In this episode, hosts Cynthia Morraz and John Dickerson have a conversation about what that overwhelm looks like on the ground — and why, even in the hardest of times, hope and community are still within reach.

John shares a powerful reminder that budget cuts don't just reduce dollars — they reduce hope. And hope, for families who have never had an easy road, is everything. Cynthia and John also explore why words matter, why joy is not a luxury, and how small, intentional acts of community can make a profound difference.

You'll also hear the remarkable story of Nate, a young man in Minnesota with a disability who — without any formal support system — helped three of his friends with disabilities find meaningful employment, proving that peer connection and community can accomplish what systems sometimes cannot.

Cynthia and John also announce two free, interactive webinars coming in March featuring MyQuillo authors Dr. Karyn Harvey and Dr. Robert Naseef. 

This episode is for families, self-advocates, Direct Support Professionals, providers, and anyone who shows up for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

📅 Webinar Date: March 3rd | Afternoon & Evening Sessions Available

Register Here - Afternoon Session

Register Here - Evening Session

Because we are always stronger together.

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Episode Transcript 

In this week's episode, John and Cynthia celebrate Black History Month by remembering Betty Williams, a self-advocate leader in Indiana. 

Learn more about Betty Williams 

Betty Williams Interview

Early Leaders: Betty Williams · Self-Advocates of Indiana

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To learn more about Quillo Connect visit MyQuillo.com

Episode Transcript 

In this episode, hosts Cynthia Morraz and John Dickerson explore the high school transition years for students with IDD and their families. This period brings big decisions and even bigger questions: Who will help? What do we do? How do we get ready for what comes next? Cynthia and John discuss how to build community, find your circle of support, and use this time to prepare for life after high school.

In this episode:

🎓 How to navigate the transition from high school to work or college 👥 The power of finding your circle of support—and why you don't need a big one, just the right people

💼 Practical tips for exploring career paths and building meaningful connections

🤝 How schools, families, and organizations can create welcoming, inclusive environments

Want to share stories with us? Email us at [email protected]

To learn more about MyQuillo visit MyQuillo.com

Episode Transcript 

Big news from hosts Cynthia Morraz and John Dickerson: My Quillo is here! The app is now available nationwide to anyone who wants to build their circle of support—no waiver required.

✨ Why Families asked for MyQuillo

✨ The story behind the name

✨ How to try it for FREE for a month 

Episode Transcript

Learn more about MyQuillo

In this episode, hosts Cynthia Morraz and John Dickerson talk with Nate Beers, founder of IDD Leader, about why communication skills matter for frontline supervisors in the IDD field. Direct support professionals and supervisors play a vital role in supporting people with disabilities to live fulfilling lives, making strong leadership and retention essential.

In this episode:

💬 Nate introduces a three-part framework for difficult conversations

📉 Explains how predominantly negative communication drives turnover and burnout

🏆 Shares solutions and tips on how to build a winning team culture that's both supportive and accountable from day one

Connect with Nate Beers 📧

Resources mentioned: Reduce Turnover by Transforming Supervisor Habits

Show Transcript

Want to share stories with us? Email us at [email protected]

To learn more about MyQuillo visit MyQuillo.com

Big news from hosts Cynthia Morraz and John Dickerson: My Quillo is here! The app is now available nationwide to anyone who wants to build their circle of support—no waiver required.

✨ Why Families asked for MyQuillo

✨ The story behind the name

✨ How to try it for FREE for a month 

Episode Transcript

Learn more about MyQuillo

This episode was originally published in 2022. In this week's episode, John and Cynthia are doing something different for November. They explore the topic of gifts all people have and how we can help them use those gifts in building a good life.

Check out our Quillo Connect video 

Episode Transcript

To learn more about Quillo Connect, visit MyQuillo.com

Big news from hosts Cynthia Morraz and John Dickerson: My Quillo is here! The app is now available nationwide to anyone who wants to build their circle of support—no waiver required.

✨ Why Families asked for MyQuillo

✨ The story behind the name

✨ How to try it for FREE for a month 

Episode Transcript

Learn more about MyQuillo

In this week's episode, John and Cynthia discuss community gathering and its impact.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Benefits of Community

Episode Transcript

Want to share stories with us? Email us at [email protected]

To learn more about Quillo Connect visit MyQuillo.com