2C), bridging the gap between first responders and special needs families, financial planning and more!

Although we could've talked & laughed for many more hours, I know most listeners prefer short episodes, so I've broken our almost 2 hour recording into 2 parts.

*****************************************

To purchase my books "Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism" or "Selling Vegetables to Drunks" click HERE or visit Amazon.com!

You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website lauriehellmann.com for all the links.

I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!

Mother's Day can amplify comparison. Let's try to release the idea of what motherhood 'should' look like and embrace our version of motherhood as valid, meaningful and enough!

Similarly, caregiving often forces us into a place where control is an illusion. Faith becomes less about having answers and more about trusting without them. Remember... faith isn't always loud- it's often just choosing to keep going!

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To purchase my books "Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism" or "Selling Vegetables to Drunks" click HERE or visit Amazon.com!

You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website lauriehellmann.com for all the links.

I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!

Ashley Gillespie, M.A., is a child development specialist and the owner and clinical director of Bloom Developmental Center in League City, Texas. She specializes in working exclusively with autistic children, using a relational, play-based approach that integrates emotional development, sensory regulation, and movement.

Her work is deeply personal. Growing up alongside her profoundly autistic cousin, Hailey, shaped how Ashley understands connection, communication, and the importance of truly seeing each child. That experience continues to guide and motivate her work today.

Ashley partners closely with parents and caregivers, helping them better understand their child and build connections through everyday moments. Her approach focuses on developing the whole child through relationships, supporting the nervous system, and creating meaningful, lasting growth.

To connect with Ashley visit her IG page: @bloomdevelopmentalcenter or her website: https://www.bloomdevelopmentalcenter.com

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To purchase my books "Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism" or "Selling Vegetables to Drunks" click HERE or visit Amazon.com!

You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website lauriehellmann.com for all the links.

I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!

After a longer than expected hiatus, Living the Sky Life podcast is BACK!! I'm looking forward to an impactful Season 6 filled with phenomenal guests, more solo episodes and frequent 'couples' episodes with my husband, Josh!

A devoted family man, Harry Psaros has been happily married to his wife Michelle for 24 years and is a proud father of two sons, Costa "Gus" and Maximos "Max." With a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as minors in physics and philosophy, Harry has a strong educational foundation. Further expanding his expertise, he obtained a certification as a health coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition. Professionally, Harry serves as an Executive Neuroscience Account Specialist for AbbVie. Known affectionately by fans as the "Pitt Guru," he is a top social media influencer for University of Pittsburgh athletics and the senior writer for Pittsburgh Sports Now.

Harry is on the Board of Directors for the Autism Caring Center, President of North Fayette Township's Parks and Recreation Board, Vice President of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Weirton, WV and one of the founders of North Fayette P.A.L.S. (an organization for special needs children). Harry is an avid reader, enjoys strength training, running, martial arts and lives to serve others.

Jo-Ann Turning also known as "Mrs. Bacon" is one half of the married, blogging couple from Bacon and Juice Boxes: Our Life with Autism. She's mom to Eric (age 19 on the autism spectrum) and Anna Kate (age 22, recent college graduate who is now working in NYC.)

When her son, Eric, was first diagnosed with autism 18 years ago, she couldn't say the word "autism" without crying. After many years, and many experiences parenting in both the neuro-typical and special needs world, Jo-ann has become passionate about building bridges of hope for her family and other families like theirs. She's been honored to be invited to give several lectures at conferences and schools, works full-time outside the home, and is President of Special Wants, Inc. a 501c3 organization.

If she's lucky enough to get a few hours to herself, Jo-ann loves to bake, cook, read and make watercolor greeting cards.

https://www.facebook.com/BaconandJuiceBoxes/

https://www.facebook.com/SpecialWantsInc/

www.specialwants.org

Kentucky mom & former ICU nurse, Rachel Moldoveanu shares her experience navigating through the world of Autism with her almost 15-year-old son Frankie while also parenting her two neurotypical daughters, Livi age 16 and Ellie age 6. Rachel's love of Diet Coke, Jesus and Kentucky basketball get her through the tough days!

You can reach out to Rachel on FB: @Rachel Moldoveanu

Rachel's first appearance on my show was January 2020 (Episode 12) if you want to listen to more of her family story!