In this vibrant and fun interview with Co-Director of The Coleman Institue for People with Cognitive Disabilities, Shea Tanis, Mikelle and Katherine peer into the future of support services for people with disabilities with Shea. Eerily predictive, we discuss how technology becomes far more important for people with disabilities than it has ever been before.
May 27, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 48
The world is regrouping and recovering, but a grocery worker at our local store passed away from COVID-19 and eleven others have tested positive. We are not jumping back into the community and are for the most part staying safer at home. Technology continues to be our connection to Gretchen and others. In this episode, Katherine shares how the ladies are getting creative with Zoom making it more meaningful for Mikelle. Check out their Zoom recorded technology calls on YouTube ....
May 19, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 47
We meet some interesting people. Corey Davis served in the Navy and is currently in film school here in Denver. He met Mikelle through his girlfriend, Monique, who works for Mikelle. Amazed by her story, Corey has decided to document Mikelle's story and her use of technology for his film project. Here is a short interview on why he chose to work with Mikelle.
Apr 28, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Yes, we have moved from social distancing to social isolation. Like you, we are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. A quick update and intro into some concrete tools you can try to make life more meaningful for you and those who you support remotely or in the home as families take it all on!
Apr 18, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Let's have coffee and chat. How are you doing? We are in week 4 of social distancing and lockdown. Looks like we have a few more weeks of this new reality. In this short episode, Katherine shares how she and Mikelle are working through the lack of social connection and self-care. It is nice to know we are not alone.
Apr 06, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 27
The voices and experiences of people with disabilities and their families need to be heard during this COVID-19 crisis. Our guest this episode is our friend, Win Charles from Aspen, Colorado. Aspen was the first Colorado community for the virus outbreak in Colorado. Win shares her worries, her challenges, and experiences in self-isolation.
Mar 26, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Time for a new normal? How do we building community when we can't get out in our communities? Like you, we are figuring this out at the Shining Beautiful household. We are bringing the team together to come up with a game plan for keeping life fun, engaging and how to amp up both low and high tech solutions. Give us a listen. You are not alone.
Mar 16, 2020•21 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Recently, several listeners asked to learn more about Katherine and her journey as a parent. How did she figure out this crazy system of supports? And, how, as a parent, did she figure out who she needed to be to support Mikelle. It's complicated. Let's start at the beginning as Katherine shares the people and events that shaped her approach to life and disability. Each parent has a unique journey, we can all learn from each other.
Mar 07, 2020•23 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Hello Everyone! Thank you for your ongoing support for our podcast! It has been exactly one year since we launched and to date we are right at 2000 downloads. Not bad for a kitchen table podcast by two newbies! While that is great news, the focus on this episode is on telling your story and how it can change funding opportunities, build community and just make life more understandable. Here are some links for you to continue to learn more about the power of storytelling. Feeling the Power of Sto...
Feb 26, 2020•20 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In a time of differences, it so refreshing to celebrate enduring love and friendship. Jerome and Mikelle met in high school and their friendship is stronger than ever. I think this just might help you believe in the power of love once again. Enjoy. Happy Valentine's Day!
Feb 07, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 45
From Army to Advocate. From Job Coach to Cultural Creative. If you are looking for ways to help people with different abilities transform their lives, it might be best to start with your own. Oh, boy! Did Jim and Katherine cover a lot of territory in this week's episode which captures the essence of the human potential and transformation experience? One of Katherine's favorite moments--learning to listen to personal genius. Jim is Program Development Director at the Washington Initiative on Supp...
Jan 30, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 44
You probably need to do it. We just did it. De-cluttering that is...time to make room for new opportunities, quit wasting time searching for things and create an environment ready for learning new things.
Jan 24, 2020•27 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode, you meet the youngest member of Mikelle's team, Mary Ann. Sweet, sassy and like Mikelle, a little bad assy! Mikelle interviews Mary Ann on why she chooses to be a member of the Shining Beautiful Community. Friendship grows by the day as these two ladies take on Denver.
Jan 14, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Join Mikelle and Katherine as they explore new ideas and set new goals for 2020 using the "Life Planting" metaphor of planting new intentions/seeds and goals for this next year using various planning and reflection tools for Mikelle's life, technology and business. Salena Salinas and Gretchen Storm join them in tilling the garden for future success for Mikelle.
Jan 02, 2020•32 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Tis' the night before Christmas and we are settled in watching Christmas movies and gazing fondly at the Christmas Tree remembering Mikelle's kick-ass holiday party last week! What a blast we all had. Our smiles are shining beautifully and we hope yours are too! Love and light to all of you!
Dec 24, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Recently, Katherine keynoted the Louisanna Developmental Disabilities 2019 Conference. Katherine focused on the steps and stages of navigating the system from birth to adulthood to get the best out of the educational experience to create the most meaningful life for family members who experience different abilities. Navigating the system is essential not just to gain supports but to ignite a compelling vision and goals for creating a bright future and satisfying present. Here is Katherine's keyn...
