100 | Because You Showed Up: What 99 Episodes Taught Me About Strength and Story What I’ve Learned from 100 Episodes (And What’s Next) 🎉 Milestone Episode! 🎉 Welcome to the 100th episode of Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms ! In this very special episode, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the journey — from launching this podcast with zero experience to building a space that has reached listeners across more than 35 countries. Over the past two years, I've spent 5...
May 20, 2025•11 min•Season 5Ep. 100
99 | When Everyone Moves In: Creating Space Without Losing Yourself Welcome back to Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms! In this heartfelt and incredibly practical episode, Angela O’Brien sits down with Stephanie Deininger, professional organizer and host of Organize and Cherish , to talk about what happens when everyone moves in —kids becoming adults, aging parents needing support, and the sandwich generation moms trying to hold it all together. We talk about the emo...
May 13, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 99
98 | Keeping Your Digital Space Safe: Practical Tips for Special Needs Families Unlock the secrets to safeguarding your digital life with a return appearance by our special guest, Kate Huffnagel, as we tackle the ever-important topic of digital hygiene. Together, we navigate the complexities of maintaining secure digital spaces. We shed light on crucial security tips for families with special needs, focusing on financial protection against threats like wire transfer scams and identity theft. Lea...
May 06, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 98
97 | Skills For Life Series #7 - I Like Clean Butts and I Cannot Lie: Tips for Better Behinds Unlock the secrets to fostering independence in your child with special needs by mastering one of the most fundamental skills—effective bathroom hygiene. Join me as we tackle the art and science of teaching our kids to wipe. This isn't just about keeping things clean; it's about empowering our children, boosting their confidence, and promoting their health by preventing common health issues. With straig...
Apr 29, 2025•12 min•Season 5Ep. 97
96 | Skills For Life Series #6 - Nail Care for Our Loved Ones: Practical Tips for Parents and Caregivers Let's dive into this 6th episode in our Skills For Life Series and discover how establishing gentle and consistent nail care routines can empower your loved ones, boost their self-esteem, and provide you with peace of mind for the future. Inspired by real-life conversations and experiences, this episode delves into practical strategies for navigating sensory challenges and creating supportive...
Apr 22, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 96
95 | Skills For Life Series #5 - Dressing With Confidence: Practical Tips for Parents & Caregivers Discover the keys to fostering independence in personal hygiene for children with special needs, and unlock the potential for both you and your child to thrive. I explore practical solutions to overcome the challenges your child might face in dressing themselves, whether due to fine motor skills or physical limitations. As a mom to an adult daughter with Down syndrome, I share insights from my ...
Apr 15, 2025•15 min•Season 5Ep. 95
94 | Skills for Life Series #4 - Essential Bathing Skills: Practical Tips for Parents and Caregivers Unlock the secrets to nurturing independence in your child’s hygiene routine on this week’s episode of Especially Organized Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms. Join me as we navigate the often-challenging path of teaching children with intellectual disabilities to shower or bathe independently. You’ll discover practical strategies to transform the bathroom into a safe and inviting space wh...
Apr 08, 2025•14 min•Season 5Ep. 94
93 | Skills for Life Series #3 - Practical Strategies in Better Oral Hygiene for Our Disabled Kids Unlock the secrets to empowering your child with intellectual and developmental disabilities by fostering independence in dental care. Join me, Angela, a seasoned advocate and parent of a daughter with Down syndrome, as we uncover practical strategies to integrate essential oral hygiene into your child's daily life. Learn how to transform toothbrushing from a dreaded chore into a confidence-boostin...
Apr 01, 2025•14 min•Season 5Ep. 93
92 | Skills For Life Series #2 - Teaching Our Disabled Kids Face and Hand Washing Transform the way you approach personal hygiene education for children with special needs by uncovering practical techniques to conquer sensory challenges. In this episode, I share actionable strategies to help your child master face and hand washing, ensuring they embrace independence and showcase their best selves to the world. I discuss breaking down hygiene tasks into manageable steps, focusing on the importanc...
Mar 25, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 92
91 | Skills For Life Series #1 -- Hair Care for Our Disabled Kids and Adults Empower your child with greater personal hygiene independence, while easing your own caregiving journey. Join me as I share valuable insights and practical strategies drawn from a variety of parent experiences as well as tips from occupational therapist Shannon Anderson. as I tackle the often-overlooked challenges of personal hygiene for children with special needs, particularly as they transition into adulthood. From h...
