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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 Dec 11, 2023
Monday Dec 11, 2023
”Surviving the Holidays” with Eric and Christen Freund
Thanks for listening to today’s episode! Today we share some insights on how to survive the holiday season with your family. We want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Eric and Christen Freund are co-founders of Hope on the Hard Road Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting, encouraging, and bringing hope to families on the special needs journey through a variety of tangible resources and faith-based encouragement. College sweethearts, Eric and Christen have been married for 25 years and live in Southern California with their son Caleb and their daughter Abbey who is diagnosed with Autism.
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
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Ministry Series:
"Shine Ministry" with Garett Wall
Today we are talking about Special needs ministry. We are so blessed to have Garett Wall on the podcast with us. Garett serves as the Connections Minister with Shine Disabilities Ministry at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he faithfully shepherds kids, teens and adults with disabilities and their families. As the father of a kiddo with Down syndrome and autism, Garett is thankful for the ways the Lord is equipping him for disability ministry and for the lifelong journey of experiencing the goodness of God in all people.
A graduate of Murray State University in Murray, KY, Garett worked for nearly 20 years in athletic media relations at both Murray State and the University of Louisville before God redirected his career path into disability ministry in 2019. A native of Dover, Tennessee, Garett is married to Becky and they have two children, Lily and Isaac.
Connect with Garett Wall
Connections Minister
502.253.8129
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
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Ministry Series:
”Bethesda Ministry” with Jill Miller
We are continuing our ministry Series and are excited to have Adaptive Curriculum Writer Jill Miller join us on the podcast. Jill has a passion to expand the horizons of individuals with disabilities. After her daughter Kim was born with multiple disabilities, Jill employed her training as an educator—including a BA in Elementary and Special Education and a Master’s equivalency as a Reading Specialist—to design teaching tools to effectively convey the gospel message to Kim and her friends. From her labor of love, an entire series of Bethesda interactive Bible studies were born and, most recently, a family devotional—Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days—was released.
Through the years, Jill has started two businesses aimed at employing individuals affected by disability. At a fundamental level, Jill believes that individuals with disabilities can thrive, learn God’s Word, and know his amazing love for them. Jill is a mother of six, wife of Paul Miller, grandmother of many, and lives with Kim and Paul (not to mention two dogs, two sweet donkeys, and a few goats) on a farm property in rural Pennsylvania.
Here is the link to Jill Miller's book "Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days":
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
Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
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Facebook
Facebook Group
Free Youtube Resource Library
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Ministry Series:
”Reframing Special Needs Ministry” with Colleen Swindoll Thompson
We are beginning our Ministry Series and we are excited to be talking today with Colleen Swindoll Thompson. Colleen is no stranger to trauma and trials. Her experiences parenting a child with multiple disabilities have given her an unwavering passion to encourage and equip caregivers and their families with truths and tools that help them live well regardless of life’s ever-changing circumstances. @colleenswindoll has founded Reframing Ministries, a division of Insight for Living Ministries, that focuses on providing a community that“ gets it,” as well as hand-picked and heart-developed resources that help give you strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
Thanks for joining us
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.
- Email us
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Future Planning Series:
“Blissful Seeds” with Rita Saliba
We are Continuing on with our Future Planning series talking today about creative job opportunities. And we have an incredible interview today with Rita Saliba founder of the local nonprofit Blissful Seeds, Inc. Blissful seeds is a strength-based business tailored to launch the entrepreneurial journey of young neurodivergent adults, propelling continued growth and social opportunities as they age out of the school system.
Contacts:
Insta: blissful_seeds
Facebook Blissfull Seeds
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
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Future Planning Series:
“Creating Residential Opportunities” with Jess Ronne
Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host at Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the Unseen Documentary. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources and respite support for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir “Sunlight Burning at Midnight” as well as her latest books “Blended with Grit and Grace” and “Lovin’ with Grit & Grace”.
Contacts:
Founder and Executive Director of The Lucas Project, caregiver advocate, speaker, podcast host, featured in Unseen, & author of Sunlight Burning at Midnight, Blended with Grit and Grace & Lovin with Grit & Grace (release Feb 2023)
 Buy Now |
 Order |
 Buy Now |
 Watch Trailer |
Website: jessplusthemess.com
Website: https://www.thelucasproject.org/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jess-ronne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessplusthemess
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess
Pinterest: pinterest.com/jessplusthemess/
Twitter: twitter.com/jessplusthemess
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
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Future Planning Series:
“SSI supports” with Wendy Dumlao
Hi guys, we’re in our future planning series and so glad to have attorney Wendy Dumlao back on the podcast. Today Wendy is talking about SSI. Wendy is an incredible advocate for families of children with special needs. You are going to love her caring, fun, and engaging way of presenting the insights that bring hope as we plan for the future of our children.
Wendy Dumlao has been an attorney for almost 14 years practicing disability law. She worked for 5 years as the Clients Rights Advocate in San Diego, before opening her own practice. She specializes in advocacy related to Regional Center services, Social Security, Medi-Cal, IHSS and Special Education. So she has a lot of great insights to share.
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
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Sep 04, 2023
Monday Sep 04, 2023
IEP Series:
“IEP Supports” with Crystal Sanford
We’re starting our IEP series this fall with Crystal Sanford. Crystal is a local Educational Consultant, IEP Advocate, Speech Pathologist and business owner. She is also an author and podcaster, cancer survivor, and mother to an autistic tween. Crystal's passion is advocating alongside families, helping them to persistently pursue the supports that their children need at school. So we know you’ll want to hear what she has to share.
Crystal Sanford, M.Ed., M.A. CCC-SLP is an Educational Consultant, IEP Advocate and Speech Pathologist. She is also a podcast, author, and mother to an autistic tween. Crystal's passion is advocating alongside fellow neurodiverse families, helping them to persistently pursue what their children deserve at school. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband and two children in San Diego, CA.
www.facebook.com/sdautismhelp;
www.instagram.com/sanford_autism_advocacy
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
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
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