Last time, we talked about grief — not just from death, but from all kinds of loss.

Today, I want to talk about what helped me carry it.

For most of my life, I didn’t even know that what I was carrying had a name. I thought I was too emotional. Too much. The problem. I believed that if I had been better, quieter, less difficult… things would have been different.

But they weren’t different because of me.

In this episode, I share how moving into a nursing home brought back memories of being institutionalized as a child at the Ann Carlson School — and how that led me to a trauma group connected to the North Dakota Center for Prisons with Disabilities.

I talk about what it was like to sit in a room with other adults who grew up in institutions because we had developmental disabilities. To hear a social worker explain what trauma actually is. To slowly connect the dots. To understand that being isolated for crying wasn’t because I was bad — it was because I was a child expressing normal human emotion.

For decades, many of us believed we were the problem.

We weren’t.

In this conversation, I share how being given permission to feel changed everything. How understanding trauma reshaped the way I see grief. How finding language for what I lived through brought a kind of peace I didn’t know was possible.

If you’ve ever carried something heavy without knowing what to call it…
If you’ve ever been told — directly or indirectly — that your emotions were too much…
If you’ve ever wondered whether what happened to you really “counts”…

This episode is for you.

You didn’t do anything wrong.

And you don’t have to carry it alone.

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience, Dawn Olson opens up about a kind of grief that often goes unnamed—and unvalidated.

Not just the grief of losing people, but the grief of losing abilities, independence, privacy, spontaneity, identity, and versions of ourselves we once knew. Through deeply personal reflections—on caregiving, physical decline, anticipatory grief, and the quiet heartbreak of having to ask for help—Dawn shares what it means to mourn while still moving forward.

This is an honest, unpolished conversation about living with cerebral palsy, navigating increasing dependence, and learning that healing doesn’t always mean acceptance. Sometimes it simply means learning how to live truthfully with loss.

If you’ve ever felt sadness over changes in your body, your life, or your independence—or if you’re a caregiver walking alongside someone through these shifts—this episode is for you.

Because some losses don’t end. They change shape. And giving ourselves permission to mourn may be one of the most human things we can do.

As we step into 2026, I’m feeling a mix of excitement and fear, and I wanted to be honest about that with you.

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience, I’m talking about what this new year is bringing up for me: setting boundaries, finding my voice, and learning how to take up space without apologising for it. I share some personal stories that shaped how I see myself, including moments where I’ve felt like I was “in the way,” and what it’s taking to unlearn that belief.

We talk about family, independence, and how hard it can be to set boundaries with the people who love you most. I also share some of the goals I’m carrying into this year, from staying physically fit with a disability to continuing the work of advocacy while also learning how to advocate for myself.

Finally, I open the door to where this podcast — and this community — might be heading in 2026. From conversations about employment, finances, and fitness, to hearing from parents, siblings, and others living alongside disability, this year is about going deeper, together.

If Unfiltered Resilience is going to be a community, I want you to be part of shaping it. I’d love to hear what you want to talk about, what I’m missing, and what perspectives we need to explore.

This week on Unfiltered Resilience, I’m reflecting on something I didn’t even realize until I sat down to prepare for this episode—I’ve been teaching a disability studies class for fifteen years.

In this episode, I share what the class looks like, why perspective matters, and how we walk students through the full lifespan of disability—from history and education to employment, parenting, and end-of-life decisions. I talk about accommodations, why we all use them whether we realize it or not, and why disability is simply part of being human.

I also share what teaching this class has taught me—about my parents, about my own diagnosis, and about the love and strength it took for my mother to raise me after hearing life-changing news at just twenty years old.

We’ve come a long way, but the work isn’t finished. Advocacy is still necessary. Education still matters. And speaking up is still required.

Whether I’m teaching in a classroom or talking through your earbuds, the mission is the same: living out loud, sharing real experiences, and helping build a world that works for everyone.

The work continues—and I’m not going anywhere.

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience, I take you with me through the Thanksgivings that shaped me — the ones spent at the Ann Carlson School, the few treasured trips home, the makeshift celebrations with chosen family, and the quiet holidays that look different as life and abilities change.

These stories aren’t just about Thanksgiving. They’re about how all of us, disabled or not, learn to adapt — to new family dynamics, aging parents, limited energy, shifting abilities, and the emotional weight that holidays can carry.

I share these moments not because they’re extraordinary, but because they’re relatable. Almost everyone has navigated holidays that didn’t go as planned, traditions that had to evolve, or unexpected feelings of loneliness after the celebrations end.

In this episode, I talk about gratitude, frustration, bittersweet memories, and the small mindset shifts that can bring comfort when things don’t look like they used to. And if you’ve ever felt that post-holiday sadness, or had to reimagine what “holiday tradition” means in your own life, I hope you’ll hear a bit of your story in mine.