Mar 18, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 90
90 | Reimagining the Good Life with Kids with Disabilities When Amy Julia Becker's daughter, Penny, was diagnosed with Down syndrome, the family's vision of the future shifted dramatically. What they discovered was not a life of limitations but a new perspective on fulfillment and connection. Our conversation explores her framework for how redefining disability can transform it from a perceived burden into a natural part of life, emphasizing joy, love, and community support. Amy Julia shares how...
Mar 11, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 88
89 | Sending Kids with Down Syndrome to College with Ruby's Rainbow Today, we are talking about an amazing organization that has become near and dear to my heart! My friend, Liz Plachta takes center stage to share her remarkable journey as the co-founder and executive director of Ruby's Rainbow, which raises money and provides scholarships to individuals with Down syndrome who are pursuing their higher education goals. When my daughter was born in 2003, I would never have imagined that she and/o...
Mar 04, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 89
88 | Talking About Death with our Intellectually Disabled Kids When my daughter with Down syndrome lost a sweet friend at the young age of 12, I found myself facing the daunting task of explaining death in a way she could understand. This journey led me to discover not only the challenges but the deep importance of having these conversations with children, especially those with intellectual disabilities. Through this episode, I share heartfelt stories and practical insights from these experience...
Feb 25, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 88
87 | Being Mindful in the Kitchen: Reduce Food Waste and Foster Connection We are in the kitchen this week, talking with Janet Irizarry, a distinguished voice in the restaurant and hospitality world, as she brings her extensive expertise to the table. Janet shares her innovative approach to reducing food waste through My Mindful Kitchen. Janet's passion for fostering mindful eating habits provides a unique lens through which we explore the significant impact of household food waste on climate ch...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min
86 | Fostering Empathy with "To Be Like Me" I share the microphone today with two leaders in the effort to offer understanding, empathy and compassion toward individuals with disabilities. They represent an organization called, To Be Like Me, providing disability awareness education to shape our future leaders with greater empathy, compassion and understanding. Hollis Owens and Jaime Bolton share their organization's mission to orchestrate a community where advocacy meets education through authe...
Feb 11, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 86
85 | Getting Organized When You Have ADHD Joining me on the pod this week is my new friend, Megs Crawford, a fellow organizer who turned her ADHD diagnosis into a powerful tool for helping others. Megs shares her inspiring transition from the corporate world to a fulfilling career in organizing, bringing her creativity and project management skills to aid those juggling ADHD. We talk about the differences between her brain and mine when it comes to how we approach clutter and why different appro...
Feb 04, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 85
84 | Inclusion vs. Belonging for the Disabled: What's The Difference? My Conversation with Heather Avis of The Lucky Few Join me for a heartfelt conversation with Heather Avis, a New York Times bestselling author and advocate, where we discuss the essence of creating spaces where children with disabilities are cherished for their individuality rather than forced to conform. Heather and I share candid reflections on the pressures and decisions involved in choosing the right educational paths for ...
Jan 28, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 83
83 | Do YOU Need A Refill? How To Fill Your Cup With Simple Self Care Solutions Jenny McGlothern, the visionary behind "Mama Needs a Refill," graces the podcast with her wisdom and warmth, offering a lifeline to special needs parents seeking balance in their hectic lives. Jenny shares how nurturing oneself isn't just beneficial—it's essential for being the rock our children need. As we step into 2025, these conversations promise to fill your cup with hope and actionable insights. Imagine transfo...
Jan 21, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 83
82 | Organizing Your Photos I am thrilled to welcome Cathi Nelson, the visionary CEO and founder of the Photo Managers. Her journey from a passionate scrapbooking enthusiast to a pioneering professional photo manager highlights the evolution of photography from film to digital and the growing need for effective strategies to manage our ever-expanding photo libraries. Cathi shares her five-step process to tackle photo organization, offering practical solutions specifically tailored for busy moms,...
Jan 14, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 82
81 | Life Hacks I'm Bringing Into 2025 Welcome to Season 5 in 2025! Let me help you unlock the secrets to managing a bustling household with my top life hacks designed especially for us busy special needs moms! As we kick off season five of Especially Organized, join me, Angela, as we explore creative strategies to usher in a more organized and serene home environment. Excited to step into 2025 with renewed routines, I discuss the concept of a "power clean" — a powerful yet quick cleaning method...
