S4SE1 What is the Alopecia Roadmap Course

Many of you have been listening to Alopecia Life since the beginning, and others have just started sharing time with us. Thank you so much for being here. Each guest that comes onto the show is meant to give you, as a listener, some insight into their alopecia experience, and to let you know you're not alone. I love hearing back from those of you who have mentioned how helpful a certain conversation with a podcast guest has been, or that hearing about a product we mentioned has been a game-changer for you. Some of you know about my own alopecia areata experience, especially if you've already read my story in a book I published called, "Head-On, Stories of Alopecia." In the publishing world, it's now an ancient book after being out for over 7 years. But I think it's timeless in the world of alopecia. Shared stories and photos of people from all over the world living with autoimmune hair loss. Another way to connect when we feel so alone, want to learn more, and are looking  to have a helpful resource that is both educational and healing. As I hear about challenges people with alopecia or their loved ones are experiencing, I try to help resolve deep-rooted problems that are contributing to those experiences. Finding solutions for kids and parents who are experiencing problems on the playground or in school, allows for significant systemic change to happen within the educational system while working with families, teachers, and school adminstration. Calling and speaking to the senior policy advisor for TSA to find out what the process is for removing hats, or wigs at airports was highly enlightening, and I enjoyed hearing that this medical condition liason was interested in helping those in the alopecia community who fear not only the security line at the airport, but traveling all together. When a student soccer player is asked by a referee to remove their scarf in front of their teammates, a stadium full of people, and their opponents because it is a "rule". A rule that doesn't exist in the rule books or has been enforced for over a decade of playing for this child gets me...fired...up. This type of experience where someone is made to feel embarassed moves me, to where the only thing I can do is make a change so others don't have to deal with ignorant and blatant made up "rules."  That's what I'm working on this week, and the types of important issues I will continue to work on to serve the alopecia community and their support systems. I tend to be very quiet in what I'm doing. Writing a book, starting a podcast. I've even recently launched a course for parents and caregivers called the Alopecia Roadmap. Did any of you guys know that? I'm super proud to have a resource that can be accessed online, at any time to parents as they are seeking ways to navigate autoimmune hair loss with their child. It's a how-to guide to do alopecia. Not my way, but your way by accessing all the pieces of you and your child that make it possible to have alopecia be the best it can be. I cover a multitude of topics throughout the course. Things like how to talk about alopecia with family and friends; tried and true methods on how to decide on treatments, wigs, and alopecia-related decision making; how to create a comfortable school experience; and how to let your child lead all of this no matter how old they are.  My parents didn't have the types of resources that are availble today. These days, parents have more access to all sorts of information, to hair loss specialists, to a number of possible treatments and remedies. But you know what? The fear and sadness parents are feeling isn't so different than what my own parents once felt. It's time to realize you have access to ways to feel empowered to make a difference right now. You don't have to wait years to figure it all out as things develop. I feel confident in saying, that any listener who was diagnosedSupport the showAlopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/