Podcasts about best buddies

Adrienne Moore and Avery VanMiddlesworth talk about the Best Buddies program

On this podcast episode I dive deep with Wesley Stevens, the founder of Vox, Inc. Wes shares his fascinating journey from starting as an intern in the voiceover industry to becoming a highly successful agent. In this episode, explore the evolution of voiceover, the impact of technology on the industry, and what it takes to make it as a voiceover artist today. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the scene, this episode is packed with insights and advice from one of the industry's most experienced agents.   Wes has advocated for talent as a profession since 1994. He started in Columbus, Ohio at a small agency booking variety acts before joining Talent Group, Inc. (TGI) in Los Angeles in 1995 as an assistant. Seven years later, he acquired TGI's voice-over department and launched VOX, Inc. Wes has represented some of the biggest names in film, television, social media and music, alongside brands including Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, Fox, GE, Apple, Dodge, Jaguar and Sprint. His first booking of note was placing David Hyde Pierce in "A Bugs Life," and the journey took him back to Pixar in 2009, when he placed Ed Asner in "Up." Along that road there have been many campaigns, series, films, and fond memories.   Having built the company off the springboard of his specialization in animation and gaming, the company's success led to diversification into celebrity endorsements and innovative deals in hosting, podcasting, AI and other emerging media and technologies. Wes helps talented people create powerful, equitable, and long-term relationships. He thrills at the opportunity to connect the right talented people with each other.   Wes was born in Virginia. He is a military brat, an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Virginia. Wes has run seven full marathons from Honolulu to Florence, Italy. He is very involved with Amazon Conservation Team and with Best Buddies, a global charity promoting the full integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities into mainstream society. He is passionate about creativity in all its expressions. Wes resides in Los Angeles with his husband and two pups.   Want to connect with Wes? You can find him at:   Vox Website: https://voxusa.net/#about Vox IG: https://www.instagram.com/vox_inc_usa/   Want to connect with Justine? You can find her at:    Website: https://empoweredvoicecoach.com/ Email: justine@suchavoice.com IG: @justinereiss And to receive an INTRO TO VOICEOVER webinar email her at justine@suchavoice.com   I hope you enjoy this powerful and inspirational episode just as much as I did!  If you did please leave a review for us!    Check out this recent incredible review of The VoiceOver Pod:   “The Queen, Justine Reiss   This wonderful lady is truly the Queen of our business. Justine is sincere, honest, exhilarating, exuberant, polarizing, and energetic!! You inevitably get caught up in the moment with her enthusiasm and love for the craft!   She and the guests on the podcast have a genuine vibe that you can feel and hear in their voices! As a person, I am honored to have Justine as a mentor and guide as a newcomer to the voice acting industry. She is truly one of the best in what she does!" - Dave Kaleel    Tune in to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts    Thank you for listening!   --   Check out our free PDF with pro-tips from real working voiceover actors here:  bit.ly/3hT7ylz   Want to learn more about voiceover? Check out Justine's introductory webinar here:  https://go.oncehub.com/YoureOnTheAirWithJustine

Its always amazing when teens are leading the way in their community and we talked to someone who is doing just that - Maisie Adams joins Vineeta LIVE on the WCCO Radio veranda - she is being crowned Miss Minnesota Teen USA and this Fall will represent Minnesota in the Miss Teen USA competition we talked about that - we spotlight her work with Best Buddies helping raise over $40,000 towards students with developmental and intellectual disabilities and also her placement in DECA!

Its always amazing when teens are leading the way in their community and we talked to someone who is doing just that - Maisie Adams joins Vineeta LIVE on the WCCO Radio veranda - she is being crowned Miss Minnesota Teen USA and this Fall will represent Minnesota in the Miss Teen USA competition we talked about that - we spotlight her work with Best Buddies helping raise over $40,000 towards students with developmental and intellectual disabilities and also her placement in DECA!

This show begins with a discussion of the Jersey Mikes partnership with Best Buddies, where the sandwich shop donates 20% of their sales over the weekend to the Best Buddies Foundation. Best Buddies works to provide programs and initiatives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Other segments include; Alice Cooper raising money and awareness […]

Sie können einfach nicht ohne einander: die Zirbelkiefer und der Tannenhäher. In den Schweizer Alpen sind die beiden enge Partner – die Zirbelkiefer bietet die Nahrung in Form von Samen, die der Tannenhäher dann versteckt und dank seines außergewöhnlichen räumlichen Gedächtnisses auch im tiefsten Schnee wiederfindet. Somit sind sie ein Paradebeispiel für Interaktionen zwischen Pflanzen und Vögeln, die Eike Lena Neuschulz untersucht. Sie ist Senior Scientist im Team Funktionelle Ökologie und Globaler Wandel bei Senckenberg und spricht in dieser Folge von „Erdfrequenz“ über ihre Forschung zu den beiden und den komplexen Interaktionen von Tieren und Pflanzen allgemein. Die Arbeitsgruppe Funktionelle Ökologie und globaler Wandel, in der Eike Lena Neuschulz bei Senckenberg arbeitet. Hier geht's zur Kika-Sendung mit Eike Lena Neuschulz. Folgt uns auch aufFacebookInstagramTikTokYouTube

What happens when a member of one of the most iconic families in American history turns his privilege into purpose? Anthony Kennedy Shriver, CEO of Best Buddies International and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, joins Shawn for another high-impact episode of The Determined Society. From growing up under the influence of public service giants like Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver to building the world's largest nonprofit dedicated to inclusion, Anthony shares the defining moments, values, and determination that drive his mission today. *This episode covers:* -Founding Best Buddies International and its global impact -His mother's legacy in creating the Special Olympics -Growing up in the Kennedy family—and the real meaning of service -Public/private partnerships and unlocking opportunity -Why people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are the most overlooked workforce segment -How schools, companies, and media can step up -The future of Best Buddies and what fuels Anthony today If you're looking for real leadership, bold vision, and legacy in action—this is it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when a member of one of the most iconic families in American history turns his privilege into purpose? Anthony Kennedy Shriver, CEO of Best Buddies International and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, joins Shawn for another high-impact episode of The Determined Society. From growing up under the influence of public service giants like Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver to building the world's largest nonprofit dedicated to inclusion, Anthony shares the defining moments, values, and determination that drive his mission today. *This episode covers:* -Founding Best Buddies International and its global impact -His mother's legacy in creating the Special Olympics -Growing up in the Kennedy family—and the real meaning of service -Public/private partnerships and unlocking opportunity -Why people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are the most overlooked workforce segment -How schools, companies, and media can step up -The future of Best Buddies and what fuels Anthony today If you're looking for real leadership, bold vision, and legacy in action—this is it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome New Jersey-native and acclaimed drummer Jay Weinberg! Voted 4x "Best Metal Drummer" and "#1 Rock Drummer" in Modern Drummer Readers Polls, Jay Weinberg is known as the current drummer for American thrash groups Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves, and past tenure with the heavy-metal band Slipknot from 2014-2023. This episode dives deep into the intersection of art, music, and community. Having just wrapped support on Metallica's M72 World Stadium Tour, Jay recalls stories from the road and his approach to high-level performing. We learn the genesis of Jay's visual art career and his unique approach to balancing perfectionism and artistry. Jay discusses his important work with the Best Buddies of Tennessee, his approach to drum clinics and education, and his cherished collaborations with brands including SJC Drums, Zildjian, and Mixwave. We hope you enjoy!Chapters:0:00 Intro2:10 Welcome, Jay! 2:49 Nashville's Evolving Drum Community 10:15 Hockey & Injury 13:13 Reflecting on Life's Decisions and Creativity22:21 Touring with Metallica: A Dream Come True 33:29 Drum Box (Sponsor) 34:11 Jay Weinberg: The Visual Artist 36:44 Early Years: Jay' Father Max Weinberg, Bruce & the E Street Band 37:27 Balancing School and Touring 43:57 Exploring Visual Art and Oil Painting 46:48 The Intersection of Music and Art 53:50 Perfectionism & Patience 1:04:55 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 1:05:36 Collaborations and Custom Drum Kits 1:19:35 Mixwave Virtual Drums 1:23:36 Zildjian Signature Bell 1:26:09 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 1:27:09 Best Buddies of Tennessee 1:35:36 SJC Drums (Sponsor) 1:36:25 Drumming Accolades 1:38:47 Music City Drum Show (2025 Clinic) 1:46:55 Sonique Drums (Sponsor) 1:47:35 Show Prep: Rituals and Routines 1:51:47 The Physicality of Drumming 2:01:17 Closing Questions (Tattoos, Coffee, & Food) 2:11:13 OutroThank you to our Episode Sponsors:SJC Drumshttps://www.sjcdrums.comDrum Boxhttps://drumbox.spaceDrum Supplyhttps://www.drumsupply.comLow Boy Beatershttps://lowboybeaters.comGroove MPLhttps://www.groovempl.comSonique Drumshttps://soniquedrums.comConnect with Jay:Instagram: http://instagram.com/jayweinbergYouTube: http://youtube.com/jayweinbergofficialFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayweinbergdrumWebsite: https://www.jayweinbergofficial.comMusic Featured in this Episode:"Nero Forte" - Slipknot"All Out Life" - SlipknotSupport the showConnect with us:WebsiteInstagramTikTokYouTubeFacebookRecorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TNPodcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Donald Trump und Elon Musk waren mal "Best Buddies". Jetzt sind sie öffentlich Feinde und tragen ihren Streit unter anderem auf ihren Plattformen Truth Social und X aus. Dazu geführt haben nicht zuletzt Trumps Steuersenkungspläne. Nun droht Musk sogar mit der Gründung einer neuen Partei. Was genau ist zwischen dem US-Präsidenten und dem Tech-Milliardär vorgefallen? Könnte Musk wirklich bald die "America Party" gründen und wenn ja, welche Folgen hätte das? Darüber spricht Studio KURIER-Host Caroline Bartos mit Außenpolitik-Redakteur Johannes Arends. Guter Journalismus bringt Klarheit – und kostet Geld. Mit einem KURIER Digital Abo können Sie unsere Arbeit unterstützen.Alles klar? “Studio KURIER” - überall wo es Podcasts gibt und auch auf Youtube als Video-Podcast.Abonniert unseren Podcast auf Apple Podcasts oder Spotify und hinterlasst uns eine Bewertung, wenn euch der Podcast gefällt. Mehr Podcasts gibt es auch unter kurier.at/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this podcast episode I dive deep with Wesley Stevens, the founder of Vox, Inc. Wes shares his fascinating journey from starting as an intern in the voiceover industry to becoming a highly successful agent. In this episode, explore the evolution of voiceover, the impact of technology on the industry, and what it takes to make it as a voiceover artist today. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the scene, this episode is packed with insights and advice from one of the industry's most experienced agents.   Wes has advocated for talent as a profession since 1994. He started in Columbus, Ohio at a small agency booking variety acts before joining Talent Group, Inc. (TGI) in Los Angeles in 1995 as an assistant. Seven years later, he acquired TGI's voice-over department and launched VOX, Inc. Wes has represented some of the biggest names in film, television, social media and music, alongside brands including Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, Fox, GE, Apple, Dodge, Jaguar and Sprint. His first booking of note was placing David Hyde Pierce in "A Bugs Life," and the journey took him back to Pixar in 2009, when he placed Ed Asner in "Up." Along that road there have been many campaigns, series, films, and fond memories.   Having built the company off the springboard of his specialization in animation and gaming, the company's success led to diversification into celebrity endorsements and innovative deals in hosting, podcasting, AI and other emerging media and technologies. Wes helps talented people create powerful, equitable, and long-term relationships. He thrills at the opportunity to connect the right talented people with each other.   Wes was born in Virginia. He is a military brat, an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Virginia. Wes has run seven full marathons from Honolulu to Florence, Italy. He is very involved with Amazon Conservation Team and with Best Buddies, a global charity promoting the full integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities into mainstream society. He is passionate about creativity in all its expressions. Wes resides in Los Angeles with his husband and two pups.   Want to connect with Wes? You can find him at:   Vox Website: https://voxusa.net/#about Vox IG: https://www.instagram.com/vox_inc_usa/   Want to connect with Justine? You can find her at:    Website: https://empoweredvoicecoach.com/ Email: justine@suchavoice.com IG: @justinereiss And to receive an INTRO TO VOICEOVER webinar email her at justine@suchavoice.com   I hope you enjoy this powerful and inspirational episode just as much as I did!  If you did please leave a review for us!    Check out this recent incredible review of The VoiceOver Pod:   “The Queen, Justine Reiss   This wonderful lady is truly the Queen of our business. Justine is sincere, honest, exhilarating, exuberant, polarizing, and energetic!! You inevitably get caught up in the moment with her enthusiasm and love for the craft!   She and the guests on the podcast have a genuine vibe that you can feel and hear in their voices! As a person, I am honored to have Justine as a mentor and guide as a newcomer to the voice acting industry. She is truly one of the best in what she does!" - Dave Kaleel    Tune in to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts    Thank you for listening!   --   Check out our free PDF with pro-tips from real working voiceover actors here:  bit.ly/3hT7ylz   Want to learn more about voiceover? Check out Justine's introductory webinar here:  https://go.oncehub.com/YoureOnTheAirWithJustine