Jan 07, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 81
80 | Preparing For The Holidays With Special Needs Kids (Replay) Join me this week as we explore how to navigate the holiday season with special needs children. Let's get prepared to create a calming and inviting environment, making sure your kids have a joyful and stress-free holiday, and that you can take care of yourself during this bustling time of the year. From setting up a guest room to managing sensory overload, this episode provides practical advice for a memorable holiday season. I’ll ...
Dec 10, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 80
79 | How To Have Clutter-Free Christmas: A Gift-Giving Guide Angela here, ready to help transform your holiday season from overwhelming to joyful. Picture this: a Christmas morning without the clutter, where the focus is on the laughter shared and the traditions cherished. As a mom of a special needs child, I've had my share of stressful holidays, but over time I’ve discovered strategies that truly make a difference. Engage with me as I share insights on how to keep the spirit of the season aliv...
Dec 03, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 79
78 | Dear Me: A Letter To The Mom I Once Was Before My Daughter Was Born With Down Syndrome When I first held my daughter Casey Jane after her Down syndrome diagnosis 21 years ago, life seemed like uncharted territory filled with uncertainties, fear, and grief. Yet, over the years, this journey has become a profound story of love, growth, and the discovery of a resilient community. In this episode, I share a letter I wrote to my past self, an exercise I did with other Lucky Mamas at a recent ret...
Nov 26, 2024•13 min•Season 4Ep. 78
BONUS Enneagram 7 Tip of the Week: Especially Enneagram Series In addition to my weekly episodes highlighting each of the Enneagram personalities as they relate to special needs parenting, I am offering some BONUS content each week that highlights one suggestion, tip, hack or source of encouragement for each Enneagram type. Follow along each Thursday for the next few weeks and see how using the lens of the Enneagram might help you reclaim what you need in this season. ------- Hey! Are you a pare...
Nov 21, 2024•9 min
77 | Especially Enneagram Series: Special Needs Parenting as an Enneagram 7 It is time for our final episode in this series. We are talking about Enneagram 7s, The Enthusiasts Dr. Tom LaHue is a graduate of Johnson Univ, FL. He holds 3 Master's Degrees, including an MDiv from Liberty Univ. His Doctoral degree is from Grace College and Seminary. He is also a certified Marriage Coach. He and his wife Traci have been married since 1991. They are the proud parents of 5 children and 3 grandchildren. ...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 77
BONUS Enneagram 6 Tip of the Week: Especially Enneagram Series In addition to my weekly episodes highlighting each of the Enneagram personalities as they relate to special needs parenting, I am offering some BONUS content each week that highlights one suggestion, tip, hack or source of encouragement for each Enneagram type. Follow along each Thursday for the next few weeks and see how using the lens of the Enneagram might help you reclaim what you need in this season. ------- Hey! Are you a pare...
Nov 14, 2024•8 min
76 | Especially Enneagram Series: Special Needs Parenting as an Enneagram 6 We are continuing on with our Especially Enneagram Series with Enneagram 6, the Loyalist! Navigating the maze of parenting with a special needs child can feel overwhelming, but understanding your Enneagram type can be a beacon of clarity. Join us as Sabrina Thurston, a dedicated special education teacher and Enneagram 6, opens up about her personal experiences raising her nine-year-old son with a speech articulation diso...
Nov 12, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 76
BONUS Enneagram 5 Tip of the Week: Especially Enneagram Series In addition to my weekly episodes highlighting each of the Enneagram personalities as they relate to special needs parenting, I am offering some BONUS content each week that highlights one suggestion, tip, hack or source of encouragement for each Enneagram type. Follow along each Thursday for the next few weeks and see how using the lens of the Enneagram might help you reclaim what you need in this season. ------- Hey! Are you a pare...
Nov 07, 2024•7 min
75 | Especially Enneagram Series: Special Needs Parenting as an Enneagram 5 We are continuing on with our Especially Enneagram Series and moving to the Head (or Fear) Triad with Enneagram 5 special needs parents. While I don't have an interview to share with a specific Enneagram 5 special needs parent, I do have some information from the several that I interviewed which has allowed me to take you inside the minds of Type 5s, the Observers, or Investigators, as they manage the complexities of rai...
Nov 05, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 75
BONUS Enneagram 4 Tip of the Week: Especially Enneagram Series In addition to my weekly episodes highlighting each of the Enneagram personalities as they relate to special needs parenting, I am offering some BONUS content each week that highlights one suggestion, tip, hack or source of encouragement for each Enneagram type. Follow along each Thursday for the next few weeks and see how using the lens of the Enneagram might help you reclaim what you need in this season. ------- Hey! Are you a pare...
Oct 31, 2024•6 min