You’re not alone.

Disability Awareness Month may have ended, but the reality behind the statistics hasn’t. In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience, Dawn Olson goes deeper into why awareness alone will never be enough — because right now, she’s living the consequences of a system that wasn’t built to support disabled people as they age, work, or try to stay independent.

Dawn shares her personal case study in real time: navigating soaring Medicaid client shares, the loss of Medicaid buy-in at 65, the fear of losing long-time care providers, and the emotional toll of being penalized for working. She breaks down how well-intentioned programs fall apart with age limits, outdated asset caps, and policies that punish earning instead of empowering independence.

With honesty, vulnerability, and her signature clarity, Dawn walks us through the steps she’s taking — from exploring special needs trusts to leaning on faith — and reminds us why disability employment awareness must lead to real systemic change.

If you’re facing similar barriers, you’re not alone. And if you’re not disabled, you’ll finally understand what those barriers look like from the inside. It’s time for action, not just awareness.

“Awareness Isn’t Enough: What Disability Employment Really Looks Like”

Disability Employment Awareness Month may be over, but the work isn’t.

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience, Dawn Olson gets real about what “awareness” actually means—and why it’s not enough. From outdated laws to the fear of losing benefits, Dawn shares her own experiences navigating employment as a person with a disability and how the system still fails to make real inclusion possible.

This isn’t about inspiration—it’s about action. Dawn breaks down the misconceptions employers still hold, the everyday barriers people with disabilities face, and why systemic change—not just celebration—is what’s truly needed.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes for someone with a disability to not just get a job, but keep it and thrive, this conversation will open your eyes.

Let’s talk about real solutions, not just awareness.

Welcome back to Unfiltered Resilience.

Today, I want to talk about something universal yet rarely explored — aging, and what it means to age with a disability. For many of us, independence isn’t just a goal; it’s part of who we are. But as our bodies change, that definition begins to shift.

In this episode, I reflect on how assistive devices — like walkers and wheelchairs — are often misunderstood as symbols of limitation, when in truth, they can be tools of freedom. I share stories from my own life, from my days at the Ann Carlson School to the quiet rebellions that shaped how I see mobility and independence today.

We’ll explore what happens when parents, caregivers, and even we ourselves equate “doing it alone” with strength — and how letting go of that idea can actually open the door to more control, confidence, and peace.

Aging isn’t a step backward. It’s a step toward wisdom, toward grace, and toward redefining what freedom looks like. Because real independence isn’t about doing everything on your own — it’s about knowing when to ask for help and having the courage to embrace change.

If you have stories or reflections about aging with a disability, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at [email protected].

Welcome back to Unfiltered Resilience.
Today’s episode is deeply personal — and yet, it’s one that many families will recognise. We’re talking about diagnosis day — that pivotal moment when a label is given, and everything you thought you knew about the future suddenly shifts.

This episode was inspired by a classroom story from a parent — and by my own mother’s experience when she first learned about my disability. Through her voice, I discovered feelings and details I had never known before — the sadness, the guilt, the fierce love that carried us through.

We’ll talk about:

• What families really go through on diagnosis day

• How hope and uncertainty can coexist

• The quiet strength of parents learning to adapt

• Why “never” is a word that deserves to be challenged

• And the beauty of seeing life not as a detour, but a different destination

Whether you’re a parent, a child, or simply someone learning to live in a changed world, this episode is about finding grace and resilience in unexpected places — and remembering that a diagnosis is not an ending, but a beginning.

If you have questions, thoughts, or topic suggestions for future episodes, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected] or connect on Instagram at @unfilteredresiliencepodcast.

Until next time, this is Unfiltered Resilience — where every story reminds us that difference isn’t a limitation, it’s another way of being whole.

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience, I share the hard truths and unexpected lessons from my employment journey as a person with a disability. Starting with the stark reality that in 2024, only 22.7% of people with disabilities were employed compared to 65.5% without, I walk you through my own experiences navigating those numbers.

From rejection after graduation to landing my first role with the U.S. Forest Service, from the highs of advancement at the IRS through the Schedule A Hiring Authority to the lows of being downgraded and let go, my path has been full of both setbacks and surprising breakthroughs.

I reflect on the sting of humiliation, the relief of fair accommodations, and the dignity found in meaningful work. You’ll also hear how teaching Disability Studies and contributing to trauma-focused grants at the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities brought me healing and purpose.

This isn’t just a story about jobs—it’s a story about courage, persistence, and finding hope even when the system feels stacked against you. If you’re in the middle of a difficult season at work or searching for the right opportunity, I hope my story reminds you that your worth isn’t defined by rejection or quotas.

I’d love to hear your own employment stories—victories, frustrations, or even the funny moments. Email me at [email protected], and your story might be just the encouragement someone else needs today.