The Moms Talk Autism Podcast is for parents raising children with special needs. We are four moms, all with autistic children and other neurodivergence. Teaching a special needs child to navigate the world around them comes with challenges and struggles. We want to talk about those challenges openly with you and others. We discuss grief, school, family balance, siblings, therapies, social conversations, behaviors, delays, diagnosis advocation, and marriage. We do not hold degrees in medicine ...
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BONUS: Shannon and Brittney Talk Failing Motherhood
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A little bonus gift for you this week, courtesy of our friend, Danielle Bettmann, of Failing Motherhood Podcast. Danielle interviewed Shannon and Brittney on her show and was kind enough to share it with our audience too. We dive deep into the early years of diagnosis and what that looked like for each of our families: the process, the feelings, th…
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Fellow podcaster and Parenting Coach, Danielle Bettmann, is our guest in this week’s episode. Danielle helps parents of strong-willed children meet their kids’ deepest core needs, improve behavior, and find new levels of patience. As a mom of two, Danielle is passionate about eliminating shame from parents’ vocabulary, solving power struggles, and …
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Recovery is necessary after going through periods of Decision and Emotional and Physical Fatigue from being a caregiver (caregiver burnout syndrome). In this episode, our “downloading” continues but we cover and wrap up the topic of the Mental Load by hitting on these few points: Personal actions you can take How Friends, Family + Community can hel…
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Dyslexia & Learning in 3D w/ Jess Arce
1:14:21
1:14:21
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Today we chat with special guest and dyslexia expert Jess Arce, managing director of 3D Learning Experts, which provides virtual tutoring services tailored to children facing brain-based learning challenges. The tutors help bridge the gap with their peers who are struggling with reading, writing, spelling, and math. Jess also opens up about her jou…
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In this episode, we unpack two of three prongs to what encapsulates the “Mental Load”: Planning, Organizing + Anticipating = Cost of Cognitive Labor, Time Currency Spent + Decision Fatigue Honest Mom Moments: “I don’t like myself right now.” Reporting the moments when people around you, no matter the circumstance, don’t understand what is at play a…
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Weathering the Storms w/ Britta Merwin, Fox Weather Meteorologist
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1:03:19
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We are thrilled to bring you a community story from a fellow working mama, Britta Merwin. Britta is a meteorologist by day (and by day, we mean EARLY morning) and a mom, wife, and autism advocate every minute of every day! Britta has three children, one diagnosed with autism. You can find her on FoxWeather.com, keeping us all updated on the latest …
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All four of us in one episode? In the summer? It’s a hot, sweaty, sticky miracle! We had a great time filling you all in on our summer experiences so far. There’s been highs and lows and lots of transitions. We cover everything from staying home to chill, selling homes and big family changes, family trips, and summer camps. Between the four of us, …
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Entertainment for ALL kids w/ Jerry Kolber
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Calling ALL parents and kids, this episode is for YOU! We are thrilled to have Jerry Kolber on this week’s episode, creator and advocate for some of the most successful and beloved children’s “edutainment” programming in the world. We chat with Jerry about his own struggles growing up within the traditional public education system, his interest and…
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You May Also Like: Who Smarted? The Funniest Podcast for KIDS!
