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In this heartwarming episode of Let's Plant Houses, Theresa Gutierrez shares the beautiful story of growing up with her brother, Peter, who has Down syndrome. With a perfect mix of humor and love, Theresa reflects on the brave choice her parents made to embrace Peter's life, defying the expert advice of the time. But that's just the beginning—Theresa takes us on a tour of their incredible relationship and the joy Peter brings everyone around him. From his moments in the Special Olympics to the incredible community that has rallied around him and his family, this episode is a celebration of family. Listen now!
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Disney vacations have become a childhood rite of passage, but for families with children who have special needs, it can feel out of reach. Enter Christa Andrews from Practically Perfect Vacations, a Certified Autism Travel Professional and a specialist with Disney and Universal resorts. In this episode, she shares how she helps families plan the vacations they’ve dreamed of. Her certification equips her to support individuals on the autism spectrum, ensuring they have a magical and stress-free experience. Tune in to learn how to make your next family getaway possible!
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On this episode of Let's Plant Houses, I sit down with Mireya Martinez, a single mother who has navigated life’s challenges with grace, all while raising her two children—one of whom, Bianca, has autism. Mireya shares her story about how she turned her love and dedication into a powerful force, creating a community of support through her nonprofit, Just 4 Me. With the motto, "No young adult with special needs or disability is left behind," Mireya’s mission is to ensure that every individual finds a place to belong. She opens up about building a space where friendships are forged, social skills are developed, and lives are transformed. Tune in for a conversation about creating community, love, and purpose.
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In this episode of Let's Plant Houses, Kim Cascardo opens up about her son Enzo's journey through significant medical challenges since infancy. Although Enzo remains without a formal diagnosis, his symptoms closely resemble Leigh Syndrome. Kim shares her own wisdom and how her family has come together to support Enzo through his ongoing health battles. Tune in for a powerful conversation about love, strength, and hope in the face of uncertainty.
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David Buckley joined us to talk about his son Jack's diagnosis of Down syndrome and the whole new world it opened up for their entire family. Not only are they creating a better life for Jack, but also for others through their involvement with some amazing organizations like the Miracle League, Gigi's Playhouse, and Angel's Place to name a few. Come listen to our last episode of the season.
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Joel and Debbie are the visionary creators of the Dani Plan, an innovative tool inspired by their eldest daughter, Dani, who has autism. The Dani Plan serves as a secure, centralized hub that organizes and consolidates all essential information needed to care for an individual with special needs. This makes caregiving more manageable and helps families plan for the future. Tune into this episode to hear about their family's journey and their mission to simplify caregiving and future planning for families with loved ones who have special needs.
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This week on Let's Plant Houses, I had the privilege of interviewing Rachelle Vartanian, the founder of the Living and Learning Center in Northville, Michigan. Rachelle's journey began with an autism diagnosis for her son. Once she understood the lack of autism resources, she leveraged her expertise as a special education professional and her dedication as a parent to create new opportunities for him and others. What started with social skills sessions at a public library has grown into the Living and Learning Center, a special and unique place that provides therapeutic, social, work-based, and community engagement for people with disabilities. Tune in to hear Rachelle's inspiring story and her vision for the future.
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On this episode of Let's Plant Houses, I am joined by Janice Fialka, a nationally-recognized lecturer, author, and advocate for families and people with disabilities, who tells her family's origin story. Micah, her son, was born with a cognitive impairment, but that didn't stop him from sharing and seizing his dreams. Janice recounts Micah's pioneering path towards complete inclusion, spanning from his early education to college, work, and beyond. His journey and their collective advocacy has had a lasting impact on the entire disabilities community. You can learn more about Janice, Micah, and their work at: https://danceofpartnership.com/.
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Join me on Let's Plant Houses for a heartfelt conversation with Benji and Sarah as they reflect on their family's extraordinary journey with their daughter, Ellah. Born with Coffin-Siris Syndrome (CSS) as well as a rare defect, Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC), Ellah faces unique health and developmental hurdles. Yet her resilience and push to be understood has created remarkable communication breakthroughs. Benji and Sarah delve into this story and more as well as their own incredible advocacy that has brought awareness of this rare condition to our local communities and beyond.
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We covered a lot of ground with the first nine episodes of Let's Plant Houses. On this 10th episode, I am a sharing a Top 10 List of resources mentioned in our stories in just 15 minutes. This episode is perfect for parents, caregivers, and professionals who are looking to learn about what's available in our local area and why they might want to reach out to learn more.
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Join us on Let's Plant Houses when I sit down with Tracie, a savvy and resourceful mother and entrepreneur. Tracie discusses pivotal moments including her son's diagnosis of autism to the creation of his thriving business Expedition Soaps, the completion of his college degree, his well traveled passport, and his future just beginning. In turn, Tracie has used her own lived experience to launch the IEP Advantage, a groundbreaking resource that equips parents with the knowledge and confidence to advocate effectively for their children.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses when we sit down with Rhonda, who shares her family's story of resilience and entrepreneurship. When her son with autism finished high school and a trade program, Tyler could not find a job even with his advanced degree. Rather than remaining unemployed, Rhonda helped Tyler transform his household chore of returning bottles into a thriving business, Tyler's Bottle Service. Stay tuned as we learn about the challenges they faced, their successes, and the lessons learned along the way.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses when we sit down with Lisa. Lisa talks about Shay, her daughter with complex special needs who passed away and the amazing legacy she has left. Come learn about Shay's extraordinary life, the remarkable imprint she left on others, and the inspiring work Lisa is now doing in our communities.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses as we sit down with Julie, a remarkable parent who shares her family’s journey of navigating a special needs diagnosis during her son's pursuit of higher education at a university. Through heartfelt storytelling, she shares the challenges faced, the pivotal moments of growth, and the unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and successful college experience.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses when we sit down with Kelly, a passionate parent who courageously embraced inclusion by establishing a coffee shop dedicated to employing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Kelly's advocacy, initially inspired by her remarkable daughter with Down syndrome, has blossomed into a transformative social enterprise.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses as we sit down with Star, an amazing parent who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating a special needs diagnosis and the pursuit of finding the right educational environment for her daughter. Through an honest conversation, she illuminates the challenges faced, the pivotal moments of discovery, and the transformative power of a supportive place for her child.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses as we sit down with Jenni, an extraordinary parent who shares the inspiring story of their son's journey in securing a job. Through candid and uplifting conversation, her family exemplifies the powerful impact of perseverance.
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Join us on this episode of Let’s Plant Houses as we sit down with Tom, a remarkable parent who shares his family’s journey of raising his son with special needs. Listen in as our guest opens up about the strength, resilience, and unwavering love that has shaped their family's story. He also offers invaluable advice for other parents navigating similar paths.
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Join us for this episode of "Let's Plant Houses," where my husband, Bill, and I engage in a heartfelt conversation about the most challenging crisis we've encountered with our beloved daughter, Nicola, who has profound autism and bipolar disorder. In this candid discussion, we will openly share our harrowing journey through the intricacies of the healthcare system, with the hope that our story can serve as a beacon of guidance and support for others facing similar challenges.
