Just Needs: parenting children with disabilities
Some people still talk about disabilities as "special needs." As parents of children with disabilities, we know our kids just have needs... like everyone else. We also know that in a just world, everyone’s needs would get met.
Settle in with our podcast for real talk about advocacy, friendships, developmental delays, evaluations, IEPs, sensory meltdowns, autism, and all the ups and downs that come with this gig. We don’t have all the answers, but we promise to try to figure it out with you. Join us.
Latest Episode
Building community for children with disabilities with Raymond A. Jetson
This week you’ll learn how to build community for children with disabilities with Raymond A. Jetson.
About our Host
Christina Kozik
Community Engagement Specialist
Over the last 6 years, Christina has been heavily involved with volunteer work and non-profit organizations, specifically working with mothers and with individuals with disabilities. Christina’s family includes a son with disabilities, so she has first-hand experience navigating both school systems and health care systems as his advocate.
Christina is a 2022 graduate of Louisiana Partners in Policymaking and a member of the 2022 Racial & Health Equity Learning Lab Cohort. Her heart’s work is working with rural communities to educate and empower individuals so that they can better advocate for themselves and their families.
Intro episode
About our podcast
Who is Exceptional Lives? Resources and support for families caring for children with disabilities.
Exceptional Lives envisions a world where families raising children with disabilities (or special needs) become effective advocates for their children. We support families, train providers and educators, and offer guidance grounded in our own personal experiences. Listen to this short podcast to learn more about how we can support you.
Previous Episodes
Episode 52
Back to school anxiety tips with Julie McIsaac
This week we’ve got back to school anxiety tips from Julie McIsaac, Learning and Mental Health Consultant.
Episode 51
How to Calm the Chaos with Dayna Abraham
Join Christina as she has a conversation with Dayna Abraham, bestselling author of Calm the Chaos: A Fail-Proof Roadmap for Parenting Even the Most Challenging Kids.
Episode
TWG EKS 16: Knowledge at Your Fingertips: Valuable Resources for Parents of Children with Disabilities with Christina Kozik
Christina was interviewed and appeared as part of the Emotional Kids Summit. Christina shares her personal experience as a parent of a child with a disability. She discusses how she and her team at Exceptional Lives recognized the need to provide information and support to families in a different way. By leveraging her own love for podcasts and the effectiveness of audio content, they decided to create a podcast to deliver valuable resources to parents of children with disabilities.
Episode 50
Re-Release: Introduce your child with F-Words; it’s not what you think
We’re back in school. Is your child with disabilities working with a new teacher? In this week’s podcast learn how to introduce your child to their teacher using helpful F-words!
Episode 49
Resources for children with disabilities: how to find them
Resources for children with disabilities: what are they, how do I find them? Listen along as I break down the systems of services on this week’s episode.
Episode 48
Flying with kids with disabilities: 5 tips to make the trip easier
Flying with kids with disabilities can be stressful and overwhelming. This week’s podcast episode has 5 tips to make the trip easier for you and your child.
Episode 45
3 ways to support parents of a child with mental illness
There is often confusion and fear and difficulty when talking about mental illness, especially when children are involved. There doesn’t need to be though. This week’s podcast focuses on how you can support parents of children with mental illness. Listen along as we share 3 ways to be a great friend.
Episode 43
“There’s no magic amount of knowledge”: A conversation with a neurodivergent mom raising an Autistic child
“There’s no magic amount of knowledge.” Listen along as I have a conversation with a neurodivergent mom raising an Autistic son.
Interview by Christina Kozik with Nell Curran, Ph. D.Episode 42
Body doubling and other parenting tips for neurodivergent adults.
As a neurodivergent parent, how can I teach my neurodivergent child skills that they’ll need? Listen along for some parenting tips that may help you and them.
Episode 41
“Don’t give up hope.” A parent’s story of raising a child with disabilities.
“There’s some really, really hard days. Just don’t give up hope.” Listen along to hear one parent’s story and the lessons she learned along the way.
Episode 40
What is the IDEA act?… and other Special Education mysteries decoded.
Do you know your rights under IDEA? It’s the law that requires schools to provide special education services. Listen along to learn more.
Episode 38
What kinds of programs can support my child as they become an adult?
It can be scary when your student with a disability transitions to adult life. But there are programs and resources to support them. Learn more.
Episode 38
“Calmness feels nice;” An interview about how tapping helped one mama’s anxious child.