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Surprise! It’s a bonus episode this week! We are so excited to introduce you to one of our favorite podcasts FOR KIDS! Who Smarted? is a fun and educational podcast specifically for kids and their families. There are episodes and topics for everyone’s interests and the recordings are really entertaining with lots of cool sound effects, voices, triv…
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Traveling the Spectrum w/ Stuart Butler & Peter Prokop
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48:13
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Today we had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Stuart Butler and Peter Prokop, two gentlemen who were instrumental in creating and directing a new series called Traveling The Spectrum. Both advocate and share a personal connection to the disability community. They believe all families deserve to vacation and create quality memories tog…
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Dr. Alisa Elliot, founder, owner and operator of the Chrysalis Spectrum Foundation, www.chrysalisspectrum.com, is back to tell us about her latest venture. Which was a glowing success, Check out www.disabilitycomiccon.com, the theme was "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" It was an exciting and inclusive event celebrating the power of div…
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We recommend you watch the documentary first, but it is not required to enjoy this conversation. Links below. We are honored to talk with Beth today, the co-star of the documentary, “You Have No Idea”. Beth and her son, Evan, are featured in this amazing film, giving us a real glimpse into autism life for their family and community. Beth opens up a…
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Welcome to the Tashie and Shannon show! Totally kidding, but today’s episode IS just the two of us and we’re answering some specific questions y’all have. Per usual, we are no experts, but we will always share openly about where we are in our journey and what has or is (or isn't) working for us. Some of the topics we cover today are: *High pain tol…
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Don't Sing Happy Birthday with Joni Brown
1:06:53
1:06:53
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Today we chat with Joni Brown about her family’s journey with not only autism but also PCDH19, a rare epilepsy disorder. Today Allie is 20 years old, and Joni discusses their diagnosis story. We dive into the heartache of the life-changing diagnosis, Joni’s tenacity in finding answers, and the triumphs they have made as a family. We also discuss Jo…
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SOS: Asking for Help (Pt 3 with Britt & Jean)
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Welcome to our three-part series on asking for and receiving help from others. Brittney and Jean are having this week's conversation, diving deep into some of the challenges of parenthood and why we DON’T ask for help. What stops us from letting others in? Is it a purely external, logistical issue or are we getting in our own way at times? We break…
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Finding Confidence as a Parent with Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe and Shahla Ala’i-Rosales
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Today we welcome authors Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe and Shahla Alai-Rosales to the podcast to discuss navigating therapies and feeling confident as a parent. Long-time friends and colleagues, they have worked together to bring important insights and knowledge to families all over the world. We are the keystone to our child’s growth and development. We are…
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SOS: Asking for Help (Pt 2 with Britt & Shannon)
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Welcome to the Brit and Shan show, in part two of our three-part series on asking for and receiving help from others. We are diving deep into some of the challenges of parenthood and why we DON’T ask for help. What stops us from letting others in? Is it a purely external, logistical issue or are we getting in our own way at times? We break it down …
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It’s finally time. Today, Shannon and Britt tackle menstruation (aka period problems) with the help of our friend Ashley Lewis! You guys have been asking for this one for so long, and we haven’t been able to speak from experience. Ashley shares about her family, and her daughter’s diagnosis, and then gives us some REAL TALK about our kids and their…
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SOS: Asking for Help (Pt 1 with Britt & Tash)
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55:39
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Welcome to our three-part series on asking for and receiving help from others. Brittney and Tash are starting this conversation by diving deep into some of the challenges of parenthood and why we DON’T ask for help. What stops us from letting others in? Is it a purely external, logistical issue or are we getting in our own way at times? We break it…
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Today we were able to chat with Tara Clark from Modern Mom Probs! If you haven’t found Tara online, you definitely should; her links are below! Today we had a great conversation about her son’s diagnosis. Jack was diagnosed in 4th grade with Developmental Coordination Disorder, also known as Dyspraxia. We discussed the ins and outs of their story, …
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This one is a bit wild, y’all. Just like Tash’s favorite chunky sweater. We talk about pet peeves, our favorite outfits and clothing, ways to unwind and relax, and our apps that we just can’t quit! This is exactly what it’s like when we are all in the same room. Lots of giggles, maybe a couple of swears. Just giving you a heads-up. 😉…
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Jonathan Alderson Pt. 3: Consequences and our Kids
1:42:02
1:42:02
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WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THE OREOS?!?! :D (Inside joke… listen and you’ll understand!) For a discussion on consequences, this one has a lot of laughs. It's important to laugh at ourselves, right? How do we teach our kids consequences that empower them to make better choices? What is the framework around this? AND.. if we haven’t been the best with conseq…
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Welcome to the first of our Merry-Go-Round Episodes! We needed a fun way to revisit episode topics that we'd already done, but as you all know, certain topics are ever-changing. Much like a merry-go-round we just circle right back around. Today’s episode we touch on SLEEP! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like for us to revisit and update …
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We love it when DM chats lead to podcast guests. Katie shares her personal story about her son’s diagnosis and therapy journey, specifically ABA. This led to her finding her voice, speaking up, and helping others in her area and state to receive more coverage for autism services. We all have to start somewhere! Connect with Katie on Instagram @7luc…
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Mindful Voices: A One-Stop Shop for Therapy?!
