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Institutionalization hurts the person institutionalized, the family, and our community. Marilyn Dolmage, Vici Clarke and Victoria Freeman discuss their experiences of having their sibling with a disability institutionalized as a child. #triggeralert. 

Victoria Freeman’s book “A World without Martha: A Memoir of Sisters, Disability and Difference” is fundamentally about what it means to live in a world where only some people are deemed worthy of love. On the podcast, Victoria and I read excerpts from the book and explore the themes of this all-too-real story. This podcast comes with a #triggeralert. It also comes with the opportunity to use Victoria’s story - and Martha’s story - as motivation, fuel, learning to make life better for those in our community who are othered and excluded. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review on iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Just like advocating for your child, sometimes unlearning and relearning how we see the world can be a messy, ongoing exercise. But if we are to move forward together as a society, we have to do the work. We have to get out of the wading pool and dive into the big pool. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review on iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

We are talking about F-words on the podcast, but not that one. Better ones. F-words that help us focus on the things our kids are, and the things our kids can do. These F-words are ones we can use to get doctors and therapists to see the whole picture of who our kids are now, and who they are becoming. F-words that lead to the good things in life. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review on iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

In this episode, I'm talking with Samantha Noyek, Claire Davies, and Nora Fayed about the importance of researching the obvious, the idea of quality of life as it relates to kids with significant disabilities, and building a dictionary of our kids unique communication styles. In Nora’s words: “We're talking about involving these children in the world when society has not even thought to even consider them.” Access the transcript and full show notes here, and Sam's research here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review on iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“Can we realize that even though we're loving our children, we can be doing them so much harm when we don't address those beliefs, those worldviews, and those expectations: the biases that we have?” La Shanda Sugg joins me on the podcast to unpack the relationships between trauma, bias, and othering and how this plays into all of our interactions with strangers, and with our own kids. This is a podcast you do not want to miss. Our relationships are key to healing from trauma and fostering resilience. This school year presents all kinds of challenges to social connections and relationships for our kids. But all is not lost. When we understand how we can create opportunities for relationships, support friendships, embed social opportunities into our kids' IEPs and have a few ideas to get us started, we can create and maintain a social connection even during COVID. For a free series on relationship building, go to goodthingsinlife.org/stayconnected. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“I very happily describe myself as a lifelong rebel because the system never had any room for me.” This week on the podcast, Jean-Luc Martel shares his experiences with a broken educational system. Even in programs designed for individuals with disabilities, Jean-Luc found that so often there was not an appropriate understanding of how lived experiences and vulnerabilities shaped how he and his peers encountered the system. Listen as Jean-Luc tells his story and reminds us to continually lend a critical eye to the way services are delivered. Our relationships are key to healing from trauma and fostering resilience. This school year presents all kinds of challenges to social connections and relationships for our kids. But all is not lost. When we understand how we can create opportunities for relationships, support friendships, embed social opportunities into our kids' IEPs and have a few ideas to get us started, we can create and maintain a social connection even during COVID. For a free series on relationship building, go to goodthingsinlife.org/stayconnected. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“It’s not the functional aspect of disability that prevents a good life. It’s the social isolation.” Sarah Buffie gets it, and on this podcast, she unpacks a lot of really great information about how to re-focus caregivers on what really matters to both prevent and to heal trauma. Hint: it’s not more services. Our relationships are key to healing from trauma and fostering resilience. This school year presents all kinds of challenges to social connections and relationships for our kids. But all is not lost. When we understand how we can create opportunities for relationships, support friendships, embed social opportunities into our kids' IEPs and have a few ideas to get us started, we can create and maintain a social connection even during COVID. For a free series on relationship building, go to goodthingsinlife.org/stayconnected. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Mary Vicario adapts current neuroscience into practical interventions for people who have experienced trauma, including people with developmental disabilities. Mary illustrates how our brains – and bodies – experience trauma and how real inclusion for people with disabilities can build resilience and begin to heal trauma. When we see people with disabilities excluded, it actually makes us feel unsafe too. Inclusion means connection with safe people, and it means that everyone feels safe together. And when we feel safe, we can learn. Here’s a great quote from Mary: “I never like to talk about trauma without talking about the resilience that the person used to survive the trauma, because hidden in that resilience, in those survival skills - which may not work in the current environment, but kept them alive somewhere else - is resilience. And if we can harness the resilience, we can help them take that resilience and create the life they want.” Our relationships are key to healing from trauma and fostering resilience. This school year presents all kinds of challenges to social connections and relationships for our kids. But all is not lost. When we understand how we can create opportunities for relationships, support friendships, embed social opportunities into our kids' IEPs and have a few ideas to get us started, we can create and maintain a social connection even during COVID. For a free series on relationship building, go to goodthingsinlife.org/stayconnected. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Could you make a list of every single thing you are capable of doing? Now cross off the things you hate. Someone on the list that you have left, is a way for you to make money on the internet. Don’t believe me?   Chantelle Turner is on the podcast this week to talk about how you can make money on the internet in ways you haven’t thought of yet - and yes, it’s legal! Chantelle is the founder of Stronger Mommy, a positive community for parents of children with special needs, and Not Yet Notable, a business focused on helping coaches and course creators grow engaged communities. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Have you noticed that being a parent means scheduling things in 25-minute chunks? There’s never more than that before something interrupts you! What if you could use some of those 25-minute chunks to make money for your family? Abbi Perets is on the podcast this week talking about exactly that. If the thought of a home-based business appeals to you, check out Amy Porterfield’s Course Creation Starter Kit & Abbi's Free Course or join Writing for Money. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

