LOMAH Disability Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#67-HCBS Waiver Rulings & Fair Labor Laws Feb 26, 2019

Show notes

Ashley Kim is the director and national coordinator of the advocacy coalition Together for Choice. Together for Choice is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to unite, to protect, and advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and thrive in a community or setting of their choice.

The conversation covers the complexity of the issues surrounding new HCBS waiver rulings and also the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is a must listen to conversation if you plan on utilizing government funding options for quality of life in adulthood.

Show notes with links to mentioned items in this episode can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/67

Related Episodes:

Episodes #13 & #14: Campus Model of Housing

Episodes #19 & # 20: Independent Apartment Community Model of Housing

Episode #18: 5 Housing Insights

Episode #23: Creating a Housing Community

Episodes #62 & #62: Inclusive Housing

#66 - Sexual Assault Epidemic in the Special Needs Population Feb 19, 2019

Show notes

Individuals with disabilities are 7x more likely to be the victim of sexual assault. After learning of her sister's abuse our guest, Julie Newart, began an advocacy organization called Natalie's Voice.

Mission

Natalie's Voice is a family-driven sexual assault prevention advocacy organization aiming to:

Raise awareness that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are highly vulnerable to sexual assault.
Empower caregivers with effective planning tools.
Build a community around response so that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Vision

Each and every non-verbal person with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have their voice be heard, by way of loving care providers, through effective planning, adaptive technology, and a cohesive agency response system, in the face of the sexual assault epidemic.

RELATED EPISODES:

#36 - Trauma Indicators for Individuals with Special Needs - Dr. Hoover

#40 - Cameras in Special Needs Classrooms - Dr. Dusty Columbia Embury

#44 - Sexual Assult Risk Reduction - Nora Baladerian, Ph.D

#65 - Inclusion in Faith Based Settings Feb 10, 2019

Show notes

Individuals with differing abilities have much to contribute and our communities are lacking without their presence and influence. This is true in faith based settings as well.

Sandra Peoples is a leading voice and encourager in the special needs community via her online groups, 3 published books, a long running blog. and as a contributor and editor at Key Ministry.

Listen in to this conversation as Sandra and I chat about how important it is for individuals with disabilities to be seen and understood in faith based settings. We follow up with encouragement for families, resources for churches, and nudges for everyone to move forward.

#64 - Inclusive Education (part 2) Feb 04, 2019

Show notes

Moving away from segregated and toward an inclusive school environment often is met with resistance or even a lack of self awareness. How can parents, educators, therapists, admins, and those wishing to make changes effectively bring to light areas in need of consideration and also come against resistance to change?

The conversation with Dr. Causton continues in part 2 of Inclusive Education. In part 1 we discussed stages schools move through on the journey to inclusive schooling and also common misconceptions that cause resistance to the idea. In this episode, next steps are given for parents, administrators, and teachers who wish to gather a team and move their school away from segregated settings toward inclusive settings.

The shownotes are packed with amazing (and many free) resources that can be used by teams right away. Find them and everything we discuss at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/63

Related Episodes:

Episode #57: Pep Talks & Twitter Chats

Episode #56: Accessible Educational Materials

Episode #55: Technology & Teachers

Episode #49: Person Centered Planning

Episode #40: Cameras in Special Needs Classrooms

Episode #34: Non FAPE - 5 Things to Do Before the Next IEP

Episode #31: Individualized Transition Planning to Guide IEP Goals

Episode #25: Think College for Students with Special Needs

#63 - Inclusive Education (part 1 of 2) Jan 29, 2019

Show notes

Moving from segregated to inclusive school settings is often met with resistance. Does the resistance hold merit and how can educators, students, and parents come against it? What stages do schools pass through when moving toward more inclusive settings?

Dr. Julie Causton, founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling joins us for a two part episode. Dr. Causton was a Professor in the Inclusive and Special Education Program in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University for the past 14 years. Dr. Causton's particular areas of expertise are school reform, inclusive teacher training, collaboration, humanistic behavioral supports, lesson planning, and providing invisible adult supports. She also provides independent educational evaluations in due process hearings across the nation relying on her legal knowledge and practical experience.