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Today we had a great discussion with Rachael Farkas at Mindful Voices about therapies and services available to autistic families in a “one-stop shop” style company. There are places out there that can provide speech, OT, potty training, ABA, etc all from one location and team. Everyone works together and has access to your kids’ data and informati…
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Life is tough, but so are YOU! Shannon and Britt here to talk about current struggles with our autistic kids. Dentists, ER visits, soccer practice, and the struggle to get on a literal bus. No one says this life is boring, am I right? Things happen to us, that’s life. How we react and process and move forward? Well, that’s where it’s really up to u…
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Jonathan Alderson Pt. 2 : Receptivity & Communicating With Our Kids
1:39:01
1:39:01
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Another amazing conversation with Jonathan Alderson today! We dive into the topic of feeling frustrated when our kids “just won’t listen” to us and how we can find our way back to the joys of parenting again, even with kids who may have more challenging behaviors. How can we adjust our expectations? What are the changes that we can make in our inte…
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Jonathan Alderson Pt. 1: Why All Therapy May Not Work for All Kids
1:33:43
1:33:43
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Today we had the pleasure of talking with Jonathan Alderson. Jonathan has a Master's of Education from Harvard and also completed a three-year intensive certification training in autism treatment at the Autism Treatment Center of America. While we could go on and on about his BIO, what we discuss is even MORE important. After working directly with …
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The Moms' Current Fav Book w/ author Kelley Coleman
1:04:05
1:04:05
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We can’t wait to dive in with our guest today, Kelley Coleman, author of “Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child”. No joke, this is one of the best books on autism and parenting disabled kids we’ve ever read! We talk about the book and venture into other topics including: The “Go Home, Google, and Cry” method isn’t the only op…
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Feeding our Kids: The Feeding Assessment Tool w/ Elizabeth Klein, BCBA, LBA, M.Ed.
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1:06:09
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It is of no mystery to most of us, or so it seems, that feeding and diets are significant touchstones in having a kid on the spectrum. No matter where they fall, that is the very thing that became apparent in all of her work. Join us for this expert guest, Elizabeth Klein, BCBA, LBA + M.Ed., who shares her professional experience in the field and i…
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School Based Speech Therapy w/ Sarah Anzalone, SLP
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1:08:10
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In today's episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Anzalone, Speech Language Pathologist. Sarah works in the Camas School District as an SLP working specifically with elementary-age children. Sarah shares with us about coming from a large district in Las Vegas to a much smaller district in Camas and how different that looks. She also gi…
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It’s another Grab Bag today! We polled you guys this week on Instagram to get your questions! (Another reason to chat with us on IG, wink wink…) Here’s what we tackle: Spreading awareness vs being protective of our children’s diagnosis, how do we handle this? How do you handle punishment in your home with your kids? How do we personally handle aggr…
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What!? Wait?! We are talking about one of our very own. It’s a long story but it’s all about the journey, in this case, Jean’s Journey to advocacy, and blossoming into the public education advocate, specifically at the cause of reimagining Special Education. You might want to listen to this in sections. Understandably, Jean, while compelling in fac…
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Sister, Advocate, and Psychologist : Dr. Taylor Day
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Today we have an amazing conversation with Dr. Taylor Day. She is a child psychologist and parent coach specializing in autism and neurodivergent care and today joins Jean & Shannon for a special episode. In this episode we cover a lot and it may even double as an actual therapy session for all three ladies, as we have a very powerful discussion. J…
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School Based Occupational Therapy w/ Sharon Peddie, OT
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Sharon Peddie is an occupational therapist that works in her local school district and private practice. Her experience in both of these fields offers her a unique perspective on the importance of OT in all aspects of a person’s life. Different strategies and techniques are used depending on the environment. Seems obvious, but not everyone views th…
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HomeSchooling: A Discussion with Manisha Snoyer
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Today’s show is all about homeschooling! We chat with Manisha Snoyer of Teach your Kids about the different ways that you can educate your children while thinking outside of the box. We discuss curriculum, what a day in the life of homeschool can look like, and where you can find more support and information if it’s something that you are consideri…
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Siblings: A Lifetime Dedication w/ Mollie Garre and Maya LaBate
1:13:26
1:13:26
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We have an AMAZING one for you today! Little warning.. the tears start early, at the 6 minute mark! It’s not sad, it's heartwarming. Its emotion evoking. And so thoughtful. Today we talk about what it's like to be a sibling to an autistic individual. We had the pleasure of speaking with Mollie Garre, who is the daughter of previous guest, Monica Me…
