Transition planning begins during the teen years and becomes part of the IEP between the ages of 14 - 16. Does the process work? Are we focusing on the right areas? Mary Susan McConnell, Ed.D, shares results and implications of her research which aimed to answer 3 key questions: 1) Actual Post Secondary IDEA Outcomes 2) Identifying the Most Significant Challenges Upon Leaving the System 3) Parental Input on the Effectiveness of Transition Teams and Suggestions for Improvement Find Mary Susan on ...
Sep 17, 2019•54 min•Season 3Ep. 87
Transition planning sets the stage to get students where they want to be upon aging out of the school system. Depending on the state, transition planning becomes a part of the IEP by the age of 14 or 16. Some school districts take the transition planning process and knock it out of the ballpark. Some school districts barely meet minimum requirements. Regardless of your situation, the more you know, the better you can prepare and advocate for a successful transition into adulthood. The transition...
Sep 09, 2019•20 min•Season 3Ep. 86
The health series included 3 episodes focusing on caregivers and 9 episodes focusing on individuals with special needs. What did you miss? What’s coming next? *Journey with LOMAH over on instagram @journey2lomah Episodes in the Health Series: #74 - Caregiver Emotional & Mental Health #75 - Obesity in the Disability Community #76 - Caregiver Physical Health #77 - Your Body Your Boundaries #78 - Dignity and Hygiene #79 - Better Medical Visits for Patients with Special Needs #80 - Winning Insur...
Aug 02, 2019•34 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Many women and teens use hormones to manipulate their menstrual cycle and so it makes sense this can also be an option for women with disabilities. What ethical considerations come into play and what options are available? What about the pelvic exam? Is it a recommended procedure for this population? How can it be performed with the utmost dignity for patients with differing abilities? The first part of the show will cover reasons for menstrual manipulation and the ethics of making that choice. ...
Jul 30, 2019•48 min•Season 3Ep. 84
Cannabis has been used as a medical treatment since ancient times yet still has an attached stigma. Laws are inconsistent from state to state and regulatory gaps with distribution and use exist. How do we responsibly approach this agent as a medical option? Joining us for the discussion is Dr. David Traver. Dr. Traver is a board certified pediatrician by The American Board of Pediatrics and an award winning Fellow of The American Academy of Pediatrics. He believes strongly in practicing as a mem...
Jul 23, 2019•40 min•Season 3Ep. 83
There are over 52 million people with disabilities in the U.S. and only 10 percent of dental professionals are prepared to treat them. What is being done about this and is there anything care providers can be doing to better support dental health? Guest Kyle Guerin is the Executive Director of the Pacific Dental Services Foundation . The Pacific Dental Services Foundation improves oral healthcare to four distinct underserved populations, one of which is patients with special needs. They are lead...
Jul 16, 2019•45 min•Season 3Ep. 82
When our faith and beliefs about God take a hit, how should we respond? Our guest, Diane Dokko Kim is a disability ministry consultant, national speaker, and author of Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special-Needs Parent . As the mother of children with multiple disabilities including autism and ADHD, her two-fold passions include encouraging families, and equipping local churches into becoming inclusive faith communities. You host, Kim, has read Diane's book three times and her copy ...
Jul 05, 2019•47 min•Season 3Ep. 81
When you enter the world of differing abilities you also enter the not so pleasant world of insurance. What are the tips and tricks to ease the pain of this experience and most importantly, get your claim approved? This episode is one you will want to tag, earmark, and save to revisit again and again. It may require more than one listen to absorb all that you are getting ready to learn about the mystifying and often frustrating world of health insurance. To demystify the world of denied insuranc...
Jul 02, 2019•43 min•Season 3Ep. 80
Patients with disabilities are often misdiagnosed and sent for diagnostic tests that can not be preformed. Operation House Call is a program that trains the medical field to better treat patients with disabilities. Operation House Call is part of the curriculum at the Yale School of Nursing, Boston University Medical School, UMass Medical School, Tufts University, and Simmons University. As of May, 2019 Operation House Call is available nationally for medical programs wishing to offer the curric...
