Podcast Launch: Embracing Inclusion and Overcoming Challenges with Charlotte and Her Family

In Episode 34 of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte shares a special conversation recorded from a Primary leadership training about what inclusion can look like for children with disabilities in the Church.

Anna shares lessons learned from more than 20 years of raising children with disabilities, along with real experiences from Primary, FSY, supporting the community and Church life. She talks about looking beyond a diagnosis, recognizing barriers, asking instead of assuming, adapting when needed, and giving children meaningful opportunities to participate and serve.

Charlotte shares personal stories from her childhood about being nonverbal, being moved without being spoken to, and advocating for the opportunity to grow with her peers. Caroline also shares her experience at FSY and what happened when someone asked her what she actually needed instead of assuming.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple message:

Inclusion isn’t just making sure someone is in the room. It’s making sure they know they belong in the room. 💛

Her message is simple and powerful:
Ask. Listen. Adapt. Invite. Advocate.

This episode is a reminder that children with disabilities are not simply people who need help. They are children of God with talents, desires, voices, and something meaningful to contribute.

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Don’t decide for me what I can understand, what I can do, or where I belong. Ask me. Give me a chance.” — Charlotte

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

* Seeing the person before the disability
* Why we should ask instead of assume
* How small changes can remove barriers to participation
* Why accessibility is about more than simply getting through the door
* Lessons from Harrison and Caroline’s experiences at FSY
* Why children with disabilities need opportunities to grow, serve, and contribute
* How Charlotte experienced being included—and what she wishes Church leaders understood
* Supporting parents instead of making them advocate alone
* Creating belonging, not just accommodation

If you are a parent, Church leader, teacher, friend, or someone who wants to better understand inclusion and disability, Charlotte hopes this episode will remind you to see the person before the disability and to look for the barriers that can be changed.

There is room for every one of us. And every one of us has something to give 💛

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, YouTube, Iheart Radio and more!

For more about our mission, inclusion, and how we support people and families of all abilities:
www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill

So let’s be friends! 💛

In this special episode of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte invites her roommates, Sam and Noelia, into the conversation to talk about what inclusion really looks like inside their home.

They share what it is like for people of different abilities to live together, work together, become friends, solve problems, and learn from one another.

This conversation goes beyond the idea of inclusion and into everyday life — sharing responsibilities, creating routines, giving everyone a voice, having fun, working through differences, and discovering that we often have more to learn from each other than we realize.

Charlotte and her roommates show us that inclusion isn’t about making everyone the same. It’s about creating a place where everyone can contribute, grow, be loved, and belong.

💛 Charlotte’s Quote:
“We don’t have to be the same to live together, learn from each other, and be friends.” 💛

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🏠 What inclusion can look like in a shared home
🫶 How roommates with different abilities learn from each other
💬 Creating routines and systems that help everyone succeed
❤️ How everyday friendships grow
🌱 Learning patience, responsibility, and kindness from one another
🤝 Why belonging means more than simply being included

🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible,  YouTube, and more!

To learn more about our mission, connect with us, or receive support, visit www.merrillbudz.org

(OR Come see us in person, inclusion in action, at our Nonprofit "Sweet Caroline's Bakery" supporting those of all abilities)

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

So let’s be friends! 💛

In Part 2 of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte continues her conversation with John and Rachel Arnado about building a life together with disabilities.

They talk about their home, independence, caregiving, navigating support systems, and the importance of having people who believe in you. John and Rachel share the challenges they have faced, but also the success they have found by continuing to work through those challenges together.

Their story reminds us that people with disabilities deserve opportunities to make their own choices, have a home, contribute, build relationships, and live meaningful lives.

Sometimes inclusion means more than offering help. It means creating opportunities and standing beside someone while they build a life of their own. 💛

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Everyone deserves the chance to build a life they love, with the support they need.” 💛

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🏠 The importance of having a home and building independence
🫶 How John and Rachel support one another
💬 The challenges of navigating services and support systems
🤝 How community can help create opportunities
🌱 What inclusion and independence can look like in real life
❤️ Why everyone deserves the chance to contribute and belong

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, YouTube and more!

To learn more about our mission, connect with us, or receive support, visit www.merrillbudz.org

At Merrill Budz, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to belong, contribute, and discover what they can do. Through our nonprofit bakery, we create opportunities for people of all abilities through vocational training, life skills, work experience, and meaningful ways to serve others. 💛


🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

So let’s be friends! 💛

In this heartfelt episode of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte sits down with John and Rachel Arnado, a married couple who share what it means to build a life together with disabilities.

