In this heartfelt episode, I chat with Adelle Purdham, an author, educator, and mom of three. Adele opens up about her journey of parenting a child with Down Syndrome and how it led her to confront her own ableism. She discusses her new book 'I Don't Do Disability and Other Lies I've Told Myself,' which captures the highs and lows of her experience and aims to help other parents and caregivers on similar paths. Adele shares touching stories that highlight the importance of love and acceptance, and how our society needs to do better for those with disabilities.

Looking for ways to check your own biases and become a better advocate for your child? This episode is packed with insights, personal anecdotes, and actionable advice that you won't want to miss. Tune in and join us on this journey towards creating a more inclusive and loving world!

Adelle's Website: https://adellepurdham.ca/

Buy her book! "I Don't Do Disability And Other Lies I've Told Myself."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Inclusivity

01:06 Guest Introduction and Book Discussion

02:14 Journey of Advocacy and Writing

06:59 Confronting Ableism

13:26 Experiences and Reflections

21:36 Societal Perceptions and Personal Growth

26:25 Understanding Disability as Part of the Human Condition

26:50 Personal Experiences and Perspectives on Disability

29:02 The Importance of Advocacy and Education

30:13 Writing and Sharing Personal Stories

32:22 Challenges and Subtle Discrimination

35:32 Historical Context and Institutionalization

40:16 Advice for Parents and Caregivers

45:57 Final Thoughts and Resources

Today on the podcast I chat with Elyse Lappano, a pro in disability services and adapted physical activity with over 15 years of experience – and my former university housemate and masters student! In this episode, we reconnect and chat about our ongoing journey toward making the world more inclusive and accessible.

We reflect and get candid about our learning and conversation back in university, where we had some pretty eye opening realization and conversations related to inclusion. We go one to chat about the value of having inclusion embedded in professional and education experiences and how much they both shaped our careers and mindsets related to disability. 

We’ll dive into talking about the power of curiosity, the importance of open conversations, and why disability is something that should matter to everyone.This episode will definitely challenge you to see how ableism shows up in your life and move you to continue to ask questions about why this still exists.. So let’s listen, learn, and lead the way toward a more inclusive world!

Episode Links & Tools:

Interested in connecting with Elyse? Check out her website at https://lappanohowe.com/

Brock University: SNAP Program https://brocku.ca/capa/programs/snap/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:04 Reconnecting and Reflecting on University Days

04:05 Elyse's Journey in Disability Services

08:55 The Importance of Inclusion in All Professions

18:09 Challenges and Strategies for Promoting Accessibility

23:29 The Role of Education in Fostering Inclusion

28:28 Navigating Professional and Personal Growth

32:26 Learning Through Helping

33:07 The Power of Asking Questions

35:43 Setting the Tone for Conversations

38:59 Introducing LaPanoHow Consulting

40:45 Collaborative Consulting Approach

42:21 Tailored Services for Diverse Needs

44:57 Sustaining Advocacy and Social Justice

49:08 The Importance of Community Support

51:04 Reflecting on the Journey

56:03 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

In this episode, I chat with Sarah Pot, a mother of four and family engagement advocate with two daughters, both who have Chitayat-Hall Syndrome. In our conversation,  we chat about the importance of “sense-making,” to cope with the uncertainty and complexities that come with caregiving, but also the joy in learning and honouring our child’s unique personalities and the stories they want to share with the world.  

We chat about the pivotal moments that helped her family thrive, from the life-changing role that therapies have played to the building of a support network of people and professionals who truly “get it.”

Sarah also gives us a glimpse into her role as a family engagement team member at CanChild, and the remarkable work they do to improve the lives of children with disabilities and their families. 

This conversation is a beautiful reminder of the power of perspective and the importance of coming together to learn from each other.

Chapters:

00:00- Introduction to the Episode

01:08- Meeting Sarah Pott: A Journey Through Caregiving

02:26- Sarah's Story: Navigating Early Challenges

05:14 -The Diagnosis Journey: Rachel and Janneke

08:31- Sense-making and Coping Strategies

17:21 -Community Support and Professional Engagement

23:12- Balancing Family Dynamics

25:46- Empowering Children to Lead

26:38- Understanding Individual Needs

29:05- The Importance of Storytelling

30:49- Inclusive Communication Strategies

34:22- Family Engagement in Research

41:07- Strength-Based Approach to Disability

47:41 -Implementing Family Engagement

53:10- Final Thoughts and Resources

Episode Link & Tools:

Check out the ⁠F-Word tools ⁠from CanChild that Sarah chats about!

