Changes require new ideas and ways of thinking. When considering literacy instruction and the teams responsible, where is the path of least resistance? This episode is a brainstorming session yielding ideas such as whole team vs segmented IEP writing, how to spearhead a comprehensive literacy movement in your school, and how Covid may have introduced models of instruction that bring more consistency to each child’s team. About the Guest: Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP Joining us is Christopher...
May 11, 2021•45 min•Season 5Ep. 141
Many educators are required by their district to use prepackaged curriculum sets. While these sets are very user friendly, they often do not follow a comprehensive literacy approach to learning and assume reading level equates thinking level. As a result, many learners are either left behind or lack access to age appropriate materials and cognitive concepts. About the Guest: Don Johnston, M.S. Don didn’t read his first book until the 9th grade after he was inspired by a very special teacher. He ...
May 04, 2021•51 min•Season 5Ep. 140
Comprehensive literacy instruction at the emergent stage includes shared reading, predictable chart writing, alphabet and phonological awareness, writing, and self directed reading. Comprehensive literacy instruction at the conventional stage includes reading comprehension, word study, writing, and self directed reading. This episode gives a fly on the wall look at how to put all of these aspects together to support literacy instruction should you have your learner for the entire day, or only at...
Apr 27, 2021•55 min•Season 5Ep. 139
Is there a part of you doubting literacy is truly possible for ALL learners regardless of degree of disability? Or, perhaps you are on the other side of the ring trying to convince others that lacking the ability to see, or move extremities, or speak does not exclude literacy possibilities. This conversation addresses common belief barriers and removes them with a new vision from an educator who has experienced the truth that literacy is truly possible for ALL. About the Guest: Dr. Caroline Muss...
Apr 20, 2021•49 min•Season 5Ep. 138
Given the right accommodations everyone is capable of reading and writing, even those with the most significant physical disabilities. This is the first of 3 episodes tucked into our 15 episode literacy series that will focus specifically on learners with physical disabilities. Here, we learn of several tools that make literacy instruction accessible and how to choose the best accommodations. About the Guest: Gretchen Hanser, PhD Dr. Hanser has worked in the field of assistive technology and lit...
Apr 13, 2021•54 min•Season 5Ep. 137
It is important for learners with disabilities to have ample time in emergent reading and writing skills so as to build a solid platform for conventional literacy strategies. How do you know when that platform is ready to support more complex literacy instruction? This episode answers that question and lays out the areas to focus on when teaching conventional reading strategies, specifically for learners with disabilities. About the Guest: Dr. Sally Clendon Sally Clendon, PhD is a speech-languag...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 136
Learners move through 14 stages of writing as they progress. This episode focuses on the earlier stages of writing and how we can best support learners with disabilities in moving through each while avoiding common mistakes. About the Guest: Jane Farrall Jane Farrall is a speech pathologist and special educator passionate about literacy, AAC and assistive technology. After 30 years in the disability and assistive technology field, she has lots of practical experience working with people with a r...
Mar 30, 2021•40 min•Season 5Ep. 135
Often learners with disabilities are not provided ample opportunities for emergent literacy skills to solidify. This episode presents 4 questions to identify if our learner needs more time with emergent literacy strategies and several practical applications to build emergent reading skills. About the Guest Sofia Benson-Goldberg PhD, CC-SLP works as a research assistant at the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies. Prior to starting her PhD studies, Sofia had her dream clinical job working, ...
Mar 23, 2021•55 min•Season 5Ep. 134
Literacy instruction has historically used mostly verbal strategies so when learners are non speaking how is literacy supposed to be taught? This episode addresses a common literacy instruction mistake used on learners utilizing speech generating devices. About the Guest: Tina Moreno, M.A. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Kent State University and attained her Master'...
Mar 16, 2021•41 min•Season 5Ep. 133
The tide is beginning to shift regarding how literacy is approached for students with disabilities, specifically those with complex communication needs. The first step is exploring what we believe to be true about students with disabilities. What are the dangers in assuming literacy is not possible? On the flip side, is assuming competence too simplistic? We will discuss these ideas as well as why access to the entire alphabet is needed, the gateway social media offers, and allowing the necessar...