John shares his story of experiencing a traumatic brain injury as a teenager and living with seizures and memory loss. Rachel shares what it has been like to build a marriage while navigating their own challenges and supporting one another.

Through their honest conversation, they talk about love, perseverance, marriage, and the challenges that have shaped their journey together.

Their story is about more than disability. It is about love, partnership, determination, advocacy, and the belief that people of all abilities deserve the opportunity to build meaningful lives of their own.

This is Part 1 of their story. 💛

💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“We all have challenges, but we don’t have to face them alone.” 💛

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

💛 John and Rachel’s story and how they became a couple

🫶 What marriage looks like when both people have disabilities

🧠 How John’s traumatic brain injury has affected his life

💪 How they work through challenges together

💬 Why support, understanding, and community matter

🌱 The importance of believing that people with disabilities can build lives of their own

🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

Our nonprofit bakery is one of the ways we put inclusion into action — providing vocational training, life skills, work experience, and opportunities for people of all abilities to discover their strengths and contribute to their community. 

501(c)(3) Everyone Happier and Healthier; A Belonging Initiative

For more about our mission, to connect with us, or to receive support, visit www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

In this beautiful episode of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte shares the inspiring story of Aunt Satya and how a simple act of baking cinnamon rolls became part of a much bigger miracle.

Satya was once a healthy, energetic woman who loved serving others and working as a nurse. Then, without warning, sickness changed everything. She became bedridden and was no longer able to work, care for her family in the ways she once had, or live the active life she loved. Her journey brought unexpected disability, but it also led her on a path of research, healing, and discovering new ways to serve.

Years later, through her love of baking, Satya found purpose again. Making cinnamon rolls and Kamut bread for our nonprofit bakery. It gave her a way to contribute on the days her body allowed. The bakery became more than a place to bake—it became a place where she was valued, needed, and reminded that her gifts still mattered.

What started as a few cinnamon rolls grew into something much bigger than anyone imagined. Her baked goods began reaching others, bringing comfort, love, and connection to people throughout the community and beyond. Her story reminds us that when someone is given an opportunity to belong, the impact reaches far beyond one person.

Our Bakery was inspired one year ago, and as we celebrate its first anniversary on August 1, we celebrate stories like Aunt Satya’s—stories of people of all abilities and disabilities who are often overlooked but have so much to offer.

Every life has value. Every person has a gift. And sometimes, a cinnamon roll can be the beginning of something life-changing.

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Charlotte’s Quote:

“Everyone has a gift to share. Sometimes we just need someone to believe in us, give us a chance, and remind us that we belong. Love one another. 💛”

What Will We Learn in This Episode?

👊🏼 We will learn about resilience, finding purpose after unexpected challenges, and the power of belonging. 

💕journey through illness and disability 

💙Discover new ways to serve others through

🙏🏼 a simple cinnamon roll can became a symbol of hope, connection, and opportunity—

🫶🏼And when people are given a chance to share their gifts, those gifts can bless many lives.

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

For more about our mission and support:

www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

In this inspiring episode of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte continues the conversation on civil rights, inclusion, and equality — sharing something very personal: her own journey of learning to use her voice.

After high school, Charlotte took a college public speaking class that challenged her in many ways. With the need for extra support, adaptations, and determination, she stepped into something that felt hard — and chose a topic that mattered deeply to her, Civil Rights.

In this episode, Charlotte shares the speech she gave, focusing on the importance of equality for all people, including women, individuals with disabilities, and influential voices like Helen Keller who helped shape understanding and change.

Through courage and perseverance, Charlotte not only completed the class — she succeeded.

This episode is a reminder that every voice matters, that growth takes effort and support, and that speaking up for inclusion and love can create real impact.

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Your voice matters — even when it’s hard, it can help create change.” 💛

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🗣️ Charlotte’s personal journey in a college public speaking class
📖 Her civil rights speech and what inspired it
👩 The importance of women’s rights and equality
♿ Inclusion and rights for individuals with disabilities
🌟 The influence of voices like Helen Keller
💛 Why using your voice can help create change

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

For more about our mission and support:
www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation on So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte continues her discussion with her dad, Loren, as they reflect on 250 years of America and how the meaning of freedom and equality continues to grow.

Together they explore how our country has changed over time — from the early foundations of the Declaration of Independence, to immigration, to the ongoing expansion of rights and understanding for all people.