Jun 10, 2019•44 min•Season 3Ep. 79
Many individuals with disabilities are dependent on caregivers to present them to society with the dignity they deserve. Some hygiene and care will require creativity, persistence, and continual reminders it matters and our loved one is worth it. Geege Tayor is widely known in the autism community as a mother who places high standards on the way her son is presented to the world. Geege goes the mile as her son’s dignity surrogate and has several hygiene tips and tricks she has refined over the l...
Jun 10, 2019•43 min•Season 3Ep. 78
Individuals with disabilities are 7 times more likely to be victims of sexual assault, yet they typically are not taught about their bodies nor boundaries for themselves and others. How can we begin these much needed conversations? To help us navigate this space is Katie Thune. Katie is an educator, author, and advocate for people with disabilities. She has her Teaching License in Health Education, and Special Education K – 12, as well as her MA in Education and worked as a teacher for Saint Pau...
Jun 10, 2019•46 min•Season 3Ep. 77
As caregivers, we want to be there for our loved ones and we want to be there for many years. Caregiver health is much more important and complicated both physically and emotionally than for the general population. How should we be approaching this important aspect of our role? Today’s guest, Betsy McNally Laouar not only trains gold medal olympians but is also an autism mom and has been Kim’s personal trainer for over a decade. In this episode Betsy and Kim talk about their complicated journeys...
Jun 04, 2019•47 min•Season 3Ep. 76
Maintaining healthy fitness levels is challenging enough for the general population and can be even more complicated for those with disabilities. What can we do about some of the common barriers so our loved one with special needs is on a path toward health? To talk to us about fitness in the special needs community is Ryan Lockard, founder and CEO of Specialty Athletic Training. Since its launch in 2012 Specialty Athletic Training has exclusively trained individuals with special needs. Ryan is ...
May 28, 2019•45 min•Season 3Ep. 75
We know caregiver self care is important but we don’t do it. Why? What is the missing link between knowing what we should be doing and actually doing it? Rose Reif is the owner of Reif Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Qualified Developmental Disability and Mental Health Professional. She is also Board Certified in providing Telemental Health. Her clients are teens and adults with disabilities and caregivers. In t...
May 20, 2019•55 min•Season 3Ep. 74
The advocacy series ran January 2019 - April 2019. This episode includes a recap and a 60-90 second clip from each episode in the series and 2 things that have changed in the way Kim approaches advocacy as a result of her time speaking with the guests. Season 3 and a new series will begin mid May 2019 so make sure you have tapped subscribe to ensure these episodes find their way to you once published. Thank you, guests and listeners, for an amazing Season 2! You can find us on Instagram as journ...
Apr 09, 2019•29 min•Season 2Ep. 73
What is your advocacy style? Some of us are outspoken and confident while others of us are timid and slow to react. Often advocacy comes with images of anger and confrontation but what if that is not the way we are wired? Can we still be strong advocates? Michelle Sullivan discusses her advocacy style and journey. There was a time Michelle did not believe her voice had any power but now she is a leader in the disability community bringing change and also empowering others to do the same, all whi...
Apr 02, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 72
Laura Hatcher is on the leadership team of The Little Lobbyist . The Little Lobbyists are families of children with complex medical needs and disabilities who seek to educate legislators about our community by showing up in-person with our children (and their trachs, ventilators, oxygen tanks, feeding tubes, wheelchairs, all the stuff) so they can see first-hand who is impacted by laws and programs. Most importantly, they want legislatures to see our kids are just KIDS; who go to school, love to...
Mar 26, 2019•39 min•Season 2Ep. 71
How can we best come alongside individuals with differing abilities? Are we unknowingly offensive or even oppressive? Angela West, self advocate, tells us. Angela is a woman in her 30’s with cerebral palsy. She holds a masters degree, was a Senate Health Education Labor and pensions committee intern, studied at Virginia Partners in Policymaking, and is a former therapeutic recreation activity leader. Using an augmentative communication device as well as her own voice with an interpreter, Angela ...
Mar 19, 2019•41 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Self determination is the process by which one controls his or her own life. Most would agree it is important but does that mean we know how make it a reality for all individuals with disabilities, especially those with complex communication needs? Karrie Shogren, Ph.D. is a professor at Kansas University in the Department of Special Education, a Senior Scientist in the Life Span Institute, and Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. Her research focuses on self-d...