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).Lindsay Jewett is the Director of Mission Advancement for the Rochester Office of Best Buddies. In this episode we discuss why she was drawn to working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and how her personal mission has evolved over the years. We also spend time discussing the amazing work of the local, national, and international arms of this nonprofit organization.Website: https://www.bestbuddies.org/newyork/Support the show

In this kickoff episode of our summer series, host Michelle Malik sits down with Jordan  Rembrecht, the newest Career Specialist at College of DuPage and newest host of The Career Ready Podcast. Jordan shares her career journey—from volunteering in high school and switching majors in college to working in HR and eventually joining Career Services.Hear how mentorship, internships, and involvement in programs like Best Buddies and the COACH program helped shape her path. Jordan also offers advice for students exploring careers and navigating the job search.

Best Buddies State Director Katey DeMarais talks about their annual Friendship Walk. An event that supports the non profit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities all over the world.

Best Buddies State Director Katey DeMarais talks about their annual Friendship Walk. An event that supports the non profit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities all over the world.

Have you ever gone on a holiday that's exciting, full of disaster or very beautiful? Well, we sure have! We are the Best Buddies, and we are going to tell you our holiday tales and stories. From beautiful islands to squishy car rides we have it all wrapped up into one amazing podcast. Check out all the podcasts from Xavier at https://www.archdradio.com/podcasts/slp/xavier-evanston

In this episode, I was joined by Jennifer Corriveau, a health and wellness coach and owner of Integrity Nutrition.We discussed Jenn's journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the importance of community in health and wellness, and her advocacy for inclusion through Best Buddies.Jenn shares her personal experience with cancer, emphasizing the power of mindset and resilience.The conversation also touches on the role of supplements in nutrition, dispelling myths about supplements, and the significance of a balanced lifestyle.Jenn's positive outlook and 'get to' mentality should help you to embrace life's challenges and find joy in everyday experiences.TakeawaysJennifer Corriveau is a health and wellness coach with a passion for helping others.She transitioned from a corporate job to owning Integrity Nutrition during the pandemic.Building a community around health and wellness is crucial for success.Jenn emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle post-competition.Fundraising initiatives have raised over $50,000 for local charities.Best Buddies promotes inclusion and friendship for individuals with disabilities.Herbalife products are meant to supplement a healthy lifestyle, not replace real food.A balanced approach to nutrition is essential for long-term success.Jenn's cancer journey taught her the importance of mindset and resilience.Living with a 'get to' mentality can transform daily experiences.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Health and Wellness Coaching03:04 Journey to Integrity Nutrition06:12 The Importance of Community in Wellness08:56 Fundraising and Giving Back12:03 Understanding Herbalife and Nutrition14:47 Passion for Helping Others17:57 Challenges in Health and Wellness Coaching35:48 Embracing Imperfection in Fitness Journeys38:02 The Relationship with Food: Balance and Enjoyment41:57 Planning for Success: The 80-20 Rule46:34 Incremental Changes for Lasting Impact54:44 Facing Adversity: Jennifer's Cancer Journey01:05:28 Control Your Controllables: A Mindset Shift

In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Dr. Rob Harter is joined by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, founder, chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies ...

Disability rights activist Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, editor of The Call to Unite and author of Fully Alive, delves into the profound impact of unity and dignity in education and beyond. Shriver eloquently discusses the transformative power of inclusion, recounting personal anecdotes and professional experiences that highlight how bringing people together fosters empathy, resilience, and a sense of belonging. He emphasizes the critical role of educators in nurturing these values, advocating for the integration of programs like unified sports and Best Buddies in schools to bridge divides and promote mutual respect. Shriver also introduces the Dignity Index, a tool designed to measure and encourage respectful dialogue, which he believes is essential in combating the pervasive culture of contempt. His insights are not only a call to action for educational leaders but also a beacon of hope, underscoring the potential for societal change through compassionate leadership and community engagement. This interview is a must-listen for those committed to fostering inclusive environments and driving positive change in their communities.Let us know what you think!

Brendan Aylward has devoted his life to making fitness accessible to everyone, and this year, for the second year in a row, he will be racing with Jacob Wyman as a Team Hoyt Duo at the Boston Marathon. While Brendan's race times are certainly impressive (he and Jacob have a marathon PR of 2:55), what's even more impressive is Brendan's commitment to inclusion in sport.In this episode, Brendan, the founder of Unified Health & Performance and AdaptX, shares how his involvement in the Best Buddies program in high school led to a career focused on ensuring that athletes of all abilities can pursue their goals.Speaking of which, Brendan takes great pride in racing for Team Hoyt New England with Jacob.. Rick and Dick Hoyt have been a major influence on Brendan's career path and this year Brendan and Jacob are so excited to run Boston for the second consecutive year for Team Hoyt. In this episode, Brendan shares how he trains and races while pushing Jacob from Hopkinton to Boston and what the experience meant to both of them.We hope you are as inspired by Brendan and Jacob as we are. To learn more about Brendan and AdaptX, check out AdaptX.org. Brendan also hosts a weekly podcast, the AdaptX Podcast, in which he amplifies the voices and ideas of individuals who are building accessible businesses or products, advocating for inclusion, or excelling in adaptive sports.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @runfartherandfaster.Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head over to our NEW website (www.runfartherandfaster.com)! Please follow, share and review our show!

Our guest this week is Rady Johnson of Westport, CT, a recently retired senior executive at Pfizer and a father of three including one with intellectual disabilities.Rady and his wife, Diane, have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of three children: Katherine (36), Bridget (30) and Michael (34) who was adopted from Romania as a one year old and who has intellectual disabilities.Despite a wide range of challenges, Michael has lead a pretty remarkable life.  Through organizations like Special Olympics, Best Buddies and church youth groups, Michael has grown and developed.  Remarkably, Michael holds down three jobs; one as an office aid a Tauck, the world-wide travel agency, another on the maintenance crew at a Long Island beach, and a third at Marshall's the department store.  The Johnson family story is a shing example about commitment and the importance of communityall on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.Show LinksPhone – (917) 545-3090Email – Rady.Johnson@outlook.comLinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rady-johnson-0ab46a7/MIRA Usa Guide Dogs For The Blind https://www.mirausa.orgRegister for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.Special Fathers Network -SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  

We play Mind the Gap, Dave's Dirt, and more!

We play Mind the Gap, Dave's Dirt, and more!

We play Mind the Gap, Dave's Dirt, and more!

Best Buddies: Champions of Disability Inclusion with Anthony Kennedy Shriver In this episode of ‘Pushing Forward with Alycia,' Alycia welcomes Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International, to honor Best Buddies Month and Spread the Word Day. They discuss the harmful use of the ‘R word,' the growth and impact of Best Buddies since its establishment in 1989, and Anthony's personal inspirations from his family, including his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and his aunt, Rosemary Kennedy. The conversation highlights the importance of employment, social connections, leadership, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Anthony emphasizes the cultural shift towards inclusion, the powerful role of companies in creating inclusive environments, and Best Buddies' various initiatives, including employment programs, leadership training, and the exciting new launch of a dating app in collaboration with Bumble for people with special abilities. Themes That Shaped the Conversation  The True Spirit of America

Gartenkrimiqueen Martina Parker und "Geht's noch" Autorin Susanne Kristek sind Schreibschwestern, Bestsellerautorinnen, Best Buddies und als Gäste in dieser Podcast-Folge so witzig und gutgelaunt wie ehrlich, offen und liebevoll. In diesem Talk mit Verlagskollegin und Podcast-Host Dagmar Hager talken sie über das wahre Leben als Autorinnen, was Freundinnen alles füreinander tun (Unglaubliches! Stichwort Schreibblockade), neue Projekte, den "Zuagroast-Film, was um alles in der Welt Kartoffelsamen sind, und über so viel mehr.

Join Dr. Shine on What's Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an empowering conversation with Annette, the reigning Miss Texas and an advocate for autism awareness. Discover how Annette's unique background—being the first immigrant to win Miss Texas—has become a cornerstone of her authentic brand. She candidly discusses how embracing authenticity, staying true to herself, and making bold choices, like cutting her hair short before competition, propelled her to success and encouraged others to see themselves represented in pageantry. Annette also opens up about her personal connection to autism advocacy, sparked by a terrifying experience involving her younger brother Andrew. Her dedication has led her to partner with national organizations like Autism Speaks and Best Buddies, aiming to create essential training programs for law enforcement and educators to better support individuals on the autism spectrum. Key Topics: Annette's journey to becoming Miss Texas and placing first runner-up at Miss America Authenticity and confidence in pageantry and beyond Her platform, the SPARK Project, and its impact on autism awareness and safety The importance of friendship, community, and self-care in balancing a demanding public role Practical strategies for advocacy, awareness, and creating positive change Tune in for this heartfelt discussion on resilience, authenticity, and the power of saying yes to new opportunities.

