Best Sandy Deppisch Podcasts (2024)

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ETB 58: Exploring Guardianship and Supported Decision-Making 24:16

10M ago24:16

24:16

ETB 58: What if the future of your loved one with a disability could be bright, secure, and filled with choices and alternatives? Envision a world where guardianship isn't the only path, where supported decision-making reigns supreme, and personal rights are preserved. This episode offers a detailed dissection of guardianship and its alternatives, …

1
ETB 57: Navigating Hospitalization ~ Thank God for CNAs 8:26

10M ago8:26

8:26

ETB 57: When your child is hospitalized, what means of comfort do you find? As a mother who's been down this road with my son Josiah, I will share how the power of pen helped me through those dark times. Transcribing our story and drawing strength from those lines, I found a way to navigate the painfully frequent hospitalizations. The silver lining…

1
ETB 56: From Parenting to Publishing: The Story Behind the Creation of Eleanor's eXtraordinary Dreams with Carlee Ragains 36:47

10M ago36:47

36:47

ETB 56: Ready to journey into the heartwarming world of Carlee Ragains, a creative spirit, mother, wife, and mimi? Carlee's story weaves a rich tapestry of love, courage, and perseverance, as she shares the joys, challenges, and unimaginable fulfillment that come from parenting her 16-year-old daughter, Ellen, who was born with Down syndrome. Carle…

1
ETB 55: Fostering a Community of Hope and Inclusion through Adaptive Activities and Sports with the Christina Sullivan Foundation 47:18

11M ago47:18

47:18

ETB 55: Prepare to be deeply moved by the remarkable journey of Josephine Sullivan, founder and CEO of the Christina Sullivan Foundation. This episode offers a powerful narrative of love, faith, and unwavering commitment as Josephine shares the story of her daughter Christina, a vibrant soul who was born with severe brain injury, cerebral palsy, an…

1
ETB 54: Chase's Story: Insights from a Resilient Mom with Heather Savoy 42:40

11M ago42:40

42:40

ETB 54: What does it really mean to be a parent of a child with autism? How do you navigate the challenges and celebrate the milestones? Join us on a deeply personal journey with Heather, a resilient mother who opens her heart about her experiences raising her son, Chase, who was diagnosed with autism at a tender age of 2.5 years. Currently a stay-…

1
ETB 53: It's Your Job 7:38

11M ago7:38

7:38

ETB 53: What if you could turn the toughest moments of parenting a child with a disability into a source of strength and inspiration? Join me, Sandy Deppisch, as I take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions in the hospital stays that have become an all too frequent part of our lives. You'll learn how to communicate your needs effectively to your…

1
ETB 52: The Adventures of Parenting Adrian: Balancing Anxiety and Homeschooling with Sweet Success with Susan Aguilar 47:10

11M ago47:10

47:10

ETB 52: Have you ever wondered what it takes to raise a child with Down syndrome? Embark on an intimate journey with Susan Aguilar, a mother who shares the honest truth about the joys and challenges she's encountered while raising her son, Adrian. From the ease of his younger years to the hurdles of his adulthood, she paints a vivid picture of thei…

1
ETB 51: Writing as Therapy: A Personal Voyage into Resilience and Hope 7:11

12M ago7:11

7:11

ETB 51: Have you ever pondered over the therapeutic power of writing in dealing with overpowering emotions? Join me, Sandy Deppish, on this personal journey as I revisit an old blog post titled 'It's Not About Me.' You'll discover how documenting the highs and lows of raising a child with a disability has helped me process my feelings and paved the…

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ETB 50: Embracing the Struggles and Triumphs of Caring for Special Children: The Toenail Odyssey 7:09

1y ago7:09

7:09

ETB 50: Ever tried to trim a child's toenails? Now imagine that child has sensory issues that make the task as perilous and nerve-wracking as a high-wire act. Join me, Sandy Deppisch in this candid discussion on Embrace the Blessing podcast, where we navigate the choppy waters of personal grooming for children with disabilities, specifically, trimm…

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ETB 49: Unlocking the Potential in Children with Down Syndrome: Darcy's Mission and Brady's Journey with Darcy Day 55:43

1y ago55:43

55:43

ETB 49: I'm thrilled to introduce you to Darcy, a devoted parent and former teacher who's turned her personal journey into a mission to unlock the potential in children with Down syndrome. Imagine the heartache of knowing your child has thoughts, ideas, dreams locked away in their mind - simply because they struggle to communicate. Darcy, all too f…

