Explore every episode of the podcast Living the Sky Life - Our Autism Journey
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S5: Episode 182 - Through his new book, this autism dad shares practical advice & hopes to be a voice for other fathers who may be struggling. | 09 May 2024 | 00:41:51 | |
A devoted family man, Harry Psaros has been happily married to his wife Michelle for 24 years and is a proud father of two sons, Costa “Gus” and Maximos “Max.” With a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as minors in physics and philosophy, Harry has a strong educational foundation. Further expanding his expertise, he obtained a certification as a health coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition. Professionally, Harry serves as an Executive Neuroscience Account Specialist for AbbVie. Known affectionately by fans as the “Pitt Guru,” he is a top social media influencer for University of Pittsburgh athletics and the senior writer for Pittsburgh Sports Now. Harry is on the Board of Directors for the Autism Caring Center, President of North Fayette Township’s Parks and Recreation Board, Vice President of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Weirton, WV and one of the founders of North Fayette P.A.L.S. (an organization for special needs children). Harry is an avid reader, enjoys strength training, running, martial arts and lives to serve others. | |||
| S5: Episode 181 - Preparing but not stressing for adulthood & never losing hope that our kids will determine their own incredible future | 04 Apr 2024 | 01:09:41 | |
Jo-Ann Turning also known as “Mrs. Bacon” is one half of the married, blogging couple from Bacon and Juice Boxes: Our Life with Autism. She's mom to Eric (age 19 on the autism spectrum) and Anna Kate (age 22, recent college graduate who is now working in NYC.) When her son, Eric, was first diagnosed with autism 18 years ago, she couldn’t say the word “autism” without crying. After many years, and many experiences parenting in both the neuro-typical and special needs world, Jo-ann has become passionate about building bridges of hope for her family and other families like theirs. She's been honored to be invited to give several lectures at conferences and schools, works full-time outside the home, and is President of Special Wants, Inc. a 501c3 organization. If she's lucky enough to get a few hours to herself, Jo-ann loves to bake, cook, read and make watercolor greeting cards. https://www.facebook.com/BaconandJuiceBoxes/ | |||
| S5: Episode 172 - Declaring that her brother is amazing, this little sister loves that he constantly tries to make everyone laugh | 11 Jan 2024 | 00:33:29 | |
Lee is 13 years old and in the 7th grade. She lives at home with her mom, dad, brother, grandmother and two beloved cats, Leo and Max. Her older brother Jack (age 16) has autism, cerebral palsy and developmental delay. Lee enjoys creating video animation, writing, gaming and playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends. She wants to be a videographer when she grows up. You can follow their family on FB: @Loving Jack or on their blog: loving-jack.com | |||
| S2: Episode 82 - A sibling's perspective on growing up with autism | 09 Jun 2021 | 00:54:04 | |
Jenna Kapes works for her local intermediate unit, assisting in both the Desktop Publishing and Behavioral Health Departments. She is a graduate of Susquehanna University with a dual major in Creative Writing and Publishing and Editing. She has recently finished drafting the manuscript to her debut memoir, titled, Flipping the Behavioral Plan: A Sibling’s Perspective on Asperger’s, where she unpacks the realities of life with Lauren, her older sister who has Asperger’s Syndrome. She also runs her own blog titled The Sibling Diary, where she continues her passion of bringing awareness to the realities of having a family member on the autism spectrum. Connect with Jenna via her FB page: @The Sibling Diary ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 81 - A dedicated mom who wrote a children's book about her son & is actively making an impact within her local community to spread autism awareness | 02 Jun 2021 | 00:41:42 | |
DeAndra Perry is a young mother from New York whose son was diagnosed with autism at two years old. She wrote the children's book "Cam's World" to show the world the very few things that go on in her son Cameron's daily life. She wanted to create a fun but educational way to help other children understand autism. DeAndra's goal is to spread awareness and to make a difference in this world as an autism mom. Connect with DeAndra on IG @welcometo_camsworld or purchase her book on www.welcometocamsworld.com ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 80 - A very inspiring and educational conversation with the one and only - Temple Grandin | 26 May 2021 | 00:56:33 | |
Temple Grandin is a renowned American author, animal behavior expert and an advocate for autistic people. With support from her mother and guiding mentors at school, she completed her education successfully and made a flourishing career as an animal expert and a parenting guru for autistic children. Her inventions of a ‘hug machine’ to pacify autistic population and ‘curved corrals’ to reduce panic and injury in animals during slaughter have brought her considerable popularity across the world. Besides, she has written numerous books on autism and animal welfare and has been providing consultation to slaughter plants and livestock farms to improve the quality of life of the cattle. Her fascinating life has been transformed into an inspiring film ‘Temple Grandin’ which won accolades from the industry and audience alike and was honored with several awards. Some of her best-selling books include ‘Animals in Translation’, ‘Animals Make Us Human’, ‘The Autistic Brain’, ‘Emergence: Labeled Autistic’, and ‘Thinking in Pictures’. She has received various awards towards her contribution to animal science and welfare and has made appearances on numerous television shows and international magazines. The most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world, she has been a source of encouragement for other children with autism. | |||