Today we're talking with members of Backlight Productions and Best Buddies, two organizations dedicated to building bridges, friendships, and having fun with people of all abilities. We'll also learn about a new mentoring program for caregivers and an online tool that makes finding resources for anyone with a disability easier. Join us!Today's episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys.GUESTS Melissa Smith, CEO Backlight Productions Fernanda Aguilar, Backlight Productions performer, Best Buddies participant Zack Wood, Backlight Productions performer, Best Buddies participant Zack McCann, Backlight Productions performer, Best Buddies participant Kara Jackson, Backlight Productions performer, Best Buddies participant Elise Cofer, Deputy Director, Eunies Buddies Tennessee of Best Buddies Dave Krikac, founder The Gear Foundation, developed Ask Stella Now

This week we have an Anniewood favorite on! Greg Fitzsimmons drops in to talk about his breakdancing past, crazy party stories, his new special "You Know Me", and much much more!  "Welcome to AnnieWood Tour" dates - check them out and catch her in your city! https://www.annielederman.com/shows And just so you don't forget, here's Todd's YouTube channel:  @officejungle-t7n  https://www.youtube.com/@officejungle-t7n Want more, Annie? Of course you do! Here's where you can find her: MEMBERSHIP: Join the Movement and subscribe to our new Patreon! With uncensored and ad-free weekly episodes, exclusive live-stream content, raffles and giveaways, viewer awards, and more! You don't want to miss all the action happening here on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/annielederman YOUTUBE: Thanks for checking out my podcast, AnnieWood! Click to Subscribe! https://localast.ro/SubAnnie New episodes every Thursday at 9am PST / 12pm EST! INSTAGRAM: Please give us a follow on our NEW Anniewood Podcast Instagram channel for BTS content and a bunch of exclusive media and live videos! @welcome2anniewood WEBSITE: Head to my website, http://annielederman.com for some kicka$$ merch and a list of all my tour dates! Can't wait to see you all out on the road! OUR SPONSOR (THANK YOU!): Get special discounts from our sponsors using the codes below! Support the show and get 10% off the best hummer ever. Use code ANNIE at https://www.autoblow.com Support the show and start earning points when you pay your rent. Head to https://www.joinbilt.com/ANNIE Produced and Edited by: Walker Media @toddwalker.mp4 This Video Podcast Contains Paid Advertising. #AnnieLederman #AnnieWood #interview #comedy #podcast #netflix #gregfitzsimmons #bestbuddies

Greg Germann is an actor known for his work in film, television and on Broadway where he starred with Mark Rylance in BOEING BOEING. He was a member of Circle Repertory Company and Ensemble Studio Theatre and has performed at Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theatre, La Mama, Second Stage among others. Created roles in Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, Steve Martin's Meteor Shower, Only You, Found A Peanut and many more. He has also appeared in numerous films including TALEDEGA NIGHTS, FRIENDS WITH MONEY, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, SWEET NOVEMBER, QUARANTINED, ONCE AROUND, among others. Greg is best known for the many characters he has created on the small screen, including Tom Koracick on GREY'S ANATOMY and Richard Fish on ALLY McBEAL, as well as House of Lies, Once Upon a Time and many more.  During the war in Afghanistan Greg traveled there twice as a goodwill ambassador, visiting thousands of troops from Kandahar to Kabul along with dozens of Forward Operating Bases (F.O.B's) across the country. For over 15 years he's been involved with Anthony Shriver's organization BEST BUDDIES, which is dedicated to creating employment and inclusive living opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  At one time servingon the California Advisory Board.  For almost 20 years Greg has had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for THE PEOPLE CONCERN Los Angeles, whichis dedicated not just to manage the unacceptable crisis of people experiencing homelessness, but ending it!  Greg recently served as the Board Chair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(00:42) Meet Ben D'Amico, the executive development chef for Giant Eagle's Market District stores, who takes us on a culinary journey through the world of large-format grocery chains. From humble beginnings as an intern to crafting prepared foods for 24 locations, Ben shares the exciting and challenging aspects of his role, including creative collaborations like 'Flights and Bites' with Ana Eats Pittsburgh or exclusive menus for collegiate soccer teams.  (08:11) Ben takes us behind the scenes, revealing the complexities of maintaining consistency and quality across multiple locations. His insights into evolving consumer tastes showcase how Market District stays ahead of the game, offering customers options that range from budget-friendly to premium quality.(23:16) Beyond the corporate kitchen, Ben shares his work with 'Best Buddies' partner Tori, on a unique pasta dish that reflects the flavors of Italy and Greece, set to be a highlight at the upcoming Taste Buds event. Ben also opens up about his Italian and Slovak roots, emphasizing the importance of family traditions like the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and we also get a quick mention of his wife's children's book, "Harvey's Hamburgers." (33:25) Plus Chantal and Alex Huff reveal their recent visit to Reva Modern Indian Cuisine, and Chris Fennimore of QED Cooks shares an updated approach to a beloved seafood dish. Have a seat at the table and enjoy!Support the showLiked the episode? We'd love a coffee!

More of your calls on what Candy bar best relates to Jayden Daniels + could Juan Soto come back to DC? full The Chris Russell Show Hour 2: -Right back out to your calls on what type of Candy bar best represents Jayden Daniels -Chris takes some time to talk about the upcoming Bestbuddies auction tomorrow -Closing out the calls on what Candy bar would Jayden be -Juan Soto is now a free agent after the Yankees lost, could he come back to DC? 2567 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:17:00 +0000 BKXQaSOElGNrclHROre1T4oAGWueJa2X sports The Chris Russell Show sports More of your calls on what Candy bar best relates to Jayden Daniels + could Juan Soto come back to DC? Chris discusses and debates DC sports on his daily show. Get informed and opinionated discussion of the Washington Commanders, the Nationals, Capitals, Wizards, and more. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False

The Chris Russell Show- Full Show Thriller Halloween Thursday, October 31st, 2024 full -Chris opens up the Halloween show by asking what Candybar best represents Jayden Daniels -Call lines open up to give your take on what type of candy bar is Jayden Daniels -right back out to your calls on what candy Jayden Daniels best represents -Closing out the hour with what Halloween candy bar best correlates to Jayden Daniels -Right back out to your calls on what type of Candy bar best represents Jayden Daniels -Chris takes some time to talk about the upcoming Bestbuddies auction tomorrow -Closing out the calls on what Candy bar would Jayden be -Juan Soto is now a free agent after the Yankees lost, could he come back to DC? -Chris goes off on Dallas Geodert's Halloween costume + more on if Juan could come to DC -Cleanup on Aisle 3:MLB trades are underway, Capitals play the Canadiens tonight in DC, Wizards managed to get their second straight win over the Hawks - Commanders Guard Nick Allegretti joins the show after practice. Nick talks about his big hit during the Hail Mary and his progression through the big moment, his experience with walk-off wins, the issues with man downfield calls, what comparisons can he draw between Jayden and his time with Patrick Mahomes, and more -Moron of the Month: Ravens fan who beat up two Commanders fan after the game will be facing a lot of jail time 7881 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:21:00 +0000 jfSJAawcb4iUovPaweGFrAeYEFbvIo5U sports The Chris Russell Show sports The Chris Russell Show- Full Show Thriller Halloween Thursday, October 31st, 2024 Chris discusses and debates DC sports on his daily show. Get informed and opinionated discussion of the Washington Commanders, the Nationals, Capitals, Wizards, and more. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False https://pla

In this episode, I speak to Jeanne and Sara from Best Buddies. Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).I found this episode to be very informative and inspiring. They are currently looking for people to become buddies in their citizens' program to be matched for a one-to-one friendship. After listening to this episode I hope that you will feel inspired too and will get involved in whatever capacity you can. For more information about Best Buddies in your community please visit https://www.bestbuddies.org/If you are in New Hampshire visit https://www.bestbuddies.org/newhampshire/Be sure to follow Dose of Good on social media for the latest updates on the PodcastFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552349588905Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dose_of_good_podcast/?utm_source=qrYouTube -    / @doseofgoodpodcast

Partners in PROMISE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the rights of military children in special education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to education.  Listen as Dr. Jenna Kremkow and Carla Wyrsch discuss how the PROMISE advocates for military children with special and exceptional needs.   This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Tinker Spouses Club. To learn more, visit https://www.tinkerspouses.org/.   Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.   Show Notes:     Resources:   Partners in PROMISE https://thepromiseact.org/   Partners in PROMISE Special Education & EFMP Binder  https://thepromiseact.org/binder/   Educator Report https://thepromiseact.org/educators-report-partners-in-promise-2022-research-findings/   Bio: Jenna Kremkow is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University. She completed her MS and PhD at The Pennsylvania State University with an emphasis in autism, augmentative and alternative communication, child language disorders, and stakeholder training and perspectives. Clinically, Jenna has worked as a speech-language pathologist in elementary schools, outpatient clinics, and early intervention settings. Jenna teaches courses in augmentative and alternative communication, autism, language disorders in children, and research methods. One of her research areas focuses on the experiences of military families with children with autism and the use of technology to improve communication outcomes and quality of life for children with autism and their families. Her goal is to use research to support data-driven recommendations and policy changes to improve special education services for military families.     Carla Wyrsch is the spouse of a retired United States Marine and mother of two. She has devoted her career to educating and advocating for children with disABILITIES. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Lerner School for Autism at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, she is a School Operations Director with MIYO Health. In addition to her work with MIYO Health, Carla enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies of Greater Memphis, the Organization for Autism Research, and Partners in PROMISE as a content creator and advisory board member.    

In this episode, we have the honor of sitting down with a true legend in the New England cycling community—Richard Fries. Richard is the Co-Founder of Domestique Events, which organizes two incredible gravel events: the Lime Rock Epic and the Natchaug Epic. He also serves as the Director of Cycling Experience at Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.In this episode, Richard shares his remarkable journey in cycling, from his early days as a bike racer to his current roles as an event producer, advocate, and commentator. We dig into his career highlights, including his time working with the UCI as their first official English-language announcer and his leadership role at MassBike. Richard also discusses the important work Best Buddies does to foster inclusion through its charity rides and cycling programs, and how he helps make those events some of the safest and most enjoyable rides in the country.We also explore how to make cycling more inclusive, bridge the gap between different types of cyclists, and hear about Richard's thoughts on e-bikes and the decline of road racing in New England. Finally, Richard gives us an insider's look at the Lime Rock Epic and Natchaug Epic—two must-ride events for any gravel enthusiast!Tune in for an inspiring conversation about endurance sports, cycling advocacy, and why New England truly is the best region for cyclists.**Episode Highlights:**- Richard's early career in cycling, his time as a race announcer, and founding Domestique Events- The mission of Best Buddies and its impact on the community through cycling- Insights on making cycling more inclusive and accessible- The challenges and rewards of putting on iconic gravel events like the Lime Rock and Natchaug Epics- Richard's favorite rides and thoughts on the future of New England cyclingFor more information, check out Domestique Events and Best Buddies. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @newenglandendurance to stay updated on future episodes and events!Art & Eric embark on a journey to showcase and celebrate the endurance sports community in New England.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Morgan Tansey, Area Director with Best Buddies Tennessee, who highlights the organization's history and efforts to establish a volunteer movement that creates opportunities for One-to-One Friendships, Integrated Employment, Leadership Development, and Family Support programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Tennessee.During the interview, Morgan discusses the power of the One-to-One Friendships with their school based programs that start in PreK and extend through college, and their Citizens program for adults. She shares some testimonials and talks about the ripple effect of creating community champions for inclusivity, and highlights some of the other programs with the Integrated Employment and Leadership Development. Morgan wraps up discussing ways the community can get involved to support their efforts, including some upcoming gala events in the fall.Visit https://www.bestbuddies.org/tennessee/ to learn more and get involved.