Mar 09, 2021•42 min•Season 5Ep. 132
The next 12 episodes will focus on what is being discovered regarding literacy instruction for ALL students with disabilities. This first part of this introductory episode explains how to get the most out of the upcoming episodes in this literacy series. The second half of the episode retells the history of Miranda’s literacy instruction and why it has become a priority despite her age. We recommend purchasing a copy of the book Comprehensive Literacy for All by Karen Erickson and David Koppenha...
Mar 02, 2021•29 min•Season 5Ep. 131
Turning 18 is big milestone for all teens. When the teenager requires significant support needs due to disabilities there are additional considerations and things that must be done ahead of time to ensure the person with disabilities is protected and with wanted support services. In this episode we get a to do list and a pep talk to accompany the streamers and balloons. About the Guest Trudy Marsh Grable is a long-time advocate in the field of disability issues, family support, and services. Tru...
Feb 02, 2021•43 min•Season 5Ep. 130
We have set a deadline for Miranda to be independent of us, her parents in 5 years, at the age of 22. While she will always require significant care and continual supervision, we have a multi step plan to phase those supports to others while at the same time honoring her life as a young adult. In this episode Tom joins the conversation to share what we will be doing 5 years out, 4 years out, 3 years out, etc to eventually arrive at this big milestone. Mentioned in this episode: Guidelight Group ...
Jan 26, 2021•49 min•Season 5Ep. 129
We are deviating from our typical format of deep diving with expert guests into a topic for a 12 episode series. Rather, we are spending 3 episodes to share 3 things (we hope) that will be happening for Miranda this year. In this episode we discuss our hope that she will return to school. The last two years have been a mix of public school, homeschool, NPS heartbreak, and Covid. In this episode Kim shares the roller coaster they can't seem to exit. The ride has offered deep disappointments and s...
Jan 19, 2021•43 min•Season 5Ep. 128
2021 Is looking like it might be a big year. In this episode Kim shares three big things on the horizon for Miranda. Find Kim on Instagram as Journey2Lomah
Jan 12, 2021•13 min•Season 5Ep. 127
Kim picked 5 episodes that have had the greatest influence on her approach to disability and future plans. Listen to this republished episode from season 2 where a new friendship was formed that has continued to present day. While not the topic of this episode, the conversation opened Kim’s eyes to a gaping hole in her circle of friends. **Special Note** The next series will begin late January or early February of 2021. To ensure these episodes find their way to you, tap subscribe on your podcas...
Nov 17, 2020•41 min
This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes. The 4th is a republished episode from Season 2 and is without question a unicorn in the line up of over 125 shows. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation of providing dense information and episodes so packed with resources that many listen to episodes more than once, and often take notes. This republished episode from season 2 is different and yet is Kim’s favorite interview that she has ever done. It was randomly tucked into the techno...
Nov 10, 2020•38 min
This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes that have had the greatest influence on Kim's approach to disability and future plans. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation over 4 seasons, 4 years and 125 episodes of being a resource with high caliber guests providing dense information. Kim learns from the expert guests right alongside listeners. About this episode: If you, in any way, have an interest in creating lives of value, choice, and dignity for those with disabilities please...
Nov 03, 2020•42 min
This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes that were game changers for Kim, Miranda, and the family. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation over 4 seasons, 4 years and 125 episodes of being a resource with high caliber guests providing dense information. Kim learns from the expert guests right alongside listeners. Kim picked 5 episodes that have had the greatest influence on her approach to disability and future plans. What Kim learned from the guest in this previously published ...
Oct 27, 2020•37 min
This mini series revisits 5 previous published episodes that were game changers for Kim. The LOMAH Podcast has earned a reputation over 4 seasons and 125 episodes of being a resource with high caliber guests providing dense information. Kim learns from the expert guests right alongside listeners. Kim picked 5 episodes that have had the greatest influence on her approach to disability and future plans. If you follow Kim on instagram at journey2lomah you have seen several times in IG Stories how t...
Oct 20, 2020•32 min
The LOMAH Podcast publishes 10 - 12 episodes with expert guests on a single topic creating an in depth topical series. This final episode in the Complicated Behaviors Series provides a quick overview and guest clips from each interview as well as what is coming next. Episodes in the Complicated Behavior Series Included: Episode 115 - Moving From What to Why Episode 116 - Touching of Self and Others Episode 117 - Vocal and Verbal Stimming Episode 118 - Motivation and Masking on the Spectrum Episo...