This week on the podcast, R&A Creative Co. CEO, Mia Francis-Poulin, and I talk about how her family life led her to make the bold jump from the corporate world to a home-based business that allows her to meet her kids (and her financial) needs.   If the thought of a home-based business appeals to you, check out Amy Porterfield’s Course Creation Starter Kit.   Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Marta Spirk, mother of triplets, joins me on the podcast to talk about how we can fill our cups so that we can remain well while caring for our kids, families, work and community. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“There's no shortage of people who need whatever it is that you have to offer.”   Families who care for kids with disabilities suffer from disproportionate financial insecurity due to extra costs and higher demands on schedules and energy. Add COVID to that mix, and we’re all worried about money. This week on the podcast, Meg Brunson talks about how to monetize skills you already have, how to move past worrying about what people might think, and how to jump in before (you think) you’re ready!   ULTIMATE COURSE CREATION STARTER KIT Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Dr. Temple Grandin speaks about the error of limiting the opportunities of children with disabilities and recommends a strengths and interests based approach to stretch their minds, build capacity, make friends and become contributing citizens. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

“It's a less dangerous assumption that a student isn't learning because we're not actually using the most effective strategies. And it's a very dangerous assumption that the reason a student isn't making progress is purely because of their intellectual disability.” Students with disabilities will experience two kinds of barriers to learning. One barrier is created by their disability. The other is created by people’s attitudes. Both kinds of barriers need to be addressed in order for kids to learn to their full potential. Erin Sheldon, MEd., teaches us about least dangerous assumptions, presumed competence and removing those barriers to learning so that kids can thrive. Access the transcript and full show notes here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

What’s the most important thing you want for your kids? Did you think about love and connection and then get worried that it will never happen the way you envision? In this podcast from October 2019, Dr. Julie Causton and I cover why placement matters, friendships, moving away from one-to-one educational assistants, and the long game of love and connection with students with difficult behaviours. The long game of love and connection sounds nice, doesn’t it? Nice, but not easy. You can read the full show notes and transcript here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Shelley Moore is blowing up special education. Don’t worry. She’s not a bomb threat. But she is pushing for an evolution of inclusive education that puts “special” in its place and focuses on a responsive education system that allows all kids to have their needs met. You can read the full show notes and transcript here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

I have been talking with a ton of parents since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools. Some of us have enjoyed the break from therapy appointments and from all the little demands that pull us away from time with our kids. Some of us have been well supported by their schools. But most of us experienced poor support, inappropriate support, inaccessible support or no support at all from our schools. After parents identify their child’s education priorities, MatchUs connects students with teachers that can help. Sophia Johansson and Emma Fialka-Feldman share the story of how their grassroots program has already helped 190 kids connect with teachers. The first step is identifying your priorities. This brand new, free masterclass can help. The Special Education Priorities Matrix will help you focus on what matters most without overwhelming your child, yourself or your school team. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.

Paula tells her family’s story of pursuing inclusion through segregated placements and unsupportive systems. We don’t live in a perfect world. Many parents will not be able to just register their children in an inclusive school no matter how passionate their convictions. While keeping their positive inclusive vision in front of mind, they may need to work with deeply flawed options, keep advocating and move forward in baby steps. Whether your child is in a segregated placement or an inclusive school, this upcoming free masterclass will help you set quality goals, reduce overwhelm, and include or exclude recommendations. Register here. You can read the full show notes and transcript here. If you are enjoying the Good Things in Life Podcast, I would so love it if you would rate and leave a review in iTunes. The more ratings and reviews the podcast gets, the more likely that others will see what Good Things in Life Podcast has to offer.