Need Project Podcast

Sarah Nolan is the Respite Programs Specialist for The Resource Exchange(TRE). We discuss all the respite programs TRE offers for children and adults in El Paso county.

Randy and Kesti Suggs are the founders of Reigning Hope. Their mission: To provide life changing therapies at our sensory-rich farm clinic. Their hope: Children with disabilities struggle to reach developmental milestones and to be independent. A combination of therapies and supportive community can help these children reach their goals. At Reigning Hope we provide life changing therapy for the entire family at our sensory-rich farm clinic.

Christopher A. Noll,  MA, CAA Director of Athletics & Activities District 11 schools. We discuss the school district's Unified Sports Program and how D11 students can get involved.

Team Impact with Sarah Sapiro, Regional Executive Director, West Emily Burns, Matchup specialist Jackie Avila, Case Manager and Shikha Shah, Regional Director, Programs. Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved. See more at https://teamimpact.org/

Family Voices Colorado is a grassroots organization run by parents of children with special healthcare needs. The support you receive is free of charge and provided by someone who understands the many challenges of having a child with special health care needs in their life. Every day we give parents the information and knowledge they need to navigate complex healthcare systems to get things like wheelchairs, oxygen, or surgery for their children. With our help, parents can be the heroes their children are counting on. Parents also receive information about other systems they should access based on their child’s diagnosis and needs.

Maranatha Charity Trust is an organization in Romania. It's about children who didn't have the chance to grow up in a family. Maybe it's because their parents left too soon to watch over them from above, or maybe it's because their parents - biologically speaking - didn't know how to receive and appreciate them as a blessing into their lives. Children for whom "home" was far from being a real home. Children who did not enjoy the warm hugs of a parent, who do not remember a rich lunch taken with their parents, who did not have anyone to talk to about school, about what they want to become when they grow up or about how beautifully they draw. And they are not the ones to be seen as guilty. In fact, we are not even looking for people to blame. We do not need to point fingers. We only need solutions. https://asociatiamaranata.ro/en

We talk with Tasha Noble about the mission of Special Olympics and what it means for families in Colorado.

Kevan Chandler is the founder of We Carry Kevan and the author of the book of the same name. We discuss the beginning of We carry Kevan and how a big dream lead to the book, a documentary, and a non-profit. We carry Kevan works to connect families with backpack carriers which allow for up to 60 pounds, and they are about a lot more.

Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is the author of a new book "Lighting the Path: Leaning into a Hopeful Future as a Special Needs Parent". Marcia is a storyteller and educator who believes that we each have a powerful purpose that should guide our lives. As one of her children is brain-injured and bedridden, Marcia and her family have traversed significant challenges. She is passionate about helping special needs families to feel more connected, gain visibility, access and support, and tap into their resilience. Marcia helps others to connect deeply with their purpose so they can experience more joy and fulfillment. Through intuitive and logical interventions, her work seeks to shift mindsets, build habits, foster creativity and curiosity, and enable people to live their best lives each day, trusting they are enough. As a tenured lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Marcia is most drawn to the fields of health, safety and wellness, business and personal strategy, and teaching and learning. She is a certifie

Our guest is Michelle Morris-Wright. Michelle is the Agency Director/Director of Case ManCase Management for the C-HCBS Medicaid Waiver for A Special Needs Connection and Medicaid Waivers. We discuss Medicaid waivers and eligibility in the state of Colorado. Michelle also shares about becoming a CNA and how A Special Needs Connection helps families get plugged into medicaid.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado offers a warm, safe, clean, and friendly environment for families. It has two kitchens, family-friendly dining and living rooms, laundry facilities, and indoor and outdoor play areas for children. Our House is a home-away-from-home for families in need.

Thomas Pantoja is the Program Outreach Specialist for ServiceSource in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We discuss the jobs Service Source has open for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. This program is for full employment working on Fort Carson army base doing dining services.

The Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!) is a non-profit founded in 2014 by educators, disability leaders, students and families who have a vision for better and more fulfilling career opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Until recently, society’s low expectations coupled with limited opportunities have prevented people with ID from the benefits associated with a higher education. While peers move to the next phase of their lives, students with ID sit on the sidelines. Consequently, they transition from high school to adult day programs, very low paying jobs, or, in too many cases, simply end up sitting idly at home with limited social outlets. Many individuals live hopelessly below the poverty line, and have little prospect of rising above it. IN! is actively working to have inclusive college opportunities for individuals with ID available statewide and woven into the natural fabric of all higher education.

Our President, Bob West shared with a parents group some of the advice and encouragement people have given him over the years as a parent. He shares why one, in particular, is not his favorite. This message is an encouragement for parents helping them see the value they and their whole family are.

ABLE accounts were created to help families and individuals with expenses while protecting SSDI and Medicaid. Mike Keglovits is the ABLE & Special Programs Manager for College Invest who are the administrators of ABLE accounts for the state of Colorado. We discuss the basics of these accounts and how to set one up.

Sonya is the Transition/IEP/Enrich/CDE Data Reporting Coordinator for the Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services. We discuss how services look different for adults and the most important things to remember and do as part of your transition.

Our guest is Heather Jackson; Heather is the Executive Director of Realm of Caring, a non-profit that provides support services and resources for those using Cannabinoid products.

Tait Berge is the author of “In the Accessible Church”. We talk with him and Bishop Ken Ross from the International Anglican Church about inclusion of everyone in the church.

A celebration of the past eight years of producing the Need Project Podcast. This podcast brings together clips from some of our favorite guests like Dr. James Dobson, Joni Ereckson-Tada and DR. Peter Armstrong to name a few.

Our guest is Dr. Lorna Bradley. Dr. Bradley is the author of the new book “Special Needs Parenting” from coping to thriving.