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For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.
Episodes
Monday Jan 20, 2025
Monday Jan 20, 2025
Show Notes: Camille Block
Family Series: “Hope for Secondhand Suffering”
Intro:
We begin our Family Series with an episode dedicated to all of the amazing siblings out there. If you are a sibling of someone with special needs we want you to know that we see you and we celebrate you. Siblings often miss out on allot in life and yet siblings also often become some of the most empathetic and caring people we know.
On this episode our guest Camille Block: sibling, career coach, and author of “Hope for Secondhand Suffering™ – Tools for the Heart When You Can’t Fix Your Loved One’s Pain” speaks with us on what it is like to be a sibling. As conservator, advocate and “voice” for her beloved brother Kevin who lives with cerebral palsy quadriplegia, Camille felt called to write this new book to help give a voice to silent sufferers and connect people to their purpose.
Let’s listen in to our conversation
Bio:
Camille Block is an author and career coach and serves as conservator, advocate and “voice” for her beloved brother Kevin who lives with cerebral palsy quadriplegia. After earning a degree in Social Science from Pepperdine University, she set out on a lifelong pursuit of emotional and spiritual wholeness, driven by an empathetic heartache for her brother and a restlessness for answers that extend beyond shallow cliches. Her passion is to have her new book, Hope for Secondhand Suffering™ – Tools for the Heart When You Can’t Fix Your Loved One’s Pain - help give a voice to silent sufferers and connect people to their purpose. As empty nesters with three adult children, Camille and her husband live in Southern California, just across the hills from Malibu. She enjoys sipping frothy lattes in a real mug, engaging in deep talks with friends, walking on the beach in the sunshine, and playing a variety of games with her family when her kids visit. She and her husband are also exploring some new hobbies such as beekeeping and gardening. Her book is available wherever books are sold, worldwide.
Contacts:
Website: www.camilleblock.cc
Facebook: @camilleblock.author
Instagram: @camilleblock.author
For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead. Connect with Us: If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website. Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459 Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Jan 06, 2025
Monday Jan 06, 2025
🎉 2025 Happy New Year Preview! 🎉
Welcome to a brand-new year with Hope on the Hard Road! In this special episode, we reflect on the challenges and victories of the past year and share an exciting look at what’s ahead in 2025.
Get a sneak peek of upcoming episodes featuring topics like navigating family dynamics, self-care strategies for caregivers, and inspiring guest stories of resilience and hope. Plus, we’ll share ways you can get involved in our growing community this year!
🌟 Save the Date! 🌟
Don’t miss our Fifth Annual Date Night 2025 – an evening of connection and encouragement for couples, happening on February 15th. Sign up now at hopeonthehardroad.org!
Join us as we celebrate the road ahead, together. Here’s to a year of finding strength, joy, and connection in the midst of the challenges we face.
For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead. Connect with Us: If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org
Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459
Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Dec 16, 2024
Monday Dec 16, 2024
2024 Year End Review
As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on some of the most powerful and inspiring moments from our fall season. In this special year-end review episode, we revisit stories of resilience, the power of community, and the joy of celebrating milestones — big and small.
Join us as we highlight these memorable clips and the incredible voices that remind us we’re never alone on this journey. Thank you for being part of our community, and here’s to more hope, encouragement, and connection in the New Year!
Don’t forget to follow us so you’re ready for the next season of inspiration.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Dec 02, 2024
Monday Dec 02, 2024
Series: Medical
“Advocacy and Fundraising for Medical Families” with Abby Zachritz
Today is our final episode in our medical family series, and it’s a good one. Abby Zachritz is an advocate, corporate consultant, speaker, and a mother of five including a son with disability. Known as 'Advocacy Abby,' she provides essential support and resources to families facing life-altering situations. As Co-Founder of the Connect Platform, Abby empowers families by connecting them with over 1,000 grants, equipment, therapy, and financial support options across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. Through Connect, she ensures that no family has to face challenges alone, making vital resources accessible.
You’re going want to grab a pen and paper for this insightful and informational episode. So let’s get started.
Bio
Advocacy Abby, also known as Abby Zachritz, is a mother of five, advocate, and guiding voice for families navigating disability and complex medical challenges. Known as 'Advocacy Abby,' she provides essential support and resources to families facing life-altering situations, sharing guidance, tools, and emotional support during their most critical moments. Her approach is both deeply personal and professional, rooted in her own experience as a mother and advocate for her child with a disability. As Co-Founder of Connect Platform, Abby empowers families by connecting them with over 1,000 grants, equipment, therapy, and financial support options across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. Through Connect, she ensures that no family has to face challenges alone, making vital resources accessible. In addition to her work with families, Abby consults corporations on how to better serve their clients with unique needs and perspectives. She’s also an inspirational speaker, sharing her message of hope and resilience with audiences, showing that strength and connection can make a profound difference in the lives of individuals and families.