1
ETB 48: Empowering Families through Personal Support Networks with Jennifer Vincent 53:59

1y ago53:59

53:59

ETB 48: Have you heard about the positive impact of creating a personal network to support you as you care for your loved one with a disability? Our guest, Jennifer Vincent, brings her experience as a parent and network facilitator to help answer this crucial question. Jennifer shares the importance of personal networks in empowering families and i…

1
ETB 47: Embracing the Voyage ~ Navigating a Cruise Vacation with Special Needs Young Adults with Mary Ann Hughes 39:40

1y ago39:40

39:40

ETB 47: Ever thought of how daunting the prospect of going on a vacation with special needs children might be? Imagine being a single parent to two wonderful boys on the autism spectrum and deciding to embark on a solo trip. That's exactly what my guest, Mary Ann Hughes, courageously did. Mary Ann's incredible journey of managing a cruise vacation …

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ETB 46: Future Podcast Episodes Available at Embracetheblessing.com 1:27

2y ago1:27

1:27

By Sandy Deppisch

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ETB 45: If You Believe It, You Can Achieve It! VK Girl Creations ~ Turning a Hobby into a Growing Business with Victoria De La Garza and Jennifer Gongora, Part 2 31:36

2y ago31:36

31:36

ETB 45: This is Part 2 of a 2 part interview. In this episode I talk with Victoria De La Garza and her mother Jennifer Gongora about their business, VK Girl Creations. Victoria started in her High School Life Skills class learning to knit beanie hats on a round knitting loom. She held her first pop up market at age 18, selling beanies to her fellow…

1
ETB 44: If You Believe It, You Can Achieve It! VK Girl Creations ~ Turning a Hobby into a Growing Business with Victoria De La Garza and Jennifer Gongora, Part 1 28:37

2y ago28:37

28:37

ETB 44: In this episode I talk with Victoria De La Garza and her mother Jennifer Gongora about their business, VK Girl Creations. Victoria started in her High School Life Skills class learning to knit beanie hats on a round knitting loom. She held her first pop up market at age 18, selling beanies to her fellow classmates. Now, at age 24, Victoria'…

1
ETB 43: The BEST Product We Ever Stumbled Upon with Sandy Deppisch 5:42

2y ago5:42

5:42

ETB 43: If you have a child with a disability who likes to disrobe at night, I have just the thing for you! For years we would wake in the wee hours of the morning to find our son undressed and sometimes enjoying finger paining fun with the contents of his full pull up! When we discovered THIS product, it was a game changer! I have 8 of these in la…

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ETB 42: He Gave Me Purpose with Kathryn Kane-Neilson 43:09

2y ago43:09

43:09

ETB 42: In this episode I talk with Kathryn Kane-Neilson about her 19 year old son, Clark who has Down syndrome. She talks about her experiences raising Clark, through life in NYC, through divorce, through medical misadventures and fresh beginnings in Texas. Kathryn shared, " At 22 years old, I was aware of the fact that I was carrying a child with…

1
ETB 41: Embrace the Uncertainty with Beverly Parrish 38:28

2y ago38:28

38:28

ETB 41- In this episode I talk with Beverly Parrish about her daughter Hannah, age 28, who has Down syndrome. Beverly and her husband Chris learned that Hannah had Down syndrome in utero. Feeling a bit overwhelmed at their lack of knowledge about Trisomy 21 they began to research, trusting that God had his perfect plan in place. Beverly is a mother…

1
ETB 40: Finding Quality Care for Your Special Needs Child with Gerrie Bourque 25:01

2y ago25:01

25:01

ETB 40 - In this episode I talk with Gerrie Bourque, mother of 3 whose 26 year old son Tyler has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, is medically complex and has rare disorders. Gerrie shares the various caregiving options they have explored over the years. Tyler has a Texas Medicaid Waiver which provides services for him including a supp…

1
ETB 39: Plenty of Possibilities for Finding Respite Care with Mary Ann Hughes 25:40

2y ago25:40

25:40

ETB 39 - In this episode I talk with Mary Ann Hughes, mother of 2 young adults with Autism about finding quality care for loved ones with special needs. As a single mother managing her company, Special Family Transitions, Mary Ann has had to stretch her comfort zone most recently when she sent both of her boys for the very first time to a week long…