There were some big events that happened this weekend with Tough Mudder Infinity in Pittsburg, the final Conquer the Gauntlet under the Mainprize ownership, the first of the Savage Point Series races in Maryland, and the Spartan European Championships, but we covered the final BoldrDash OCR in Exeter, RI! BoldrDash as a race series had a huge role to play in our overall OCR history!  It was Mike's 9th ever OCR, and Katelyn's 7th ever OCR back on May 3rd 2014 (video here).  We have also volunteered more at this race than any other, whether it was Mike waking up really early to volunteer all day at an obstacle, or helping people through the course with the Find Your Bold/all abilities team! While it didn't have the huge reputation around the country or even world like FIT Challenge had with the annual community awards, it was still an integral aspect of local OCR in New England!  Lynn Hall started these events back in 2011, has put on events at incredible venues such as beaches, ski hills, and former amusement park land, before settling at a permanent course at Canonicus the past few years.  We wish Lynn the best in what she continues to do with Find Your Bold! Lastly, if you have information as to the spelling or last name of the guests in this episode, we would appreciate it. 0:00 – 6:40 – Intro 6:40 – 18:17 – Quick News 18:17 – 21:03 – Content Preface 21:03 - 25:27 - Start Line Audio 25:27 - 1:13:29 - Interviews (Laura Conkelin, Lisa Addelin, and  Emily Addelin, Jasmine Somatis, Kya, and Kaleen, Katie Callahan, Eric, Anthony, Jose, Jack, and Jesus, Andy, and Matt, Caroline Fritz, Becky, Steve Bacon, Jacqueline, Connor Nolan, and Sandra Pearson, Mike, Kristen, Angelica, Dazar,  Amir, and Kesha, Lee Carney, and Tracy Carney, Ryan McGowan, Joe Cronin, and Kevin LaPlatney, Greg Hall, David, Josh Fiore, Amy Haskell, Andy Haskell, Mike Stefano) 1:13:29 - 1:21:35 - Lynn Hall Interview 1:21:35 - End – Outro Next weekend we will have an episode on Spartan Pan American Championship in Seattle, the Killington Spartan Beast, or something else! ____ News Stories: Mike Lozan Death and Celebration of Life Run Obstacle Wonderland Course on Plattekill Day Anthony Kunkle Taking on OCRWC Evan Perperis New Book Carlo's Dog Peaches Cerus Fitness News Shield Justice Looking for Tough Mudder Sonoma 2023 Participants (Can't Find Ad but Here is Related Reddit Post) We Were Featured in OCR Directory Jack Carpenter's Brain Tumor Tyler Matechak Taking on The Barkley Fall Classic 50K Lindsay Webster Registered for Canadian Trail Racing Championships Spartan Canada National Series Kelowna Beast Podiums Spartan Kelowna Super Podiums Spartan Canadian National Series Results Spartan West Virginia Beast Podiums Spartan West Virginia Super Podiums Savage Maryland Podiums Car Seesaw Secret Link Baba Transition Secret Link Gym Pokemon Secret Link Old Gymnast Secret Link Old Runners Secret Link ____ Related Episodes: 71. Color Me Bold with Lynn Hall, Find Your Bold, Best Buddies, and P90X Instructor Certification! 117. BoldrDash WinterDash with Lynn Hall and Crazy AF News! 140. Thrive Outside in the Mud with Brooke Merriam and Lynn Hall! 187. BoldrDash Bootcamp and Challenges with Lynn Hall! 221. BoldrDash Winter Dash with Race Director Lynn Hall! 381. New England OCR Expo! (Part 1: Vendors) ____ The OCR Report Patreon Supporters: Jason Dupree, Kim DeVoss, Samantha Thompson, Matt Puntin, Brad Kiehl, Charlotte Engelman, Erin Grindstaff, Hank Stefano, Arlene Stefano, Laura Ritter, Steven Ritter, Sofia Harnedy, Kenny West, Cheryl Miller, Jessica Johnson, Scott "The Fayne" Knowles, Nick Ryker, Christopher Hoover, Kevin Gregory Jr., Evan Eirich, Ashley Reis, Brent George, Justin Manning, Wendell Lagosh, Logan Nagle, Angela Bowers, Asa Coddington, Thomas Petersen, Seth Rinderknecht, and Bonnie Wilson. Sponsored Athletes: Javier Escobar, Kelly Sullivan, Ryan Brizzolara, and Joshua Reid! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and access to our Facebook group Check out our Threadless Shop Use coupon code "adventure" for 15% off MudGear products Use coupon code "ocrreport20" for 20% off Caterpy products Like us on Facebook: Obstacle Running Adventures Follow our podcast on Instagram: @ObstacleRunningAdventures Write us an email: obstaclerunningadventures@gmail.com Subscribe on Youtube: Obstacle Running Adventures Intro music - "Streaker" by: Straight Up Outro music - "Iron Paw" by: Dubbest

This week all of the best friends fall apart! Ayan is upset at how others think she acts around Lesa. Lesa is still feuding with Taleen, but shifts her attention to Ayan at her and Stanbury's goodbye Dubai party. Sara and Akin call things off, and we get a preview of the first reunion episode. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with your RHODubai friends and follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@privilegedtwinks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/privilegedtwinks/support

