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9 | Feeling Unprepared for Special Needs Adulthood? A Conversation with Candace Ridley of Mom’N Real Hard

9 | Feeling Unprepared for Special Needs Adulthood? A Conversation with Candace Ridley of Mom’N Real Hard This episode is a little different and we are so excited to share it with you. Host Jenny Olson was recently a guest on Candace Ridley's YouTube show Mom'N Real Hard, and the conversation was so good that it had to come to this podcast too. Candace is a fellow special needs mom to her son Lyric, and together she and Jenny dive deep into the world of special needs caregiving, from the middle school years all the way through preparing for adulthood. In this heart to heart conversation, Jenny shares her family's journey raising her son Ben, who has autism and an intellectual disability, including what inclusive classrooms and unified sports have looked like for their family. Candace opens up about her own experience with school bullying, advocating for her son, and finding a school community that finally felt safe and supportive. Together they talk honestly about navigating social challenges, finding the right educational fit, and what it really takes to advocate for a child with special needs. The conversation then shifts into the big stuff that every special needs parent and caregiver needs to know about as their child approaches adulthood. Jenny breaks down guardianship versus power of attorney, what ABLE accounts are and how they protect SSI eligibility, and what families should know about preparing for the transition to adult disability services. This is real, practical information mixed with genuine encouragement for caregivers who are feeling exhausted, isolated, or worried about the future. This episode is packed with relatable mom talk, useful resources, and the kind of community and connection that every special needs caregiver needs to hear. Jenny and Candace remind us all that we are not alone on this journey, and that taking it one day at a time is enough. Check out Candace Ridley and her show Mom'N Real Hard for more real conversations about motherhood. www.momnrealhard.com [http://www.momnrealhard.com/] Mom'N Real Hard - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@MomNRealHard] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2acQHvLIgnA7ymluLz082C?si=a273e607f331407c] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579435791513] If this episode resonated with you, please follow/subscribe so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a rating and review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most.  Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/] so you don’t miss anything!

8 | A Letter of Gratitude Honoring Fathers and Father Figures in Special Needs Caregiving for Father’s Day

8 | A Letter of Gratitude Honoring Fathers and Father Figures in Special Needs Caregiving for Father’s Day This Father's Day episode is a little different from our usual topics, and in the best possible way. Host Jenny Olson takes a step back from the world of SSI, Medicaid waivers, and guardianship paperwork to do something that does not happen nearly enough in the special needs caregiver community. She honors the dads, grandfathers, stepfathers, coaches, teachers, and father figures who show up every single day for their loved ones with special needs and for the caregivers beside them. Whether you are a special needs dad yourself, a caregiver who is grateful for the father figure in your corner, or someone who just wants to recognize the good men in your life, this episode was made for you. Jenny talks about the quiet strength that so many special needs fathers carry, from sitting through IEP meetings and learning Medicaid waivers to being the steady, joyful presence that a whole family can lean on. She also honors the single dads doing this journey completely alone, the grandpas and community members who go out of their way to include kids and adults with special needs, and the fathers who think ahead quietly about special needs trusts and future planning because that is how they love. Jenny also gets personal in this one, sharing heartfelt words of gratitude for her own husband of 20 years, her dad, her late father in law, and the community father figures who have included and accepted her son Ben over the years. It is a warm, honest, and touching episode that reminds us all to slow down and recognize the people who make this caregiving journey a little more possible. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a special needs dad or father figure in your life. And if you have a spare minute, please follow and subscribe and leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going. If you found this episode helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review!  Follow the podcast here on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/]

7 | Step by Step Guide for Legal Guardianship for Special Needs Adults and Tips for Caregivers

Episode 7: Step by Step Guide for Legal Guardianship for Special Needs Adults and Tips for Caregivers If your special needs child is getting close to 18 and you are trying to figure out guardianship, this episode is exactly what you need. Host Jenny Olson shares the real, step by step experience of going through the legal adult guardianship process with her husband for their son Ben, who has autism and an intellectual disability. This is not legal advice, but it is an honest, personal walkthrough of what the process actually looked like for their family here in Colorado, from finding a lawyer to the court hearing with the judge. Jenny covers the difference between full guardianship and power of attorney, why her family chose full guardianship for Ben, and what that decision really means as a parent. She talks through the emotional side of it too, including the parental guilt that can come with watching your child turn 18 while knowing their path looks different from their peers. On the practical side, Jenny walks you through the full Colorado guardianship process from start to finish. She covers how they found a special needs lawyer, what documents were required, what the court visitor home visit looked like, and what actually happened during the Zoom hearing with the judge. She also shares how they used funding through their local Developmental Pathways organization to help cover the cost of the lawyer, and what the ongoing yearly reporting requirement looks like after guardianship is granted. Whether you are just starting to research guardianship for your special needs adult child or loved one, or you are already in the middle of the process, Jenny's experience will help you feel less alone and more prepared for what is ahead. If this episode was helpful, please follow and subscribe so you never miss a new episode, and take a moment to leave a rating and review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going! If you found this episode helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review!  Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs [https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs].caregiving/

