What if the biggest fight your family ever faced was simply proving that your sister with Down syndrome should have the life she wants? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, host Wendy Ernzen talks with Franke James about Down syndrome, disability advocacy, and how real disability rights can start at home. Frankie shares the …
What if your non-speaking child with autism understood everything and was just waiting for a way to share it? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses we talk about autism, communication, and Spelling to Communicate, or SC2, as Lori Rogers shares the journey of helping her son Craig, a non-speaker on the autism spectrum, find …
How might growing up with a sister with autism shape your life? In this episode, you’ll hear a powerful look at profound autism, caregiving, and family as Dr. DeShanna Reed shares her experience as the youngest sibling to Adrian. She explains how finding the right care and community shaped their journey and what it felt …
What happens to my child when I’m gone? That question pushed Kristina Cope to imagine a new future for her son Blake, who has profound autism and catatonia. In this episode, Kristina shares how she rebuilt her life in Michigan after her children’s father passed away and how that journey inspired her to create Flawless …
What if curiosity mattered more than judgment in parenting? In this episode, you’ll hear a real look at parenting, autism, and family life as Julie Kratz shares her journey raising her youngest daughter, Dylan, who is on the autism spectrum. Julie talks honestly about the early developmental differences they noticed and how they worked to …
What is it really like to raise a child with profound autism who needs 24/7 support? This episode explores profound autism, caregiving, and the real challenges families face every day. Guest Ben Duff shares his family’s honest and powerful story. Ben talks about the early signs they noticed, the emotional process of getting a diagnosis, …
In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, you meet Michael Pereira, a husband, father, and advocate who helps families with autism and parenting support. Michael shares how his family first noticed signs with his son Christian and gives parents real hope so they feel less alone in their own autism journey. Michael talks about the …
In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses we talk about congenital heart defects, medical parenting, and family resilience as Sarah Boes shares the moment that changed everything. Sarah Boes is a nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, author, and “heart mom”. Late in her pregnancy, a routine scan revealed that her unborn daughter had several complex heart defects. …
What happens when the services your child needs don’t exist yet? Judi Uttal faced that challenge when her son Josh was diagnosed with autism at age four. She reflects on the early challenges, including the lack of autism awareness and resources in the 1990s, and how her early advocacy, community support—including a pilot program in …
What’s it really like raising two kids on totally different parts of the autism spectrum, especially when you’re on the spectrum yourself? In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Wendy Ernzen chats with Eileen Lamb, a mom, author, photographer, and all-around autism advocate who knows the ups and downs firsthand. Eileen shares stories about her …