Processing emotions takes time, patience, focus, practice, and follow-through. It’s easy for anxious kids to get overloaded. In this podcast interview, Exceptional Lives Team Member, Carey Luckey, talks about how tapping helps her son.
Episode 37
New Year, Same Me
Setting New Year’s resolutions that you don’t follow through with can leave you feeling defeated. Instead, focus on how amazing you are this year and share that with those around you!
We’ll be taking a short break from the podcast to celebrate the holidays with our families but we’ll be back in your feed the first week of January.
Episode 36
Feeling holiday parent stress? We are too. Here’s our favorite trick.
You know that ‘bored’ feeling? No? Oh right, you’re a parent. These days, our devices are a source of constant entertainment, information, and connection – but they can also increase our stress and take us away from our kids (even when we’re with them). Here’s the antidote.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 35
Managing overstimulation during the holidays
Let’s talk about overstimulation, especially during the holidays. Here’s the interesting part though, this is about overstimulation for us parents. Here are 4 tips that have helped me a lot.
Narrated and written by Christina Kozik
Episode 18
Welcoming families of children with disabilities at the holidays
Holiday gatherings can be stressful. If you’re welcoming a family with kids with disabilities, here are six things you can do to make sure they feel welcome.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 33
Parenting mantras for the holidays
Extra stressed during the holidays? We are too. Here are some of our favorite parenting mantras to get us through.
Episode 32
5 things to do if your autistic child needs an ambulance
If you are parenting an autistic child, you know that accidents and ambulances can be particularly overwhelming. Here’s what one mom did to make things easier on her child during an emergency.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Nell Curran
Episode 31
Building a village of support: 3 ways to help children with disabilities live their best lives
Building a village of support for our children with disabilities can help them live their best lives. Listen to our podcast, this week, for 3 steps to make that happen.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Marisa Howard-Karp
Episode 30
Better parenting using self-regulation
If you’re parenting a child with a disability, you’ve probably seen the term self-regulation. In this week’s podcast, learn what self-regulation is and how improving your ability to self-regulate can help you be a better parent.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 29
Helping your child to problem solve on their own
You can help your child with problem-solving by introducing new ideas to develop their thinking. This week’s podcast discusses Scaffolding, which is a way to build problem-solving skills from the ground up.
Episode 28
Life after the IEP: Helping my child with a disability transition to adulthood
It’s hard to envision how your child with a disability will transition to adulthood. Let’s set them up with the support they need for adult life in this week’s podcast!
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 27
What is Response to Intervention (RTI) and how can it help kids struggling in school?
Response to intervention (RTI) is a system schools use to help students who are struggling. If your child has a disability, RTI could be the way to help.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 26
How do I know if my child is just a late bloomer?
What does it mean if your child is a late bloomer? Hear the stages of child development and the questions you can ask yourself about developmental delays.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 25
If You Give a Parent Paperwork
An often time-consuming aspect of back-to-school for children with disabilities is paperwork! Listen in while Christina shares one parent’s thoughts on those endless forms in this week’s podcast.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 24
Introduce your child with F-Words; it’s not what you think
We’re back in school. Is your child with disabilities working with a new teacher? In this week’s podcast learn how to introduce your child to their teacher using helpful F-words!
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 23
My child struggles with reading. How do I know if it’s dyslexia?
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability but it often goes undiagnosed. Here we talk about what to watch for and what to do if you’re concerned.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by the Exceptional Lives Team
Episode 22
Fun in the sun, tips for kids’ water safety
Pool safety is important for everyone, more so for children with disabilities. Here are 9 tips for water safety and UV awareness to keep this summer fun.
Narrated and written by Christina Kozik
Episode 21
How can I get my teenager ready for independent living?
The transition to adulthood is hard. For kids with disabilities, it can bring extra challenges. In this podcast we talk about how to help our kids get ready.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinneyEpisode 20
Co-regulation: Your secret tool for managing meltdowns
Parenting comes with meltdowns – it’s part of the deal. But did you know that co-regulating with your child is often the fastest and most effective way to diffuse things when your child is upset? You may already be doing it, even if you’ve never heard of it. Learn more.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 19
6 ways to be a fierce advocate for your child with disabilities
Advocating for your child with a disability can be hard. Here are 6 practical tips to help you make sure they get what they need.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 18
Parents, let’s talk mental health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But what does mental health look like for those of us caring for children with disabilities? How can we support our children while still tending to our own needs? Here are a few ideas for you.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaacEpisode 17
Want to support children with disabilities? Support their families.