If you have not yet done so, please subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, and Spotify. And also like us on Facebook at Adulting with Autism Podcast. Also, we have the website, Adulting with Autism with Merchandise. 20% will go to a nonprofit sponsoring those that need housing and a transition program. Thanks. Hey guys, welcome to Adulting with Autism, the podcast where we dive into the roller coaster of adulthood through a neurodiverse lens. I'm April Ratchford, your friendly occupational therapist mom, proudly on the spectrum and raising an amazing young adult son with autism. Join us as we share stories, tips, and laughs, offering a supportive space for anyone navigating life's twists and turns. Grab your drink of choice, no judgment, and let's embark on this journey together. This is Adulting with Autism. Hey guys, hey. Happy Saturday. I know I've been MIA the last week and I need to catch up. It's been a rough sort of week for the last couple of weeks, and I've been overwhelmed and having some doubts, and it's been tough. It's been really, really tough. Just like some of you guys, I do have doubts, and just like your moms and dads and other parental units, I get extremely exhausted and tired and the lack of community is hard. And this leads me to my next guest. Kevin Johnson not only helped take care of his brother, he took care of another son he has that is on the autism spectrum. Now, his brother has an intellectual disability. He primarily helped raise his brother with his mom while his father was away. I think in the military, he'll give you more of an insight, but that helped him when his son was born and he and his wife found out that his son had autism, prepare for the difficulties that they had to face with everything, preparing their son for the hardships that we have to prepare you guys for. And one thing he did say is that it's not a sprint. It's a marathon. And parents, we are going to be exhausted. And. We need to be a community. And that's what I'm trying to form is a community for us to lean on one another because it is a marathon and there's no other way around it. It's not going to be a sprint and it's going to take a while for our kids to launch and to find the resources that they need to be on their own. And there's nothing wrong with that, nothing at all. And Kevin not only is raising his son with autism, he had two other sons while working, which is amazing and which all of us do. So we get exhausted. So kiddos, give us a break. Sometimes we zone out and it's only because we get exhausted as well. You got to remember, no matter how old you are, whether you're 18 or whether you're 25 or whether you're 30, we've been doing this your entire lives without a break. And we love you. We love you very much. But some of us are in our 40s. Some of us are heading into our 50s. Some of us may be heading into our 60s and it takes a toll. And we didn't plan for this and we thought we would always have a community and we didn't. So here I am trying to create a community so we can finish this marathon for you guys. But let me tell you about Kevin. Kevin is the founder-in-chief, executive officer of the Johnson Leadership Group, LLC, and an independent certified coach, mentor, trainer, and speaker with the nationally recognized John Maxwell team, where he leads learning experiences that are tailored to meet the specific needs of the audience to help maximize efficiency, growth, awareness, and effectiveness. He's a native of Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. He earned a master's certification in government contracting from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. He completed a 34-year career with the federal government in 2017 and has been married for 30 years and raised three sons. Since 2001, he has written 20 books as a principal or contributing author on such diverse topics as faith, book marketing, blended families, finance, and leadership. His current book series, Leadership with a Servant's Heart, has earned 15 literary awards and is a two-time new release bestseller on Amazon.com. Recently, Kevin was honored with a Leadership Award from Men Impact Change in 2020 and Outstanding Leadership Award from Education 2.0 Conference 2023. His life's mission is to create a generation of next level leaders around the globe. So you guys take some advice from Kevin because he's done it not once, but twice. So here's my guest. Welcome to welcome him to the podcast, Kevin Johnson. Welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for coming on. Absolutely. My honor and my delight to see you this morning. So tell my audience all about how you actually have a brother that has special needs and now you have a child that is on the autism spectrum. Yeah, it's been a lifelong journey for me. I am a native of Richmond, Virginia, and I don't have any sisters, but I have one younger brother, three and a half years younger than I am. And we are the sons of a United States Marine, my dad, and then my mom worked in the federal government. So we moved around quite a bit. And when I was three and a half years old, my younger brother was born on one of the Marine Corps bases, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. And the doctors advised us right after birth, when they examined him, that they were. Some issues with oxygen, sufficient oxygen getting to his brain during development in the womb. So he was born with a mental disability. And it was a challenge initially because it was primarily my mom and I at home helping to raise him, support him, negotiate on his behalf, love him, care for him because dad was away fighting in America's wars. Marines are on the front line. And so I learned a lot about this neurological disorder as a young boy helping to raise my brother. And then fast forward many years later, after I graduate from college, I meet this young lady who captures my eye. We start dating, we fall in love, we get married. And then from our union, we have three sons. And interestingly enough, they don't have any sisters, all boys again. The youngest son, Cameron, and he's 26 now, he didn't talk for his first two years. He didn't say a word. And something else was very odd about him as well. For his first three years, when the sun came up, he thought it was time to go to sleep. And when the sun went down, he thought it was time to get up and play. And so we finally had him diagnosed through one of the pediatricians. And sure enough, he was diagnosed at the age of two with autism. So here we go again, right? This time I'm educating my wife and my brothers on how to handle this situation. Again, negotiating on his behalf, advocating for him, serving him, and supporting him. And even to today, I'm doing both, more so with my son than I am with my brother. But it's just been an interesting journey to watch how these neurological imbalances and impact their lives and the lives of others around them. But at the same time, be laser focused on those areas where they're a genius. They're an absolute genius in other areas. It's just a matter of giving them opportunities and supporting them and loving them. So that's the two-minute executive summary version of how I've been involved in this process. Thank you. What difficulties did you have with transitioning them from going from their school life to the adult world? Because I noticed that in some school systems that the transition is like rocky. Like you have, they guide you and then it's like a drop off. Yep. Yep. There's no prep. You do fall off the cliff. Absolutely. So the biggest thing that I've been an advocate for and one of the primary messages that I send out to the community for parents that don't have children on the spectrum and parents that do, because we serve as mentors in that capacity, is to educate yourself. Get the education, heighten the level of awareness in terms of what's available, what services are available, what programs can we tap into to help them as best as we can become an all-around person. Because when they're in school, elementary, middle, and high, they have that infrastructure. It's in place. But once they graduate from high school and they start to move into that adult age, depending on what state they're in, 18 or 22, I'm sorry, or 21, it really becomes the challenge and the burden, the parent or the legal guardian. Or in our case, we're both. We're both legal guardian and parent. And just getting out there in a community, joining member organizations, partnering with other parents that are dealing with the same challenges, and you'll get access to information. And then from that information, you can start to use it and apply it to your son or daughter in terms of what works best. So we have our son actively engaged in a very, very well-run day program from nine to three every day, job training, therapeutic integration. He works with peers. He works with children. He gets a chance to go out into the community from time to time, social skills, sporting events. All of that is built in Monday through Friday from nine to three. And then every other Monday, he gets together with a group of 20 of his peers. And for about three hours, they go to the bowling alley and they bowl. They just have some fellowship and some bowling. Later this year, after the summer, we're going to enroll him in an art therapy where they do glassmaking, ceramics, portraits, pictures, and he'll be in an environment with his peers, but also older adults who are not on the spectrum and other peers who are. So to be a mixed environment, because he loves to do that. And so just kind of finding out what makes them tick as they move into those adult age. Sometimes we can just ask. You'll be surprised. They'll tell you in many cases, not all, but in many cases, they'll tell you what they're interested in. And then whatever we can do to find the information to help them out is always a good way to go. So that's what we've been doing day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. It's a journey, but together we get there. We're working on independent living next. We're also working on getting him to be able to drive if that's possible. I share with him that's a four-phase process because you take your class, your learner's permit, and you take your written exam. Then you have to get behind the wheel with an official instructor. You have to pass that. And then you have to go back. Now you have to pass another written exam to get your license. So it's a process, but trying to get them to yes is always the key. So that's the journey that we've been on with our young assignments. I know a lot of parents get really frustrated with their kids because it's like a tug of war because they want to be their own individual, but yet their maturity level isn't there quite yet. And they go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And sometimes it's a war zone. What advice do you have to give to parents that they will get there, but there's got to be some compromise? Yeah, yeah, that's a good observation. We've all been there. Absolutely. I think it's a matter of really two things that come to mind. Number one, the more time we spend with them, the more we get to know them. And I'm not talking about just living in our household, being under the same roof. I mean, spending some time really, really observing what it is they gravitate toward, what is it they stay away from, and having that quality time, getting to know them that much better to help them to navigate the road. The second thing is just getting them as best you can. I know it's not easy. As best you can to try and do different things. We go to the swimming pool. We go to the movies. We eat a meal together. every other week we go together to get haircuts we go to certain restaurants because of his limited diet together we go to church together, And like I said, now he's been in his day program for a while, and we're going to be branching out and doing some other things, art therapy. And sometimes you'll get some feedback around, I don't really want to do that. And then other times they'll get involved in that activity and you'll discover that they absolutely love it. And that's a strategy that we can use to break through. But whatever it might be, we do have to be patient. It just takes time because neurologically, they're not processing like you and I process. It's just different. My son has been for years going through this thought that if we recommend something different or if we ask him to modify his behavior or if we make a recommendation that he could or should do something different, you know, whether it's washing clothes or cooking or cleaning up around the house, he interprets that as him making a mistake. And then he'll start to apologize. And I'm like, you didn't do anything wrong. I just want you to consider, you know, when you're cooking your food instead of turning the stove on high, put it on medium. But he interprets that as did something wrong. So it's the big things, it's the small things, but we just have to be patient over time. And I know it's not for everybody. Some of us have more patience than others. Some of us have more time than others. I get it. Some of us can handle pressure better than others. I get it. We're all over the place. But just try to be as patient as possible and get access to the resources for your local community. You'll find some good people that are part of these organizations who are willing to help. How can you, like, because I know being on the spectrum, there's such a variety. How can parents best support other parents? Because I feel like when they're little, there's a good community out there for parents. But as they grow older it seems like parents kind of fall off the the leeway and it's just like there's not enough community support for as they grow older and i'm not sure if it's, once they grow older as they just get more difficult than when they're younger. Yeah, there needs to be more groups. Yeah, it's a combination of everything that you just said, April, because what happens is by the time they grow up and move into adulthood, truth be told, you and I are tight. It has been a journey and we're tired. Right. And we're kind of throwing out that helpline. Can somebody please help me? I've dealt with this all of my life, and I'm just tired. I need some space for me. I think the way you ended your question is appropriate, and that's the key advice I'd give everybody. Get involved with some of the local organizations that are available, that have information for us to tap into, And then other parents who are dealing with the same thing that we are dealing with, whose head we can put on their shoulder and they can put their head on our shoulder, we can be there to support one another and give each other encouragement. I'm a member of our local autism society chapter here in Howard County, Maryland. I have been for years. And there are so many resources available. I'm a big proponent of the Best Buddies program. Really, really good. I'm a big proponent of local churches that have a special needs ministry because there's a lot of good resources there. Fortunately, because of where we live, we're in close proximity to all of these different programs and these different organizations. I have found that summer camps, summer camps can be helpful. That would be that person's opportunity to go away for about a week. I don't usually do it any more than one week. Just kind of go away for a week. Parents aren't there. Legal guardians aren't there. They're entrusted to a qualified staff that's there to support, and they're in the company of other peers, and they do all kinds of stuff. They do academic. They do social skills, therapeutic integration they swim they play volleyball horseshoes it's a great opportunity to kind of help them on their journey to become more independent as well but having those support network groups very very helpful for the parents and very very helpful for the legal guardians while we're also pouring into our sons and daughters to help them to be the best they can. Have you found any vocational educational supports for the young adult if they decided they wanted to go on after high school? Because I know a lot of them want to. To do higher education, but it seems like some of them need extra support and a lot of the schools don't offer a lot of support. Yeah. So two things come to mind. First and foremost, reach out to your local community college. Community colleges tend to be a little bit more focused in this area than the larger accredited four-year universities and colleges. They sort of have a different focus. But right after high school, my son went through a program called Project CERT. Project CERT. And it was available at our local community college, Howard Community College, here in Howard County, Maryland. And it was for a full year. They wore uniforms. They wore khakis. They had a blue long-sleeve khaki shirt that they wore. They did all types of different academics in the classroom. room. And they also boarded the bus periodically during the day to take different trips around the city. And they did that together as a peer group. It was part of their education for a full year that the county paid for as part of their services. And it was only for one year. I wish it was longer. But Cameron had an opportunity to work an internship for the Howard County government. He was an administrative assistant. He did filing and copying. He worked in an office environment. They liked him so much, they asked him to come back. So he did a second internship from there, and it worked out very well. It was an office setting, and it was in the confines of the Project CERT program. But that's a great way to launch our sons and daughters after they finish high school, whether they get an actual degree or they get a certificate. In my case, Cameron had a high school certificate. He participated and graduated. And the full high school graduation, cap town, all that good stuff. All of his teachers were there. And then he matriculated to Howard Community College Project Search Program. And that kind of launched him to what he's doing today from nine to three every day, Monday through Friday, with job training, social skills. They go out in the community periodically, therapeutic integration to prepare him for independent living. So try the community college right there in your area to see what academic courses are available for special needs students and enroll and get them involved. Absolutely. Now, do you and your wife have any fears about, you know, once Cameron is ready to live on his own and finances the apartment that he may want to be independent, the driving? Do y'all think about those things? Because I know my son is not too far behind Cameron. He's 22. And God love him. He works at Kroger,   https://thejohnsonleadershipgroup.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kevinwaynejohnsonpage https://x.com/writing4thelord https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8QdXWDOB889u5XKqazk6Hg https://www.instagram.com/writingforthelord https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwaynejohnson/

Jack Mayor, a Best Buddies Ambassador and ComEd EnergyForce Ambassador sits down on the job with Award-winning Podcast Host Daniel Smrokowski on the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S7:Pt7 to prepare for National Disability Employment Month coming up in October. We highlight his role as an EnergyForce Ambassador, his work as an Illinois and Global Ambassador for Best Buddies, his job at Oberweis, Jack's experiences in each role, and how they've helped him with his other employed positions. Episode 592 ShowNotes & Links:

On this episode of the Girl Powerful Podcast Tedi Serge welcomes an model, actress, comedian and philanthropist. She volunteers for Best Buddies and at her local hospital spending time with kids. She has a worldwide following on instagram with 2.3 million followers. Charlotte works with elevated brands in beauty, health and wellness. @charlottemckinney. Tedi and Charlotte McKinney discuss listening to your body, building confidence, dealing with breakups, working in comedy, not drinking alcohol, and more! 5:44 What has Charlotte McKinney noticed when doing pilates? 9:00 Gaining confidence in the comedy world. 15:00 Charlotte's recent breakup. 24:00 Dealing with the dark times and depression. 27:15 Sobriety from alcohol. 38:00 Volunteer work. 40:44 What makes you feel the most alive? Available for download on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher. Girl Powerful Podcast with Sonya and Tedi Serge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Go behind the curtain at the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) with Heather Servais, Project Manager. Join us as we delve into the vast resources available to vocational rehabilitation counselors, supervisors, and VR professionals. From employment navigation to disability-specific resources and cutting-edge training, Heather reveals how the revamped NCRTM website is a treasure trove of information and tools to enhance your practices and improve services. Tune in to explore these new features and see how the NCRTM can support you in your vital work. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the full potential of this dynamic platform!   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music}   Heather: This is made by people that have done the work, like it's just so relevant and timely to what's happening in the field. We have resources on a Microsoft Word and PDF, PowerPoints. There's a whole bunch of information on the NCRTM page, which is a great starting point for when you're thinking about how can I make this information accessible for everyone? If you have a customer who's thinking about work, or you want to have some reputable job-seeking tools, it's a great tool for those counselors to be able to give to their customers. If you want help locating some resources, just email us NCRTM at New Editions dot Net.   Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Welcome to the manager minute, Heather Servais project manager with the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials, or the NCRTM, will join me in the studio today. So, Heather, how are things going?   Heather: It's so good to be here. I'm great. I'm so excited to be on Manager Minute.   Carol: I love it, I love it. We've been doing lots of fun stuff lately, so it's kind of fun to do this collaboration. I want to give our listeners a little bit of a background. So the NCRTM is a central clearinghouse for vocational rehabilitation information for individuals with disabilities, and it offers VR and education communities an opportunity to contribute new knowledge to their specific fields and gain visibility for their work. Now, I remember Heather, when I was still with Minnesota Blind, and I stumbled across this website and it was full of information, I was like, what is this? I had no idea it existed. And back then we had this internal like a little intranet. And I remember linking up staff to different materials because back in the day, and I know you went through a big refresh of the website back in the day, it was a little complicated to get through. I was linking folks to some really specific things that existed out there, and I thought that was so cool. Now, I know since you've been on, you've been working really hard on promoting the website and everything that NCRTM does, and we wanted to just take our listeners behind the curtain at the NCRTM. I also wanted our listeners to know, too, that Heather and I have been collaborating for the past few years on a lot of different items, and she has been fabulous in promoting our podcasts and all our materials for the VRTAC for Quality Management. So with that, let's dig in. So, Heather, would you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and your journey into VR? You didn't just like land at the NCRTM out of nowhere. You came through kind of a fun journey.   Heather: Yeah. I'd love to tell you a little bit about my journey in VR. Well, if you would have asked me when I was growing up if I would be a VR counselor or know what the field of rehabilitation counseling was, I would have told you no. I actually landed in this field by happy accident when I went to college. I was majoring in history and was considering being a teacher, or maybe pre-law, and I was looking for ways to get involved on campus. And I came across a club called Best Buddies that pairs college students into 1 to 1 friendships with individuals with disabilities. And I just loved being a part of the club. I loved my buddy that I was able to be paired with. And then while I was volunteering, I got asked by one of my co volunteers to consider working with this new company in town that worked with individuals with disabilities on independent living skills and non-residential support services. So I started doing that when I was in college, absolutely fell in love with it. And then when I graduated, I moved on to work for a community rehabilitation provider, where I started as a job coach, moved up to an employment specialist. I dabbled in vocational evaluation and then eventually became the employment services manager. And while I was there and working in the field, I absolutely just fell in love and I knew that this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. So I actually went back to school for my master's while I was working full time.   I was really lucky to be the recipient of an RSA scholarship. That helped me be able to go back to school to get my master's in rehabilitation counseling, and I was able to do that, which I really felt like helped my career and was really able to be beneficial to me. When I made the jump from community rehabilitation provider to the state VR side, it was like there was all these names and terms and theories behind the work that I was actually doing. So it really kind of tied it all together in a nice little bow. I worked for that community rehabilitation provider for about seven years, and then I decided to make the jump to state VR to be a counselor. And for a long time I had a general caseload. I also worked in a rural county, and then towards the end of my time in the field, I worked with youth. And then I made the jump over to VR headquarters, where I took a supervisory job as the supervisor of at the time was a new unit called the Field and Provider Relations Unit, and this unit did training and technical assistance with both VR staff and with the community rehabilitation providers that were providing those employment services. So I really enjoyed it because it got to pull together the field experience that I had and then also the provider experience. And then my last stop at Florida VR was as the assistant chief of Field Services, where I oversaw a lot of the programming. So I oversaw learning and development, Ticket to Work, the employment programs team and the deaf hard of hearing deaf blind team and business relations team. I worked there and I loved building programs and loved being part of state VR. Towards 2020, I started to study for my Project Management Professional, or PMP certification. We were managing a lot of projects and building a lot of programs, and I felt like the PMP kind of helped me have a better understanding of some different methodologies to be able to do that. So it really helped pull the programmatic experience with the project management experience. And that's what really landed me here at NTM. So in my role, I get to work with a lot of technical assistance centers and training centers, and I'm able to have both the VR program knowledge and then also the project management knowledge to be able to understand the terms of the project and the contracts and the business aspect of this too. So it's been a long journey, but I'm so happy to be here because this role I get to work with so many different stakeholders. I love working with the VR agencies, the counselors, the rehabilitation counseling students, the parents, the families. I get to see it all, and not just from a local perspective. I'm getting to work with state and nationwide programs, and I think that's just a really big joy.   Carol: And it's so cool. What a great fit for you. This explains a lot. You crack me up, though, because I was considering being in pre-law like back in my undergrad as well. I feel like we have kind of similar journeys. I was a job coach. I'm like, we both come from those humble beginnings, kind of fall into VR, and we find a lot of our guests on the show have been from different backgrounds and sort of stumbled into VR different ways. So that is so cool to know about you. Thanks for sharing that. Now, I know sometimes people are maybe confused a little bit about the NCRTM can you ground us in like how all this works, how you're connected with RSA? Like who do you actually work for? Because people are like, is this an RSA thing? What is this thing? So give us the skinny.   Heather: Yeah, sure. So the NCRTM has actually been around for more than 40 years. When I found that out, you know, I was a little history nerd. So I did some digging and I was shocked. I was like 40 years. I mean, I think I've, you know, been around in the field for a long time and I didn't even know about the NCRTM until I was working at headquarters as a manager. So I think about the first basically half of my career, I didn't even know about it. And that's one of the things about this job is like, I want people to know. And so when NCRTM originated, it was a paper based repository that was basically where RSA grantees would submit their products at the end, and they would be stored and used and to what it is today, which is this really dynamic and engaging platform that has a website and a YouTube and social media and lots of connections. And so it's kind of continuing to grow and evolve. And the driver of NCRTM, where it actually originates is section 15 of the Rehabilitation Act. We are in there. And what section 15 says is that it creates a clearinghouse, and it says that we have to deliver three things. One is information about the location, provision and availability of services and programs for individuals with disabilities. We also need to have information and research related to recent medical and scientific developments bearing on disabilities. And we have to have information about the current numbers of individuals with disabilities and their needs. And so when we look at NCRTM, that's our driver. That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to share that information, the NCRTM itself and how it relates to RSA. Right now, NCRTM is funded by a contract through RSA and is operated by New Editions Consulting. So technically I work for New Editions Consulting, which is a fantastic company to work for. We just won one of the top places to work for the Washington Post, so they take wonderful care of us. It's been one of my favorite teams I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. It's just been a really fun place to work. So we work very, very closely with RSA. We have a coordination team, so there are a big group of folks from RSA and the different units there that add and contribute to the content and the planning and the strategic direction for NCRTM. And then we also work really, really closely with the Technical Assistance Centers with other RSA grantees and federal partners to build out the content to deliver to our users through the NCRTM website and our platforms.   Carol: I had no clue that that had been around for 40 years. Holy cow. I had no idea. That is amazing. And I can imagine, you know, when you think about the paper based, you know, products in the day.   Heather: How do you get that out into the hands of the field? So we live in a great time,  you know, we have this technology and we can use it because the products that are coming out of the technical assistance centers and some other RSA grantees, you know, this is made by people that have done the work. Like that's one of the things that I love so much about the clearinghouse is it's just so relevant and timely to what's happening in the field.   Carol: Yeah, I love it. That advent of social media, too, has helped so much with us all being able to kind of cross plug and promote each other's tools and activities and things that are going on that has been so great. Now, I know since you arrived there, I feel like, no, I'm not disparaging anybody from the past, but I feel like you've brought this just fresh, different look at things and you've been really doing a lot of cool stuff. So would you  talk about some of that cool stuff that you've been doing and kind of where are you getting your ideas from? Because it's been really fun to watch.   Heather: Yeah, I came onto the scene with NTM in late 2021, and there was a lot of this stuff that was already in progress, and we launched a new version of the website in 2022. So not only do we have, you know, pretty robust content, NCRTM has mostly been known for the library. When you say NCRTM, people think library, library, library, and that is a big part of what we do. We have more than 3600 items in our library. When you think of a library, it can be anything from podcast episodes, research papers, blogs, toolkits, guides, trainings. There's such a diverse array of materials in that library. So that's one of the things we were most known for. We started with some of those library enhancements, so we had an enhanced filtering. So now our users are able to locate by topic area, disability type, audience type. There's a ton of filters that you can select to really zero in on materials of interest. We also added some recently viewed features. So if you go to the NCRTM and you're poking around looking for some things and you look at it, you can go back and you'll see some of the items that you recently viewed. We now have the ability to share the information from the website so you can email it to yourself. You can share it directly on social media. Also, as part of that big website launch, we updated our training and events page. This is one of those plugs that if you are new to the website, I love directing people to the training and events page because I know time is of the essence and there's so much training and information available, and NCRTM collects training and events and post them from the Technical Assistance Center. So if there's something happening from those, those are going to be on our site, from federal partners, from grantees. So a grantee could be a university, could be a nonprofit. There's lots of different types of events that are out there on our site. You can sort by live, which means these are like live upcoming events. So you're going to want to log into those or on demand. So that could be either a training module that was made to be an asynchronous learning experience, or it could be a recorded event from one of the previously featured live and upcoming events that we had hosted prior. You can also sort on that training events page by CRC Credit Availability. So for those of you that are counselors or administrators or managers that are looking to get those CRC credits, this is a great way where you can zero in on finding those trainings that are of interest to you, that offer that CRC credit for free. It's a great resource. We also added some new pages to the platform so that we're really the result of user feedback. I think that's one of the things that I'm most proud of with NCRTM team that we do is we are serious about user feedback. So we are collecting feedback from surveys. We run user advisory groups a few times a year. We also are really out in the community talking to VR counselors, talking to rehabilitation counseling students. We're talking to grantees about their needs and what they're doing, really wanting to get the feedback so that we can curate content or we can build content that's meaningful for folks. So in the spirit of section 15, one of the new items that we launched on NCRTM was a programs and services page. And this page focuses on job seeking resources. So for individuals with disabilities. So all processes from when you're considering employment. So maybe you need to do some assessments. Or maybe you're just thinking about going to work all the way through the hiring and retention and career advancement phases of your career. So this is a really great starting point. If you have a customer who's thinking about work or you want to have some reputable job seeking tools right at your fingertips, you can use it there. It's a great tool for those counselors to be able to give to their customers as a starting point. And we do update that page regularly. So if you would like to see like a national level resource on there that you found, that's not, email us. We're here. We want to add things to that page. We are constantly growing the page. We are adding new information to the library and to the website regularly.   Carol: I actually have your site up right now. I love it really did change with that refresh that you guys did in 22 I remember having. Well, I'll say it, I tried to search in the library before and it would bring up like either 50,000 things or no things. When you put in word search or something, it just seems like your capabilities on here are so much more robust than they used to be.   Heather: Yeah, we've definitely added a lot of enhancements to make it a lot more user friendly. We were trying to make it more streamlined. We wanted things to be easier to find, easier to get to material. And then we're also trying to be a little bit plainer in our language. Some of our users felt the language was way too academic, and we wanted this site to be something that's useful for all. So we're trying to do better with using plainer language and getting straight to the point of what the document is or what that material is, so that it's easy for people to digest when they're reading it. We also added a business engagement page. So for those counselors or even those folks who work for VR agencies that are on the business relations or business consulting team, this is a great resource to kind of help you understand the business needs and how to work with employers. When you're thinking about things like job placement and job retention and accommodations and the process for hiring, that's another great tool that you can use and share in your work. But you can use it as a counselor to educate yourself. It's also helpful when you're engaging with businesses so that you're using their business language.   Carol: Excellent   Heather:  One other thing for counselors to consider. I know sometimes when we're VR counselors, I always say it was the hardest job I ever had. There's so much that you have to balance. There's so much to learn, and it always feels like there's things on your plate that you need to do. And sometimes we're so focused on our individual customers, our individual caseload, that we can forget that we're part of something so much bigger. It's not just our caseload or our office or even our state. We're part of a national VR program. Every state has a VR program. There's programs and the territories. There are so many others that are in this field along with you. And I think that's one of the great things about NCTRM is it can kind of help connect the dots so that you get to see the bigger picture. You can find materials that are created by other folks that are doing this work. You're able to see what innovative practices are working on caseloads that may be similar to yours. It may give you strategies that you can better know how to work with your customers. So I think that's one takeaway for NCRTM is just it's a different perspective. You can find things from your peers to help improve your work, and it just connects you better to the VR community around the country.   Carol: Do you guys agree with that page at all with like CSAVR and the NET?   Heather: We did. We were very happy that CSAVR and Kathy West Evans was helpful with us when formulating that content and reviewing that content. So yes, absolutely. We partnered with them to help put that together.   Carol: Excellent.   Heather: We also have I know you mentioned the Disability Innovation Fund and I'm a Manager Minute podcast listener. So I know, I know you've done some episodes with some DIF grantees, and we have a whole page that's dedicated to the Disability Innovation Fund grants. And so this is one of those pages that we're working on. It's definitely still a work in progress. So if you're interested in learning more about those Disability Innovation fund programs, we have each iteration of the grants there so that you can see kind of a little bit about what the purpose is and what those grants are doing. And then as those grantees are submitting products, we're going to be linking those products in the library right to that page. So you can kind of start to see some of the outcomes from those grant programs. So that's a really exciting page that we added. We're looking forward to being able to continue to update that pretty regularly, as we're starting to get some of those products in from those grantees.   Carol: I love that. Those Disability Innovation fund, let me tell you, since we started doing podcasts, you know, featuring the different years and the States and what they're doing, I had no clue, you know, you'd hear about them. But unless you're really, like, talking to the people and finding out what's going on, man, there's some awesome stuff happening across the country that is going to be so helpful to the rest of the VR. People put out their products. It's good to know you're going to have a page dedicated to all of that, because I just envision these really amazing things coming from that, that are going to be so useful to VR as a whole for years to come.   Heather: Absolutely. And there really is a lot of innovation coming out of the agencies that have these grants. And that's exactly what we want. We want others to be able to access those materials so they can think about how that could work in their state, and how that could work in their program, and be able to connect to resources that can help them on their journey to implementing and improving and streamlining their services.   Carol: For sure. 100%.   Heather: And then lastly, I have to plug here for the Accessibility Resources page. So accessibility is such a huge part of what we do. And coming from the field of VR and coming from a provider background, I knew about accessibility in theory, but it really wasn't until I got to working at the clearinghouse when I realized all I didn't know about accessibility. And this is definitely an area where I've had a lot of personal growth and a lot of personal learning to do since I came on board here. But the NCRTM has a page for accessibility resources. So if you are with a VR program or you're a VR counselor, or if you're an RSA grantee and you're looking to make your products accessible. So if you're thinking about having a PowerPoint, how can you make that accessible so that the information is accessible to all users? We have resources on a Microsoft word and PDF and PowerPoints. We have guides, we have video tutorials. There's a whole bunch of information on the NCRTM page, which is a great starting point for when you're thinking about how can I make this information accessible for everyone? And so we encourage folks to check that out too, because it's a really great starting point.   Carol: Yeah, I think that's been an area that maybe VR has not done as well with. You would think we'd know better and do better and be better with that. But I've been amazed over time, different places I've gone or, you know, folks I've talked to and people still struggling with accessibility. So your having those resources out there is super timely and really important.   Heather: Yeah, absolutely. And it really is one of those you don't know what you don't know until you kind of get into the thick of it. And I'm thankful now that I know better and I'm starting to do better. But it's definitely a journey and there's a lot to learn. And I would encourage folks not to be intimidated because you can start small and just learn a little at a time. And over time, that makes a really, really big difference in what you can do with your materials.   Carol: Absolutely. Now, I know we have a lot of counselors that listen in, and you and I had talked about this a little bit. What advice would you have for counselors who may be exploring your website for the first time? I know you and I talked about you felt like you'd be a whole different counselor had you known about the cool materials that are out there for them.   Heather: Yeah, man, I do. I feel like I would have been totally a much better counselor than what I was. When I think about going back to being a VR counselor, it can be overwhelming. I always say the hardest job I ever had was a VR counselor. Just because there's so much to learn. You have a lot of cases. I had to travel a lot for mine because I was in a rural county. You have a lot on your plate and it can be kind of overwhelming and you kind of start spinning your wheels sometimes because you're like, well, I don't even know if I have time to find out this information to help me do better. And I think, you know, what I would tell counselors is NCRTM is here and you can plug in. And so whether you're a new counselor and you're coming into VR kind of cold, maybe your background is in something different. You know, maybe you came with a social work background or a business background, and you may be kind of struggling to learn the VR part of counseling. Or if you're a seasoned counselor, you know, you may feel like you've been doing this a long time and you know a lot. But if you're not learning, you're not growing, and there's really always something more you can learn. And so we have resources for you in every stage of your career. And even as you continue to grow and transition, we have a lot of resources for those who move into management or supervision and program administration. So it's a really great resource to be able to support you when you are out there in the field looking to do, I think about like motivational interviewing and how much I really wanted to do that and use that technique. And I went through some trainings and it was like, okay, But the trainings, I always felt like they were just kind of never really got to the nuts and bolts like it was overviews. And one of my favorite resources in the NCRTM was actually this motivational training series that was created by Oregon VR and it's, you know, several years old now, but it's nuts and bolts. It's how to do motivational interviewing in a VR setting. Like it's amazing. And I wish I would have had that when I was a counselor. And there's also all kinds of different toolkits and guides. There's so much available. There's also another place on the NCRTM team where you can kind of as a starting point. We produce these things, which is a fancy word. We call it a curated list, but basically we have more than 20 curated lists on various topics, and most of the topics that we have selected these curated lists on were user driven. These were given to us. Ideas came from the field, came from our users. And these curated lists usually have, you know, 10 to 25 different resources on them about various topics. So for instance, we did one on VR 101. So for those folks, it can be counselors, it could be parents. All of the curated lists are segmented by audience. So if you're a counselor and you're looking for resources for yourself, you can check out these lists and it'll say for VR professionals. Or if you're looking for resources that you can share with your customers, you'll see for individuals with disabilities and families for general audiences, some of them are for specific disability types, like we have a list on autism and employment. We have a list on mental health. We have curated lists on work incentives, financial incentives, labor market information. So there's more than 20 of them out there. We add new lists pretty regularly. Right now we're in the process of updating some existing lists. So these lists change and they grow. But that's a really great starting point. If you're not really sure where to go or what to look at, I'd also highly recommend plugging into those training and events pages. So I know with the variety of information and training topics that are available, sometimes you really don't want to sit down and do a training, but you can look and a lot of the trainings are available on demand, so you can do it at a time that's convenient for you. As nerdy as it sounds, I like to listen to trainings in the background sometimes, so most of the trainings that are on the site I've listened to, I've taken myself and there's some really good stuff out there. So I'd encourage you to not be intimidated. But I'd also like to offer is just support. There's a team behind the team behind this curtain that's there to help you. So if you want to get acquainted with the site or you want help locating some resources, just email us. Our email address is NRTM@NewEditions.net, and one of our team members will be able to help you right away. So don't feel like you're in this alone. Like we can help you navigate and help you learn how to explore and show you what's available on the site and how it can benefit your work.   Carol: All excellent advice that you've given that is super cool. I know that curated list. When I found that, I'm like, oh my gosh, that literally is what I felt like I did back in the day when I was at Minnesota, was create a curated list from your website. It was like linking counselors to these different really awesome materials on particular topics. So it's so awesome that you guys have done that. I feel like this is advanced so much and I know your team can do other cool stuff for VR agencies. So I heard you say, you know, obviously people can email you and you can do some support, but what are kind of trainings you could do for a VR agency on supporting using the website and such?   Heather: Yeah, absolutely. So we are happy to do in-service trainings and system demonstrations for VR agencies. In the past we've had agencies where we've done executive leadership, where we've shown the executive leadership how to use the site. Not only do we show you how to use it, we talk to you about it. We tell you about it, and then we show you it. So you get to see a live system demo and then, you know, we can take requests. So if it is of interest or particular parts of the website where you want to learn a little bit more information, we can focus on those areas. We've also done it with teams or units. So we can do any type of training like a 1 to 1 setting or like small group setting for your teams. If you're interested in learning more about NCRTM and how you can use it in your work, we also help agencies with locating materials. Well, not just VR agencies. We help individuals so we get emails all the time about people. I just had one last week from a parent who has a child that's transitioning into the workforce, and they're really interested in learning more information about customized employment. And so the parent reached out to us because they really weren't sure where to go. And we were able to pull together a list, kind of walk the parent through what was on the list and was able to share that with them. So if you've got a topic that you're interested in, or maybe you're looking to compile a curriculum of trainings that are available to support you, there's a ton of great resources out there for the training. So those on demand training modules are very common. So if you're an agency and you're looking to build out a training curriculum without like basically rebuilding and restarting and rebuilding the wheel, let's take a look and see what's already out there. You know, this stuff that's coming out of the Technical Assistance Centers and RSA grantees. It's really relevant to what's happening and what's needed in the field right now. And we really want folks to be able to connect to that so we can help you locate those. I had an agency that was asking about financial literacy training, and I was able to send them, Carol, to the financial literacy training from QM, you know, so it was really great. So we have these kind of resources and these requests coming in all the time, and we welcome that. We want to be able to help you navigate resources that's out there. It's up to us to know where to point you and we're happy to do that. And then another thing that we do. So for those agencies that want to submit products to NCRTM, or maybe they're a DIF grantee or another RSA program grantee, we do accessibility technical assistance. So the team behind the team is we have a 508 team here at New Additions, and they help us a lot with accessibility work and making sure that the products that go onto the NCRTM are accessible so we can help provide technical assistance. We do accessibility reviews on materials, especially if they're the result of an RSA grant. And then we can offer if it's like remediations or complex accessibility work, we can provide technical assistance on that. So for instance, we had an RSA grantee who was really interested in doing some new video work, but they really weren't sure how to do audio descriptions. And so our 508 team was able to provide that technical assistance, to be able to kind of show them and walk them through how to do audio descriptions in work. We often do a lot of document remediation, so we're able to kind of review your PDF and word documents. If you're submitting it to the NCRTM, to let you know if it's accessible or not, and then what kind of steps need to be taken to make sure that it's accessible. So that's another service that we offer.   Carol: I had no clue about that. That is fabulous. I hope people take you up on that for sure. Oh my gosh. You've talked about the website and the materials posted there. So I know that the RSA grantees can put information out there. Are there other people that can put information on your website?   Heather: Yeah, technically anybody can submit materials to the NCRTM. It's a public website. So anybody can what we recommend if you're interested in submitting, we have an online library submission form. So when you go to the NCRTM website home page, if you navigate to the library using that top navigation bar on the far left hand side, it says library. When you go into the library, then you will come across a link on the right hand side of the page. And what that link says is submit materials to the NCRTM library. You can go ahead and click on that link. And there's a form that you can fill out. And you'll just have to put some very basic information about the material that you're submitting. So maybe this is something that your agency created, that you're very proud of and would like to be on the NCRTM website. Or maybe it's something from a federal partner that's publicly available, that's not in our library that you think should be. That's another thing you can do is you can submit it to NCRTM. Every material that's submitted is reviewed by our team to make sure that it's accessible, and then also that it's appropriate to be on the NCRTM, and then we can go ahead and publish it and make it available on the website. So anybody can yeah, anybody can submit, which I think is pretty cool. And we really encourage folks. So if you're a VR agency and you have tools and you have success stories or you have trainings you want to share and you want them to get the word out about it, send it our way, we will help you figure out a way to put it on the site and help you amplify that material. Like, we really want these products and these materials that you're working on that are really meaningful for the VR community. We want to get them out there.   Carol: Well, we're definitely better together. You know, everybody's creating all of this great stuff. We don't have to all reinvent the wheel. Like, let's use this so each other can get like all that great stuff. Everybody's producing. I think that's wonderful.   Heather:  Yeah. If you're afraid to use that form, you can always email us like we are small team, but we're very responsive. We take a lot of pride in making sure that we're responding to folks quickly. So if you have questions about submitting materials or you want to walk it through, you can email us at NCRTM@NewEditions.Net, and we'll walk you through that. For those RSA grantees we have a whole guide that's out there, the guide for product submission and websites about submitting products to the NCRTM. But that's more for RSA grantees. If you're an individual or you're a VR agency, definitely email us or use that library submission form and we're going to be happy to help you.   Carol: Very cool. So I know you have a lovely newsletter you guys put out. And then I saw recently kind of a little different format. You were doing like a news blast or something. Sort of groovy. How can folks, because we do have a lot of counselors that listen into and they don't always have access, you know, maybe the directors on your mailing list or something. But how do folks subscribe so they can get it quickly?   Heather: Yeah, we have a lot of ways that you can connect with us. Carol, you mentioned the newsletter. We do put out a monthly newsletter. We are trying some new things. So we are starting to do some news blasts. So if there's some really important announcement or might be an event reminder or something that NCRTM is doing, we're going to start sending some more regular communications to our subscribers. The best way to do that is to sign up for the NCRTM newsletter. And you can do that by using the web page. You use the top navigation bar and click on join the NTM network tab. That's going to take you to our page, where you can start to subscribe so you can subscribe for our newsletter. Like I said, it goes out once a month. We also have another subscription where if you're really interested in keeping up to date on what's new, what's happening with the library materials, you can subscribe for library updates. So once a month, you'll get a list of all of the new items that were added to the NCRTM library. And it really varies month to month. Sometimes we have a lot of folks that submit products, other times it's just our team out there looking and finding what's new and putting it onto the site. So some months you'll see a lot, some months you might not see as much. It just really depends if you're really interested in staying up to date, we encourage you to do that. We also have social media. You can find us on X which is formerly Twitter. Our handle is at RSA_NCRTM. So we encourage you to follow us on Twitter. We do a lot of amplifying new products. We talk about some of the events and trainings that are going on. And then we also have a YouTube. So whenever NCRTM hosts a training because we do host trainings ourselves too. Right now we're doing a series of lunch and learns. Carol, you were a big help with moderating what our first Lunch and Learn event last November with Doctor Herbert. We had a panel discussion about recruitment and retention. We also just did a really wonderful lunch and learn session that we did alive. And then we just released the publication earlier this month on managing counselor workload guilt. So for those of you counselors who are out there maybe struggling, feeling a little guilty because your workload is high, and this really looks at strategies to kind of find balance and prioritize wellbeing. It was a really fantastic event. And so that video is available on our YouTube channel. And then earlier this month we hosted a lunch and learn where we partnered with NRIC, the National Rehabilitation Information Centre, and really kind of zeroed in on research. And how can you navigate with NRIC and use research in your work. And so the video of that will be coming out very soon too. So if you're interested in looking at some of the trainings that NCRTM has done, definitely check out our YouTube channel.   Carol: Yeah, folks, definitely need to sign up because then you get everything. I love it because I must be signed up like three different ways. I get it, you know, from RSA, Joe Doney. And then I get from you guys, I get it all the time. So I make sure I have all the current information and the lunch and learns are fabulous. They're really fast paced. It's nice. There's just great guests that have been on there. I think they're really a good product that you've developed.   Heather: Yeah, so definitely the newsletter. I think you hit it. That's the best way. So if you're looking to connect, we have a lot of ways. But the newsletter you're going to see a lot of the new stuff that's coming out. You're going to be able to see any of the lunch and learns that we're hosting. You're going to get to see NCRTM materials. You'll also get to see all of our new library materials. We usually feature 3 to 4 new library materials on that newsletter, too, so you don't sign up for library updates. You can still see that in the newsletter. So yeah, the newsletter is really a great source to get the most information about what's happening at NCRTM.   Carol: Very cool. So is there any way our listeners can help you? I don't know if you had any particular ask for them. Or are there ways that our listeners can help you guys?   Heather: Yeah, absolutely. Like I mentioned, we are very serious about user feedback. So we want to hear from you. We want to be able to curate content that's meaningful and helpful for you. So we want you to share your ideas with us. So if there's library materials, if there's a webinar or training topic that would be helpful for you or idea for a new curated list, we want to hear from you. That's how we continue to build and grow the NCRTM to make sure that it's meaningful to our users. So really reach out to us, email us, NCRTM@NewEditions.Net. We also have a customer feedback survey so you can connect with us. That way you can fill it out if you have ideas for content or things that you would find helpful, and then also just connecting with the NCRTM team by signing up for the newsletter would be a really big help. It also helps keep you up to date on what's happening. Those are some of the bigger ways that your listeners could help us is really those connections. Tell us what you need, how we can help you, and then connect with us and stay up to date. Connect with us so that you know what's going on, because I guarantee you your work will benefit.   Carol: Awesome. Thanks for joining me today, Heather, I really appreciate you being on. This was great.   Heather: Yeah, thanks for having me. It was awesome I appreciate it.   {Music}   Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