| S2: Episode 79 - Discussing continued learning, ignoring timelines and the importance of focusing on what your child CAN do and not on the things they're currently NOT doing | 19 May 2021 | 01:04:07 | |
Leasa Hoogerwerf is the mother of two adult sons, one of which has nonverbal autism. Leasa is a very passionate advocate who chose to share her family's journey through autism on social media via the Cody Speaks Facebook page so other families wouldn't feel so alone. Leasa hopes that by sharing their life, they will inspire others that being nonverbal may not be forever. Cody now has words, many words in fact, and her mission is to help the world understand that autism is a spectrum and we all should be more accepting of differences. Connect with Leasa via FB: @codyspeaks or IG: @codyspeaks **************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2; Episode 78 - Transitioning an adult son to independent living with an incredible non-profit organization, STARC and an entire community supporting them | 12 May 2021 | 00:58:08 | |
Dottie Davis lives in Mandeville, LA and is a mother of four children, with her youngest, John diagnosed with autism. She served on the PTA at her son's school in order to stay involved with administration, teachers and staff. Dottie also served as Parent Liaison for the Special Education Dept. for St. Tammany Parish School System for three years. She helped to facilitate communication between parents of special needs and/or gifted students and school administration and teachers. STARC of Louisiana, represented on the podcast by Mark Baham, provides a lifetime of Services, Training, Advocacy, Resources and Community connections. Their programs include early intervention, daycare, respite care, work training, vocational employment, home care and residential living to help move individuals toward greater independence. You can connect with Dottie via email: 8016liz@gmail.com and the STARC organization via FB: @STARC of Louisiana, Inc. or Mark directly via email: Mbaham@starcla.org ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 77 - Chatting with an optimistic mom who views perceived 'failures' as learning opportunities | 05 May 2021 | 00:52:33 | |
Krista is the mother to Alex, age 19, diagnosed on the autism spectrum and Anna, age 17 who is neurotypical. In her previous life before kids, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and worked in public accounting for 11 years. Since then, she has spent her time raising two wonderful kids and enjoys sharing all types of information about her family’s autism journey with others while also learning from the many parents in the world of special needs. Connect with Krista via FB: @KristaGold ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 76 - Leading the charge to support autistic adults who wish to secure employment and pursue their passions | 28 Apr 2021 | 01:06:03 | |
Maisie has been working with neurodivergent children, teens and adults since her undergraduate study at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991. She moved away from the behavioral approach because she realized that supporting each one of her client's authenticity as an autistic individual needed to be the center of any therapeutic goals. Her role as a family coach is to foster a meaningful understanding and acceptance of an autism diagnosis as a unique pathway to self advocacy and fulfilling lives. She believes that every autistic person has a story to share to the world, and it is her passion to prepare the world to embrace and take part in his/her/their story. As a parent and professional coach, she has learned that every neurodivergent person is unique. Working with parents at home and empowering them to be in the driver's seat as competent parents who are willing learners themselves is an important foundation for each family. After her own autism and SPD diagnoses, she now shares her lived experiences to help parents and professionals focus on autism positivity in each individual. With her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instructional Design, she aspires to develop vocational and adaptive living curriculum for teens and adults with neurological differences. Her goal is to create resources for educators, professionals, job coaches and business owners from all over the world to hire and support ND individuals in a variety of workplaces. Connect with Maisie on IG: @autismcareerpathways or her website @autismcareerpathways.com ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 74 - With a diagnosis of autism and significant feeding challenges, this mom & blogger shares her daughter's journey to provide encouragement and connection to other families. | 21 Apr 2021 | 00:34:57 | |
Jennifer Dunn is the mother of a beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Kya who was diagnosed with ASD. Jennifer & Kya live in Vancouver, Canada. Jennifer works full-time and also manages Kya's team of therapists. She is beyond proud to be on this journey with her incredible daughter. Follow Jennifer & Kya's journey via her FB page: @Keeping Up with Kya***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 75 - Helping her local community and beyond, this non-profit owner shares her experiences as a special-needs sibling and supports those with disabilities | 14 Apr 2021 | 00:59:42 | |
