In this episode, Lee Ackerman shares his honest experience as the sibling of his sister Gretchen, who has developmental disabilities. He reflects on growing up together and his role now as her lifelong guardian. Lee also offers valuable insights into planning for the future and supporting families when caregivers are no longer there as the …
In this episode, Lauren Christilaw shares her experience as a mother to her young son, Henry, who has autism. She reflects on the unique challenges of welcoming a new baby during the pandemic while uncovering developmental delays and then advocating for evaluation, diagnosis, and the necessary services. She also shares some of her experience navigating …
In this heartwarming episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Theresa Gutierrez shares the beautiful story of growing up with her brother, Peter, who has Down syndrome. With a perfect mix of humor and love, Theresa reflects on the brave choice her parents made to embrace Peter’s life, defying the expert advice of the time. But that’s …
Disney vacations have become a childhood rite of passage, but for families with children who have special needs, it can feel out of reach. Enter Christa Andrews from Practically Perfect Vacations, a Certified Autism Travel Professional and a specialist with Disney and Universal resorts. In this episode, she shares how she helps families plan the …
On this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, I sit down with Mireya Martinez, a single mother who has navigated life’s challenges with grace, all while raising her two children—one of whom, Bianca, has autism. Mireya shares her story about how she turned her love and dedication into a powerful force, creating a community of support …
In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Kim Cascardo opens up about her son Enzo’s journey through significant medical challenges since infancy. Although Enzo remains without a formal diagnosis, his symptoms closely resemble Leigh Syndrome. Kim shares her own wisdom and how her family has come together to support Enzo through his ongoing health battles. …
David Buckley joined us to talk about his son Jack’s diagnosis of Down syndrome and the whole new world it opened up for their entire family. Not only are they creating a better life for Jack, but also for others through their involvement with some amazing organizations like the Miracle League, Gigi’s Playhouse, and Angel’s …
Joel and Debbie are the visionary creators of the Dani Plan, an innovative tool inspired by their eldest daughter, Dani, who has autism. The Dani Plan serves as a secure, centralized hub that organizes and consolidates all essential information needed to care for an individual with special needs. This makes caregiving more manageable and helps …
This week on Let’s Plant Houses, I had the privilege of interviewing Rachelle Vartanian, the founder of the Living and Learning Center in Northville, Michigan. Rachelle’s journey began with an autism diagnosis for her son. Once she understood the lack of autism resources, she leveraged her expertise as a special education professional and her dedication …
On this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, I am joined by Janice Fialka, a nationally-recognized lecturer, author, and advocate for families and people with disabilities, who tells her family’s origin story. Micah, her son, was born with a cognitive impairment, but that didn’t stop him from sharing and seizing his dreams. Janice recounts Micah’s pioneering …