PODCAST · education
Rockin the Difference
by Chandra Neal/Single Mom/Special Needs Mom/Special Needs Sports Program Board Member
Hello There! Welcome to Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to share the experiences and information with those on their journey in the special needs world. I am your host, Chandra Neal, a mom of a young adult with special needs. My intent is to create a community where we can connect, be real and share in the humor and the tears, challenges and triumphs of what it’s like traveling down this path that is so unique as a special needs parent. Together, we can encourage and support each other as we are all Rockin the Difference!
Episodes
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Episode 32: When Independence Gets Messy
The Independence I Asked For I spent 23 years fighting for Ryan’s independence. Now that he’s an adult, he’s giving me exactly what I asked for… and it’s driving me a little crazy. 😂 From clogged toilets and broken furniture to shaving mishaps, dirty walls, and a whole lot of “Mom, I’ve got...
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Episode 31: The Reason Behind Rockin The Difference; An Interview with Ryan
Today is one of my favorite episodes yet. ❤️🎙️ For the first time, I’m talking with the person who inspired this entire podcast… my son, Ryan, AKA Biscuit So often, people hear words like blind or autistic and stop there. But Ryan is so much more than a diagnosis. He’s hilarious, kind…
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Episode 30: The Friends Who Walk This Journey With Me
NEW EPISODE: The Friends Who Walk This Journey With Me When people talk about raising a child with special needs, they often focus on the parents. But what about the friends who choose to stay? In this episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I’m joined by two of my best friends who’ve been in my life...
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Episode 29: Beach Getaway Conversations
No experts. No scripts. No agenda. Just five special needs parents, three incredible individuals with disabilities, a beach house, and some honest conversations about life. This week’s Rockin the Difference episode is a reminder that while our journeys may be different, the understanding we find…
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Episode 28: Beyond What You See with Tiffany V. Easterbrook
Beyond What You See | Featuring Tiffany V. Easterbrook What if everything you thought you understood about someone… was only a fraction of the story? In this special episode, Ryan and I sit down with Tiffany V. Easterbrook for her YouTube interview series to share our journey—one that goes far...
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Episode 27: Deciding to Homeschool with Tiffany Henry
What happens when the traditional path no longer feels like the right one for your child? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Tiffany Henry as she opens up about the deeply personal decision to homeschool her autistic son. From navigating unmet needs in a conventional school setting to...
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Episode 26: When Plans Change: Pivoting as a Special Needs Parent
This episode wasn’t planned. I found out my mother-in-law passed away just days before I leave on a big trip with my mom. And as a special needs parent, moments like this hit differently. How does your child process grief? What does change feel like in their nervous system? How do you hold space...
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Episode 25: Love, Care, and Financial Clarity: Planning Ahead for Our Special Needs Children with Jennifer Brown
In this episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I site down with Jennifer Caryn Brown—financial advisor and adoptive mom to a child with special challenges—for an honest and empowering conversation about caregiving, planning ahead, and finding peace of mind. Jennifer shares her personal journey...
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Episode 24: Shedding Skin - What 2025 Asked of Me
As 2025 comes to a close, this episode of Rockin the Difference reflects on a year of profound change, challenges, and growth. I share what it meant to navigate major caregiving transitions for my son Ryan, face unexpected delays and emotional strain, and arrive at year’s end feeling both…
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Episode 23: Meet Josh Bridegewater - The Spina Bifida Skater
Today on Rockin the Difference, we’re talking with someone whose story rewrites what resilience can look like. Josh Bridgewater is the oldest skateboarder with spina bifida — a title he never set out to earn, but one he carries with pride. Born with his spine outside his body, Josh has endured…
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Episode 22: No Sight, All Vision: A Chat with the Lamarra Family
💫 What do you get when you mix courage, comedy, two white canes and 3 canines? Meet Brennan (21) and Mina (17) — two siblings who are blind, bold, and breaking barriers every day alongside their amazing mom, Parisa. ❤️ In this week’s Rockin the Difference episode, we dive into what it’s really...
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Episode 21: Russel Burke: Finding Purpose after Paralysis
🎙️ Episode 21: Russel Burke: Finding Purpose after Paralysis In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with my friend Russ (@russ_on_wheelz), whose life changed forever after a boating accident at Lake Havasu left him quadriplegic. Russ opens up about his...
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Episode 20: The Hidden Work Behind Parenting a Special Needs Adult
✨ New Episode of Rockin’ the Difference ✨ Being a special needs parent means carrying an invisible load that most people never see. In this solo episode, I take you behind the scenes of my life as a single mom to my adult son—sharing the scheduling, the driving, the advocacy, and the emotional...
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Episode 19: Beyond Borders: Our Brazil Journey; Challenges and Big Wins
In this episode of Rockin the Difference, host Chandra Neal shares the behind-the-scenes story of preparing for international travel with her adult son, Ryan, who is blind and autistic. From a frustrating passport battle that required the help of her congressman, to packing with intention and...
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Episode 18: Defying the Odds: A Father’s Fight for His Son and the Rare Disease Community with Christopher Velona
In this powerful episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I sit down with my dear friend Chris Velona — a devoted father, rare disease advocate, and founder of Project Sebastian, a nonprofit inspired by his son Sebastian, who was diagnosed with Batten disease, a rare and terminal neurodegenerative...