Amanda Owen is the executive director of Puzzle Pieces, a nonprofit organization based out of Owensboro, Kentucky, that serves individuals with intellectual disabilities. Amanda's whole life has been centered around loving, advocating, and impacting those with disabilities. Her passion and drive comes from having a brother with a disability, while also being a former special education teacher for six years. Amanda is also the woman behind Pieces of Me, a blog and podcast that aims to help those affected by disabilities and other women trying to chase their dreams. Amanda loves to connect! Find her at: Website: piecesofme.org Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-me/id1547078857 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piecesofmebyamanda Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piecesofmebyamanda/ ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 73 - (Solo Episode) My baby turns 18!! Talking about ALL my feelings now that Skyler is officially an adult! | 07 Apr 2021 | 00:20:57 | |
This has been an emotionally tough few weeks. Skyler turned 18 yesterday and with that milestone birthday comes appointments with both Social Security and the court system - for the guardianship hearing. I always thought I had more time and still can't wrap my head around the fact that he's now considered an adult. While we are entering a new phase of life with Skyler, the need for advocating doesn't end... it actually is more important now than ever. The autistic adults in this country are heavily disadvantaged. Our system is broken and we must all demand change immediately! | |||
| S5: Episode 171 - A tremendous bond between brothers within a loving and supportive large family | 04 Jan 2024 | 00:35:42 | |
Charlie Cariello is a senior at Bedford High School in New Hampshire. He resides with his parents, three brothers, one sister, and a dog named Wolfie. An avid sports aficionado, Charlie is captain of the varsity baseball team, as well as the Christian Youth Organization’s basketball team. He performs leadership duties for Student Council and works part-time in an Italian restaurant. In his spare time, Charlie enjoys rooting for his beloved Buffalo Bills, visiting his grandfather, and fishing with his friends. He plans to attend Bates College in the fall of 2024 with a major of Economics and Psychology. | |||
| S2: Episode 72 - Chatting with autism mom and owner of ND Renegade about the importance of encouraging the neurodiverse population to stand proud and embrace their differences | 31 Mar 2021 | 00:37:40 | |
Sally Willbanks is an award-winning Australian artist who put down her brushes at the end of 2019 to start ND Renegade, a clothing brand that aims to spread awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity. With her husband Jeff, Sally launched ND Renegade in January of 2020 in support of all neurodivergent people, including their own two children. You can connect with Sally via social media at: IG: @ndrenegade or FB: NDRneurotribe ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode - 71 - Two inspirational moms on a mission to provide a lifespan of autism services... when they couldn't find what they needed, they started their own non-profit | 24 Mar 2021 | 00:39:16 | |
Lisa Lane grew up in Dillon, South Carolina. She attended the University of South Carolina, receiving her B.A. in Philosophy, summa cum laude, her M.A. in English, with honors, and her J.D. from the School of Law, with honors. She joined the law firm of Kennedy Covington Lobdell and Hickman, becoming a partner in 1992. When her younger son was diagnosed with autism in 1996, she helped establish Project HOPE Foundation as a nonprofit to serve those struggling with autism. She has gained expertise in the field of autism, participating in thousands of hours of Applied Behavior Analysis sessions and becoming a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. She has met with hundreds of families of children with autism. Along with her co-director, Susan Sachs, Lisa has been instrumental in developing each of Project HOPE's core programs: therapy, education, adult services, and community engagement. Lisa is a frequent speaker to civic clubs, educational groups, and community organizations. Lisa lives in Woodruff, South Carolina, with her son, Colby, who at age 26 remains one of the inspirations for Project HOPE Foundation. She loves weekly visits with her older son, Rixon, his wife, Samantha, and grandchildren, Campbell and Leila. ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!
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| S2: Episode 70 - Inviting the world into our autism journey through books, blogging and a great sense of humor | 17 Mar 2021 | 00:54:44 | |
Carrie Cariello is the author of What Color Is Monday, How Autism Changed One Family for the Better, and Someone I’m With Has Autism. She lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, Joe, and their five children. Carrie is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY Parents, the TODAY Show, Parents.com. She has been interviewed by NBC Nightly News, and also has a TEDx talk. She speaks regularly about autism, marriage, and motherhood, and writes a weekly blog at www.carriecariello.com. One of her essays, “I Know What Causes Autism,” was featured as one of the Huffington Post’s best of 2015, and her piece, “I Know Why He Has Autism,” was named one of the top blog posts of 2017 by the TODAY Show. ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 69 - "Be Kind To Everyone" and provide all children with opportunities to learn job skills & find joy in everything they do | 10 Mar 2021 | 01:04:49 | |
Jackie Moore received a Bachelors degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Central Missouri. Less than three years ago she launched Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project to teach Jordyn, her daughter with autism, job skills. Jordyn has not only learned job skills, she’s learned to independently do a job. They have been featured on 94.9 The Bull radio station, 11 Alive News, Fox5 Atlanta and Forsyth County News. Jackie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Ben and their two children; Jordyn, 20 years old, diagnosed with autism and Hudson, 7 years old. You can connect with Jackie & Jordyn on FB: @Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project; IG/TikTok: @summershirtproject or the company website: www.bekindtoeveryone.com ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!