1
ETB 38: From a Grim Prognosis to a Much Brighter Future; Never Give Up Hope with Sandy Deppisch 17:59

2y ago17:59

17:59

ETB 38: In this episode I share a few stories about Josiah from the past few years when he was walking through a very long, very difficult season. With so many challenges including aggression, destruction and self-injurious behaviors it was easy at times to lose sight of hope. As a mom desperately trying to figure out how to best help my child, it …

1
ETB 37: Finding Caregivers "Nextdoor" & the Miss Amazing Pageant with Freida Bassham 15:33

2y ago15:33

15:33

ETB 37 - In this episode I talk with Fredia Bassham, grandmother of Heather Jo, age 26. Freida and her husband Joe have been caring for their granddaughter who has cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder and is non-verbal, for 22 years. Heather Jo recently won Texas Miss Amazing, the Miss Division. The Texas Miss Amazing pageant celebrates the abilities…

1
ETB 36: Special Strong; Inclusive & Adaptive Fitness with Mike Lutey 45:55

2y ago45:55

45:55

ETB 36 - In this episode I talk with Mike Lutey, owner of Special Strong - South East Houston. Special Strong provides science-based adaptive and inclusive fitness programs for children, adolescents, and adults with mental, physical and cognitive challenges. Mike believes giving up his corporate job to become the very first franchise in Special Str…

1
ETB 35: Dashing About Town Making a Difference with Real Life Superhero, Dash Gordon 41:39

2y ago41:39

41:39

ETB 35 - In this episode I talk with Timothy Glover, corporate trainer by day and real life superhero, Dash Gordon by night. Initially created to raise some extra money for a vacation, Tim started having fun with the whole Dash idea and began texting people that he was Dash Gordon. Eventually he decided to add a costume before heading out to do del…

1
ETB 34: Living in the Present & Breaking Things Down into Manageable Steps with Beth Haas 44:23

2y ago44:23

44:23

ETB 34: In this episode I talk with Beth Haas, teacher and mother of 3 beautiful daughters about her oldest daughter, Annalee who has Down syndrome. During the 18th week of Beth's first pregnancy, she and her husband John were told their unborn baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and was probably not going to be compatible with life. Hypoplast…

1
ETB 33: Embracing a Hiatus! See you Back Here Soon. 0:55

2y ago0:55

0:55

ETB 33: In this episode I announce a brief break as we quarantine, then head out on a family vacation. I will see you on July 6th with another amazing parent to inspire and encourage you. Until then, here are some things to keep you entertained: Play Wordle https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html Become a Lego Sculptor (and leave your Law D…

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ETB 32: Little Houdini - A True Tale of My Ever Eloping Son with Sandy Deppisch 10:26

2y ago10:26

10:26

ETB 32: In this episode I share a story about a time when Josiah at 9 years old, left our home unescorted and none of us were aware that he was even gone. Sadly, this was not the first time it happened and it most definitely was not the last. We had some pretty frightening experiences with Josiah eloping. Despite our best efforts to keep him safely…

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ETB 31: Project LEAH - Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm of Students with Disabilities Abused in Public Schools with Jean and Brianna TenBrink, Part 2 27:41

2y ago27:41

27:41

ETB 31: In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I continue to talk with former guests Jean and Brianna TenBrink, a dynamic mother/daughter duo about Project LEAH (Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm) a community coalition against educator abuse and mistreatment of children with disabilities in Texas public schools. Jean, an advocacy coordinator and mother of …

1
ETB 30: Project LEAH - Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm of Students with Disabilities Abused in Public Schools with Jean and Brianna TenBrink, Part 1 36:11

2y ago36:11

36:11

ETB 30: In this episode, I talk with former guests Jean and Brianna TenBrink, a dynamic mother/daughter duo about Project LEAH (Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm) a community coalition against educator abuse and mistreatment of children with disabilities in Texas public schools. Jean, mother of 3 daughters, 2 of whom are on different ends of the autistic…

1
ETB 29: Self-Advocacy Changed My Life. Now I Teach it to Others with Ricky Broussard Part 2 25:12

2y ago25:12

25:12

ETB 29: In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I talk with Ricky Broussard, Self-Advocate, Peer Support Leader and all around great guy, who at the age of 10 had to move out of his family's home and into a large facility for people with disabilities. Ricky lived in 4 different facilities over the next 29 years. He went from having most of his decisio…

