Our daughter has severe disabilities. This podcast should provide support, information and hope as you navigate life with your child who has disabilities. We will share our experiences raising our daughter from the early years through adulthood. On this podcast we have conversations with various guests ranging from medical professionals, to parents to surfing instructors. Together we'll cover the good, the bad (and some of the ugly) challenges and joys we continue our journey loving and raising our wonderful daughter.
On this episode we are talking with Trudy Marsh Grable who spent over 30 years working as director of community and family services at the nonprofit agency Parents Helping Parents, where she developed programs, raised funds, supported families, and helped build more inclusive communities. She also is a mom of an adult daughter with developmental disabilities. In the 90s she started a support group for families of children and adult children who experience challenging seizures. One area of passion is educating parents about person-centered planning. She has guided hundreds of individuals, families, and professional support teams through that process for many years, helping people find clarity, purpose, and practical steps toward the lives they envision.
Today we are continuing our talk with Lynne Gallego, mom to twin sons with autism. She has walked the journey of ups and downs losing her husband along the way. She continues her inspirational story and gives insight and a positive perspective for others. In part 2 of "Keep asking".
Today's guest we are talking with Lynne Gallego, mom to twin sons with autism, has walked the journey of ups and downs losing her husband along the way. She has an inspirational story and gives insight and a positive perspective for others.”
Today we are talking with Kathleen Foley-Hughes, who opened a cafe in 2003 dedicated to employing people with disabilities after realizing there were limited vocational educational options for her son and others with disabilities. Fast forward to 2025 and Ada's Café, is a thriving business and pillar of success in the community. Ada's Cafe is a place where those with disabilities learn all aspects of the restaurant industry in a supportive environment.
On this episode we are talking with Dr. Damon Korb, a board-certified developmental and behavioral pediatrician. As the clinic director for Center for Developing Minds, he guides a team of child development experts that care for children and young adults who are struggling. Join us as we discuss his work and how your child could benefit from the programs and services the center offers.
On this episode we are talking with Paula Reardon, mom to two sons with autism. One son entering college and another in elementary school and the challenges associated with educational, medical, and social systems and never taking no for an answer when it's what your child needs.
Today's guest is, Dr. Calvin Wheeler, MD, Pediatric Neurologist, recently retired from Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional and Medical Director of Undergraduate and Graduate medical education, having served in that role for seven years. Prior to that he was the physician-in-chief of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fremont and the Greater Southern Alameda Area for 18 years. During those 18 years, he was a member of the Board of Directors and the Operations Management Group for The Permanente Medical Group. There are too many accomplishments to mention in this short opening. But, our most fond experience was when we first meet Dr. Wheeler and he walked picked up our daughter and saw her as a person and not just a patient.
On today's episode we have the pleasure of talking with Maria Daane, the Executive Director of Parents Helping Parents (PHP), located in Silicon Valley. Parents Helping Parents supports parents whose children - or adult children - have disabilities. Parents Helping Parents offers 600 training and support groups online each year as well as a robust website visited by 200,000 annually. Maria has been at PHP for 7 years, and especially values that over 90% of those who work at PHP as well as the majority of the board of directors are themselves parents of individuals with special needs, which makes the work especially meaningful. Maria has worked over 20 years as a Manager or Director in the nonprofit sector, and enjoys hiking and family time.
Timothy Reed Murphy, Surf Therapy Specialist shares how he built a professional life that combines his greatest passions– wander lusting and bringing humanity closer together through giving back and how your child with disabilities can participate in surf therapy. Timothy has been working with children with disabilities, veterans, and other at-risk communities. He is a well-known and popular member of the Adaptive Surf Community, and posts his experiences with over 26,000 followers on Instagram (@timothy_reed_murphy). On this episode discover how your child with disabilities can do the impossible.
Today we are talking with Allen Lillie, former San Andreas Regional Center, Service Coordinator, who walks us through the regional center services and programs available to families in California. If you have a child with a disability tune in and find out how to access these critical services.
Episode 2 discusses living options. Amy Pardham, mom of a 20 year old daughter, nonverbal recently placed her in a residential living home. Sherrean discusses Taylor's current living situation in housing built for people with developmental disabilities. Positives and challenges of determining what is the best placement for your child.
On this first episode Dave and Sherrean are interviewed by Brian Bernasconi at PodCats Studio in Los Gatos CA. On this episode you will get the background story about us and our daughter Taylor who has sever disabilities.
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