In this heartfelt episode, I chat with Adelle Purdham, an author, educator, and mom of three. Adele opens up about her journey of parenting a child with Down Syndrome and how it led her to confront her own ableism. She discusses her new book 'I Don't Do Disability and Other Lies I've Told Myself,' which captures the highs and lows of her experience and aims to help other parents and caregivers on similar paths. Adele shares touching stories that highlight the importance of love and acceptance, and how our society needs to do better for those with disabilities.

Looking for ways to check your own biases and become a better advocate for your child? This episode is packed with insights, personal anecdotes, and actionable advice that you won't want to miss. Tune in and join us on this journey towards creating a more inclusive and loving world!

Adelle's Website: https://adellepurdham.ca/

Buy her book! "I Don't Do Disability And Other Lies I've Told Myself."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Inclusivity

01:06 Guest Introduction and Book Discussion

02:14 Journey of Advocacy and Writing

06:59 Confronting Ableism

13:26 Experiences and Reflections

21:36 Societal Perceptions and Personal Growth

26:25 Understanding Disability as Part of the Human Condition

26:50 Personal Experiences and Perspectives on Disability

29:02 The Importance of Advocacy and Education

30:13 Writing and Sharing Personal Stories

32:22 Challenges and Subtle Discrimination

35:32 Historical Context and Institutionalization

40:16 Advice for Parents and Caregivers

45:57 Final Thoughts and Resources

Today on the podcast I chat with Elyse Lappano, a pro in disability services and adapted physical activity with over 15 years of experience – and my former university housemate and masters student! In this episode, we reconnect and chat about our ongoing journey toward making the world more inclusive and accessible.

We reflect and get candid about our learning and conversation back in university, where we had some pretty eye opening realization and conversations related to inclusion. We go one to chat about the value of having inclusion embedded in professional and education experiences and how much they both shaped our careers and mindsets related to disability.

We’ll dive into talking about the power of curiosity, the importance of open conversations, and why disability is something that should matter to everyone.This episode will definitely challenge you to see how ableism shows up in your life and move you to continue to ask questions about why this still exists.. So let’s listen, learn, and lead the way toward a more inclusive world!

Episode Links & Tools:

Interested in connecting with Elyse? Check out her website at https://lappanohowe.com/

Brock University: SNAP Program https://brocku.ca/capa/programs/snap/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:04 Reconnecting and Reflecting on University Days

04:05 Elyse's Journey in Disability Services

08:55 The Importance of Inclusion in All Professions

18:09 Challenges and Strategies for Promoting Accessibility

23:29 The Role of Education in Fostering Inclusion

28:28 Navigating Professional and Personal Growth

32:26 Learning Through Helping

33:07 The Power of Asking Questions

35:43 Setting the Tone for Conversations

38:59 Introducing LaPanoHow Consulting

40:45 Collaborative Consulting Approach

42:21 Tailored Services for Diverse Needs

44:57 Sustaining Advocacy and Social Justice

49:08 The Importance of Community Support

51:04 Reflecting on the Journey

56:03 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

In this episode, I chat with Sarah Pot, a mother of four and family engagement advocate with two daughters, both who have Chitayat-Hall Syndrome. In our conversation, we chat about the importance of “sense-making,” to cope with the uncertainty and complexities that come with caregiving, but also the joy in learning and honouring our child’s unique personalities and the stories they want to share with the world.

We chat about the pivotal moments that helped her family thrive, from the life-changing role that therapies have played to the building of a support network of people and professionals who truly “get it.”

Sarah also gives us a glimpse into her role as a family engagement team member at CanChild, and the remarkable work they do to improve the lives of children with disabilities and their families.

This conversation is a beautiful reminder of the power of perspective and the importance of coming together to learn from each other.

Chapters:

00:00- Introduction to the Episode

01:08- Meeting Sarah Pott: A Journey Through Caregiving

02:26- Sarah's Story: Navigating Early Challenges

05:14 -The Diagnosis Journey: Rachel and Janneke

08:31- Sense-making and Coping Strategies

17:21 -Community Support and Professional Engagement

23:12- Balancing Family Dynamics

25:46- Empowering Children to Lead

26:38- Understanding Individual Needs

29:05- The Importance of Storytelling

30:49- Inclusive Communication Strategies

34:22- Family Engagement in Research

41:07- Strength-Based Approach to Disability

47:41 -Implementing Family Engagement

53:10- Final Thoughts and Resources

Episode Link & Tools:

• Check out the work Sarah and other team members are doing at ⁠CanChild.⁠

Check out the ⁠F-Word tools ⁠from CanChild that Sarah chats about!