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Can you believe it?! We are officially in 2024. Today we got together to discuss our vision for the upcoming year, personal, professional, and podcast! 2023 was quite the year for the 4 of us; many lessons learned. We are taking those lessons into this year and want to share with you what that means for us! From growing in our advocacy, to growing …
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Another year has come and gone… 2023 has had many ups and downs for each of us personally. We touch on the highs and lows, as well as talk about our favorite podcast memories over the last 12 months. Most importantly of all, we are so grateful to have YOU here with us this year. We hope this podcast continues to be an avenue to feel connected, mayb…
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Keeping our Kids Safe at Home w/ Jay Korza
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56:27
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It can feel like keeping our kids safe is a moving target. Just when we think we have it figured out, something new pops up that we have to problem-solve. If you’re anything like us, it’s one of your biggest worries. Today, Jay and Shannon discuss all of the safety precautions they have taken in and around their home to keep Gracie safe and help li…
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Breaking Barriers: Diagnosis to IronMan Athlete
1:09:28
1:09:28
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In today's episode, we bring you another incredible community member. We had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with June Bunn or as I've been calling her, “Mama June”! June shares all about her journey in raising Adrienne, her daughter who is on the autism spectrum. With a diagnosis that was given or more “fought for” in the year 2008 a tim…
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"Are You Sure?" : Colleen Johnson's Story
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From meeting her husband on the Fiddler on the Roof national tour to starting their family together and having two amazing boys, Colleen discusses her journey through Autism and Down Syndrome diagnoses. We talk about the feeling of being blindsided by multiple health issues with her sons Eli and Luke. Colleen walks us through their journey and disc…
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Suicide and the Signs: AnneMoss Rogers' Story
1:09:12
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This episode is about suicide and suicide prevention. We feel strongly this is a topic we all need to be aware of and educated about, particularly as it relates to parenting neurodivergent children. If you or someone you love needs to seek help, the US Suicide Hotline for calling and texting is 988, available 24/7. A quick Google Search will bring …
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All of us girls on the pod follow Mama Fry! This was such a great conversation about the ins and outs of raising an adult son with autism. We talked a little about her journey with her son as he grew up, but really focused on what the transition to adulthood looks like. What does it look like when our kiddos turn 18? If you’re concerned about what …
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Lots of great questions from our listeners this week. These are some of our favorite episodes to record, we love hearing from and talking about the subjects that are most important to you. This week, we touched on a wide variety of topics: Puberty and Hygiene Medical-grade strollers and equipment Chiropractic care Aggression Friendships with Typica…
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Raising My Son Before Services: Monica Meyers Part 2
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In this episode, we continue with part two of Monica’s story. This episode details a little more of what the future planning for Michael looks like along with Monica and what she is moving into career-wise.By Tash Dillmon & Shannon Korza
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Raising My Son Before Services: Monica Meyers Part 1
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Today's episode starts us with part one of this two-part series. We sat down to chat with the lovely Monica Meyers, a community member, advocate, and trailblazer to this community in the state of Washington. Monica shares her experience not only with her son's diagnosis that came in a time of no internet but also the courageous amount of advocacy s…
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We holiday OUR way. Join us for a discussion on the many ways the holidays can look, but mostly feel, and how we have navigated that. There is a build-up of hyperintense emotions and activities around these times, no matter the holiday or culture; nuances that don’t become apparent until you are faced with the realities of having an autistic or neu…
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Talking Our Kids: Back To School Updates
1:10:05
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We are halfway through school this semester and wanted to do a little check-in. We discuss each of our kids’ progress and the challenges that we are facing this year in school. Overall, we are all doing pretty well, but that doesn’t negate the fact that we still worry. It’s a lot and we know you get it too. We mentioned a book and documentary that …
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Employing Autistic Adults w/ Eileen Youngberg
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58:33
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Today Tash & Shannon sit down with Eileen Youngberg, an Assistant Program Manager from Trillium Employment Services. Trillium is a non-profit organization based in Washington State. We dive deep into not only the work Eileen does but also the importance of why we need to be advocating and pushing for our kids as they are leaving the transition prog…
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