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| S2: Episode 68 - An inspirational mom who encourages her adult son to be independent and follow his passion for art | 03 Mar 2021 | 00:59:13 | |
Amy Schlueter and her husband Jim are parents to Hannah (25) and Alex (24, ASD). She spends her time helping Alex navigate the world of young adults with special needs and cultivating his unique talent as an artist. She has come to love sharing her story as a mom of an older child on the autism spectrum. She, Jim, and Alex live on West Lake Okoboji in NW Iowa. Please visit Alex the Artist | Autism Awareness to see Alex’s collection of beautiful work. You can connect with Amy on FB: @alex the artist or IG: @alex.the.artistasd ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 67 - Discussing the abuse & mistreatment of special needs children within the education system | 24 Feb 2021 | 00:47:43 | |
Born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Aimee has practiced law for 37 years. In 1998, Aimee began practicing special education law, supporting children with special needs and their families. Aimee co-founded Special Education Services (SES) in 2001, a non-profit agency whose mission was to help families understand their children’s special education needs and legal rights, as well as to educate parents and provide technical assistance. After eight years of working for Special Education Services, Aimee went back into private practice, continuing to focus on special education law. Aimee is actively involved in due process hearings and federal court proceedings on a variety special education matters. As the parent of a child with autism, Aimee knows first hand the challenges that parents face and is dedicated to helping them navigate the system in order to best serve their child’s needs. Aimee is the author of the “Lighter Side of Special Education” articles which have appeared online for a number of years. You can contact Aimee via her firm: agilman@idealaw.org ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE or visit Amazon.com. You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 66 - The reality of caring full-time for your special needs adult with minimal options for services or assistance | 17 Feb 2021 | 00:57:45 | |
Tracy Lynn lives in Northern Virginia and has been married to her best friend for 33 years. Tracy has her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing and worked in critical care and school nursing. Her full time job now is caring for the youngest of her four children, Eli, age 20, who is diagnosed with Autism, Intellectual Disability, Epilepsy and Ulcerative Colitis. You can connect with Tracy on FB: @TracyLynn ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 65 - An autism diagnosis affects the entire family but with multiple children on the spectrum, parenting requires a special balancing act | 10 Feb 2021 | 00:51:33 | |
Sheryl St. Aubin is an autism mom that resides in Florida with her husband of fourteen years, Matt, and is a Mama to three beautiful, "socially unique" children. Sheryl is a writer and a blogger. Her writing has been featured on Finding Cooper’s Voice, Filter Free Parents, Her View From Home, Love What Matters and Cafe Mom.Since her special needs journey began, she has spent it building awareness and educating others about the Autism Spectrum. She spends her days homeschooling her youngest son and connecting special needs families all over the world in the supporter group for Finding Cooper’s Voice, Coop’s Troop. You can follow her journey on FB: Three Little Birds – Raising Kids on the Autism Spectrum and IG: threelittlebirds321 ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 64 - Tapping into our young adult's passions to encourage employment opportunities | 03 Feb 2021 | 00:56:00 | |
Theresa DeMarco is wife, mother and now gift shop owner! She began her special education journey when her middle son, Sean was diagnosed with Autism at the age of four. Sean is now almost 23 years old. Navigating school, IEPS and the transition into Adult Services, Theresa finds herself championing entrepreneurship and what this path has meant for her young adult son. You can follow Theresa on FB & IG: @OneForAllGifts and on the website Oneforallgifts.com. ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 63 - Differing emotion but similar experience - learning from a podcasting, autism dad who's an "open book" | 27 Jan 2021 | 00:42:46 | |
Fred Marvel is 39 years old, has been married close to 15 years and is the father of three boys. He was born and raised in Philadelphia where he works as a paralegal. His oldest son Aleks (11) was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder. Fred started a podcast called the Spectrum Dad Podcast late last year because he wanted to help bring awareness to autism. Connect with Fred on IG: @thespectrumdadpod ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S5: Episode 170 - Now an adult, this younger sister reflects on the many ways her relationship with her autistic brother has grown and become stronger | 28 Dec 2023 | 00:48:03 | |
Madison Urquiola is 25-years-old and currently works as the assistant athletics director for external operations/ sports communications at her alma matter Young Harris College. Her brother, Jordan Urquiola is 27-year-old brother and has autism. Madison loves spending time with her family, boyfriend, and dog. She enjoys the peace of the North Georgia Mountains and every year looks forward to the fall season. You can connect with Maddie via Twitter @maddieUrq or FB: @Madison Urquiola | |||
| S2: Episode 62 - The link between communication delays, negative behaviors and GI disorders... How a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease provided a clearer understanding of the connection | 20 Jan 2021 | 01:00:06 | |
Linda Pollack Orleans is a consultant, writer and speaker who holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from University of Southern California. Linda worked professionally as a school social worker and currently does consultations with schools and community organizations, assisting in programs designed to help her daughter and others with special needs bond with their mainstream peers. Linda’s articles and interviews have been featured in magazines and sites such as Autism Parenting Magazine, Finding Cooper’s Voice, Bethesda Magazine, Jewish Weekly and Friendship Circle of Maryland. Linda lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and beautiful 18-year-old daughter who has autism and Crohn's disease. Linda continues her passion of advocating for her daughter and others with disabilities through consulting, writing publications, and speaking engagements. You can find Linda on Facebook @Linda Pollack Orleans; Instagram, @LPorleans70; Email: Lindaporleans@gmail.com ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 61 - A journey to acceptance & unconditional love; for our children and ourselves | 13 Jan 2021 | 01:05:36 | |
Nicole Hendrick Donovan is an author, reflective storyteller, spiritual seeker and teacher. Nicole is a former Montessori educator who has worked with a variety of students with various needs. After her son’s autism diagnosis, she became an ABA therapist and worked directly with children and families in the autism community. In July of 2020, Nicole published A Life ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 60 - Saying goodbye to 2020 and sharing my personal takeaways from a highly unpredictable year! | 06 Jan 2021 | 00:22:35 | |
As I look back on 2020, I'd like to think I learned some valuable lessons about myself. On this solo episode, I share what those key takeaways were and my plans for 2021. I'd love to hear what positives you took from 2020 (c'mon, there has to be at least one if you dig deep enough to find it!) so drop me a comment on my IG or FB page or send me an email! ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 59 - O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree ... How Stressful You Are to Me! | 09 Dec 2020 | 00:19:01 | |
I truly am a joyful person who loves the Christmas holiday... but autism sure can put a damper on the festivities! In this solo episode, I tackle the topic of how to navigate Christmas decorating and gift opening with a special needs child. I would love to hear suggestions and solutions of how you handle the holidays - maintain the joy and don't over stress! Connect with me on my IG or FB page @Living the Sky Life and let's chat! ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!
