In this episode, Mikelle and Katherine continue exploring the ever-changing special education landscape with Gretchen Storm of Storm Speech Therapy and a Shining Beautiful team member. While schools move towards greater inclusion and person-centered practices on a policy level, staffing shortages make implementing these practices challenging. Gretchen shares the challenges and the creativity of the classroom with us. Do yesterday's strategies work for today's families? We are sure they do....
Oct 19, 2023•20 min•Season 5Ep. 111
Summer flew by so quickly this year. For Katherine and Mikelle, the passing of Katherine's mother triggered an urgency to make plans for Mikelle's future. Critical to those plans are maintaining Mikelle's history and future of full inclusion into her community honoring her lifestyle and wishes. There is a plan in motion. Come check it out on this episode of The Shininig Beautiful Series. Here is the link to the blog title the same. https://theshiningbeautifulseries.com/2023/07/20/will-the-pionee...
Sep 07, 2023•36 min•Season 5Ep. 108
We are delighted to introduce Hanni Raley, the Executive Director of the Arc of Aurora, Colorado. In a conversation with Mikelle and Katherine, Hanni discusses various topics such as diversity, technology, and new learning technologies. The Arc of Colorado has expanded its traditional advocacy support to the 21st-century version of advocacy, using microlearning, vlogs, podcasts, and traditional training to cater to the diverse needs of the Aurora community. https://thinkchange.training/...
Jul 31, 2023•33 min•Season 5Ep. 113
In this episode, Katherine recounts how she managed to balance taking care of her daughter, Mikelle, with her responsibilities as a co-executor of her late mother's estate. She details the difficulties she faced during this period and how it prompted her to reassess her estate planning for herself and Mikelle.
Jul 22, 2023•34 min•Season 5Ep. 108
New Tech! Yay! Mikelle, Katherine, and Kaitlyn, one of Mikelle's support team, discuss the often long process of obtaining new technology for Mikelle. This episode focuses on the arrival and set up of Mikelle's new iPad. The bonus segment highlights a new device for folks who experience low vision and/or dyslexia--something Kaitlyn has recently discovered about herself. Kaitlyn is checking out this new device Katherine learned about at the recent WISE Community Summit. Here is the link to that d...
Jun 28, 2023•20 min
No one can deny schools are in transition. From school safety to staff shortages, students with disabilities often lack the support for a robust education. In this episode, Gretchen Storm, speech and language therapist for a local school district, Mikelle and Katherine examine the good, the ugly, and the unknown schools to create a better future for all.
Jun 06, 2023•30 min•Season 5Ep. 110
Some people change the course of our lives. In this episode, we pay tribute to the quiet pioneer in special education who changed the lives of Katherine and Mikelle forever. This pioneer is Katheine's mom, who passed away on her birthday just days ago. Katherine's mom's legacy and gifts stoically changed the world in ways she will never know.
May 22, 2023•25 min•Season 5Ep. 109
The more we think about advocacy, it seems to us that we are in a time of NextGen Advocacy as schools undergo some dramatic changes. Still, some old-school strategies may play well in this new world. In this episode, Katherine Carol shares her unique approach to working with the schools at the inception of full inclusion in public education. In fact, inclusion wasn't happening at all until Mikelle came along. Listen for some practical ideas on working with educators and other teams to create win...
Apr 26, 2023•46 min•Season 5Ep. 107
From 21 to 29 years old, Liz has been a mainstay at the Shining Beautiful household. It is a bittersweet moment of celebration of friendship, loyalty, and sisterhood. One of the most difficult experiences Mikelle and Katherine go through is the inevitable leaving of trusted caregivers and friends. In this episode, Liz, Mikelle, Katherine, and Lex look at the reciprocity of caregiving, what makes a person dedicate their time to in-home care, and what sweet memories the ladies at the Shining Beaut...
