When Eliza was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, the flood of emotions from anger to isolation was overwhelming.

On this episode of Parenting Impossible, join Annette as she opens up about her personal journey and the moments that shaped her path in special needs parenting. Annette welcomes Julie Foge, a fellow special needs mom and founder of the Leaning Into Love website, to share her experiences and insights.

Julie and Annette cover advocating for their children amid the chaos of daily responsibilities, underscoring choosing battles and seeking support. Julie’s mission, inspired by her child's rare disease and her background as a teacher, is to create a nurturing space for parents and caregivers. With her husband’s medical expertise adding another to their conversation, they dive into practical tips for managing the NICU experience, from using your voice effectively to reducing decision fatigue through community support.

Julie and Annette also tackle special education advocacy, offering strategies to foster productive collaboration with educators. Discover how simple tools like an “All About Me” page can help teachers understand your child's unique needs.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The emotional rollercoaster of parenting a child with special needs
• Dealing with a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome and feelings of isolation
• The importance of advocacy in navigating daily challenges
• The need for support systems for both children and parents
• Strategies for managing a NICU stay, including effective communication with medical staff
• Leveraging community support to reduce decision fatigue
• Techniques for successful special education advocacy, nurturing collaboration with educators, and creating personalized tools like an “All About Me” page
• Julie's dual perspective as a teacher and a special needs mom
• Insights from Julie’s husband's medical background with practical advice for parents
• Overcoming the transition from NICU to home care, dealing with decision-making, and finding local resources for ongoing support

Resources from this Episode

• Leaning Into Love website: www.leaningintolove.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/juliefoge
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/juliefoge
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julie-foge-88418b30a
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/leaningintolove

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

It can be difficult for families to find fitness classes oriented toward individuals with different abilities, whether neurodivergence or physical. However, an emerging fitness category is designed for those who need adaptive and inclusive therapy.

On this episode of Parenting Impossible, Annette sits down with guest Karen Hurley, a physical therapist and strength and condition specialist with more than 20 years of experience. Karen received a bachelor’s degree in educational studies from Brown University, where she was a varsity athlete and captain of the women’s gymnastics team. She then received a master's degree in physical therapy from Boston University. Karen has worked in various settings and spent the past eight years as a districtwide physical therapist for a local school district. Karen is the founder and president of A.I.M. Therapy located in Needham, Massachusetts, which offers adaptive inclusive movement therapy, including CrossFit and functional fitness sessions for kids, teens, and adults with autism, ADHD, processing challenges, and anxiety.

Annette and Karen explore Karen’s background as a physical therapist, creating connections with students, and how that ultimately led to her establishing her business, A.I.M. Therapy. You’ll also hear what makes CrossFit an inclusive and adaptable activity, who she works with, and what Unified Sports is. Karen explains how the goals of her business have changed since founding it, what makes A.I.M. unique, and why CrossFit benefits neurodiverse athletes. Finally, she outlines how A.I.M. meets clients where they’re at, her encouragement for someone hesitant to attend these classes, and what you can do to get started with adaptive and inclusive therapy in your community.

Adaptive and inclusive therapy can tremendously impact communities where it’s offered. Karen Hurley is excited to share the difference it can make for individuals with different abilities.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Karen Hurley’s background working as a physical therapist with students, creating meaningful connections with them, and how that led to teaching CrossFit
• CrossFit as a scalable, inclusive, and adaptable activity
• Why Karen works primarily with individuals with disabilities and how it led her to open her own business
• An explanation of Unified Sports and the Special Olympics
• How the goals of Karen’s business have changed over time because of the importance of community
• A.I.M. (Adaptive Inclusive Movement) Therapy and what makes it unique from other adaptive and inclusive classes
• A typical day at A.I.M. Therapy
• What differentiates adaptive and inclusive CrossFit from traditional physical therapy
• CrossFit’s variability and how that benefits athletes with neurodiversity
• Relative high intensity scaled to meet you where you’re at, which is functional fitness
• The encouragement Karen gives to those who are hesitant to attend her classes
• Her advice for those who would like to start their own adaptive and inclusive therapy in their communities

Resources from this Episode

• adaptiveaimtherapy.com

• www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093139387607

• www.instagram.com/aim_therapy

• www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hurley-9141b41a2

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Navigating the complexities of the special needs community is fraught with challenges, and the current workforce crisis in the disability sector is a cliff we're all facing together. Annette has seen firsthand how the pandemic has eroded the support program landscape as a special needs mom, attorney, and author. It's time we discuss the dire statistics and what they mean for our loved ones. The scarcity of direct support professionals (DSPs) is at a critical point.

In this episode of Parenting Impossible, we're pulling back the curtain on the harsh realities service providers are grappling with, from program cuts to the tough competition for attracting dedicated workers. Yet, amidst the stark outlook, there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Annette is excited to share the recent settlement poised to relieve SSI beneficiaries and the proactive steps the Social Security Administration is taking to rectify overpayment issues. But let's not lose sight of the impending expiry of federal funding that could spell a reduction in community-based services. It's a heartfelt plea for awareness and action—we must bolster the ranks of DSPs and ensure the support structures our community relies on don't crumble. Your involvement is critical, and by sharing your thoughts and spreading the word, you can help ignite the changes we so desperately need.

Join me in this crucial conversation, and let's pave the way toward a more supportive future for those with special needs.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The critical workforce crisis in the disability sector post-pandemic
• Some personal insights from Annette
• An examination of the direct support professional (DSP) shortage and service program cutbacks
• Recent settlements benefiting SSI beneficiaries and SSA's resolution of overpayment issues
• The implications of expiring federal funding from the American Rescue Plan on community-based services
• The need for legislative action to stabilize the DSP workforce and ensure sustainable disability support

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know I sent you.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.