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| S2: Episode 58 - Chatting with a mom featured in the documentary "Far From the Tree" about advocating for the non-verbal autistics who type to communicate | 02 Dec 2020 | 00:56:01 | |
Amy Allnutt is mom to three kids; Elizabeth (23), Emma (21) and her non-verbal autistic son Jack (18) and has been married to her husband Bob for 25 years. The Allnutts' world exploded when their son Jack attended an RPM camp in Austin TX in 2012 where he learned to type to communicate. Since then, Amy and her family have advocated for the voices of those who type to communicate and have shared their story with many to bring hope to other families with children like Jack. The journey has been challenging but worth it. Jack is currently mainstreamed in high school and taking grade level classes with a one on one communication partner. He hopes to attend community college when he graduates in May 2022. Amy and her family were one of five families featured in the documentary Far From the Tree based on the NY times best selling book of the same title by Andrew Solomon. The film documents their struggles before Jack learned to communicate and how families with children of different identities cope to find peace and acceptance. The film is still available to watch on Hulu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_1bVhenzZ0) In addition to being a Mom and wife, Amy is also a full time Professor at Marymount University in Arlington, VA and a doctoral student in Health and Human Performance at Concordia University Chicago. You can connect with Amy on FB: @amyshusterallnutt or IG: @amyallnutt ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 57 - Catching up & going beyond her well known title of 'autism mom' with Finding Cooper's Voice founder, Kate Swenson | 18 Nov 2020 | 00:53:44 | |
Kate Swenson is a mother, wife, writer, and caregiver advocate. She and her husband Jamie live in Minnesota with their 3 boys. Currently she is working on her memoir, Forever Boy, and building Coop's Troops, a safe space for parents of children of special needs on Facebook. To join visit https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/772295979579532/. To follow her family's journey, visit http://www.findingcoopersvoice.com/ and on social media at https://www.facebook.com/findingcoopersvoice and https://www.instagram.com/findingcoopersvoice/. ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 56 - An autism mom & author who is on a mission to generate awareness and inclusion within school systems countrywide through her children's book series | 11 Nov 2020 | 00:57:45 | |
Amy McCoy’s debut children’s novel, Little Big Sister, shares the sibling perspective of growing up with a brother who has special needs. Amy’s children, Matthew (16) and Kathryn (14) are the inspiration for her books and her work. Amy visits elementary schools, libraries, bookstores and other community groups offering interactive presentations highlighting disability awareness. Amy is a former elementary school teacher who has also worked in special education advocacy helping families connect with services. Currently, she is a disability educator and in 2019 published a sequel titled Little Big Sister on the Move. She is working on a third novel and writes a special needs parenting blog titled “Dancing in the Rain”. Amy’s goal with her books and her work is to help siblings who grow up alongside a brother or sister with any disability to feel less alone and more supported on Connect with Amy via her website: www.littlebigsisterbook.com & follow her on IG & FB: @Little Big Sister Book ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 55 - Podcast host, writer & educator; this amazing mother helps other caregivers find their passion & fulfill their own dreams | 04 Nov 2020 | 00:37:04 | |
Mary Susan McConnell is a native Tennessean who has been having a helluva good time since her arrival at Baptist Hospital in the late Spring of ‘84. She is the host of the popular Mama Bear Podcast- a space she created for fellow women raising kids with special needs. She is married to singer/songwriter Sean McConnell and is the mother to their 9 year old Ghanaian beauty, The Magical Abiella. As a former middle school teacher, she has her Master's in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and her Doctorate in Special Education. In her spare time she likes to work in her pottery studio, stalk the Carter Family on Instagram, and dance like everybody's watching. Mary Susan’s mission in both her writing and her podcast is to help women around the world hear other people say the things they are already feeling. As the mom to a child with profound special needs, she knows the power of connecting with other people who get it. The world of special needs parenting can be both isolating and overwhelming. It is Mary Susan’s mission to help women feel seen, breathe deeper, acknowledge their innate badassery, and approach their lives with a sense of bravery, excitement, and perhaps a little bit of humor. Connect with Mary Susan: IG:@marysusanmcconnell or her website www.marysusanmcconnell.com ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 54 - Author, mother and advocate for the well being & emotional support of special needs mothers | 28 Oct 2020 | 00:44:52 | |
Julie Hornok has over fifteen years of autism industry experience as a parent, non-profit founder, behavioral program facilitator, global interviewer, speaker and award-winning author of the book United in Autism: Finding Strength Inside the Spectrum. Her daughter, Lizzie, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and as her daughter made good progress, Julie poured her freed-up energy into providing emotional support, community-building events for special needs moms through her non-profit Labeled and Loved. Stay connected with Julie in the following ways: Websites: https://www.juliehornok.com https://www.labeledandloved.org Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unitedinautism https://www.instagram.com/unitedinautism/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hornok-united-in-autism-548a5041/ Book: Anywhere books are sold online! https://www.juliehornok.com/united-in-autism-finding-strength-inside-the-spectrum/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612542735 ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!
