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This week, I’m bringing back a powerful conversation from the archive: Dyslexia Struggles.

As I prepare for the release of my book Embracing Your Different Ability®, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this episode where I open up about the real, everyday challenges I face living with dyslexia. From the frustrations to the behind-the-scenes moments people don’t always see, I share honestly about what it’s like and the tools and strategies that have helped me navigate it all.

If you or someone you love has dyslexia, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that your different ability is something to embrace.

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Re-releasing this episode because the message still matters. If you’ve ever been made to feel “less than,” this is your reminder: you are not alone!

Let’s stand up to our bullies, grow in confidence, and embrace what makes us uniquely us - differences and all! 

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In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Patty Laushman — coach, educator, and neurodiversity advocate — to talk about her journey as a mom navigating years of uncertainty before learning her son is autistic. She shares what those first 8½ years were like, the challenges her family faced, and how one doctor’s words changed everything for the better.

We also talk about her path through college, becoming a mom later in life, and how her personal experiences led her to support neurodivergent teens, adults, and their families today. 

Patty's Bio

Patty Laushman is an author, speaker, educator, and coach specializing in neurodiversity and the transition to adulthood for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. She is the creator of the SBN™ parenting framework, a practical approach that helps parents learn when to provide support, set boundaries, and give strategic nudges to activate intrinsic motivation so their emerging adults can build confidence and real-life skills.

Patty is the author of Parenting for Independence: Overcoming Failure to Launch in Emerging Autistic Adults (November 2025) and the founder of Thrive Autism Coaching, where she leads the Parenting for Independence group coaching program for parents of autistic teens and adults. Her coaching is grounded in both lived experience—parenting and homeschooling a profoundly gifted, multi-exceptional, autistic teen—and professional expertise, having worked with hundreds of families across the United States and beyond.

She is a Certified Autism Life Coach through the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), whose LifeMAP program has supported more than 3,000 autistic teens and adults, and she also holds certification in employment services for people with disabilities through the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE). Patty’s professional background includes founding, growing, and selling a technology services company, as well as nearly a decade as a self-employed sales development consultant.

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Website:
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Instagram:
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https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/

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In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts, hosts of the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast, for an honest and uplifting conversation about living fully with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD).

Together, we talk about what it really means to grow up learning your body, your needs, and your voice — and how self-advocacy becomes a life-changing skill. Kelly and Avery share their personal journeys navigating life in power wheelchairs, embracing disability identity, and building confidence in a world that often underestimates disabled individuals.

This episode is filled with real talk, humor, wisdom, and empowering perspective as we discuss breaking barriers, finding community, and choosing to thrive — not just survive. Whether you live with a disability, love someone who does, or want to become a better ally, this conversation will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to see ability through a new lens.

Their Bio

Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast is a show hosted by two rare ladies, Kelly Berger & Avery Roberts, who live with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). It gives a front row seat to bold conversations about the thriving disability community. The show amplifies voices, breaks down barriers, and celebrates the power of disability identity. It’s where wit, wisdom, and wheels are all part of the party.

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In this powerful conversation, Kimberly Hendrix shares her journey through life’s hardest seasons — from marriage struggles and motherhood to building a decades-long business, raising a child with Down syndrome, and facing breast cancer. Through it all, she’s leaned on faith, resilience, and courage to rise stronger and advocate fiercely for her children, women, and families everywhere. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that adversity doesn’t define you — it can refine you.

Kimberly's Bio:

Motivational Speaker & Advocate for Resilience
I help women, families, and advocates rise through adversity, reclaim their identity, and lead with courage—through a message grounded in faith, resilience, and inclusion.

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Instagram:
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https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/

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In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of recording my audio book Embracing Your Different Ability®!

I share how the process has been going, what’s surprised me, what’s been harder than expected, and what I’ve loved most about bringing my book to life in my own voice. And because real life (and real recording) isn’t always perfect, I’m also sharing some bloopers from the studio that will definitely make you laugh.

Whether you’re an author, a speaker, or someone who just loves a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode is a fun, honest look at what it’s really like to record an audio book and why this project means so much to me.

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Life has been full and before I knew it, a month had passed without a new podcast episode. In this short, honest update, I’m sharing where I’ve been, why this pause wasn’t intentional, and what this season has been teaching me about grace, growth, and honoring the work behind the scenes.

I also briefly touch on recording the audiobook for Embracing Your Different Ability® and tease a fun, deeper episode next week with a sneak peek and some behind-the-scenes bloopers.

If you’ve ever felt like time just slipped away while you were building something meaningful, this episode is for you.

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Today’s episode is a little different and a little more personal. On this Christmas Eve, I’m sharing a short sneak peek from the audiobook of Embracing Your Different Ability®.

This excerpt comes from Chapter 9, where I talk about learning to embrace what I was good at in school—even when it didn’t look like what everyone else celebrated. From book talks and The Boxcar Children to building a boxcar with my dad, this moment helped me realize that leaning into your strengths can change everything.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by the things you struggled with or wondered if your strengths “counted,” I hope this story reminds you that learning—and success—don’t look the same for everyone.

More audiobook sneak peeks and conversations are coming soon. You can also join my book launch crew (if it's before the book launches) and you could get the first three audio book chapters as a bonus! Join Here!

Here's the links talked about in the episode: 

www.kateyfortun.com/thebook

www.yourdifferentability.com

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Grace Berios opens up about the emotional journey of discovering her youngest son, Teddy, has Down syndrome. From grief and uncertainty to life-changing travel and new perspectives, Grace shares how her family found hope, balance, and joy while raising kids of all abilities—and how it inspired her upcoming book, Raising Great, Even When…

Grace's Bio

Grace Berios is an author and mom of five—raising kids of all abilities—whose newest book, Raising Great, Even When…, was deeply shaped by her experience raising her youngest son, Teddy, who has Down syndrome. She teaches parents how small systems and intentional rhythms can bring calm to the chaos, especially for families navigating special-needs parenting.

Her mission is simple: to help parents own their story, step confidently into their role as Guide, and feel seen, supported, and steady through the messy, beautiful, and unpredictable parts of raising great kids of all abilities.

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Her Book is offically published! Get your copy HERE!

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Website:
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Instagram:
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https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/

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We’re going way back to the early days of the podcast! I’m re-releasing Episode Three — an important chapter of my story and one of the most meaningful episodes from the beginning.

In this throwback, I share what it was like to finally get my diagnosis and understand why I struggled for so long. It was a moment filled with relief, hope, and the feeling that I wasn’t “broken” — I just learned differently.

You’ll also hear about my parents’ incredible fight for answers and support. Their belief in me helped me believe in myself, and I want this re-release to offer that same spark of hope to anyone who needs it.

It’s not your disability… it’s your Different Ability®.

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Places you can reach me at:
Website:
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https://kateyfortun.com/podcast

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/
https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/