In this episode, we sit down with Mary Mecham, Director of Disability Book Week to learn about this year’s inaugural event. Mary is an avid reader, advocate, and mother of two girls with rare genetic disorders. She has teamed up with Parish School Teacher Caralou Smith to start Disability Book Week as part of their capstone project with Texas Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program designed to empower adults with developmental disabilities and family members to become effective advocates for policy change. Mary says that she was inspired by her own daughters to search for books that had main characters with disabilities. During her search, she started to meet authors with disabilities who felt inspired to write about their own struggles in their published literary works. Mary got so excited about their journeys that she knew she needed to share all these incredible books and authors with the world!   

Throughout the episode Mary discusses the process behind picking books, teaming up with authors, and the importance of having a panel research and vet at books. She also talks about different activities happening throughout the week to celebrate and ways listeners can get involved. However, the most powerful part of the interview is when Mary discusses WHY elevating the perspectives of people with disabilities is important for everyone! 

Links: 

Disability Book Week Website 

Disability Book Week Facebook 

Texas Partners in Policy Making Website 

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A substantial part of finding the right school for your child is going through the seemingly daunting admissions process! In this episode we chat with the director of admissions from Gateway Academy, Bonnie Jones, MS, CCC-SLP and The Parish School’s director of admissions and Unbabbled co-cost, Meredith Krimmel, MS, CCC-SLP. Throughout the episode Bonnie and Meredith walk us through what the typical admissions process is like for a specialty school including how to start the process, what paperwork parents may need to provide, and how they walk families through insuring that their program is the best fit. They also share common reasons why parents choose a specialty school over other options.  

Gateway Academy is a private school in Houston, Texas that serves 6th-12th grade students with academic and social challenges. Gateway is committed to teaching traditional academics, while also meeting the social and emotional needs of our students with learning and social differences. Bonnie Jones, MS, CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist that serves  as the director of admissions and supports students in the classroom. She came to Gateway in 2017 to develop their Social Communication program after working at The Parish School in both the early childhood and elementary programs. Bonnie’s varied background and experience in addressing language, social, and learning challenges equip her in her current role as Director of Admissions at Gateway Academy. 

The Parish School serves children ages 2-12 who have communication delays and learning differences, empowering them with the tools to succeed. Parish provides an education for the entire family within the environment of a nurturing and safe 17-acre campus with on-site pediatric therapy clinic. Our personalized academic approach – with a focus on communication skills, social learning, nature, independence and the arts – allows children not just to grow, but to thrive. Meredith Krimmel, MS, CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over 10 years of experience at The Parish School. She has worked in a variety of settings including a pediatric private clinic and providing group social learning therapy on top of her experiences in early childhood and elementary classrooms at The Parish School. Meredith has served as the Director of Admissions since 2016 where she is passionate about helping families find the right setting for their child to thrive. 

Links: 

Gateway Academy Website 

Unbabbled Instagram 

FInd out more about The Parish School 

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Our guests today, Dee Dee Halpin and Julie Blumberg run Houston School Options where they help families find the most effective school program for their children. Over the years, Dee Dee and Julie have helped guide numerous families - both new to the city and Houston natives - through the school choice process. During our conversation they discuss their process to find the right match and give tips to parents who are looking, such as what to look for when visiting schools and how you’ll know what the right choice is for you. They also remind us that the “best school” is the one that is the right fit for your child. And that sometimes, the right decision now is not a forever decision. While Dee Dee and Julie work with families in Houston, their tips on how to find the right school will work for all families, regardless of location. 

Dee Dee Halpin has a Master of Science in Special Education. She has experience as a classroom teacher, Educational Diagnostician in both public schools and private practice, and currently works as an Educational Consultant. 

Julia Blumberg has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She spent years teaching 2nd and 5th grades before she founded her tutoring business, Motivation Houston, in 2014.  

Dee Dee and Julie use their years of experience both in the classroom and as part of parent teacher organizations and school boards to support families through their business, Houston School Options.  

Links: 

Houston School Options Website 

Houston School Options Instagram 

Unbabbled Instagram 

FInd out more about The Parish School 

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In this episode we chat with pediatric dentist Dr. Steven Hogan about the unique challenges and treatment for a neurodiverse population, including children with sensory processing difficulties, anxiety, communication difficulties, and a wide range of medical diagnoses. Dr. Hogan discusses things parents can do to prepare children for the dentist, tips for at the dentist, strategies he personally uses in treatment, and advice for brushing at home. Dr. Hogan’s goal is to make the trip to the dentist a positive experience to support lifelong dental health. 

Dr. Hogan is a native Houstonian and part owner of Houston’s Pediatric Dentist. He attended University of Texas Austin and University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio. He completed a pediatric residency through the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry where he trained at Children’s Medical Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and received extensive training in sedation, special needs and medically compromised patients, and patients with dental trauma. Dr. Hogan is also a father of three who focuses on providing care in a positive manner. 

 Links: 

Houston's Pediatric Dentistry
Unbabbled Instagram
FInd out more about The Parish School 

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In this episode we speak with registered dietician Kacie Barnes about pediatric nutrition. Kacie is the owner of Mama Knows Nutrition, where she helps parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers find solutions to nourish their families without stress, guilt, or chaos. Throughout the episode, Kacie shares tips for introducing new foods, discusses typical variations in children’s diets and the nutritional needs of kids all with her signature humor and judgment free style.  

Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, LD has a Masters of Clinical Nutrition from UT Southwestern. She is the owner of Mama Knows Nutrition where she works with families one on one and provides information through her podcast, website, and Instagram account to help families navigate feeding their kids. Kacie also has a bachelor’s in economics and business from NYU and a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University. Kacie lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and two children. 

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The public school system offers a wide range of services for children free of charge! But Navigating through the paperwork, knowing what services are available, understanding the laws and regulations and learning the new lingo can be overwhelming and confusing! In this week’s episode, speech language pathologist, Huyen Cao, MA, CCC-SLP answers our questions to help demystify the public-school special education system. Throughout the episode Huyen discusses how to ask for an evaluation, who can get services, what services are available and what to expect during a meeting. Huyen also explains many of the common public-school specific acronyms.  We also dive into the lesser-known details such as the legal timeline schools must follow, the difference between an IEP and a 504, and if the public-school gives diagnoses to students. Huyen also reminds us that even if your child is enrolled in a private school, they have the legal right to be tested by the public school system. 

Huyen Cao, MA, CCC-SLP is the Director of Elementary at The Parish School. Prior to working at The Parish School Huyen worked for the Houston Independent School District for over 6 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Speech-Language Pathology Team Lead, and most recently, Senior Manager, Special Education- Speech and Language services.  

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Alyssa Blask Campbell, Med, is an emotional development expert with a master's degree in early childhood education. She is the founder of Seed and Sew, an online modern parenting community, and the co-created the Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP) method, a how-to guide for responding to tiny humans' big emotions to build emotional intelligence from infancy. Through Seed and Sew, Alyssa trains parents, educators, and caregivers in emotional coaching and understanding emotional intelligence. She also created and hosts Tiny Humans, Big Emotions parent support groups as virtual hangouts to dive into all things parenting. Alyssa’s goal is to help families and caregivers build strategies for responding to challenging behaviors in a way that supports the development of emotional intelligence.  

Throughout the episode, Alyssa discusses the connection between sensory regulation and emotional development and how as adults, our ability to connect with and guide our children is directly impacted by our level of sensory regulation. Alyssa also touches on the science behind co-regulation, provides tips to support children who struggle with anxiety and gives a few “say this” instead of “that” examples. 

Links: 

Seed and Sew website: Seed and Sew 

Alyssa’s Podcast: Voices of your Village 

Seed and Sew Instagram: Seed.and.Sew 

The Parish School on Instagram: ParishSchoolTx 

The Parish School Website: The Parish School 

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This episode continues our discussion on supporting siblings with input from a mental health professional. Our guest, Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, RPT-S, gives advice on how to talk to children about struggles one child may have and gives ideas for supporting families as they navigate family dynamics and emotions. During our conversation Lynn not only gives specific strategies and tips, but also encourages parents and caregivers to hold space for big emotions and lean into hard conversations even when they make us uncomfortable. She also shares a bit of her experience as a parent who has navigated this herself. 

Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, RPT-S is a licensed clinical social worker. She received her master’s in social work from the University of Houston and started her career at Texas Children’s Hospital. In 2004, she opened her own private practice, Houston Family Therapy Associates, giving her the opportunity to focus 100% on children and families. Lynn specializes in play therapy and is certified through the Association of Play Therapy as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. She offers play therapy training, supervision, and consultation to other professionals who serve children and families. 

Links:

Houston Family Therapy Associates

Lynn McLean on Instagram

Unbabbled on Instagram

The Parish School Instagram

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You may have heard it said, “Your sibling is your first friend” or “A sibling is a built-in best friend”. And while these common sayings can be true, sibling relationships are often complex and messy - swinging from loving, supportive, cooperative to jealous and fighting, then back again! Add into the mix a child with neurodiversity or complex medical needs and the relationships can get even more complicated. In today’s episode we hear how Katie Higgins, a mom of three, supports her children and their unique relationships.  

During the episode Katie discusses her son’s journey to a diagnosis, the dynamic between her twins and their brother, the steps she’s taken as a mom to support her children - like setting up special mother-daughter time for the girls - and how they navigate the emotions and changing relationships that come with having a neurodiverse sibling. Throughout the episode, Katie’s honesty, love for her children, and authenticity shines. Her story will leave caregivers feeling both seen and hopeful. 

Katie Higgins is a mother of three and co-owner of Vintage Hope Boutique in Richmond, Texas. She has twin daughters and a son who has been diagnosed with epilepsy and autism.  

Links: 

You are a Superhero too, by Brittnie Blackburn 

The Parish School 

Vintage Hope Boutique 

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Do mornings with your young children often feel hectic? Does starting the day with TV or iPad games set the wrong tone for the rest of your day? Beth from the website Days with Grey has a solution: start the day with simple, intentional, play-based learning activities! In this episode of Unbabbled, Beth, a teacher turned stay-at-home mom turned business owner, discusses how starting the day with engaging learning activities can set parents up for a day of playing and teaching children new skills, all while giving parents a few minutes to relax and enjoy their coffee. Throughout the episode, Beth gives ideas of how to bring these simple activities into your daily routine, explains her philosophy on teaching through play, and shares her favorite activities to do with her boys.

About Our Guest:
Beth is an educator certified in K-12 with a master’s degree in reading. After teaching for 13 years, she started Days with Grey in 2016 to share the educational activities she was doing with her two boys. Now a mom to three boys, Beth shares her Breakfast Invitations and activity cards with families all over the world through her blog and Instagram. We hope today’s episode inspires you to start you day with play! 

Related Links: 

• Days with Grey website 
• Days with Grey Instagram 
• Unbabbled Instagram 

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