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| S2: Episode 53 - Author of Sunlight Burning at Midnight & new podcaster of Coffee with Caregivers, this inspirational mom of 8 has an incredible attitude & outlook rooted in faith | 21 Oct 2020 | 00:46:03 | |
Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host, documentary producer & caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project—a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Tennessee with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound special needs. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at: www.jessplusthemess.com or www.thelucasproject.org ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!
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| S5: Episode 169 - Today's guest takes her role as big sister & protector seriously as she shares with me all the ways she appreciates her autistic brother | 21 Dec 2023 | 00:33:34 | |
Natalie is in the 8th grade and loves the theater. She has been in several performances at her school and in local community theater. She loves animals, especially her cat, Willie and dog, Yogi. Natalie attends numerous Special Olympics events to support her little brother, Quinn, who has autism. Natalie is kind, loving and loyal. She is a fierce protector of her brother! | |||
| S2: Episode 52 - DD coffee lover, CIO & founder of The Caffeinated Advocate, blogger, author, editor and very vocal champion for all persons with disabilities | 14 Oct 2020 | 00:47:34 | |
Hailing from a small town southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Catherine Hughes is the daughter of two English professors and mother to Christian who is on the autism spectrum. She is a passionate advocate, innovative storyteller, and community strategist. Catherine is an international best-selling author and/or editor of multiple books including It's Going to be AUlright: Testimonies from Ausome Women Raising Ausome People, You Are Not Alone: Stories, Resources and Hope from Autism Moms as well as several books in the Made to Overcome series. Her long-awaited memoir, Imprisoned No More: A Mother and Son Embrace Autism and Journey to Freedom released in August 2020. She is scheduled to release more books and is participating in additional collaborations over the next twelve months. Catherine has managed a blog and social media platforms as The Caffeinated Advocate since 2018. In August 2020, Catherine also founded The Caffeinated Advocate, LLC. She is the Chief Inspirational Officer (CIO), and offers a wide array of services as an author, editor, coach, consultant, speaker, and trainer. She has achieved Certified Goal Success Coach and Certified Life Purpose Coach certifications from Transformation Academy, and expects to achieve all four certifications and ultimately recognition as a Certified Master Life Coach before the end of the year. For over seventeen years, she has provided comprehensive support and passionate advocacy to individuals and self-advocates, their families, and surrounding natural supports throughout their communities. Connect with Catherine: The Caffeinated Advocate: www.thecaffeinatedadvocate.com FB/IG/Pinterest: @caffeinatedadvocate LinkedIn: @catherineahughes ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2: Episode 51 - Blogger (Love Hope and Autism), Co-Author ("You are not alone..."), Twin mom and vocal advocate for all persons with disabilities | 07 Oct 2020 | 00:56:18 | |
Christina Abernethy is a dedicated wife, mother of three, and passionate advocate for people impacted by disabilities. She has coordinated events to fund research, supports and service dogs for families. She has served on local committees, coached an adaptive cheerleading team, and won awards for successful fundraising endeavors including those for “Team Bubba,” honoring her son with autism. She is the founder of Love, Hope and Autism and is proud to be the coordinator for Changing Spaces Pennsylvania, a movement to build accessible restrooms with powered height adjustable adult sized changing tables across communities to promote inclusion. She is working with legislators to pass a bill in Pennsylvania that would require such facilities in hospitals, airports, museums, rest stops, malls and more. She also works as a Family Support and Community Engagement Specialist at Achieving True Self, supporting families like hers. Christina is committed to spreading a message of heightened awareness and acceptance of differences, ultimately inspiring hope. For her efforts, she won the ACHIEVA Award Of Excellence for Family Support in 2018 and in 2019 was awarded a medal by the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania. She is a two-time best selling coauthor, most recently including “You Are Not Alone: Stories, Resources and Hope From Autism Moms;” a book that is filled with inspiring stories, helpful resources, and hope for families to let them know that they are not alone in their journey. Stay connected with Christina: FB & IG: @LoveHopeandautism Purchase the collaboration book "You are Not Alone..."on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Alone-Resources/dp/1701275155/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=You+are+not+alone+and+autism+book&qid=1600734495&sr=8-1 ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S2. Episode 50 - Author, Autism Mom, Co-founder of the nonprofit Labeled & Loved and so much more... | 30 Sep 2020 | 01:01:57 | |
