Finding Common Ground

Finding Common Ground

Many families feel like they're treading water, especially those living with autism and other developmental differences. As your hosts, we get it, and we know this frustration all too well. In response, we've created tried-and-true strategies that help everyday people achieve extraordinary things. Even those who might have doubted themselves can borrow our confidence, follow one of our "blueprints," and with a supportive community cheering them on, make the impossible happen. Each success inspires those coming up behind us, creating a ripple effect of positive change—Which is why we'll never run out of content!Our podcast tackles tough issues head-on with unfiltered conversations focused on solutions. We won't avoid "the elephant in the room"—in fact, we'll invite it to dinner! Our unique format appeals to people from across the globe, offering strategies that turn efforts for one into advocacy for the greater good. We breakdown topics like innovative housing, effective self-advocacy, and healthcare complexities, guided by our audience on what to cover next. Each episode offers fresh perspectives, featuring many guests you won't find on mainstream platforms. We intentionally invite differing viewpoints because finding common ground with those we see as obstacles is the surest way to create new and innovative solutions. Join our Supporter's Club and check out our merch. Let’s ensure the A/I/DD community's voice is heard. If you want to dig deeper, schedule a session with us. We happily work one-on-one, develop trainings, and offer public speaking engagements to assist individuals and organizations in promoting things like inclusivity and equity. Join our community, plant seeds of positive change, and before you know it, you'll be moving mountains with us! Want to support our mission and access exclusive content? Join our Supporter's Club and check out our merch. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.

Episodes

November 19, 2025 35 mins
Only one in four adults has a will, and for families in the disability community, that gap can change everything. We may not know who will take over when we’re gone, but if we never start the plan, how will anyone know what mattered most about the people we love?


In this DadAbility episode, Steve goes solo to talk straight with dads about stepping up at home and beyond. It’s real talk about juggling the day-to-day while keeping an e...
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What happens when a former guest takes the mic and flips the script? In this hilarious and heartfelt episode, Kathy Caruso returns to Finding Common Ground — but this time, she’s running the show.

Host Steve Gonyea finds himself in the hot seat as Kathy digs deep into his story, his “why,” and what drives his advocacy as a dad. With Heather chiming in from the sidelines (and occasionally fanning the flames), this takeover turns into...
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How many times have you had to educate the people trying to help your child with autism?

In this episode of Finding Common Ground, Steve talks with Matt Yelton, a paramedic, flight medic, and autism dad who lives and breathes this reality every day. When emergencies happen, Matt has been on both sides — the parent advocating for his child, and the first responder called to help.

He shares how his personal experiences inspired him to ...
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What happens when two advocates hit pause on the chaos and just talk it out?Heather and Steve take a breather from the headlines and just talk. In this unfiltered catch-up, they open up about juggling life, advocacy, and everything in between — from Heather’s upcoming trip to the First Place Global Symposium to Steve’s work with the National Council on Severe Autism.
They trade stories, laughter, and strategy on how to keep showing ...
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What happens when we stop patting ourselves on the back for “special” inclusion—and start building communities where accommodations are normal, and leadership is shared?In this episode, Heather and Steve talk with Kurt Roskopf, disability ally and founder of the Everybody Skis program. When a skier who needed some accommodations was sent home dry, Kurt felt awful—and that moment reframed how he approached every day after that. It s...
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Steve and Guest Host Alexandra Fernandez speak with Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, Parent Advocate and founder of Better Together Kathy Caruso and others about the Pathways for Success event which brought experts and advocates from across New York State to Utica. Check out the full video of the event on our YouTube Channel:

https://youtu.be/pIiFhcaPYqs

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding...
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What if the fastest way to protect disability services this year isn’t a viral post—but scheduling a meeting now, before legislators head back to Albany? In this episode, AM Brian Miller gives straight answers and a playbook you can use now—from timing your outreach to crafting testimony that actually moves votes.

Why listen: Unlike many politicians, Miller doesn’t dodge the tough stuff. He leans in. Listen as he dives into the 35th...
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September 19, 2025 43 mins
In this episode, we sit down with three incredible women—Bethany Wendt, Kathy Caruso, and Kim Karcic—to talk about Pathways for Success: Together We Thrive, a powerful event happening in Utica, NY.

