Forever Home for our kids with disabilities.
Formerly Special Needs Moms - Circle of Strength. This podcast has begun a shift in focus... Hey, I’m Valerie, mom to two with disabilities (one visible, one invisible). We came up with housing solutions for our children. This space has been created to help you navigate the journey of creating a secure, sustainable forever home for your child. We’ll chat with parents on this path, realtors, financial planners, and other experts who can make the process easier. We'll be dropping an episode twice a month. Seeing my eldest thrive living independent of us was a gift I didn’t always know I could give. I'm excited for you to have the opportunity to explore giving that gift to your child. Keep building your child’s future! Music acknowledgement: Audio Coffee - Denys Kyshchuk
Episodes
ABLE accounts with financial planner John Gallia
Keywords:
Special needs, financial planning, ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, government benefits, SSI, RDSP, financial literacy, tax benefits, early planning
Summary:
In this conversation, John Gallia shares his expertise on financial planning for families with special needs children. He discusses the importance of starting financial...
In this conversation, Valerie and Dr. Molly Sullivan Denny discuss the journey of creating a supportive environment for individuals with special needs, focusing on independence, early intervention, and community support. Dr. Denny shares her experiences and insights from working with children and adults with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of teaching life skills and fostering a sense of belonging. The discus...
Episode Summary:
In this episode of ‘Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities’, Valerie is joined for the second time by John Gallia from Gallia Wealth Management for a powerful and practical conversation about special needs trusts - Henson Trust in Canada - and how families can begin planning NOW to secure their child’s financial future.
John is a seasoned financial advisor and the founder of Gallia wealth mana...
Episode Summary:
In this informative episode of ‘Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities’, I sit down with resilience coach, accessibility advocate, and realtor Susan Janzen. Fun fact about Susan – she is the lead singer of the Trocadero Orchestra and an accomplished recording artist. Together, we explore the importance of accessible home design, community support, and sustainable living solutions for families rais...
Episode Description:
In this episode, we dive into the vital first steps every parent should take when thinking about a "forever home" for their child with disabilities. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the options or unsure where to start, you’re not alone. This conversation will guide you through the initial phase of envisioning your child's future from a financial perspective.
John J. Gallia, C...
Niti Prakash is a Disability Sector Consultant & Lawyer as well as disability accommodation/independent living options specialist at Disability Housing Solutions. Niti recently took on the role of Head of Engagement and Growth at Disability Housing Solutions. Niti’s most important role is a single parent to her 11-year-old daughter with multiple disabilities and challenges.
Episode Description:
In this insigh...
This week's guest is Angela O’Brien a mom of 2, professional organizer, Enneagram coach, and host of the podcast, Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms.
After spending 18 years raising her kids and advocating for her daughter who has Down Syndrome, Angela took her love of home organizing and turned it into a business where she speaks to and coaches fellow special needs moms through their...
Welcome to Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities! I’m Valerie, a mom, life coach, and author passionate about helping parents create secure futures for their children with disabilities.
Key Topics:
1. Understanding Your Child’s Needs
- Conduct a needs assessment covering physical, emotional, and social needs.
- Maintain a Comprehensive Child Profile to ensure consistent care.
- Visualize their future i...
Episode Summary: In this first episode of Forever Home for our kids with disabilities, we explore various options for creating a forever home for children with disabilities. I speak with two moms who have taken different approaches to ensure their children have a secure and supportive living environment. We hear from Cheryll Wagner about apartment living with support; Dr. Lisa Campbell on choosing a residential facil...
The Gift of Failure: Encouraging Independence in Our Kids with Disabilities with K. Crystal Griffith
Episode Summary:
In this episode, I sit down with K. Crystal Griffith to discuss the importance of giving our children the opportunity to grow, learn, and develop independence—especially when raising kids with disabilities. We dive into the fears many parents face, the importance of allowing our kids to fail as a stepping stone to success, and how to navigate the delicate balance of supporting them without overste...
Episode Highlights:
- New Focus for 2025:
- Valerie announces the podcast’s transition from sharing stories to offering practical, step-by-step guidance for forever home planning.
- The mission remains the same: empowering and supporting parents of children with disabilities.
- Why This Change?
- Many parents feel overwhelmed by the legal, financial, and emotional aspects of planning for their child’s future.
- Valerie...
Aaron DeVries is a relentless advocate for building stronger communities through inclusion. Aaron's journey into the world of disability and special education began when his daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy and cerebral palsy at a young age. For over 15 years, he has fearlessly championed his daughter's inclusion in school and community. Aaron has actively served on boards and committees of disability-re...
Building Routines for Stability and Success in 2025
Episode Summary:
Welcome to the first episode of 2025!
Get ready to shape your day with intention and embrace the power of small, consistent habits!
What You’ll Learn:
- Why Routines Matter:
- How routines help us move from a reactive to a proactive mindset.
- The mental health benefits of consistent habits, backed by research from Harvard and insights from ...
Hey there,
Quick announcement to say we are now publishing two episodes a month.
See you January 8th 2025!
Best wishes for 2025 and may you experience good health, more love, peace and joy!
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey
Learn more about your host at:
https://coachingwithvalerieanne.com/
Join me, Coach Valerie, in this special Christmas episode of Special Needs Mom’s Circle of Strengthas I share insights on how reflection helps families celebrate both the small victories and significant milestones, fosters resilience, and strengthens emotional bonds. I’ll also share my family’s unique Christmas traditions, how we will incorporate reflection into our celebrations, and simple ways you can make reflectio...
The holiday season can bring excitement, chaos, and unique challenges—especially for families of children with disabilities. In today’s episode, I share encouragement and practical strategies to help you create a meaningful, imperfectly perfect holiday season. From using visual schedules and social stories to reducing sensory overload and handling those well-meaning (but unsolicited) comments, this episode is packed w...
Special guest Jorunn Liland joins us to share her expertise on how strengthening your vagus nerve can transform how you navigate stress, create calm, and find balance in your day-to-day life.
Jorunn is an occupational therapist who specializes in stress management and polyvagal theory, with a focus on complex PTSD survivors. Jorunn runs a yoga group designed to help people regulate their nervous systems, particularly t...
Description:
The holidays can be a season of joy, but for parents of children with disabilities, they can also bring unique challenges. In this episode, we explore how to navigate the holiday season with peace, intention, and resilience. Through actionable tips and heartfelt insights, you’ll discover how to focus on what truly matters while minimizing stress.
We’ll also dive into the PEACE framework—a simple, five-...
Welcome to another episode of Special Needs Moms Circle of Strength!
Episode Description:
Welcome back to Special Needs Mom's Circle of Strength! In this episode, Valerie sits down with Meredith Rusu, a talented author of over 100 children's books, including the award-winning Mighty Moods series. Meredith shares her journey as a mother of two and how navigating her children’s big feelings inspired he...
Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a special needs parenting speaker and coach who works to prevent special needs parents from feeling isolated and overwhelmed to the point where they lose touch with joy and fulfillment in their lives. She and her husband of 15 years have an older teen boy and preteen, bedridden girl whom Marcia considers her best teacher.
Transforming Past Narratives:
- Marcia delves into c...
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