Dr. Lisa Peña is a proud coach’s wife, a clinical pharmacist, passionate public speaker and a busy mom of three including a daughter with a unique subset of autism called, pathological demand avoidance (PDA). Dr. Peña is a co-founder of the nonprofit Labeled and Loved and director of the nonprofit’s annual weekend retreat for mother's with special needs children. She is a Today Show Parenting team contributor, the writer behind the website/blog The M.o.C.h.A. Diaries and author of the book, “Waiting for the Light Bulb: the ramblings of a crazy, gritty mom.” For more information, visit www.drlisapena.com Email: waitingforthelightbulb@gmail.com Instagram @mslisapena Facebook @mochadiaries Twitter @DrLisaPena To purchase Lisa's book: https://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Light-Bulb-ramblings-gritty/dp/1790111781/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=waiting+for+the+light+bulb&qid=1600285644&sr=8-3 To register for the Labeled & Loved moms retreat: http://www.labeledandloved.org/ll-retreat-2020/ ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 49 - Season 1 Wrap-Up and Recap!! | 23 Sep 2020 | 00:15:33 | |
Wow!! What a jam packed first season of Living the Sky Life! I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of the many incredible guests who took the time to chat with me and I'm equally as grateful to ALL of the thousands of listeners each week! Your feedback and encouragement has made hosting this podcast so much fun and rewarding... so, THANK YOU! I sure hope Season 2 is even more memorable - keep subscribing and sharing so no one misses a single episode. ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me!
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| Episode 48 - A candid conversation with my daughter Kendall about mental health and growing up with a severely autistic sibling | 16 Sep 2020 | 00:35:52 | |
My 15-year-old, neurotypical daughter, Kendall joins me for a very candid conversation. We touch on her feelings about growing up with a severely autistic brother, her struggles with anxiety & depression and the need for sibling support groups among many other topics. ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 47 - Communication comes in many forms... Spelling to Communicate is helping those with non-verbal ASD express thoughts and feelings | 09 Sep 2020 | 01:02:09 | |
Spelling to Communicate (S2C) is a technique that helps children with ASD express their thoughts and feelings through use of spelling! Students point to letters on a board to spell words and eventually create sentences. I'm thrilled to have my son's S2C practitioner Kelley Howe as my guest today to discuss the program in more detail and also the significant role that motor functioning plays when connecting with cognitive ability. Kelley Howe is an occupational therapist, Spelling to Communicate practitioner, and owner of Adroit Therapy Services in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her passion is working with clients to access effective communication by building the necessary motor skills. Connect with Kelley here: Website: https://www.adroittherapyservices.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adroittherapyservices ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 46 - SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY... important tips for emergency situations | 02 Sep 2020 | 01:00:20 | |
This is an episode you NEED to listen to! While taping this episode, I learned so many important lessons and tips for assisting first responders in any type of an emergency... things that are crucially important to ensure the safety of our special needs children! My guest, Ashlee Parker, is from a small town outside of Springfield, Missouri. She's married to her husband Kyle and they have a 9-week-old baby girl named Eliza who brings them so much joy. She works for Ebenezer Fire Protection District and enjoys every minute of her job. Ashlee has been a Firefighter/EMT since age 18 and now, age 27, serves as the assistant fire chief. Although she's not a special needs parent, Ashlee has made it one of her missions to connect with and educate special needs families to help keep all children safe and ultimately prevent tragedies from occurring. Connect with Ashlee on FB: @ashlee parker *She can share copies of the Functional Needs form to provide to your local fire station, EMT or police station ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 45 - An unexpected special education teaching assignment then becoming a special needs mom... God has a plan and helps us prepare for what's coming | 26 Aug 2020 | 01:04:28 | |
Nancy Campbell has been married to her husband Matt for 21 years and together they have 3 beautiful children, Avery (18), Isaac (12) and Emma (11). Nancy currently works as the principal of the Prosser Career Education Center, located in New Albany, Indiana. Nancy holds degrees in Family & Computer Sciences Education as well as Child Development/Family Life. Her oldest son, Avery was “officially” diagnosed with Autism at age 4. They noticed a significant change in his behavior around 18 months. Avery received services through First Steps of Indiana for Oral ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website www.lauriehellmann.com for all the links. I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 44 - Trying everything and never giving up when helping your ASD child learn to communicate | 19 Aug 2020 | 01:06:30 | |
Caryn Culver is a life long Tennessean and currently resides in Knoxville. She received her bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee and received her doctorate degree in pharmacy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She has been a practicing pharmacist since graduating in 2002. Stay connected with Caryn on FB: Caryn Culver; IG: @carynrx ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways. Please visit my website for all the links: www.lauriehellmann.com I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 43 - Divine intervention, a mother's devotion and an ice cream truck | 12 Aug 2020 | 00:52:16 | |