6 | SSI, SSDI, Medicaid & Medicare Disability Benefits Guide for Special Needs Families with Certified Benefits Specialist Amber Lydford

6 | SSI, SSDI, Medicaid & Medicare Disability Benefits Guide for Special Needs Families with Certified Benefits Specialist Amber Lydford If you have ever felt completely lost trying to figure out SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, or vocational rehabilitation for your special needs child or adult loved one, this episode is going to be a game changer. Host Jenny Olson sits down with Amber Lydford, a Nationally Certified Benefits Specialist pertaining to all things social security and medicaid related. She helps with applications to appeals, and how working will impact a person’s benefits. She has over 12 years of experience helping disability families navigate the Social Security system. Amber also has three children of her own with different abilities, so she brings both professional expertise and a parent's heart to this conversation. Amber breaks down the real difference between SSI and SSDI in plain language, explains what actually changes when your child turns 18, and shares why waiting too long to start the benefits process can cost your family critical services. She also covers the Katie Beckett and TEFRA Medicaid categories for children, why you should open an ABLE account before your child turns 18, and what the SSA Adult Blue Book actually is and how to use it when applying for benefits. This episode also tackles one of the biggest myths in the special needs caregiver community, which is that working will automatically end your child's benefits. Amber explains exactly how SSI and SSDI work when your adult child starts earning income, what vocational rehabilitation can do to help, and why encouraging your young adult to work early could actually set them up for better benefits down the road. You will also get practical tips on the two key Social Security forms to print out and review before applying, why you should always call your local Social Security office instead of the 800 number, and why keeping a detailed paper trail of every phone call and document submission is so important. Amber's closing advice is something every caregiver needs to hear: a no does not mean never. It might just mean not yet, or it might mean they need more information. Do not stop fighting for your child. Amber is nationally certified and available to help families across the United States. Her contact information will be in the show notes. If this episode was helpful, please subscribe so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going. Helpful links about Social Security Benefits and More: SSA Ticket to Work Program: Home | Choose Work! - Ticket to Work - Social SecurityOfficial website of Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program. [https://choosework.ssa.gov/]Listing of Impairments for Adults: Listing of Impairments - Adult Listings (Part A) | Disability | SSAEntry page - Adult Medical Impairments [https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm]   SSA Form 3368: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3368-bk.pdf [https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3368-bk.pdf]SSA form/PDF 3373: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3373-bk.pdf [https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3373-bk.pdf]Amber Lydford- Nationally Certified Benefits Specialist pertaining to all things social security and medicaid related. From application to appeal, to how working will impact the benefits. For advice on benefits, email Amber at: Helperatheart86@gmail.com [Helperatheart86@gmail.com] If you found this episode helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review!  Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs [https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs].caregiving/

5 | Single Dad Caregiver Burnout While Raising 3 Autistic Sons: A talk with Rob Gorski, the Autism Dad

Single Dad Caregiver Burnout While Raising 3 Autistic Sons: A talk with Rob Gorski, the Autism Dad If you are a special needs caregiver who has ever felt completely alone in this journey, this episode is for you. Host Jenny Olson sits down with Rob Gorski, known online as The Autism Dad, who has been raising three sons with autism largely on his own for over a decade. Rob is also a blogger, podcaster, and soon to be published author who has been sharing his honest caregiving story online for almost 20 years. This is a real, raw, and hopeful conversation about what adult autism caregiving actually looks like from the inside. Rob opens up about what it was like to go from a two parent household to solo parenting three neurodivergent kids overnight, and how he found a way to keep going even when it felt impossible. He and Jenny talk about what it means to stop apologizing for your child's autism in public, how to handle rude comments and stares as your special needs child grows into an adult, and why the judgment gets harder as they get bigger but no less important to push through. This episode also gets into some really encouraging territory. Rob shares that his oldest son Gavin, who was told he might never live independently, is now working, saving money, and moving toward his own place. His youngest son Emmett, who was non speaking until age four, is finishing high school while also completing his second year of college full time. Rob's message to every caregiver is clear: never let anyone put your child in a box and never underestimate what they are capable of. Jenny and Rob also dig into caregiver burnout, self care, and what it means to finally find your village, whether that is a partner, a neighbor, a Facebook group, or another special needs parent at a basketball game. Rob also gives a sneak peek at his upcoming book, coming out December 2026, which is designed to help newly diagnosed families feel supported, hopeful, and less alone from day one. Find Rob Gorski and preorder his book online at theautismdad.com [http://theautismdad.com] and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/theautismdad [http://www.instagram.com/theautismdad]  If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going. Follow the podcast on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/ [https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/]