A Dude Who Just Wants to Stay in His Home with Randy Nilson

A Dude Who Just Wants to Stay in His Home with Randy Nilson

Randy Nilson spent decades working, saving, paying taxes, and building a life in Idaho. After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), he adapted to changing mobility needs and continued working for many years. Today, despite living modestly and wanting nothing more than to remain in his own home, Medicaid policies put him at risk of losing the independence he worked so hard to maintain. In this episode, Randy shares his personal journey and discusses the challenges many older adults and people with disabilities face when trying to age in place and remain part of their communities. His story highlights important questions about disability, long-term care, public policy, and what it truly takes to live independently.

Giving a Care with Sheila Weaver

In this episode, we sit down with Sheila Weaver, LCSW, MPA, Program Manager for the Family Caregiver Navigator Project at the Idaho Caregiver Alliance. A fourth-generation Idahoan born in Mountain Home, Sheila has spent more than 20 years serving Idaho families through a wide range of roles in state government and community systems. Our conversation explores the growing importance of supporting family caregivers across Idaho, including the work of the Idaho Caregiver Alliance, the development of Idaho’s Kinship State Plan, and the challenges facing grandparents and relatives raising children. Sheila also shares insights into caregiving policy, system coordination, aging and disability supports, and why strengthening caregiver networks matters for the future of Idaho communities. www.caregivernavigator.org [www.caregivernavigator.org] www.idahocaregiveralliance.com/projects-and-events/kinship/ [https://idahocaregiveralliance.com/projects-and-events/kinship/]

The Rural Disability Movement with Elissa Ellis

Elissa Ellis is the Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), a national disability-led membership organization that supports Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and disability advocates serving rural communities across the United States. APRIL works to advance the rights, independence, and full inclusion of people with disabilities in rural America through advocacy, training, leadership development, and collaboration. You can learn more about APRIL at www.april-rural.org [www.april-rural.org].

The Fight for Family PCS with Jessica Jackman

Jessica Jackman is a disability and family caregiver advocate from Pocatello, Idaho, and is affiliated with Fair Care Idaho, a grassroots organization focused on protecting and strengthening supports for Idaho families who provide in-home care to loved ones with disabilities. Drawing from her lived experience as a caregiver for her son, Jessica has become an active voice in statewide discussions surrounding Medicaid-funded family caregiving, home and community-based services, and Idaho’s direct care workforce shortage. She has worked alongside advocacy coalitions, caregivers, and policymakers to highlight the critical role family caregivers play in keeping individuals with disabilities living safely and independently in their homes and communities. Find out more about Fair Care Idaho at https://faircareidaho.substack.com/ [https://faircareidaho.substack.com/].

Standards of Justice with Don Kostelec

Don Kostelec is a transportation and community planning professional with more than 25 years of experience focused on creating safer, healthier, and more equitable communities through transportation and land use planning. His work across the United States has emphasized active transportation, Complete Streets, Health Impact Assessments, and the integration of public health into planning processes, with particular expertise in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA transition planning, accessibility compliance, and inclusive community design. Don is widely recognized for helping communities better understand how street and infrastructure design impacts safety, mobility, and equity, while encouraging approaches that prioritize people over vehicle movement. He has served in leadership roles with organizations including the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance and Bike Walk NC and is a frequent national speaker and contributor on walkability, accessibility, and safe street design. Learn more about Don's work at www.vitruvianplanning.com [www.vitruvianplanning.com].