Dec 12, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 43
This episode is a shorty filled with love and laughter as Mikelle and Ian reminisce about old times and develop a plan to do some "fixin' up for the holidays". Celebrating friends, family and all of you listeners!
Nov 28, 2019•12 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Arghhh! After 25 years of receiving Long Term Care Benefits, suddenly MIkelle is no longer disabled enough to receive them. Had she suddenly become "less disabled"? No. So why was she kicked off the very benefits that make her life work? And, why were other people like Mikelle getting the same bad news? Learn how we found out why and what we needed to do to restore them. Referenced book on negotiation. Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss....
Nov 18, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 39
As founder and president of Warrior Society Development, Jim incorporates traditional Warrior Society philosophies in his daily life. "Many think of a warrior only in physical terms, but a true warrior is a protector, guardian, educator, and advocate guided through integrity." We speak with Jim about the Native American Medicine Wheel Philosophy as a model of balance and inclusion. Plus we talk a little football, as Jim played in the NFL. This week's podcast is an exciting and fun episode captur...
Nov 09, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In our final episode on our series on leadership and customized employment with Cary Griffin and Bob Niemiec, Griffin Hammis & Associates, we discuss advice to emerging leaders in the field of Customized Employment for people with disabilities. With their usual sense of humor and brilliance, they lay out a roadmap for the 21st Century version of Customized Employment. Here's to two national treasures and examples of exemplary leadership. Listen and learn!
Nov 01, 2019•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Customized employment revolves around creating a job that is just right for the job seeker. Cary and Bob discuss strategies helping those supporting job seekers to set the job seeker up for success with their new employer, how to help organizations build support for customized employment and so much more. Cary and Bob are masterful storytellers in part because of their incredible success.
Oct 15, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Wow! Almost two hours of storytelling and wisdom for leaders Bob, Niemiec, Cary Griffin and Beth Keaton! These experts in customized and supported employment were some of the early pioneers in getting people with disabilities working in the community. Whether you are a parent, a person experiencing a disAbility or a professional in the field, this is a great episode to become inspired and motivated to raise the bar on employment....
Sep 29, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Mikelle and Katherine welcome Salena Salinas to the Shining Beautiful team! Talking with Salena touches your artist's heart and gives yet another reason to believe in the younger generation. Salena is one of our youngest team members. You will enjoy the maturity and wisdom these two ladies share in their almost instant bond. Welcome, Salena!
Sep 17, 2019•13 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Why do we like this app? Because it is more like a real conversation and it gives Mikelle time to compile her message with a video expressing her nonverbal communication. And, it is fun!! Here is a link to Mikelle using Marco Polo with Salena, one of her team members who is going into one of Mikelle's favorite stores. Target!
Sep 10, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 28
We wish our best people would stay forever. Simply put. They don't. We have been down this road before, but this time we are losing a 7-year veteran of Mikelle's support team--Taylor Mason. You have met her before. She is wonderful and here is one reason why. The Mikelle Bootcamp for new team members . Listen and learn how to minimize the impact of turnover on the person receiving support services.
Aug 29, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Since our last posting on EVV, folks from the State of Colorado reached out to us to learn more about our frustration and the Center for Medicaid Services changed the requirement for live-in caregivers letting states decide what direction they want to do on this issue. Laurie Phipps and Katherine Carol recently met with the folks at Healthcare and Public Financing (HCPF), Colorado's Medicaid agency. Listen to this episode to learn about strategies on how to present your concerns to state agencie...
Aug 23, 2019•17 min•Season 1Ep. 6
We hesitated in recording this episode. After all, we have had a wonderful relationship with Colorado's state leaders. Together, we have attempted to work out the bugs with Colorado's efforts to comply with the Federal Electronic Visit Verification Program rollout on January 1, 2020. The effort to reduce fraud in Medicaid Waiver programs includes our cherished Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services, affectionately known as CDASS. Fighting fraud sounds like a good idea, right? Not for famil...
Aug 10, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 25
We rarely talk about grief in our society. It seems an even more distant discussion if you have a disability and lose your parents. This is the first of episodes to talk about grief in an intimate and loving way. It needs air to breathe, it needs time to transform and it needs our attention. Our listeners may remember Win Charles from an earlier episode titled "Extraordinary Women". Win recently became an adult orphan. Listen to her sage advice to parents.
Aug 02, 2019•45 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Finding the right title for this podcast was a bit challenging. The experience of living with disAbility impacts families and communities for generations to come. Grandson and nephew, Jackson Learned , joins us at the kitchen table to share his experiences growing up with Auntie Mikelle and the impact she has had on his life and his future as a filmmaker and young man.
Jul 24, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 23
We had hoped in doing our podcast, others might be inspired to start their own. Lucky us, Colorado Apse decided to start podcasting and started with interviewing as their first episode. Never to miss and opportunity, we were delightfully accepted. This episode is full of laughter sprinkled with a good dose of community. Enjoy. Please share!
Jul 17, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 22