Apr 10, 2023•19 min•Season 5Ep. 107
When the controls no longer work, the batteries won't charge, and the seat just isn't comfortable enough, it could be time for a new wheelchair. In this episode, Mikelle, Maryann, and Katherine share their often frustrating and sometimes rewarding journey in getting Mikelle a new wheelchair. Katherine also shares how to get some unexpected extras by leveraging resources.
Mar 20, 2023•22 min•Season 5Ep. 106
What do friends, floods, and futures have in common? February! While these events all happened during the month of love, they are not exclusive to a time period. Although most of the floods we have had...there have been three so far happened in February. In this episode, Katherine updates listeners on her continued journey to help Mikelle plan for a future where Mikelle can manage her life more independently, working with other moms with family members with disabilities all around the same ages....
Feb 28, 2023•25 min
This small woman is doing big things in the Colorado sports world. As a sports media producer for ##AltitudeSports. In her job, she works with the #DenverBroncos, the #ColoradoAvalanche, and the #DenverNuggets. Jenny is shaping the modern workplace as a woman in a wheelchair working in a predominately male-oriented business. Join us for this engaging conversation with Jenny Seigle as we discuss her career, her family, and her concerns for the future. Mikelle and Jenny have much in common as trai...
Jan 29, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 104
Happy New Year! Let's face it. Mikelle turns forty this year, and Katherine had her major milestone senior citizen birthday last year. As successful as our partnership has been, it does have an expiration date. We have been wrestling with this noticeable change for years now. This year is the year to discover our plan and implement it. Why now? A key person, namely Liz, is leaving us after eight years to move into a new phase of life. This significant change gives us the opening to take a deep l...
Jan 09, 2023•32 min
From our hearts to yours, we wish you the happiest of holiday seasons. Peace, love, and shining beautiful always and in all ways! See you next year!
Dec 24, 2022•9 min•Season 4Ep. 102
Succession planning is on our minds daily. In this follow-up episode, Katherine details her lunch meeting with several other mothers who share her concerns. It was a meeting of the moms minds. Everyone came to the meeting wondering about the next step in life's progression. And, just like that, these moms are stepping into their familiar lane of pioneering the future with their family members with disabilities as they move into a new life phase.
Dec 07, 2022•22 min
A Quick Mom Moment! This Saturday, the coffee will brew, and the moms who met when our children were in elementary school will gather not to discuss school strategies or setting up our children for entrance into adulthood but to discuss how we replace ourselves as we grow older. Collectively we have over 300 years of experience. We have been pioneers in inclusion from the time our children were born. Once again, we find ourselves on the forefront of change. Good thing we have all that experience...
Dec 01, 2022•6 min•Season 4Ep. 100
Double the fun...triple the work? The holidays for a family with a differently abled family member can be full of love and stairs, staff taking vacation time, extra work and shopping, etc. Mikelle, Katherine, and Liz share their plans to make the holiday accessible for everyone. After years of doing too much and trying to meet everyone's needs, the ladies are chillin' this holiday season. Come chill with us. PS. We are thankful for you and your support of this podcast!
Nov 29, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 99
Listeners, thank you for listening to Katherine's rather raw thoughts on today's election. Katherine articulates one family's concerns about the future and her ideas on negotiating the changing landscape, no matter which party wins. Hint: One person at a time.
Nov 08, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 98
Happy Halloween! It is October, and the realities of teacher shortages are frightening. The hard work and best intentions of providing a good education might fall short due to staffing shortages. Is this a time for innovation? If so, what might the future hold in education? Join us for a candid discussion of the topic with Gretchen Storm, who is currently working for a local school system and is Mikelle's tech guru.
Oct 31, 2022•18 min•Season 4Ep. 97
Meet Shaun Woods from WISE (GoWise,org) in Washington State. Shaun and his organization are dynamic innovators. During COVID, WISE pivoted faster than most organizations using this chaotic time to fuel innovation through technology, learning systems, organizational capacity, and investments in stabilizing provider networks and discovering new methods to support individuals experiencing a different ability in their employment experience. Shaun shares how curiosity and discovery lead to cutting-ed...
