The Different Ability® Podcast
Why am I different? Why do things have to be so difficult? Am I dumb? Why am I scared? Will it be this hard forever? Will I ever find the help I need to succeed? When will being different be accepted? Welcome to The Different Ability® Podcast where we will answer all of these questions and a whole lot more! Each week host Katey Fortun brings you tips and tricks on how to navigate being different, along with inspiring stories of guests that are living an amazing life having Different Abilities of their own. Parents and Educators of kids with Different Abilities share their stories to encourage others that they are not alone and we can all get through this together! Katey, who has dyslexia, shares her personal Different Ability stories to show you that being different is a gift, being different is amazing and using your Different Abilities, you too can create and live the life you have always dreamed about! Katey believes that everyone has Different Abilities and it's time to let our Different Abilities shine bright! You are amazing, you are important, you are strong, you are smart and the world needs you just the way you were made! Are you ready to be inspired and encouraged to be the person you were made to be, Different Abilities and all? We know you're ready, so come along, we are all in this together! "You can do anything you put your mind to, with a lot of hard work, determination and never giving up! It's not your disability, it's your Different Ability®!" - Katey
Episodes
What happens when you finally understand why your brain works the way it does?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Saara Haapanen, ADHD and wellness expert, international speaker, and founder of Performance is Haapanen. Saara shares the twists and turns of her career, the experiences that eventually led to her ADHD diagnosis at 35, and how that diagnosis changed her life for the better.
We talk about understanding yo...
In this episode, I sit down with husband-and-wife duo Walter and Stephanie to talk about their journeys of discovering they are neurodivergent later in life. Stephanie shares her experiences of being diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and, years later, receiving additional diagnoses, including autism and ADHD. Walter opens up about recently learning he has ADHD and how that new understanding has changed the way he s...
Where I've been, what I've been building, and the lessons I've learned along the way.
After a few quiet months away from the microphone, I'm excited to be back behind the mic.
The last few months have been filled with some of the biggest changes of my life... publishing my first book, stepping away from my corporate career, building new dreams in Colorado, and starting a new chapter that has challenged and stretched m...
What happens when a simple font sparks a powerful conversation?
In this episode, returning guest Rebeka Acosta is back! This time joined by her teenage son, Taosies, for a real and eye-opening discussion about dyslexia, perspective, and growth.
This conversation started when I sent Rebeka the first three chapters of my book in both a standard font and a dyslexic-friendly font. She didn’t like the dyslexic font&h...
What happens when you refuse to accept the limits others place on you?
In today’s episode, I sit down with Jo Elizabeth Pinto for a powerful conversation about inclusion, advocacy, and navigating a world that doesn’t always know how to support you.
We talk about the importance of having people who believe in you, discovering how you learn best, and building confidence and independence along the way.
T...
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Stephany Rios, host of the Homeschool with Steph podcast, homeschooling mom of five, and entrepreneur.
Stephany shares her powerful life story—growing up and stepping into a caregiving role at a young age while her mom battled cancer. In her early 20s, she helped care for her mom, supported her eight younger siblings, along side her dad, and followed in her mom&rsqu...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey dives deeper into Chapter 1 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. This conversation reflects on early moments of self-doubt, the long-lasting impact of being misunderstood, and the quiet signs that often get missed when a child is struggling. Together, Katey and her mom unpack a story that stayed hidden for decades, explore how adult responses shape confidence...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 2 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore the challenges of recognizing a child’s hidden struggles, the impact of teacher feedback, and the ways a shy personality can mask underlying needs. Together, they discuss how trust, intuition, and resilience play a role in parenting children who don’t always f...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 3 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the long journey of recognizing hidden struggles, the emotional impact of feeling “dumb” or “stupid,” and the importance of advocacy when schools don’t always listen. Together, they share insights for parents and children navigating dyslexia, a...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey, her mom Lynn, and a special guest appearance by her dad dive into Chapter 4 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore the transformative power of the phrase “I just learn differently,” how it shaped Katey’s identity through middle school and beyond, and the critical role of parental support in embracing her diagnosis rather than fee...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 5 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the moment Lynn realized Katey’s reading struggles were more than typical childhood challenges and the emotional journey of navigating guilt while advocating for her child. This conversation also explores the process of creating an Individualized Education Program (...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 6 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the challenges Katey faced transitioning from elementary to middle school while navigating a learning disability, the impact of supportive mentors like Coach K on both her athletic and personal growth, and the fear of being “found out” by peers and teachers. Thi...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 7 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They dive into the pivotal middle school moment that shaped Katey’s confidence and taught her the power of using her voice. Katey reflects on how nervousness, teasing, and supportive guidance contributed to building resilience, and they share practical steps listeners can take to ...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 8 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore the challenges Katey faced during classroom reading sessions, the anxiety and stress of struggling with traditional learning methods, and the importance of involving children in their own IEP or 504 meetings. Katey shares how technology, like audiobooks, transformed her r...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 9 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore how creativity, thinking outside the box, and hands-on experiences—like welding at a young age—helped Katey build confidence, overcome challenges, and develop her advocacy skills. Katey shares strategies for identifying strengths and areas for improvement, off...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 10 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss Katey’s first job and the invaluable lessons it taught her about leadership, responsibility, and independence. From being trusted with new responsibilities to learning time management and accountability, Katey reflects on how these experiences built her confidence an...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 11 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the challenges students face in embracing accommodations during high school, the balance between independence and support, and how using an IEP can make a tangible difference in academic performance. Katey shares strategies for testing oneself with and without accommodatio...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 12 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the pivotal role of teachers in helping students advocate for themselves, highlighting the encouragement Katey received from Mrs. D during a vulnerable moment in school. Katey shares how writing a letter about her foreign language requirement shaped her mindset toward self...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 13 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore the pivotal moments that shaped Katey’s college decision, including advice from her Great Aunt Lynn, navigating peer influence, and the impact of a tour guide who helped her see the college in a new light. Katey shares how this experience taught her the value of be...
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 14 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss Katey’s journey of self-acceptance and overcoming self-doubt while pursuing the Art and Design program at UW-Stout. Katey shares the challenges of transitioning to a larger college environment, forming strong connections with roommates, and learning to embrace her dy...
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