Hey a quick word before the Show notes, Our public Discord is here https://discord.gg/QH6ePP2r come join Sean and Nick plus 2000+ Members all chatting about Game Pass and XboxWelcome to this week's episode of the "Game Pass Tracker Show," where we delve into the latest and most exciting news from the world of Xbox!This week, top stories include Xbox's innovative move to bring cloud gaming to the Amazon Fire TV Stick, expanding accessibility and convenience for gamers everywhere. Despite high expectations, "Hellblade 2" struggled in European sales last month, failing to make it into the top 100. Meanwhile, Xbox is gearing up for a significant presence at Gamescom with its biggest booth yet planned for this August. In other news, Bethesda's Todd Howard emphasizes a patient approach to future Fallout games, suggesting quality over speed in their development. Also on the horizon, the suspenseful universe of "A Quiet Place" is being adapted into a video game set to terrify Xbox players in 2024.In our news bulletins, Xbox has rolled out new perks for Game Pass Ultimate members as of June 2024, enhancing the value of its subscription service. "Avowed," the eagerly anticipated RPG from Obsidian, has been confirmed to offer a fully playable third-person perspective. And for those eager to dive into new adventures, "Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn" is now available for preload on Xbox Game Pass.Our feature story explores an intriguing scenario: What would an Xbox version of Disney look like? Imagine a universe where Halo, Gears of War, Doom, and Activision's blockbuster franchises merge into an expansive, interconnected entertainment landscape. We discuss the potential for crossover stories, shared universes, theme park attractions, and much more.Don't miss this episode of "Game Pass Tracker Show" for your essential dose of all things Xbox, from game releases to speculative fun about the future of gaming.

