Cover of Rockin the Difference

Rockin the Difference

Rockin the Difference

By: Chandra Neal/Single Mom/Special Needs Mom/Special Needs Sports Program Board Member
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Hello There! Welcome to Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to share the experiences and information with those on their journey in the special needs world. I am your host, Chandra Neal, a mom of a young adult with special needs. My intent is to create a community where we can connect, be real and share in the humor and the tears, challenges and triumphs of what it’s like traveling down this path that is so unique as a special needs parent. Together, we can encourage and support each other as we are all Rockin the Difference!Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 32: When Independence Gets Messy
    29 Aug 2026
    The Independence I Asked For

    I spent 23 years fighting for Ryan’s independence. Now that he’s an adult, he’s giving me exactly what I asked for… and it’s driving me a little crazy. 😂

    From clogged toilets and broken furniture to shaving mishaps, dirty walls, and a whole lot of “Mom, I’ve got this!”—we’re talking about the messy, frustrating, hilarious reality of letting an adult child with blindness and autism become more independent.

    Because sometimes the hardest part of independence isn’t teaching them how to do it…

    It’s learning when to let go.

    And yes, Ryan is also a Taurus. So…there’s that. ♉️😂

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    22 min
  • Episode 31: The Reason Behind Rockin The Difference; An Interview with Ryan
    28 Jul 2026

    Today is one of my favorite episodes yet. ❤️🎙️

    For the first time, I’m talking with the person who inspired this entire podcast… my son, Ryan, AKA Biscuit

    So often, people hear words like blind or autistic and stop there. But Ryan is so much more than a diagnosis. He’s hilarious, kind, determined, sports-obsessed, a music lover, and the guy who keeps me laughing every single day.

    In this episode, we’re sharing funny stories, inside jokes, memories from school, his love of hockey, surfing, Taekwondo, and life at Agape Village. You’ll get a glimpse into the little moments that make Ryan… Ryan.

    Mostly, though, this is just a conversation between a mom and her son.

    I hope by the end of this episode you’ll feel like you feel you understand him and our dynamic a little better. .

    If Ryan makes you smile, laugh, or see the world a little differently, would you do us a favor? Share this episode with someone who could use a reminder that ability comes in so many different forms.

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    41 min
  • Episode 30: The Friends Who Walk This Journey With Me
    30 Jun 2026

    NEW EPISODE: The Friends Who Walk This Journey With Me

    When people talk about raising a child with special needs, they often focus on the parents. But what about the friends who choose to stay?

    In this episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I’m joined by two of my best friends who’ve been in my life since before Ryan was born. Andrea Heuer and Jenn Kiesby. They’ve watched him grow from a baby into the incredible man he is today. They’ve celebrated the victories, witnessed the challenges, and eventually raised their own children alongside him.

    Together, we talk about how Ryan’s blindness and autism didn’t just shape our family’s story—it influenced theirs too. We discuss what inclusion looked like before it was a buzzword, how their children learned empathy and acceptance simply by growing up together, and why true friendship means showing up through every season of life.

    This conversation is a reminder that the special needs journey doesn’t just change one family—it has the power to transform everyone it touches.

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    50 min
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