She is published in over 30 academic journals and has written 6 books for school professionals about inclusive education that are widely read by school teams and teacher education programs across the country. Last year she supported schools in the area of inclusive school reform in twelve states and in several parts of Canada.

Related Episodes:

Episode #57: Pep Talks & Twitter Chats

Episode #56: Accessible Educational Materials

Episode #55: Technology & Teachers

Episode #49: Person Centered Planning

Episode #40: Cameras in Special Needs Classrooms

Episode #34: Non FAPE - 5 Things to Do Before the Next IEP

Episode #31: Individualized Transition Planning to Guide IEP Goals

Episode #25: Think College for Students with Special Needs

#62 - Inclusive Housing & Social Change (pt.2) Jan 22, 2019

Show notes

The conversation continues with Micaela Connery, CEO, and founder of The Kelsey which is a mixed ability/mixed income housing model and social change organization for individuals with and without disabilities.

Part 2 of the interview begins with a conversation about bringing self advocates and other stakeholders to the same table when creating housing solutions. The last half of the conversation begins when Kim poses the question "Does advocating for inclusive models mean advocating against intentional communities?" Micaela shares her thoughts on what is currently a hot topic in disability circles.

Links to items mentioned in the episode can be found at www.lomah.org/podcast2/61

Related Episodes:

Intentional Communities: The Campus Model on Episodes #13 & #14, Independent Apartment Communities on Episodes #19 & #20
Peer Advocates on Episodes #49 & #50 (Person Centered Planning)

#61-Inclusive Housing & Social Change Jan 13, 2019

Show notes

Micaela Connery is the founder and CEO of a new inclusionary housing development called The Kelsey which is focused on creating an environment of mixed ability and mixed income. The Kelsey aims to be more than a housing development, they aim to be a social change organization expanding inclusion possibilities for individuals with disabilities.

Part 1 of the interview focuses on the logistics of creating The Kelsey and why it is a desirable, yet never before created, model of housing. We are introduced to the term "inclusion natives" and learn why the city of San Jose was chosen as the first Kelsey housing development.

Part 2 is an interesting discussion about how a parents motivation to create housing comes from a different angle and also why, for the future of policy, it is important for inclusionary housing to be an option. The question asked, "Does advocating for inclusionary housing mean advocating against intentional communities/campus models?" led to an interesting discussion. Part 2 of the conversation is the next episode, #62.

Links to The Kelsey and topics discussed in these episodes are at www.lomah.org/podcast2/61

NEW Listener? Start Here. Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

What information will you find on the LOMAH Special Needs Podcast and who is on the other side of your speakers? This quick episode answers these questions.

Show notes with helpful links of each episode can be found on the LOMAH website under the Podcast tab.

#59-Tech Series Recap & Guest Clips Nov 27, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Kim shares what she learned and is implementing from guests in the technology series. Along with these lessons are clips from each guest so listeners have a quick reference to find episodes of interest.

Additional episode detail from the series and links can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/59

Episodes in the tech series:

#48 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication

#49 & #50 - Person Centered AAC

#52 - Curated and Reviewed Apps

#53 - Is Technology the Caregiving Solution

#54 - Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training

#55 - Technology & Teachers

#56 - Accessible Educational Materials

#57 - Pep Talks & Twitter Chats

#58 - Easy Technology Solutions

#58-Easy Technology Solutions for Individuals with Disabilities Nov 20, 2018

Show notes

Reasonably priced and easily accessible technology marketed toward able bodied individuals also has the alternative perk of bringing independence and improving quality of life for those with disabilities. Venkat Rao of The Assistive Tech Blog shares several examples in this episode as well as his favorite products just entering the market

Links to mentioned content can be found at https://www.lomah.org/podcast2/58

Related Episodes:

#56: Accessible Educational Materials w/ Luis Perez

#53: Is Technology the Caregiving Solution w/ Simply Home

#52: Curated and Reviewed Apps w/ Bridging Apps

#49 & #50 Person Centered AAC w/ Erin Sheldon