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Series: Medical
“Medical Caregiving and Community” with Andy and Laura Gibson
Intro:
We are talking today with Andy and Laura Gibson, co founders of Certain Hope Community, a nonprofit bringing hope and support to families located in Michigan, and we love that ofcourse. Andy and Laura have 4 children and their youngest daughter Briella was born with a rare chromosome disorder that came with a long list of diagnoses and challenges. Because of the day to day challenges they experienced as a family they noticed the need for community and founded Certain Hope Community. We loved our time sharing with this dynamic duo and we know you’ll love their story too. So lets get started and listen in to our conversation with Andy and Laura Gibson.
Bio:
Andy and Laura Gibson and their 4 kids can often be found outside seeking accessible adventures for the whole family and sharing time with friends over a delicious meal.
Their youngest daughter Briella was born with a rare chromosome disorder that has come with a long list of diagnosis and challenges. There is quite a list of things she can’t do but you will often find their family talking about what she CAN do and how she is filled with so much joy.
Through the day to day challenges they noticed the deep need for in-person community, It was because of this that Certain Hope Community was started. Our passion is to meet other families and share the hope and joy we have because of Jesus.
Contacts:
https://certainhopecommunity.org/
certainhopecommunity@gmail.com
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Series: Medical
“Finding Hope in the Midst of Medical Complexity” with Andrea Bourne Foster
Welcome to the podcast. This episode is full of heart and hope. Today we begin our Medical series with author, speaker, educator and advocate Andrea Bourne Foster. Andrea is the mom of 2 beautiful daughters diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis and epilepsy. She is no stranger to hospital stays and ongoing procedures and we are blessed to have this most amazing mom and advocate on with us today. Let’s listen in as she shares her families story.
Bio:
Andrea Foster is a speaker, writer, disability advocate/educator, wife and mom. Andrea has been married to Kirk since 1998 and they are parents to four young adults. Their youngest, Audrey and Annie are identical twins who were diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex at age five months. This resulted in further diagnoses of epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability and other medical complexities. Andrea and Kirk experienced grief at the loss of dreams and face daily challenges as they fulfill the role of parent-caregivers for their twin daughters. They live in Brampton, Ontario, Canada where Kirk is a professional Firefighter and have been part of Bramalea Alliance Church since 2001. Andrea holds a Master of Science in Education (Disability Studies), Bachelor of Theology and Early Childhood Education Diploma. She shares her experiences through speaking and writing. Her articles are published in Testimony Magazine (PAOC), Alliance.ca magazine, ChristianWeek online magazine and in Women Together online magazine. She has also been a guest writer for Key Ministry and guest blogger for the Huffington Post. She has been interviewed on 100 Huntley St., The Drew Marshall Show and by other podcast hosts. Andrea guest lectures at Bible Colleges and Seminaries, and is working to make Disability Studies part of all such curriculums. Andrea longs to help families not only cope, but also thrive and truly know the joy of the Lord, in spite of disability, disappointment and ongoing seasons of trial. She believes all people belong in the Church but understands that not all leaders are well prepared for ministry with people affected by disability. Her passion is to equip everyone for better interaction so the Body of Christ will become a place of belonging for everybody. One of her favourite things is encouraging other families affected by disability to press into Jesus through Bible study, Church connection and Corporate Worship.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Series: Future Planning
"Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Employment" with Aleyada Toruno
We continue on in our Future Planning Series today with a topic that many of us have allot of questions about. Can an individual receive both Supplemental Security Income or SSI and be employed earning an income. This can be a complicated subject and we are incredibly blessed to have expert Aleyda Toruno on today to explain it all to us.
Aleyda has been advocating for the rights of people with disabilities for over 20 years. Prior to her current position at Cornell as Work Incentives Associate, she represented clients in mediations and hearings in Social Security work incentives, vocational rehabilitation, special education, California Regional Center services and Medi-Cal. Her passion to help clients through the employment continuum led her to the world of work incentives counseling.
Lets listen in as she shares.
Bio:
Aleyda has been advocating for the rights of people with disabilities for over 20 years. Prior to her current position at Cornell as Work Incentives Associate, she represented clients in mediations and hearings in Social Security work incentives, vocational rehabilitation, special education, California Regional Center services and Medi-Cal. Her passion to help clients through the employment continuum led her to the world of work incentives counseling.
For more information on Student Earned Income Exclusion see SEIE
Contact:
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Series: Future Panning
"Future Planning" with Wendy Smith
Welcome back to the podcast. Today we begin our Future Planning Series with Wendy Smith of Home of Guiding Hands. Wendy is an incredible resource. She is not only a parent of a 31 year old son with a disability, but has also been working with and advocating for people with developmental disabilities for more than thirty-five years.
Wendy has worked in residential, respite, independent living and recreation programs in three states. She has been with Home of Guiding Hands since 1996 and began providing Life Planning workshops in 2006.
Bio:
Wendy Smith has been working with and advocating for people with developmental disabilities for more than thirty-five years. She has worked in residential, respite, independent living and recreation programs in three states. She has been with Home of Guiding Hands since 1996 and began providing Life Planning workshops in 2006. Wendy is also the parent of a 31 year old son who receives services from San Diego Regional Center.
Contacts:
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Hope on the Hard Road, Inc
Hope on the Hard Road Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping connect and encourage families with children of all ages with special needs through programs designed to support the unique needs of the individual, the family, and the community.
Check our or website