Oct 13, 2020•28 min•Season 4Ep. 126
Many diagnosed with autism are eager to come alongside parents to offer support and insight on how our children may be processing the world. In this episode we gain unique perspective from an autistic woman who is also a parent with autistic children. This final episode in our challenging behaviors series finds us coming full circle to the first episode which was about the importance of placing more focus on why a behavior happens over what the behavior is. *Note regarding language - The actuall...
Oct 06, 2020•50 min•Season 4Ep. 125
Medicine can be effective in the treatment of emotional and behavioral challenges but finding the right agent and especially the right dose can be tricky and time consuming. This episode covers: Determining factors indicating it’s time to consider medication as a treatment tool How to tell the medicine working Why it takes so long to find the right fit The need for markers, tests, or predictors to help choose a pharmaceutical route What to expect when starting a medicine Comparison of drug class...
Sep 29, 2020•55 min•Season 4Ep. 124
Recognizing that a new diagnosis or co occurring condition exists in addition to an already existing autism diagnosis can be tricky. Our guest is one of few doctors in the country specializing in identifying and treating cooccurring conditions in autistic patients. She shares insight on identifying and treating cooccruing conditions as well as advice for parents should things escalate to a crisis situation. About the Guest: Dr. Robin Gabriels, Psy.D . is a licensed clinical psychologist and Prof...
Sep 22, 2020•41 min•Season 4Ep. 123
Scatolia and coprophagia, also known as fecal smearing and fecal ingesting are among the least researched areas within the circle of complicated behaviors. Our expert guest shares reasons and solutions for this often unspoken and isolating behavior. About the Guest: Kate Reynolds worked for the UK’s NHS for 18 years, seven of which were in HIV/AIDS during the 1990s in and around London. She worked as a senior nurse, trained counsellor and trainer. Both of Kate’s children were on the autism spect...
Sep 15, 2020•43 min•Season 4Ep. 122
Disability advocates have made great strides in recent years with headway in inclusion efforts and employment equality. While one segment of the disability community continues the hard work of bringing about needed change and celebrate victories along the way, there is another segment with more significant and debilitating disabilities being agressively silenced. Because policy and research are driven by awarenesses, the silencing of this segment of the disability community has come at the great...
Sep 08, 2020•44 min•Season 4Ep. 121
A family was in crisis. Windows were getting kicked out of moving vehicles. Injuries were mounting on both parent and child. There were dislocated shoulders, eye damage from head butts, and teeth being knocked out from head banging. All experts said treatment was needed ASAP. The problem? There was no where to go. About the Guest Vance & Kristy Goforth live in East Tennessee with their five children Joshua, Reagan, Emma, Camden and Anna Claire. A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Ch...
Sep 01, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 4Ep. 120
It is with sadness we learned Camp Krem fell victim to the California wildfires this week. For over 60 years Camp Krem celebrated the disability community and it was atop the mountainside camp many came to discover who they were and what they could become. Today we pause our current series to share and remember what Camp Krem has meant to our family and republish episode 05 where Alex Krem Jr. expresses the ways he has seen campers change and grow. We also learn the legacy behind the 60 plus yea...
Aug 25, 2020•40 min
Hyperphagia is a common characteristic of Prader-Willi Syndrome and is an extreme, unsatisfied, drive to consume food to the point of being life threatening. This episode discusses the best ways to provide food security for those with hyperphagia such as what to put in the IEP, navigating social gatherings, food schedules, and tips for storing food. About the Guest Jessica Patay is a mother, wife, and advocate/cheerleader for Special Needs Mothers. She has been married to her husband, Chris, for...
Aug 18, 2020•49 min•Season 4Ep. 119
Being autistic can be really hard. Especially when societal norms are working against nuerodiverse acceptance and the common traits associated with autism. This episode looks at how to move beyond the stigma of masking, negativity, obsessions and motivation to use them as advocacy tools for a more neurodiverse culture. For this episode Kim collected questions from the @journey2lomah instagram community and presented them to Rose Reif, LCMHC, CRC, BC-TMH. Rose Reif is a Licensed Clinical Mental H...
Aug 11, 2020•48 min•Season 4Ep. 118