One of the best ways to support children with disabilities is to support their families. But how? Exceptional Lives offers our 3 favorite tips.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaacEpisode 16
Mother’s Day special podcast: If you give a mom a minute
A tribute to mamas and people filling those mama shoes this Mother’s Day…. If you give a mom a minute, she’ll try to fill it with “just one more thing”…
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaacEpisode 15
Is DIR Floortime right for my autistic child?
DIR Floortime is an approach to supporting autistic children, yet many parents of autistic children only know about ABA therapy. In this podcast, Julie McIsaac, Learning and Mental Health Consultant, talks about her experience as a certified DIR Floortime provider.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaacEpisode 14
I am the parent of an autistic child. What will I learn from listening to autistic adults?
If you have the chance to learn more about what it is like to walk in your child’s shoes, why not take it? One of the best ways parents of autistic kids can understand our children’s experience is to listen to autistic adults.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaacEpisode 13
What is identity-first language and what does it have to do with autism?
Autistic child? Child with autism? It feels like the language is always changing. But identity-first language is a powerful way of shifting the conversation – and reflects so much of what we want to teach our children.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 12
Does my child have dysgraphia? How would I know?
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that interferes with a person’s ability to express their ideas in writing. But you may not even know what it is. Here’s what to look for and what to do if your child is struggling.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 11
5 tips for filing taxes for people with disabilities
Nothing’s sure but… well, you know the end of that sentence. If your family includes a child or adult with a disability, here are 5 important things to know before you file your taxes in 2022.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney in consultation with Ken W. Shulman, Day Pitney LLP.Episode 10
My child with disabilities is now an adult. How do I let go and still support him?
At age 22, young people with disabilities age out of special education. In this podcast, Exceptional Lives Team member Julie talks about her son’s transition and how she is learning to support him in this new part of his life while she learns to let go.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 9
4 pieces every IEP goal should have
How can you tell between a great IEP goal that will support your child with a disability – and one that doesn’t mean much? In this podcast we will talk about 4 things that should be a part of every goal.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 8
A crash course in navigating special education
Special education (often called special ed or SPED) means specialized teaching and related services to help children with disabilities or special needs make progress in school. How do you know if your child qualifies? And what does specialized teaching mean, anyway? In this podcast we’ll break down the systems and acronyms so you’re ready to support your child.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 7
What happens when my child is too old for early intervention?
If your child has a delay or disability, they may qualify for school-based special education services or therapy when they turn 3. In this episode we’ll talk about how and when to start getting your child (and yourself!) ready for this transition.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Episode 6
Does my child need Occupational Therapy?
If your young child has a disability or delay, you may have been referred to Occupational Therapy. But what does occupational therapy mean for a child? In this episode, we’ll talk about all of the ways OT can make a difference for your child. Kim Haynes and Anne Hindrichs of the McMains Child Developmental Center explains how OT can help a child with their most important work – play.
Narrated by Christina Kozik with Special Guests; Written by Exceptional Lives Team
Episode 5
What are sensory processing issues? And do they explain my kid’s behavior?
Sensory processing issues make it difficult for our brains to process and filter information that comes through our senses. When our kids are overwhelmed or understimulated, it shows up in their behavior. In this podcast, we will talk about how to understand and meet our kids’ sensory needs.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Episode 4
My child has a disability and I don’t: an episode about finding role models
On January 20th, my daughter saw herself in the mirror when we watched the presidential inauguration. Black women took the stage, and one used American Sign Language to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Her jaw dropped. In this podcast, we talk role models. If we don’t share our child’s disability, we have that much more work to do to make sure they have role models. This is powerful stuff.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Marisa Howard-Karp
Episode 3
6 Things Not to Say to Children with Disabilities
It’s easy to say the wrong thing, even when we mean well. Here is what not to say to a child with a disability – and some great things to say instead. This podcast will take on both.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Marisa Howard-Karp
Episode 2
My child has a new disability diagnosis. Now what?
Your child was recently diagnosed with a disability. Maybe this is the first time, or maybe it’s yet another diagnosis in a long string of them. You might feel confused. Or relieved. Or scared. Or overwhelmed. All of the above? That sounds about right. In this podcast episode, we’ll dive right into all of it.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Marisa Howard-Karp
Episode 1
Yes, I look tired. Let’s talk about why I don’t care.
Parents of kids with disabilities are often the squeaky wheels, the recipients of sideways looks in the store. The looks I get in the store are only looks of those that just don’t know; they can’t understand how much richer my life is because of this child. I embrace being the frazzled parent because I know I’m showing up for him.
Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
