The Exceptional Caregivers Life

In this episode, Liz and her guests explore the “service cliff”—what happens when your child turns 18? What does this foundational shift look like, and how do families find support when they need it most?

Wendy, usually one of the co-hosts of The Exceptional Caregiver’s Life, takes a turn in the guest chair to share more of her personal story. She is the mother of twin daughters and has spent the past 16 years navigating the journey of parenting and caregiving for a child with autism. Joining the conversation is Jeanny Scantlebury, Vice President of Adult Services at Surrey Place, as well as a clinician and systems leader. As children with special needs reach key age milestones, many of the supports and services their families have relied on begin to disappear. How do parents navigate the complexities of this transition? From maintaining continuity of care with doctors and specialists to ensuring their child continues developing the skills needed for adulthood and independence? 

Special thanks to the ⁠Family Advisory Council ⁠for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by Caleb Buys.

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. ⁠Sign up here⁠.

Follow our show on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠.

In this episode, Liz and Wendy delve into how to navigate the highs and lows of receiving a diagnosis for your child. They are joined by Nicole and LeighAnn to explore what it means to geta diagnosis, what comes next for you and your family, and how to find joy and hope in the moment.

Nicole is a mother of two who is in the early stages of living with, and learning about, the recent diagnosis of one of her children.

Dr. LeighAnn Wayland is a psychologist specializing in ASD and childhood behavioural development, alongside her work with Surrey Place.

Together, they discuss coming to terms with a diagnosis, working through it, and navigating the complicated emotions that can follow. They also talk about sharing a diagnosis, who needs to know, when to tell them, as well as the benefits and joys that can come from it. The conversation also covers accessing supports, how to determine what is available, and what it takes to access those services.

Special thanks to the ⁠Family Advisory Council ⁠for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by Caleb Buys.

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. ⁠Sign up here⁠.

Follow our show on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠.

In this episode, Liz and Wendy explore innovations and meaningful housing solutions in the developmental services sector. They are joined by two guests with extensive and unique experience in the search for and development of reliable alternative housing solutions. 

Bonnie Heath is a mother of a child with Down syndrome. She began her journey with supportive housing nearly twenty years ago and is the heart behind Scarborough Residential Alternatives. 

Zoe Kariunas is a registered social worker in developmental services. She also works with LIGHTS, a program of Community Living Toronto. 

Together, they explore the journey of alternative housing by understanding when to begin planning, how to balance your child’s needs and independence with your evolving role as a parent, the status of funding options and associated challenges, and how to consider the legacy of your care and how it can continue into the future.

Special thanks to the ⁠Family Advisory Council ⁠for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by Caleb Buys.

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. ⁠Sign up here⁠.

Follow our show on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Exceptional Caregiver’s Life! 

In this episode, we host a panel discussion on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). 

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Ab Velasco, Chochi Knott, Jason Behamdouni, and Lori Wilson. Each is a parent and caregiver to a child with FASD, bringing unique perspectives and lived experiences to the conversation. 

This episode explores common misconceptions about FASD, the impact of societal structures and institutions on families’ lives, and the coping strategies, resilience, and victories that come with caregiving. 

Special thanks to the Family Advisory Council for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by Caleb Buys.

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here.

Follow our show on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Sharon Shelton and Ab Velasco to discuss gratitude in the caregiver journey. Sharon is a mom of two, including an adult son with an intellectual disability, and Ab is the father of a ten-year-old with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This episode addresses topics such as how to find gratitude in everyday challenges, focusing on small wins, and the unexpected perks and resilience of being a caregiver.

Special thanks to the ⁠Family Advisory Council⁠ for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by ⁠LeadPodcasting⁠. 

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here at ⁠https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/⁠ 

Follow our show on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter,⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠

Wendy and Liz are joined by guest Lynn Zalany to discuss the importance of caring for the caregiver. This episode discusses the idea of recognizing, managing and preventing caregiver burnout, creating a supportive environment for caregivers, and their tips for self-care. 

Special thanks to the ⁠⁠Family Advisory Council⁠⁠ for making “TheExceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by ⁠⁠LeadPodcasting⁠⁠. 

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stayup to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place.

Sign up here at ⁠⁠https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/⁠⁠ 

Follow our show on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, Twitter,⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ 

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Natasha Christie and Nicole Payette to share what it’s like to be an advocate for your child. Natasha is a mother to a daughter with down syndrome and Nicole has been an advocate for her 13-year-old daughter with a neurodegenerative disorder. This episode delves into caregivers' perspectives on caring for a child with intellectual developmental disabilities, how caregivers can advocate for their child, and what pathways of advocacy exist.

Special thanks to the Family Advisory Council for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by LeadPodcasting. 

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here at https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/ 

Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter,LinkedIn and Facebook

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Linda Koehler and Sara Marcelin-Elliott for first episode to share their lived experience of caring for a child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Linda is caregiver to her grandson with an autism, ADHD and global developmental delay diagnosis and Sara is a mother to an exceptional teen with dual diagnosis. This episode is all about finding families, the pros and cons of community, and the stages of community throughout your child’s life.

Special thanks to the Family Advisory Council for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.

All episodes are produced by LeadPodcasting. 

Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here at https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/ 

Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter,LinkedIn and Facebook 

Connect with a community that gets it. Real and compassionate conversations about the highs and lows of caring for individuals with disabilities and complex needs, hosted by Surrey Place’s Family Advisory Council members Liz Phipps and Wendy Robertson. Stories of successes and challenges—of finding joy, hope, humour, respite and community to keep going on a journey that is often hard, exhausting and isolating. 

Hear about lived experiences with caring for individuals of all ages with autism, down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Emanuel Syndrome, medical fragility and other complex needs. Learn about finding community, self-care, advocacy and gratitude. Hopefully, you will be inspired by the relatable stories of these exceptional caregivers.