The Odyssey podcast explores the unique journey we're sent on when a loved one has a disability. We dig deep into the joys and hardships. We celebrate how amazing the odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability are. But we don't shy away from the tough stuff either. Each episode will explore topics that hit a little different because of our life experience. Our guests' perspective will sometimes bring comfort and other times challenge the way we see the world. https://centerforfamilyinv ...
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Are Inclusive Schools Even Possible? Part 1
1:06:31
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Imagine being treated as a guest in your own school. For many students, not only is that their reality - it's by design. In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Erin Croyle and special education teacher Trina Allen break down what needs to be done to create meaningful inclusion in academics, throughout our school communities, and beyond. The Odyssey: Par…
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Looking to feel better? Want to help your children feel better? It might be time for a detox. And the one we’re talking about actually works. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people w…
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Dual Perspectives: Navigating Special Education as a Teacher and a Parent
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In this epiosde we get an insider's perspective of the world of special education from someone who sees it from both sides. Eleanor Janek is a dedicated special education teacher and a mother two two children with disabilties. Her insight is both eye opening and incredibly useful for virtually anyone who is a teacher or a parent. The Odyssey: Paren…
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Caring for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Doctor's Perspective
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In this episode, host Erin Croyle and guest Dr. Kathryn Rooth talk about just how much, or how little, medical professionals know about treating patients with disabilities. Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Something you want to ask Dr. Rooth? Feel free to contact Erin via email. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Cent…
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Modern day parenting can be so isolating. It's an unfortunate reality many of us are struggling with. If you have a child or children with neurodiversity, medically complexities, or disabilities, it can feel downright lonely. But you are NEVER alone in this journey. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement a…
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Is Food Impacting Our Children More Than We Realize?
1:18:13
1:18:13
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You are what you eat. That adage has been around forever for a reason. The foods we consume have changed drastically over the last few decades. Packaged, highly processed foods have flooded groceries, gas stations, schools, sporting events, and gatherings. It's practically impossible for a child or adult to go a day without having ultra-processed f…
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Abuse Prevention and Cultivating Healthy Relationships
1:06:51
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People with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at a rate SEVEN TIMES HIGHER than people without disabilities. And that figure is likely a substantial underestimate, as it doesn't take into account repeated abuse or people living in institutions and group homes. There are steps we can take to prevent abuse and empower our loved ones to…
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Self-care is something we all need to do. But for many of us, it's an elusive practice. Caregivers are working harder than ever. Which makes self-care more important than ever. Knowing how real this struggle is, I reached out to my friend and chiropractor Dr. Sarah Gardner. She gets it, and has so many practical, doable ideas for how we can make se…
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This odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability can be so many things: isolating, overwhelming, joyous, lonely, full, exhausting, exhilerating. The extreme ups and downs; the highs and lows. You can't fully understand it unless you live it. This episode explores why professional family to family support is so critical - so peers with lived ex…
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Why We Must Stop Labeling People High-Functioning/Low-Functioning
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It's natural for parents to want their children to reach their full potential. But who decides what that is? And at what cost? In part two of my interview with Heather Trammell, we explore how dangerous societal expectations can be; and how inaccurate and harmful it is to label people as high-functioning and low-functioning. (You can listen to Part…
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Everything You Need to Know About IFSP and Applying for Funds
52:39
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When you have a child with a disability, you become more than just a parent. You become a caregiver. And many of us “parent-caregiver hybrids” have a lot to learn about supporting a child with a lifelong disability. Medicaid waivers can be one of the hardest things to understand. Under broad federal guidelines, states can develop home and community…
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What to Expect When the Unexpected Happens
1:14:26
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The wishes, hopes, and dreams of expectant parents are many. Their baby having a lifelong disability usually is not one of them. When that happens, it can be devastating for families. The staff and volunteers at the Center for Family Involvement have family members with a disability. Some of us have disabilities. That lived experience makes a huge …
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The back to school grind is tough for everyone, but it’s over in a flash and parents get a breather during school hours. Except when they don’t. The parents and caregivers of students with disabilities live in back to school mode all year long. It’s almost like Santa preparing for Christmas. The first day of school is the main event, but elves are …
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An estimated 1 in 4 Americans has a disability significant enough that it impacts their daily life. When the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26th, 1990 it was celebrated as groundbreaking legislation that would grant access to jobs, schools, transportation, and public spaces. More than 30 years later, the ADA is showing …
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Reaching full potential. Becoming independent. We want these things for our children. For kids with disabilities, providing the assistance they need while trying to achieve these goals is like walking a tightrope. Help from even the most well-intentioned people, often is not helpful. It’s not just educators, parents unintentionally hold their child…
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How to Survive and Thrive in Motherhood
1:19:31
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There is no crystal ball to give us insight into what parenting a child with a disability is like. But conversations with Lisa Richard sure come close. Lisa is a mother to seven children ranging from ages 18 to 30. Two of her kids have Down syndrome. Lisa's honesty and insight is refreshing. She is the first to affirm how hard the early years are a…
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Every April 10th our social media feeds are flooded with throwback photos in honor of Siblings Day. It may seem like a stunt to keep us scrolling, but it's much more than that. In fact, there is an ongoing effort to get the United Nations to officially declare it "International Siblings Day." Siblings Day hits differently when a brother or sister h…
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Why Are Summer Camps Inaccessible for So Many Children?
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Summer camp sign ups are well underway across the country. Parents and caregivers are scrambling to secure spots so they can work while their children make new friends, learn new skills, and have fun. It's not so simple for the estimated 17% of children ages 3 through 17 who have one or more developmental disabilities. If a child needs extra suppor…
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How Having a Child with a Disability Transforms You with Jamie Bruen
1:25:15
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The moment you become a parent, your life is transformed forever. For parents of children with disabilities this transformation is on a whole other level. For some of us, it's a defining moment where our life is split in two: before and after. Because we're not just parents anymore. We're caregivers. The end to that caregiving role isn't after high…
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Rare Diagnoses with Sarah Lepore, MSN, NNP-BC, Mother
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One of the hardest things families go through is when something seems wrong with their baby or child. When we envision becoming parents, the hopes and dreams we have usually do not include a disability. Socital norms focus so much on "healthy" babies that getting a diagnosis of intellectual or deveopmental disabilities shatters our preconceived not…
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