Forget Dis!

Dr. Hackie Reitman: doctor, boxer, neurodiversity advocate, and founder of Different Brains - talks with us about his program and how important it is for society to learn to embrace those with different abilities.

Lillieth Grand - a music therapist, business owner, educator, and mother from Oregon - shares her experiences and how they have shaped the way she treats others and how she finds strength in herself.

Hosts Kayla and Emily talk about their experience and insights from the 2018 US Autism Conference. April is Autism Awareness Month -- learn about different ways to connect with those on the spectrum.

Our interview with Navy veteran Jenna Weathers gives us a comprehensive insight into life with Ehlers Danos Syndrome, PTSD, working while disabled, and navigating the VA system.

Dean Bragonier, founder of NoticeAbility Inc., tells of his own journey with dyslexia, how a dyslexic mind works and what advantages dyslexics posses, and how he is helping other dyslexics learn with individually tailored curricula.

Chloe Short was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita which limits her movements. However Chloe did not let her condition stop her from playing music and joining the high school band. Chloe plays the euphonium, a large brass instrument, which is adapted specifically for her to play...and trust us, she plays it well!

Let's (all) play ball! Taylor Duncan, a young man with Autism, founded and operates the rapidly growing non-profit Alternative Baseball Organization. ABO provides teens and adults with Autism and special needs an accepting yet competitive place to play the beloved game of baseball. Taylor has some exciting news about ABO, how it was started, and is an example of determination and hard work despite the many obstacles he faced in his youth.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to use a wheelchair in a city like New York? For that matter - getting where you want to go in a wheelchair at all? Marissa Meleske, a life coach, author, and protaganist of increased accessibility tells us what it's like living in Long Island using a wheelchair, her challenges with spina bifida, and urges everyone to petition for people of all abilities to have access to the places they want to go. Featuring the music of Devin Larue.

Jean Peyton has been involved with helping those with vision impairments in Las Vegas for many years. She is the president of Blind Connect, which has a great program called Angela's House that she tells us all about. The staff there have vision impairments also, giving them unique qualifications to help those navigating their vision loss for the first time.

Emily and Kayla review what they've learned from all of their guests summarizing key points that were emphasized in every interview and the impact that this podcast has had on them as hosts, therapists, and human beings.

Can I still communicate with a deaf person even if I don’t know sign language? Can all deaf people read lips? What is Deaf culture? What is a cochlear implant and what effects, positive and negative, does it have on a deaf person? These questions answered and more in our interview with Deaf interpreter Bonnie.

“Bloom where you’re planted” dawns one of the walls of the newly opened non-profit facility “The Garden Foundation” in Las Vegas. The Garden Foundation may very well be the first of it's kind in Las Vegas, offering person-centered and individualized services for all people with disabilities at affordable rates. Taylor Gardner, founder and CEO, talks about the vision and inspiration behind the foundation.

Left with feeling that there was much more to say with not enough time to say it, Erika continues her talk on how to support someone with Bipolar disorder, the most annoying things to say to someone with mental health issues, and how music has carried her through the toughest times in her life and given meaning to the full spectrum of emotions we all experience.

You may have called the weather 'bipolar' or used it as a blanket term to describe someone with mood swings, but what is it actually? Las Vegas local, balloon artist, and musician Erika Leigh has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and clears the air for us. Erika advocates for mental health awareness and management in a time where those with mental illness find themselves still heavily burdened by stigmas and abhorrent treatment.

He’s only 21 years old, owns his own booming business, and has Down syndrome. His name is John Cronin and he and his Dad are on a misson: spread happiness through socks. His message for everyone: “Down Syndrome does not hold me back.” Hear the story behind “John’s Crazy Socks.”

How can music therapy help establish and encourage learning social skills in children in with Autism? Emily and Kayla explain this facet of music therapy and hear about how Colin, a young boy with Autism, connects with others in music therapy.

Madison is 14 years old, likes coffee, and wears a smile often. She also has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. She is often met with awkward staring, invasions of personal space, and misguided sentiments in public on a daily basis. Her mother Raina has a message for everyone: Madison is a person and deserves to be treated like one.

Jona Jeffcoat, similar to hosts Emily and Kayla, is a Music Therapist and accomplished business owner. Jona also faces major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, an invisible chronic pain disorder that affects her nerves, and hearing loss. At home, she is the mother of a son with Autism. So how does she balance it all?

Last episode we heard from Elizabeth, a music therapist with autism, on how to better interact with those on the spectrum. This episode we hear from a parent with a child with autism and how he is able to effectively navigate schooling and education for his child. This one's for the 'rents!

Elizabeth is autistic. To her, it’s who she is. If you have ever wondered how to better connect with someone who is on the spectrum and try to understand their perspective, listen to Elizabeth’s story, the works she does as a music therapist, and some of her stand-up comedy.

Meet 19 year old Jacob Smith, a young composer who lives with a debilitating chronic pain condition: Trigeminal Neuralgia. His story of resiliency and strength remind us that from even the most difficult of circumstances, hope and beauty can arise.

Join Emily and Kayla, two music therapists, and Kevin, a young man with septo-optic dysplasia, demonstrate how music is an excellent tool to help with learning a variety of concepts, from mathematics to memory.

Jon Rawlings and Brett Silver of Las Vegas, two friends who are visually impaired share some of their stories, perspectives, and advice all while putting a huge smile on our faces. Learn how to, and how not to, talk to blind people from two blind dudes themselves.

Introducing "Forget Dis!" and the two co-hosts Emily Rawlings and Kayla Connick who are two music therapists in Las Vegas hoping to change perceptions of people who are differently abled by focusing instead on what they can do and what they do for their communities every day. Emily shares her story of facing unique challenges and becoming a successful businesswoman and music therapist.