Melissa Gagne is an attorney specializing in special education and has been helping parents navigate the special education system for decades. She shares her expertise, knowledge and experience as a mom to a son with profound autism. Melissa talks about the launch of “IEP Slay”, an exciting online affordable subscription-based service for parents to access resources, guidance and help preparing for those inevitable IEP(Individualized Education Program) meetings.

On this episode we are talking with Molly Turner founder of Skills of Life Café, a mobile café in Santa Cruz, California, that provides employment opportunities for teens with special needs and offers teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to gain experience as well as employment by serving in the community.

On this episode our guest is Dr. Marylinn Reinhardt a proud mother of a special needs daughter who was her inspiration for creating Hospital and IV dentistry for special needs. She saw how difficult it was to find dental care for her daughter thus felt a need to create a program that would help deliver the most compassionate and professional care for the special needs community.

On this episode we talk to a couple of dads about what it’s really like from a dad’s perspective raising a child with disabilities. Come alone on their journey of ups and downs, learning as they explain their challenges, and rewards, of raising such a child.

On this episode Sherrean and Dave will be talking about more of our story and experiences with our daughter in the early years. While learning more each day about our journey ahead for all of us. Some of the harsh realities and starting to learn how to keep the train on the tracks with every new day. We are calling it “Our Story-Version 2.0”.

On this episode we are talking with Riley Mulcahy, the driving force behind The Riley Project, a platform dedicated to empowering individuals who learn differently. With a mission to foster inclusivity, spark meaningful conversations, and provide vital resources, Riley Mulcahy is on a quest to make a lasting impact. Through innovative storytelling, cutting-edge research, and educational initiatives, he is creating a safe space for diverse voices to shine. Let's dive in and explore the incredible work he is doing to support the 1 in 5 students who learn differently, and learn how we can all be part of a more informed and compassionate society.

On this episode we are talking with staff from the Landmark College Success Center. Sandra Fishler, Director, Sarah Firestein, Senior Learning Specialist and PEERS Facilitator and Oindrila Das, Learning Specialist and PEERS facilitator.

The Landmark College Success Center, established in 2021, offers coaching and PEERS workshops for neurodivergent teens, young adults, and adults. PEERS, Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills is an evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated students who are interested in learning skills to make and keep friends and maintain relationships. During each group session, students are taught important relational skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills. Services at Landmark College Success Center focus on executive function (time management, organization), academic support (study skills, reading, writing), college transition, and social skills development.

On this episode we are talking with Trudy Marsh Grable who spent over 30 years working as director of community and family services at the nonprofit agency Parents Helping Parents, where she developed programs, raised funds, supported families, and helped build more inclusive communities. She also is a mom of an adult daughter with developmental disabilities. In the 90s she started a support group for families of children and adult children who experience challenging seizures. One area of passion is educating parents about person-centered planning. She has guided hundreds of individuals, families, and professional support teams through that process for many years, helping people find clarity, purpose, and practical steps toward the lives they envision.