This episode also brings the conversation into today, and how we have evolved in recent years, and how individuals with disabilities are gaining more recognition, voice, and protection of their civil rights. We need to break down barriers and not be afraid to be apart of the change. 

Charlotte shares her belief that people with disabilities and all abilities are part of shaping this change — and that progress happens when we are willing to speak up, participate, and help build a more inclusive future.

Looking ahead, this conversation reminds us that freedom is not finished. It continues to grow as we learn, listen, and expand what inclusion truly means for everyone.

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Freedom isn’t finished — it grows every time we choose inclusion over limits. Love People, Help People” 💛

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🇺🇸 How America’s understanding of freedom has evolved over time

🗽 Immigration, and building opportunity

⚖️ How disability rights have changed in modern years

🧠 Why civil rights continue to expand for people with disabilities

🌍 How inclusion shapes the future for all abilities

🫶 Why every generation plays a role in creating change

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

For more about our mission and support:

www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

In Part 2 of this meaningful conversation on So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte continues her discussion with Kasey Walsh, diving deeper into the long-term realities of caregiving and the importance of caregiver voices in the world of rare disease.

Kasey shares how lived experience — the knowledge gained through daily care, observation, and love — is often missing from structured medical data and research, and how that gap impacts trust, understanding, and progress for families.

She also talks about her mission in founding a venture philanthropy startup focused on advancing therapeutics for rare diseases, helping bring caregiver-informed insight into the future of research and innovation.

This episode highlights the power of listening to families, valuing their experiences, and building a future where every voice matters.

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Listening to caregivers can change the future for families who are still searching for answers.” 💛

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

💡 Why caregiver insights matter in research and healthcare

🧩 The gap between lived experience and medical data

🌍 How advocacy can shape the future of rare disease support

🚀 A vision for advancing therapeutics through caregiver-informed work

🫶 Hope and encouragement for families navigating long-term care

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

For more about inclusion and our mission, visit

www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

In this meaningful episode of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte sits down with her dad, Loren Merrill, to begin a thoughtful conversation about the 250-year journey of our country and the meaning of freedom.

In Part 1, they talk about the beginning — the Declaration of Independence, what freedom meant at that time, and how it wasn’t originally experienced equally by everyone.

They also explore stories like Ellis Island and the many people who came to America searching for hope, opportunity, and a better life.

As the conversation grows, they talk about how change takes time — and how our country continues to learn and expand its understanding of equality.

Charlotte and her dad also begin discussing something very personal — how laws and systems like guardianship have changed, even in recent years, allowing individuals with disabilities to keep more of their civil rights and independence.

Charlotte shares how she has been part of that change, reminding us that we don’t have to be afraid to speak up, ask questions, and be part of making things better.

This episode is about growth — as a country, as families, and as individuals — and understanding that freedom continues to expand when we choose to include everyone.

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Freedom keeps growing when we’re brave enough to be part of the change.” 💛

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🇺🇸 What the Declaration of Independence means
🗽 The role of Ellis Island and immigration in our history
📖 How freedom looked different at the beginning
⏳ Why equality and change take time
⚖️ How guardianship and rights for individuals with disabilities are evolving
🫶 Why we all have a role in creating a more inclusive future

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

For more about our mission and support:
http://www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)

In this powerful episode of So Let’s Be Friends, Charlotte sits down with their longtime piano teacher and friend, Charles Pandian.

Charlotte, Caroline, and Harrison began taking virtual piano lessons with Charles in 2020 during a time when therapies and supports suddenly stopped. What started as a leap of faith became something life-changing.

At the beginning, their hands didn’t have the strength or coordination to press the piano keys — sometimes they would play and no sound would come out. But Charles patiently began with finger exercises, building strength, coordination, and confidence step by step.

Today, they are playing piano with two hands, creating music that once felt impossible.

In this episode, Charles shares the importance of music, piano, and brain connection — especially for individuals with special needs, neurological challenges, or developmental delays.

Now, after years of virtual lessons, this story comes full circle as they reunite again in person for the very first time.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that growth takes time, creativity, and someone willing to believe in what’s possible.

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💛 Charlotte’s Quote

“Sometimes growth starts before you can even hear the music — you just have to keep going.” 💛

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✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🎹 How music builds brain connection and coordination

🧠 The role of piano in neurodevelopment and motor skills

💪 Why starting with small exercises matters

🌍 How connection and teaching can happen across the world

🫶 Encouragement for families navigating special needs and therapies

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🌐 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube

For more about our mission and support:

www.merrillbudz.org

🎵 (Music written and performed by Kalicia Merrill)