This week, we’re joined by Morgan and Sadie from the Mildly Crushing It podcast! We talk about the kids behind the diagnoses, finding your people, and the mix of joy and grief that can come with raising children with special needs.

We also get into friendships, ABA therapy, the extra hurdles families face when resources are far away, and why advocating for your child can feel like a full-time job. There are plenty of laughs along the way, because sometimes you just have to laugh with people who get it.

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This week, we’re hearing from the dads! Shannon and Tash sit down with Joel Sheagren and Carl Young for an honest conversation about fatherhood, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and its overlap with autism.

Joel and Carl share what they’ve learned while raising children with complex needs, how they’ve adjusted their parenting along the way, and why support and community matter so much. We also talk about the differences between FASD and autism—and why more families need to understand FASD.

Website: embracing-neurodiversity.com

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In this episode, Andrea Moriarty shares her inspiring journey as a mother of twins, one of whom has autism, and how she navigated the challenges of early diagnosis, therapy, and supported living. Her story highlights the importance of family roles, resilience, and the power of community and self-care. In this episode, Andrea Moriarty shares her inspiring journey as an autism mom, highlighting the power of community, humor, and adaptive strategies. Discover how her family creates meaningful experiences and advocates for inclusion, all while maintaining joy and resilience.

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Back-to-school season is here, and apparently none of us are allowed to ease gently into a new chapter. In this episode, we’re catching up on all the transitions happening in our families—from Gracie and Ruby heading back to school to preparing older kids for college and life outside our homes. (We’re fine. Everything is fine.)

We talk about balancing school, ABA therapy, and downtime—and how hard it can be to know when to push for more support and when to let our kids simply be kids. We also get into parent involvement, communicating with teachers and therapy teams, and the ongoing challenge of making sure everyone is actually on the same page.

And because school transitions are never the only transitions, we also chat about sleep struggles, the emotional reality of an approaching empty nest, planning for the holidays, and even how our grocery-shopping habits are changing as our families grow.

Basically, everyone is growing up, everything is changing, and we have some feelings about it. Come catch up with us as we talk through the exciting, exhausting, and unexpectedly emotional parts of entering a new season.

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Erin Clarelli is back for round two! Erin is an occupational therapist specializing in whole-body apraxia, and this conversation had us looking at behavior—and ourselves—a little differently.

We talk about learning to respond instead of react, navigating disagreements with your spouse about behaviors and teaching skills, potty training, and observing what the body is communicating without automatically assigning intention.

Erin also challenges us to examine our own beliefs, reactions, and motivations. Because supporting our kids requires patience, teamwork, and the ongoing challenge of regulating ourselves while helping our kids regulate too. Because apparently, we’re all a work in progress.

Find Erin here:

https://erinclarelli.myflodesk.com/blueprint

https://www.sunrisetherapiesinc.com/sunrise-membership

https://www.sunrisetherapiesinc.com/

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This week, we’re all over the place—in the best way. Shannon is trying to figure out where behavior ends and anxiety begins, Tash is getting ready for her big England adventure, Jean is talking women’s heart health, and Brittney is bracing for the wild world of middle school.

Basically: parenting, travel, health, transitions, and the usual “are we doing this right?” conversations. Come hang out with us.

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In this episode, Bonnie Nofsinger shares expert insights on planning and executing vacations for families with neurodivergent members. We discuss challenges, strategies, and tips to create enjoyable, inclusive travel experiences.

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In this lighthearted episode, we’re talking all things summer—favorite foods, travel plans, bucket-list adventures, beach days, concerts, festivals, and the vacations we still can’t stop thinking about.

We share some of our best summer memories, talk about the sensory chaos that can come with a day at the beach, and dream about future adventures—including whether we could actually survive something like Coachella. We also check in on what summer really looks like for families, especially caregivers and anyone living somewhere that feels approximately seven inches from the sun.

It’s a fun, nostalgic, very real conversation about making the most of summer, staying connected, and finding joy wherever we can.

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In this episode, Jean and Tash sit down with Kendra Davenport, President and CEO of Easterseals, to talk about the work the organization is doing to support individuals with disabilities and their families. Kendra shares how she found her way into the nonprofit world, why advocacy and collaboration matter so much, and the personal stories that continue to drive her work. It’s a hopeful and heartfelt conversation about creating stronger support systems—and the real difference they can make for families.

 

IG: eastersealshq 

Linkedin: Easterseals, Kendra Davenport

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UUHOmhQ7JclckXif11pwRTtWO60_yYSS

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In this episode, Shannon and Brittney talk about one of those feelings no one really wants to admit out loud: jealousy.

After reading a listener email about feeling jealous of families with neurotypical kids, they unpack what is often underneath it all—grief. Grief for the conversations you wish you could have, the experiences you pictured, and the version of parenting you thought you were going to get.

They also share their own experiences with acceptance, mental health, supportive friendships, and the way grief can sneak back in when you least expect it. This is an honest conversation about giving yourself grace, finding people who truly get it, and knowing that having hard feelings does not make you a bad parent.

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 In this episode, we’re joined by Erin Clarelli, a neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapist, to rethink the way we understand behavior, communication, and motor challenges in autistic and disabled children.

Erin explains why behavior is often a form of communication—especially for nonspeaking individuals—and why interpreting that behavior can feel so complicated for parents. We discuss the power of connection, narration, and slowing down long enough to understand what a child may be communicating through their body.

We also explore apraxia and the misconception that it only affects speech. Erin explains how motor-planning differences can impact the entire body, including a child’s ability to begin, stop, or complete an action—even when they understand exactly what is being asked of them.

The conversation also takes an honest look at the limitations of the insurance-driven therapy model and why progress cannot always be measured through checkboxes, compliance, or isolated skills. Erin shares how scaffolding, individualized support, parent coaching, and a more holistic approach can help children participate without placing unnecessary pressure on them.

Most importantly, we talk about empowering parents to trust what they see, ask better questions, and become active partners in their child’s care. Therapy should not be about fixing a child. It should be about understanding their needs, supporting their autonomy, and helping them feel safe and successful in their own body.

 

Find Erin at:

Website: https://www.sunrisetherapiesinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrise.therapies

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