Shirley Sansom resides in Huntington, WV and is a wife (of 21 years), mother and fierce advocate of all children - particularly those with special needs. Shirley's love of children led her to owning a daycare for many years, becoming a foster mother and ultimately adoption - when her beautiful son, Jacob who is on the autism spectrum, was placed into her life. Now 28 years old, Jacob made Shirley aware of his wish to own an ice cream truck and this warrior mom set out to make his dream come true! Several months ago, "Ice Cream Guy" hit the road and can be seen making it's way around the city of Huntington providing ice cream and smiles to members of the community! You can connect with Shirley via FB: @shirley payne Sansom or with Jacob via FB: @Jacob Lee Lowe (aka ice cream guy) https://westvirginiaville.com/2020/07/video-not-your-average-ice-cream-truck-story/ ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways: linktr.ee/skykenmom I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| S5: Episode 168 - Two brothers join me for a discussion about life as an autism sibling | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:43:26 | |
Aaron Long is a 15-year-old sophomore who enjoys soccer, lacrosse, and ice skating. He also loves Christmas! According to his family, he consumes copious amounts of Kit Kats; would have a house full of cats and dogs if he could and when he's not in school or at a sport practice or game, like hanging out at the arcade. Justin Long is an 18-year-old senior who is looking forward to graduation in May. Currently, hockey is life! Justin would like to become a marine biologist and travel the world and help others. He lovingly cares for many goldfish and enjoys celebrating his Italian heritage! Apparently, Justin never refuses beef stroganoff or an opportunity to taste unusual soda pop! Their older brother, Jared, who is 20 years old has autism and a unique & special relationship with each of his siblings. | |||
| Episode 42 - Profiling another autism friendly business - Sweet Miracles Bakery of Louisville, KY | 05 Aug 2020 | 00:15:04 | |
Robin LaHue is the owner/founder of Sweet Miracles Bakery in Louisville, Ky. She is a stay at home mom who lost her job due to COVID-19. For years, she wanted a way to be able to help families with autistic children as she has a close family connection to the disorder. So, after years of prayer, she felt it was her mission to use her talents with baking and decorating to help those families in need. She is striving to create a company that shines light on the beauty of autism to the public and is giving a portion of the proceeds from sales on a few autism themed items to a local autism organization. To contact Robin and Sweet Miracles Bakery, please visit her FB page: @Sweet Miracles Bakery, LLC ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways: linktr.ee/skykenmom I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 41 - Discussing residential homes, support animals and the challenging decisions we as parents face to ensure our children are able to live their best life | 29 Jul 2020 | 01:02:05 | |
Christina Stearns is an autism mom from Upstate New York. Her son Alec is 15 years old and on the autism spectrum. She is a founding member of the Autism & Mental Health Initiative of Central New York (CNY), and board member of a new non-profit organization, Sanchia A. Callender, Inc. (visit www.sanchia.org). Recently, Christina was featured along with two other autism parents in a mini documentary: Life Fantastic, which highlights the challenges that autistic individuals and families face when seeking out appropriate mental health services in the Central New York area. You can watch the documentary on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eBSsAMbVvq4 Sharing experiences and information with other parents and advocating for kids (and eventually adults) on the spectrum is something Christina enjoys and has been a part of since 2007, when Alec was first diagnosed. She believes that banning together to build a network of information and support is so very important! **Important update... the family FINALLY got to visit Alec on June 19th!!! Social Networks: Learn more about Sanchia A Callender, Inc. on Facebook by searching for the organization's page: Sanchia A Callender, Inc ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways: linktr.ee/skykenmom I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||
| Episode 40 - (Part 2) Discussing the challenges of aging into adulthood & ensuring you are prepared to advocate for services | 22 Jul 2020 | 01:02:54 | |
In this part 2 episode with Kelly (@growingupSteven), we discuss the various challenges that face parents when their son/daughter ages out of traditional services & opportunities. At the age of 18, there are steps that need to be taken on your child's behalf - such as filing for Social Security benefits and perhaps seeking legal counsel to prepare either a Power of Attorney or Guardianship. *Steven also makes a guest appearance during our discussion and answers one of my burning questions. Stay in touch with Kelly on IG: @growingupSteven ***************************************** To purchase my book “Welcome to My Life – A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism” click HERE!! You can easily stay connected to the Living the Sky Life podcast and me in various ways: linktr.ee/skykenmom I'd love to hear what you think, so if listening on the Apple platform, please leave a written review and rating of the podcast! If you are interested in being a guest on an episode of Living the Sky Life, please contact me! | |||