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Episode 17: What I Would Tell My Younger Self
In this episode, I open up about the early years when first learned my son had special needs—and all the emotions that came with it: grief, fear, uncertainty. If I could sit with that younger version of myself, I’d tell her this...
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Episode 16: Love Beyond Limits: A Family’s Journey Through Life, Loss, and Legacy"
In this heartfelt episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with an incredible mom Becky, and her two adult daughters, Hannah and Nicole, to honor the life and legacy of Breanna—their daughter and sister who had multiple disabilities, including blindness and mobility challenges, and who…
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Episode 15:Helping Special Needs Kids Advocate for Themselves – When They Don’t Speak Up
Today we’re talking about something so many special needs parents struggle with—helping our kids learn to advocate for themselves. I’ve personally been dealing with this forever with my son, who is now 21-year-old, who is blind and autistic. He has a hard time voicing his needs—whether it’s…
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Episode 14: Breaking Free: Overcoming Shame, Embracing Identity, and Rising Strong with Amanda Casarella
On today’s episode of Rocking the Difference, I am honored to welcome an incredible guest whose story is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of self-belief. Amanda Casarella grew up facing challenges that many of us can relate to—struggling with a learning disability, battling...
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Episode 13: Reconnecting
After the busyness of the holidays, I wanted to get back in touch with you all and talk about intention, creating community and upcoming changes and challenges this year. Here is a quick episode to get reconnected! Some great Podcasts to check out: The Special Needs Mom Podcast - Episode:...
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Episode 12: Sacrifice
Today I talk with my friend, Nada, on the sacrifices we make as parents of special needs individuals. We all make sacrifices to ensure our kids are getting the best of what we can give them. With Nada, this meant moving countries with her kids, while her husband stayed. It meant giving up what…
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Episode 11: Overwhelm
In this episode we discuss how life can just be OVERWHELMING.
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Episode 10: If I Need Help
In today's episode I talk with Erin and Bruce Wilson who founded If I Need Help. They started this non profit which provides a system to help find special needs kids, as well as individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimers, that go missing, especially for those who can’t communicate. It uses...
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Episode 9: Forever Child
In this episode I talk about my son, Ryan, reaching a milestone and moving towards that next phase from being in the school years bubble into adulthood and how that unpredictability and foreverness hit me hard. If you have comments or ideas you'd like to share on this topic, I'd love to hear them...
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Episode 8: Aubrie Forte; Experiences from a Special Educator
Aubrie Forte has been a special person in our lives for almost 17 years now. She has been a teacher in special education and now works directly with schools to support programs on campus, with students, teachers and families. She was Ryan's teacher throughout elementary school and is lovingly…
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Episode 7: 8 Things I have learned from my kid
Being a mom of a blind and autistic adult, you have many experiences and learn so many things. Some of the most valuable things you learn are from your child themselves. In this episode I share 8 valuable things I have learned from my kid. If you would like to share your stories please DM on...
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Episode 6 - A Dad's Perspective with Pat Coskran
This episode I talk with Pat Coskran, a father of 37 year old Sean, who is autistic. He has been a special education teacher and coach in the Special Olympics. He is also the author of "Growing up with Sean" found where most books are sold. He shares his perspective as a dad, finding connection...
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Episode 5 - Connection - get it
In this episode I share how connections with my friends and my community inside and outside of the special needs space has been a life saver for me. I didn't realize how much I needed to connect with others in order to feel fulfilled in my life. This can take a lot when you're raising a special...
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Episode 4 - The BBBs
In this special episode I bring on my amazing friends, Ashley, Tricia and Parisa, better known as the BBBs or Bonded By Blindness. We have an amazing bond because we all have blind kids. And although we all have unique stories, we can relate to each other on this journey. And it is so important…
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The AAAs of Moving Forward
This episode talks about the AAAs of moving forward through the challenges and fears you face being a special needs parent and how working through these ideas could help you live a happy special life.
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Episode 2 - The A Bomb
In this episode I continue sharing my experience of becoming a special needs mom. After first finding out my baby was blind, a second diagnosis was on its way. I share how this impacted me and how I moved forward with it. I hope it can resonate with many of you.
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Episode 1- In The Beginning
In this first episode of Rockin The Difference, Chandra shares how her journey of being a parent of a special needs kid began.
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Rockin The Difference - Trailer
Trailer introducing Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to connect with people living alongside someone with special needs.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hello There! Welcome to Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to share the experiences and information with those on their journey in the special needs world. I am your host, Chandra Neal, a mom of a young adult with special needs. My intent is to create a community where we can connect, be real and share in the humor and the tears, challenges and triumphs of what it’s like traveling down this path that is so unique as a special needs parent. Together, we can encourage and support each other as we are all Rockin the Difference!
HOSTED BY
Chandra Neal/Single Mom/Special Needs Mom/Special Needs Sports Program Board Member
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Rockin the Difference have?
Rockin the Difference currently has 33 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Rockin the Difference about?
Hello There! Welcome to Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to share the experiences and information with those on their journey in the special needs world. I am your host, Chandra Neal, a mom of a young adult with special needs. My intent is to create a community where we can connect, be real...
How often does Rockin the Difference release new episodes?
Rockin the Difference has 33 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Rockin the Difference?
You can listen to Rockin the Difference on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Rockin the Difference?
Rockin the Difference is created and hosted by Chandra Neal/Single Mom/Special Needs Mom/Special Needs Sports Program Board Member.
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