About Anthony & Peter McKelvy and Northern Re: Peter is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Northern Re, a New York and Cayman based alternative asset group focused on securitizing risk in the casualty reinsurance space. He is responsible for the firm's financial strategy and developing a modern tech stack to drive evolution in the space. Peter also serves as the Chairman of Park Agency, the Kennedy family office built on four generations of familial success across public service, philanthropy and business. In that role he works to ensure the long term success of the family as it enters its 5th generation. Before co-founding Northern Re, Peter spent years as a product leader managing multiple engineering teams at various startups. He joined Uber in its early stage. Peter established and led the Driver Compliance organization, growing the group from a concept to multiple engineering teams spanning several offices. After five years with Uber, he left to lead product at Boost Insurance, where he was responsible for the company's strategy and technology build. He and his team created a platform that propelled revenue growth from $0 to $100 million in 3 years. Peter is committed to volunteering with philanthropic groups including Best Buddies and RFK Human Rights. In his free time Peter enjoys spending time outdoors exploring US National Parks. Peter is a cum laude graduate from Bucknell University and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is also licensed as a director with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Peter and his wife live in New York City. A modern reinsurance company with a focus on data-driven portfolios of property and casualty risk. Our thesis is built around combining deep industry ties, a sustainable capital structure and a partner-first approach to collateral. These elements enable us to deliver a more effective solution to the industry. NoRe Holdings, maintaining an office in New York City, wholly owns Northern Reinsurance SPC, Ltd. a Cayman Islands domiciled B(iii) captive reinsurer.

The latest in Donald Trump's hush money trial with the prosecution resting their case on Monday. Also, with summer almost here, experts share their tips on the best ways to travel for the upcoming season. Plus, Best Buddies launches a new initiative to help support families of children with disabilities. And, Shop TODAY Editorial Director Adrianna Brach shares a few best-selling products at a discount to get you ready for summer.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Willy was joined by Anthony Shriver, founder, chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies, the leading global organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Inspired by his mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver who started Special Olympics, Anthony has taken Best Buddies from an idea to a leading global non-profit impacting millions of lives.  He and Willy discussed his upbringing and how his parents' emphasis on giving back shaped him, the story behind creating Best Buddies and developing it into global movement, the importance of inclusion, the challenges of mental health, his commitment to faith and living a life of service, and much more.

In Chris Fleming's recent Peacock stand-up special Hell, he calls out some audience members who are married and shouts, “This show is not for people who have wives. You have a wife?! Go see Mike Birbiglia!” Fleming is fearless about dragging the names of other comedians into his bits: from Bo Burham to Nikki Glaser to Bert Kreischer and more. Chris is a Massachusetts theater kid turned comedian and it manifests in stand-up comedy that is simultaneously avant-garde but also crowd pleasing. Mike and Chris sit down for a truly productive session of working out new material and they break down why Massachusetts is so darn repressed. Plus, they do no-holds-barred impressions of each other in what is one of the most unhinged episodes of Working it Out of all time.Please consider donating to Best Buddies

Jeff and Tim Kurkjian sit down with me to talk about fatherhood and family. It is great to hear the strong bond and mutual respect they have for each other. They share memories of when Jeff was a kid to know when Jeff became a dad. After that we talk about their new podcast, Is This A Great Game, Or What? and how long it took them to get this podcast started. In addition they share what they can expect from their new podcast series. Lastly, we finish the interview with the Fatherhood Quick Five.  About Tim Kurkjian  Tim Kurkjian is a Hall of Fame baseball writer. Tim Kurkjian joined ESPN in March 1998 as both a reporter for Baseball Tonight and a senior writer. Known for his passionate storytelling and insight, he continues to provide analysis through his writing and regular appearances on Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter. Kurkjian is also a staple in ESPN's Little League World Series coverage, and has served as a regular analyst in the booth, including for Monday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball. Follow Tim on Twitter at @Kurkjian_ESPN. Check out their new podcast, Is This A Great Game, Or What? wherever you get your podcasts.  About Jeff Kurkjian Jeff Kurkjian grew up in Maryland. He, his wife, Emily, and their daughter, McKinley, reside in Skippack.  Kurkjian is a proud graduate of Syracuse University. Jeff loves to volunteer his time working with ALS United Mid-Atlantic. He does this in memory of his uncle who passed away from the disease in 2023. Also, he has worked with the Salvation Army, Best Buddies, the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and more. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his baby girl and binge watching the newest shows. He also is the host of the nationally syndicated show, “Jeff Kurkjian's Country Beat,” heard on stations across the country including Philadelphia, Boston, Tampa and Vegas, just to name a few. You can follow him on all socials @jpkurkjian. Semper Smart Games Is Sponsoring This Week's Episode  Understanding that play is the mind's favorite way of learning. Semper Smart Games has a mission of creating uniquely fun and educational games that teach invaluable skills and knowledge. They create games that you can play at home, in the classroom, or almost anywhere you can find a small playing surface. In addition, they are committed to giving today's families meaningful tactile gaming options that are not screen based. It helps to encourage personal interaction. Sign up for news on new and exciting projects, promotions and games they are working on.  About The Art of Fatherhood Podcast  The Art of Fatherhood Podcast follows the journey of fatherhood. Your host, Art Eddy talks with fantastic dads from all around the world where they share their thoughts on fatherhood. You get a unique perspective on fatherhood from guests like Joe Montana, Kevin Smith, Danny Trejo, Jerry Rice, Jeff Foxworthy, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Kinney, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kyle Busch, Dennis Quaid, Dwight Freeney and many more.