Sep 27, 2022•37 min•Season 4Ep. 94
We always wonder if our passion for advocacy will live on past us. In this episode, you will meet Jackson Learned, a young filmmaker. Jack is Katherine's grandson and Mikelle's nephew and as will hear, our legacy lives on in the next generation. Even more important is how Mikelle has become a role model for negotiating adversity for Jack. Thank you for listening to our proud family moment. This episode is short but very sweet!
Sep 19, 2022•8 min
Balancing during these times of constant change is challenging. Long-term planning is less predictable than in the past. The team at Shining Beautiful is navigating the increasing pace of change by focusing on balance. In this episode, Mikelle, her support team member, MaryAnn, and Katherine share their unique perspectives on maintaining balance and " the art of the bounce. "
Aug 27, 2022•18 min•Season 4Ep. 93
We welcome back our friends, Jen and Codi Mendenhall, from Grand Junction, Colorado. Jen and Codi are entering that critical transition planning phase as Codi celebrates her sixteenth birthday, has her first date and finds a valuable volunteer experience, all preparing her for a bright future. This is a fun episode as Codi speaks using a speech-generating device like Mikelle. These ladies talk transition and summer fun, and their moms share summer strategies.
Aug 01, 2022•25 min•Season 4Ep. 92
"I love to work." "Be sure to think out of the box." These are just some of the comments from Texas advocate Ricky Broussard. Ricky's unique perspectives include having lived in several more extensive institutional settings before being able to live in his apartment and hire his own staff. MIkelle and Ricky share thoughts on living with cerebral palsy and still getting the best out of life. They both make the world a better place.
Jun 30, 2022•29 min•Ep. 92
The Shining Beautiful team shares the ups and downs of navigating two weeks without Katherine. It wasn't perfect, but it was good. Listen as MaryAnn and Mikelle share their experiences including a team member who came down with Covid, a minor incident that required some leadership and problem-solving. The good news is that Mikelle has more confidence in her team.
Jun 08, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Caregivers and parents need a break from time to time. Time to think, reflect, and turn back the clock on always being available. As we find out, it isn't easy to leave emotionally, financially, or logistically. As special needs parents, you just don't back a suitcase and walk out the door. It has been three years since Katherine had a real vacation. The islands are calling and she must go...especially after the last few months.
May 11, 2022•23 min•Season 4Ep. 89
Meet Doug Crandell, author of 22 Cents an Hour, Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages. Join Mikelle and Katherine as we explore with Doug, the history of subminimum wages, and the challenges which are still present after all these years to gain pay equity for workers with disabilities in this lively podcast episode. Doug's book is available on Amazon. Here is the link. Get your copy now! https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Two-Cents-Hour-Disability-Subminimum/dp/150176358X...
Apr 19, 2022•48 min•Season 4Ep. 84
At the time of Mikelle's diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the path was uncharted. Expectations for her were low, and while willing to learn, her doctor knew little about her condition. Katherine and Mikelle share the great, the good, and the ugly parts of their journey to help Mikelle navigate the medical system and beyond.
Mar 15, 2022•23 min•Season 4Ep. 88
Oh, the holidays created some challenges for the ladies. Family in the hospital, Mikelle's van totaled by a DUI driver on Christmas Day, a missing new computer, and continued staff shortages, but with persistence and plenty of patience--they prevail!
Feb 17, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 87
A new meeting of the moms! So what does inclusion look like in the age of staff shortages and COVID and in rural Colorado? Meet, Jen Mendenhall, parent, advocate, and a new member of the State Rehabilitation Council. After months of frustration, Jen and Codi found the perfect balance for them with hybrid education. Join us in learning how parents have to carve out education and inclusion with what resources they can find.
Jan 16, 2022•24 min•Season 3Ep. 69