Mar 12, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Changing Spaces is an advocacy movement bringing adult sized changing tables to public bathrooms. When in need of diapering, individuals with disabilities must either be changed on the floor of a public restroom or return home. In this episode, Christina Abernethy, coordinator of Changing Spaces Pennsylvania, discusses why the need for adult sized changing tables goes beyond hygiene and dignity but also is an inclusion movement. She shares how you, too, can participate in bringing adult sized ch...
Mar 05, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Ashley Kim is the director and national coordinator of the advocacy coalition Together for Choice. Together for Choice is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to unite, to protect, and advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and thrive in a community or setting of their choice. The conversation covers the complexity of the issues surrounding new HCBS waiver rulings and also the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is a must listen to conversa...
Feb 26, 2019•42 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Individuals with disabilities are 7x more likely to be the victim of sexual assault. After learning of her sister’s abuse our guest, Julie Newart, began an advocacy organization called Natalie’s Voice . Mission Natalie’s Voice is a family-driven sexual assault prevention advocacy organization aiming to: Raise awareness that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are highly vulnerable to sexual assault. Empower caregivers with effective planning tools. Build a community ar...
Feb 19, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Individuals with differing abilities have much to contribute and our communities are lacking without their presence and influence. This is true in faith based settings as well. Sandra Peoples is a leading voice and encourager in the special needs community via her online groups, 3 published books , a long running blog. and as a contributor and editor at Key Ministry . Listen in to this conversation as Sandra and I chat about how important it is for individuals with disabilities to be seen and un...
Feb 10, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Moving away from segregated and toward an inclusive school environment often is met with resistance or even a lack of self awareness. How can parents, educators, therapists, admins, and those wishing to make changes effectively bring to light areas in need of consideration and also come against resistance to change? The conversation with Dr. Causton continues in part 2 of Inclusive Education. In part 1 we discussed stages schools move through on the journey to inclusive schooling and also common...
Feb 04, 2019•39 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Moving from segregated to inclusive school settings is often met with resistance. Does the resistance hold merit and how can educators, students, and parents come against it? What stages do schools pass through when moving toward more inclusive settings? Dr. Julie Causton, founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling joins us for a two part episode. Dr. Causton was a Professor in the Inclusive and Special Education Program in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University for the pas...
Jan 29, 2019•38 min•Season 2Ep. 63
The conversation continues with Micaela Connery, CEO, and founder of The Kelsey which is a mixed ability/mixed income housing model and social change organization for individuals with and without disabilities. Part 2 of the interview begins with a conversation about bringing self advocates and other stakeholders to the same table when creating housing solutions. The last half of the conversation begins when Kim poses the question "Does advocating for inclusive models mean advocating against inte...
Jan 22, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Micaela Connery is the founder and CEO of a new inclusionary housing development called The Kelsey which is focused on creating an environment of mixed ability and mixed income. The Kelsey aims to be more than a housing development, they aim to be a social change organization expanding inclusion possibilities for individuals with disabilities. Part 1 of the interview focuses on the logistics of creating The Kelsey and why it is a desirable, yet never before created, model of housing. We are intr...
Jan 13, 2019•39 min•Season 2Ep. 61
What information will you find on the LOMAH Special Needs Podcast and who is on the other side of your speakers? This quick episode answers these questions. Show notes with helpful links of each episode can be found on the LOMAH website under the Podcast tab.
Jan 07, 2019•16 min•Season 2Ep. 60
In this episode, Kim shares what she learned and is implementing from guests in the technology series. Along with these lessons are clips from each guest so listeners have a quick reference to find episodes of interest. Additional episode detail from the series and links can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/59 Episodes in the tech series: #48 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication #49 & #50 - Person Centered AAC #52 - Curated and Reviewed Apps #53 - Is Technology the Caregi...
Nov 27, 2018•39 min•Season 2Ep. 59
Reasonably priced and easily accessible technology marketed toward able bodied individuals also has the alternative perk of bringing independence and improving quality of life for those with disabilities. Venkat Rao of The Assistive Tech Blog shares several examples in this episode as well as his favorite products just entering the market Links to mentioned content can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/58 Related Episodes: #56: Accessible Educational Materials w/ Luis Perez #53: Is Tech...
Nov 20, 2018•40 min•Season 2Ep. 58