1
ETB 28: Self-Advocacy Changed My Life. Now I Teach it to Others with Ricky Broussard Part 1 37:48

2+ y ago37:48

37:48

ETB 28: In this episode I talk with Ricky Broussard, Self-Advocate, Peer Support Leader and all around great guy, who at the age of 10 had to move out of his family's home and into a large facility for people with disabilities. Ricky lived in 4 different facilities over the next 29 years. He went from having most of his decisions made for him, to s…

1
ETB 27: Deafblindness, DBMAT & Touch Base Center for the Deafblind with Vivecca Hartman 39:38

2+ y ago39:38

39:38

ETB 27: In this episode I talk with Vivecca Hartman, mother of 2 and new grandmother, about life with her 24 year old son Christopher, born with a rare genetic mutation, Leber Congenital Amaurosis. Physically healthy in every other way, his vision and hearing was all that was affected at birth. Very curious, physically fit and funny, Christopher li…

1
ETB 26: Through a Father's Eyes with Rick Deppisch 47:33

2+ y ago47:33

47:33

ETB 26: In this episode I talk with Rick Deppisch. the first dad to be featured on the podcast who also just happens to be my husband and the father of our 5 children. Rick shares his perspective on the challenges our family has endured and overcome over the years as we've navigated life with Josiah, our 20 year old son who has Down syndrome and no…

1
ETB 25: It’s No Mystery, Accepting Your Child’s Diagnosis Can Be Challenging with Teresa Trent 34:08

2+ y ago34:08

34:08

ETB 25: In this episode I talk with Teresa Trent, author of 3 different mystery series, whose 29 year old son Andrew has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism. He's also non verbal, has a seizure disorder and from that he's developed a need for a Peg tube. Andrew is a sweetheart, greatly loved and never in a bad mood. It's no mystery that ac…

1
ETB 24: Community First Choice - Attendant Care You May Not Know About with Heather Burdeaux 50:03

2+ y ago50:03

50:03

ETB 24: In this episode I talk with Heather Burdeaux, a former guest from episode ETB 4 Paying Attention to Behavior Changes, Expectation Management & Maintaining Friendships. As a case manager Heather shares about Community First Choice (CFC), a program in Texas that provides certain services and supports to individuals living in the community who…

1
ETB 23: When Life Takes an Abrupt Turn and Puts You on a Different Path with Cynthia Rodriguez ~ Part 2 34:14

2+ y ago34:14

34:14

EBT 23: In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I continue to talk with Cynthia Rodriguez, amazing mom, grandma, and special needs advocate who loves to reach out and help others. If you have a child with a disability and happen to cross Cynthia's path somewhere out in the world, more than likely she will strike up a conversation to check in with you …

1
ETB 22: When Life Takes an Abrupt Turn and Puts You on a Different Path with Cynthia Rodriguez ~ Part 1 32:42

2+ y ago32:42

32:42

EBT 22: In this episode I talk with Cynthia Rodriguez, amazing mom, grandma, and special needs advocate who loves to reach out and help others. If you have a child with a disability and happen to cross Cynthia's path somewhere out in the world, more than likely she will strike up a conversation to check in with you to see how things are going. She'…

1
ETB 21: Ecologist School - Houston: An Outdoor Learning Community with Jennifer Fetter-Mathys 26:22

2+ y ago26:22

26:22

In this episode I talk with Jennifer Fetter-Matthys about Ecologist School - Houston, an engaging outdoor learning community that encourages children and families to get out in nature. Students learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, Outdoor Skills, Volunteerism and Leadership through hands-on, immersive lessons focused on nature. …

1
ETB 20: From Special Ed Student to Special Ed Teacher, Consultant and Master IEP Coach; Helping the Neurodiverse Community Navigate Life with Shae Spears 40:19

2+ y ago40:19

40:19

In this episode I talk with Shae Spears, a Special Education teacher who has personally walked the journey of life with a disability. With Dyslexia, an auditory processing disorder and ADHD, Shae struggled all through school, never really learning to read or even comprehend what she was supposed to be reading. Shae was part of the first group of st…

1
ETB 19: Brewed Blessings: A Community Coffee Shop with a Whole Latte Love with Angela Bishop 42:51

2+ y ago42:51

42:51

In this episode I talk with Angela Bishop, owner of Brewed Blessings, a community coffee shop where special needs adults can gain meaningful employment and education in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Angela sees everybody as an individual. Since God loves us all she believes we should love each other for who we are no matter what our differences are…

1
ETB 18: From Teen Mom to Dedicated Special Education Teacher; Embracing a Calling to Make a Difference for Others with Ashley Bennett ~ Part 2 30:29