Each guest shared why they felt called to be part of this initiative and how families of individuals with disabilities often feel lonely, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. Their stories highlight the importance of coming together, bu...
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What do families do when every call for help is desperate, every door seems to slam shut, and the only thing longer than the waitlist is the list of hoops to jump through—especially when their loved one with profound autism needs support now?

In this episode of Finding Common Ground, we sit down with Kristina Cope—Michigan mom of three on the spectrum, RN, and founder of Flawless Farms. She’s on a mission to create an intentional co...
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It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.” Kathleen Hayes didn’t just take a position at the Neighborhood Center—she found her purpose. In this powerful episode of Finding Common Ground, we explore how one small organization in Utica, NY is reimagining what mental health and family support can look like when systems get out of the way and people are met where they are.

Kathleen shares her journey from frontline provider to program superv...
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What if an autism diagnosis wasn’t the end—but the spark that ignites a journey toward connection, advocacy, and growth?In this deeply moving episode of Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve welcome LaShona Johnson, whose dual roles as a parent and disability community advocate uniquely inform her insights. Together, they explore how LaShona’s experience raising her son with autism evolved into a mission—and ultimately, a guideb...
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What happens when families stop waiting for the system to fix itself—and start building what their loved ones need?

In this episode of Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve sit down with Dawn O’Hara, a mother of two adult children with disabilities, to explore what it really takes to support independence, dignity, and inclusion. From leaving behind one system in Pennsylvania to navigating New York’s evolving landscape, Dawn share...
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 In this urgent and deeply personal episode of Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve welcome Larissa Martin — a self-advocate who has relied on New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) for 17 years. Larissa’s voice is raw and real as she shares why this program has been her lifeline, how the rushed transition to Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) has shaken the system, and why now is the moment to speak up. Ov...
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On this episode of Finding Common Ground with Heather and Steve, we talk with Craig and Sally Benoit, a remarkable couple who’ve fostered over 50 children and adopted 13—each with their own story, needs, and quirks. From the first few minutes, you’ll feel their blend of grit and humor. 
Whether it’s juggling allergy lists, remembering who hates peas this week, or managing bedtime with over a dozen different routines, they’ve seen it...
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In this powerful episode of Finding Common Ground with Heather & Steve, we sit down with Alexandra Fernandez, a devoted mother of 10-year-old twins with profound autism. Alexandra bravely shares what it’s like to care for children with such intensive needs—and what happens when the right supports simply don’t exist.After speaking up at OPWDD’s first Listening Tour session in Central New York, Alexandra's heartfelt testimony cau...
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What happens when someone who lives the challenges of the IDD system also leads efforts to change it? You get a conversation like this.In this powerful episode, Heather and Steve sit down with Nick Cappelletti, CEO of Life Plan and ACA—two organizations serving over 47,000 families across New York State.

But Nick isn’t just an executive—he’s a dad who gets it. His personal connection to disability services brings a rare and refreshi...
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Guest: Karen Korotzer, CEO of ARC Oneida-Lewis

At Finding Common Ground, CDPAP was a spark—but not the full story. That crisis reminded us how fragile our systems really are. What brought people to our platform wasn’t just one bad policy, it was the toxic mindset behind it, and the fear that mindset would spread. Families needed a safe space to process how it was affecting them. Together, we created that space—a community where peop...
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Join hosts Heather and Steve as they take Finding Common Ground on the road to Utica, New York for the annual Autism Walk. Despite drizzly skies, the energy was electric—over 50 resource tables, $150,000 raised, and hundreds of families, self‑advocates, service providers, and local leaders coming together in solidarity.In this special on‑location episode you’ll hear:
  • Personal Journeys: A conversation with an author who has turne...
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Today, as the perpetrator (Garnet Collins) is sentenced for his crimes, we release this episode to stand in solidarity with Anil and Shalini Babbar’s family and amplify their fight for justice and protection. 

Their journey from heartbreak to hope explains the development of Guardian Watch AI and how technology—combined with community involvement—can not only hold perpetrators accountable but also prevent future abuse.Impactful Quot...
Pull up a virtual backstage chair—this episode is just Heather & Steve, nearly one year in the making. No guests, no scripts, just two advocates who refuse to let the conversation end at “cut.” We revisit our most powerful moments, unpack the “quiet parts” that echo long after the camera stops rolling, and give you the inside scoop on what’s coming next.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone for rallying around CDPAP topics lately...
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