Welcome to Moved To Include! I'm your host, Jillian and in this episode, I’m thrilled to sit down with Shelley Moore—an educator, researcher, consultant, and storyteller whose work in inclusive education is nothing short of amazing!
Shelley’s journey—starting with her unconventional learning style and evolving into the innovative ideas shared through her ‘5 Moore Minute’ videos—has transformed how we view education and highlighted the power of storytelling in illustrating what inclusion can truly look like in our communities.

In this conversation, we explore the key differences between integration and true inclusion, the vital role of student voice, and why fostering an inclusive mindset is essential for driving meaningful change in school communities.

If you are a parent or an educator, this is a conversation that you don’t want to miss, as Shelley also shares her exciting new project, as well as other innovative ways to think about barriers when advocating for a more inclusive world.

So come along with me as we listen, learn and lead the way for others to be Moved to Include.

Welcome to move to include. I'm your host, Jillian and today I'm excited to have Dyanne Pinto, a friend and fellow parent advocate! 

Diane is a devoted mother whose life changed dramatically when her daughter, Joanna, was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. In this episode, she shares the emotional journey of shock and uncertainty that followed, along with the challenges in navigating an inaccessible world. 

But amidst these challenges, Diane’s unwavering determination shines through. She is not only committed to ensuring that Joanna experiences life to the fullest, but also is blazing a trail for future children with similar needs and supporting other parents in their own journey. 

This story is a powerful reminder of perseverance and the strength found when we can all come together as allies for inclusion letting us know that we are truly not alone. 

So come along with me as we listen, learn and lead the way for others to be Moved to Include!

Welcome to Moved to include. I’m your host Jillian and today, I’m excited to have Steffanie Bjorgan with me. She’s a mom, a fierce advocate for kids with disabilities and diverse needs, and a non-profit business owner and her story is truly inspiring. Steffanie shares her journey after a difficult postpartum diagnosis for her son, and how she navigated her own emotions and the realities of supporting a child with complex needs. 

She turned her heartbreak to hope in creating a non-profit and over the years, she’s created a warm and welcoming community that provides inclusive programming to so many individuals and families. We’ll chat about some big ideas such as how to build effective advocacy skills and the power of community support and inclusive mindsets. 

Steffanie’s journey has been fuelled by innovation and determination and will certainly change the way you look at overcoming obstacles.

So come along with me as we listen, learn and lead the way for others to be Moved to Include!

For more information about Red Roof Retreat you can check out their website at www.redroofretreat.com.

00:00 Introduction to Our Journey

Welcome to Moved to include  where we share our stories and ideas, as well as build connections and amplify voices to get to the heart of what it means to be inclusive in our communities.

I’m your host, Jill, and today on my very first episode I have invited my husband and partner Tom to share our own journey as new parent advocates and reflect on the lesson learned so far as we come to understand what inclusion is and what it looks like for our son with Down Syndrome. We’ll dive into our initial fears and visions for our evolving understanding of what inclusion is while also reflecting on the differences of our lived experiences and how that shaped of our initial reactions of the diagnosis we had for our son. We also touch on the importance of community support, adapting to new challenges and our own personal growth in our own journey of advocacy that might help you understand yours! 

So join me in listening, learning as well as our story on leading the way for others to be moved, to include! 

Welcome to Move To Include a place where we share stories and ideas, as well as build connections and amplify voices to get to the heart of what it means to be inclusive in our communities.

I'm Jillian, your host and each episode, we'll explore what inclusivity is all about by chatting with caregivers, community leaders, and self advocates who are navigating their own journeys of both challenges and triumphs.

I'll also share my own experiences and insights along with other fellow caregivers and parents as we talk about building confidence in advocacy, caregiving, and supporting inclusion for our loved ones.

Whether you're just starting out or you've been a part of this community for a while, I want to welcome you to this space and hope it helps you to develop the mindset and motivation to continue your own journey in creating a more inclusive world.

So come along with me as we listen, learn and lead the way for others to be moved, to include.