2+ y ago30:29

30:29

In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I continue to talk with Ashley Bennett, boy mom of 3 and amazing Special Education teacher. Her oldest son, Ashton was born when Ashley was just 19 years old. He was diagnosed with Autism at age 1. As a teen mom, taking college classes in addition to working, Ashley had to come to terms with the unexpected disco…

1
ETB 17: From Teen Mom to Dedicated Special Education Teacher; Embracing a Calling to Make a Difference for Others with Ashley Bennett ~ Part 1 28:53

2+ y ago28:53

28:53

In this episode I talk with Ashley Bennett, boy mom of 3 and amazing Special Education teacher. Her oldest son, Ashton was born when Ashley was just 19 years old. He was diagnosed with Autism at age 1. As a teen mom, taking college classes in addition to working, Ashley had to come to terms with the unexpected discovery that her baby boy had develo…

1
ETB 16: Staying Strong When Life Gets Hard with Sandra Weber ~ Part 2 50:35

2+ y ago50:35

50:35

In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I continue to talk with Sandra Weber, special needs preschool teacher and mother of 8. Though life has come at her full force, Sandra's outlook in the midst of numerous difficult circumstances is truly remarkable. She faces challenges with a positive perspective and staunch determination; enduring overwhelming h…

1
ETB 15: Staying Strong When Life Gets Hard with Sandra Weber ~ Part 1 35:38

2+ y ago35:38

35:38

In this episode I talk with Sandra Weber, special needs preschool teacher and mother with 8 children of her own. Though life has come at her full force, Sandra's outlook in the midst of numerous difficult circumstances is truly remarkable. She faces challenges with a positive perspective and staunch determination; enduring overwhelming hardship. Sh…

1
ETB 14: Rocking the Big Sister Role with Brianna TenBrink ~ Part 2 47:50

2+ y ago47:50

47:50

In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I continue to talk with Brianna TenBrink, an eloquent, wise and compassionate 23 year old big sister to 16 year old Myah and 15 year old Leah, her younger siblings who are on opposite ends of the Autism spectrum. Brianna shares her perspective on how her experiences as the only neurotypical child in the family s…

1
ETB 13: Rocking the Big Sister Role with Brianna TenBrink ~ Part 1 1:02:24

2+ y ago1:02:24

1:02:24

In this episode I talk with Brianna TenBrink, an eloquent, wise and compassionate 23 year old big sister to 16 year old Myah and 15 year old Leah, her younger siblings who are on opposite ends of the Autism spectrum. Brianna shares her perspective on how her experiences as the only neurotypical child in the family shaped the person she is today. Fr…

1
ETB 12: Perinatal Stroke, Infantile Spasms & Subsequent Autism Diagnosis with Laura Tayerle 1:20:19

2+ y ago1:20:19

1:20:19

In this episode I talk with Laura Tayerle, the very first special needs mom I met many years ago when her daughter Morgan was just 5 years old. Laura inspired me in so many ways long before my own special needs child was ever born. She was the mom who modeled how to be a voice for your child, how to treat them just like anyone else and how to juggl…

1
ETB 11: Navigating the Complexity of Special Needs Divorce with Mary Ann Hughes 1:07:19

2+ y ago1:07:19

1:07:19

In this episode I talk with Mary Ann Hughes, mother of 2 young adults with Autism as she shares her special needs divorce story. Mary Ann went from being completely blindsided and overwhelmed, unsure of what next steps were needed, to assembling a support team of professionals who helped her successfully navigate a lengthly 2 year divorce process w…

1
ETB 10: Infertility, Adoption & the Joy of Being a Mom with Kileen McDonald 54:12

2+ y ago54:12

54:12

In this episode I talk with Kileen McDonald as she shares her struggles with infertility, her subsequent adoption of a beautiful baby boy with Down syndrome and her greatest joy in being a mom to her now 13 year old son, Ches. Kileen also discusses the death of her spouse, Pam and talks about lovingly helping Ches process everything during those di…

1
ETB 9: Creating Communities Where ALL Children Belong and Excel with Mary Jane Williams 50:38

2+ y ago50:38

50:38

In this episode I talk with Mary Jane Williams, Executive Director of Family to Family Network. Family to Family Network helps individuals with disabilities and their family members define and achieve success for themselves and their loved ones. As a mother of 2 young adults with disabilities, Mary Jane discusses first hand the positive impact conn…

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