Navigating Life as we Know It

Navigating the world with a disability can often feel like an uphill battle, especially when it comes to travel. We've experienced it firsthand as we journey with our son Lliam. Our struggles sparked a conversation and led us on a journey to understand more about accessibility. We found ourselves crossing paths with the passionate advocates behind AccessibleGo – a leading accessible travel website in the US that's revolutionizing the game for travelers with disabilities. Today, we're thrilled...

When we first spoke with Tiffany Dill several months ago it was about her Universal Design Consulting firm, Blue Day 2. As of July 1, 2023, she has combined her talents and passion for accessible design with Gretchen Kingma, who, like Tiffany, has experience as an Occupational Therapist. Gretchen is also a top producing realtor in the St. Louis area who founded Empowered Homes to fill the gap in real estate services for people with disabilities and adults who wish to age in place. Together Ti...

Moving out of a family home is one of life's "exciting, sad, happy, and scary" events. There are so many changes that come with having a place of your own. But...there is also growth and independence. There are new things to discover and experience - for parent care providers and for the young adult who is spreading their wings. Todays story is about Will McAllister and his transition to his own apartment and a new independent life! It is also a story about parental faith and steadfast love i...

We all have two basic needs as human beings. One is to be authentic, to live our lives in a manner that reflects our true selves. The other human need is to be accepted within a community. When these two need conflict, when the community to which we belong does not accept our authentic self, the most common reaction is to "mask" that part of our identity that puts us at risk of being excluded from our association with other community members. The MDRC mission is to "....

Many people seem to have a "problematic" relationship with sleep. We take medications to keep us awake...and we take medications to make us sleep. But sleep...a GOOD night's sleep, is essential to our psychological and physical health. Autism is one of those disabilities that can manifest itself in a broad spectrum of sensory issues...and often the ability to sleep through the night is seriously affected. Most of us know what it feels like to suffer from sleep d...

Individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families often find themselves dealing with complexity and even intentional obfuscation as they navigate the path of Medicaid eligibility and benefits That is why we find it exhilarating when along that path we find individuals with expertise and empathy. I have discovered both those qualities in Marianne Huff. Although Marianne's highest level of expertise is in the mental health arena...the rules governing Medi...

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry!" is an old and unfortunately true statement. And "best laid plans" often "go awry" for two reasons. 1) poor planning...or no planning, and 2) people don't work collaboratively to create solutions that work for all concerned. Both are a result of human error. And both are avoidable. But we all know that within families and friends differing points of view on how to solve a problem can wreck havoc on the best relationships. And that is most un...

Voting is a constitutional right for an overwhelming majority of Americans, but the reality is people with disabilities, racial minorities and economically challenged individuals face far more obstacles to voting than most voters. Unsubstantiated allegations of mass voter fraud were circulated and amplified after the 2020 presidential election and conspiratorial politicians laid plans for another, more devastating voter fraud scheme.... to suppress voting by mail and drop box through he...

In this new book, Tracee offers you the tips she remembers, stories of adversity and success, to document her personal battles with self and others in a position to grant or deny life-saving tools, equipment, and the access to freedom we all hold dear but often take for granted. The author encourages all of us to use the Field Notes daily to meet success and navigate each one of life’s seemingly impossible hurdles. Topics in the book include: employment, mental health, education, family, phys...

If you set out to climb the Himalayas it would be wise to hire a sherpa. Why, you ask? Because the climb may be treacherous and your mistakes very costly! A sherpa has been on the path many times and knows how to climb to the top with positive results. How much do you want to leave to chance? The same may be said about navigating the challenges and obstacles ever present for people with disabilities. Legal planning, financial planning, benefits planning, educational programs, work incentives ...

There is a gulf between changing a world and changing THE world, and the difference is the people who help build the steam needed to bring about true and lasting change to the way a society approaches a topic.Earlier this season we discussed the life and advocacy of Bill Rush and some of the people around him on his quest for a life on his terms. We had a chance in the followup to talk with a contemporary of his, John McGill, who offered insight into the changing of the disability landscape o...

Affordable, accessible housing, transportation and internet availability are serious issues for people with disabilities in just about every state in the USA. It is especially problematic in rural areas. As if these challenges weren't enough, the crew of the Disability Resource Network in Huntsville Alabama opened for business during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, quarantine and social distancing would have been the straw that broke the poor camel's back....

Imagine engaging an architect to create plans for the perfect house to fill all your needs.... You are excited about turning this dream into a reality…but then discovering there is no one to do the excavation for the foundation. Also, there is only one carpenter to work on the frame...and that craftsman can only work 12 hours a week on your project. There is a shortage of plumbers...so you will have to make do with an outhouse until one is available. And an electrician? Sorry...only one is av...

Episode 3 - Life together and Changing the WorldMost movements for social change are identified with a few prominent and well-known leaders. For instance, people like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, among others, are associated with the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The truth is…these individuals provided a voice and a face to the movement, but without the thousands who...

Episode 2 - Love and the Audacity of Change Most movements for social change are identified with a few prominent and well-known leaders. For instance, people like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, among others, are associated with the Civil Rights movement in the USA. Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The truth is…these individuals provided a voice and a face to the movement, but without the thousands wh...