The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.
by Erin Croyle
The Odyssey podcast explores the unique journey we're sent on when a loved one has a disability. We dig deep into the joys and hardships. We celebrate how amazing the odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability are. But we don't shy away from the tough stuff either. Each episode will explore topics that hit a little different because of our life experience. Our guests' perspective will sometimes bring comfort and other times challenge the way we see the world.https://centerforfamilyinvolvementblog.org/
Episodes
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STEM-Ability Perception vs. Potential: Dismantling Barriers in Education
In Part Two of the STEM-Ability series on The Odyssey of Care, host Erin Croyle and guest Dr. John Fife (Director of the Center for Innovation in STEM Education at VCU) unpack how perceptions - and misperceptions - shape educational opportunities for students with disabilities. Drawing from both...
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STEM-Ability: Designing a Future Where Everyone Fits
Welcome to the debut of STEM-Ability, a brand-new series from The Odyssey of Care. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. John Fife, Director of the Center for Innovation in STEM Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, to explore a new and ambitious five-year initiative. As the workforce...
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Bridging the Gap: Infant Mental Health & Early Intervention
In this special joint episode, The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. teams up with Meaningful Moments to explore the vital connection between infant mental health and early intervention. Hosts Erin Croyle and Lisa Terry bring together the personal journey of parenting children with...
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New Year, Same $h!t, Fresh Perspective
When the clock strikes midnight as we ring in a new year, our problems don't magically resolve. Everything from the previous year carries over and more piles on as we get back up and running. But there's nothing wrong with setting our cynism aside to embrace a new year as a sort of clean slate....
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Spotting the Subtle Signs of Mental Health Struggles
Most of us are well aware of America's mental health crisis, but lack to tools to support each others and help ourselves. As mental health specialist and CDC Children's Mental Health Champion Patrice Beard shares, learning to spot the pink flags - those early warning signs that show up before the...
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Self-Care is a Joke (That We Need to Take Seriously)
For so many of us, the idea of self-care is a joke. And for good reason. There are literally not enough hours in the day to do what's "required" of us, let alone take a break to focus on ourselves. Rather than telling you why you need to make time, this episode offers validation. And some…
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Raise a Glass to Sobriety
A glass of wine or tasty cocktail at the end of a hard day is alluring for sure. But when nearly every day is hard, it might be time to rethink that drink. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with...
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Rare Diseases Can Impact Anyone
When a child is sick or missing developmental milestones, we immediatly start searching for answers as to why. But what happens when test after test just leads to more questions? Rare diseases are more common than we realize; research surrounding them is what's lacking. We're shedding light on…
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New Year, Same You, Different Attitude
How many times have you told yourself, "once I get through this week, it'll be smooth sailing;" only to end up in that same spot the following week, and the week after that, and after that? It's gotta stop! There will aways be work, family obligations, appointments, meetings, paperwork, laundry,...
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2024 Airing of Grievances: Sharing our Secret Lives
We're trying something different this episode: our first ever anonymous "airing of grievances." Many of us exist in our own information bubbles, completely ignorant of what those around us might be going through. This is especially true for people with disabilities and the family, friends, and...
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Caregiving and Parenting Are NOT the Same
Right now in the United States, more than 53 million family members are providing unpaid and mostly unseen care to the loved ones in our lives. According to the National Council on Aging, that's an economic value that totals more than $470 billion. Since November is National Family Caregivers...
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Are Inclusive Schools Even Possible? Part 2
Meaningful inclusion is possible, if we're being honest though, it's so rare that most folks don't even know what it looks like. In part two of this episode on inclusion in public schools (be sure to check out part one!), Erin Croyle has educator and advocate Trina Allen break down what…
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Are Inclusive Schools Even Possible? Part 1
Imagine being treated as a guest in your own school. For many students, not only is that their reality - it's by design. In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Erin Croyle and special education teacher Trina Allen break down what needs to be done to create meaningful inclusion in academics, throughout...
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The Only Detox Worth Doing
Looking to feel better? Want to help your children feel better? It might be time for a detox. And the one we're talking about actually works. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities...
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Dual Perspectives: Navigating Special Education as a Teacher and a Parent
In this epiosde we get an insider's perspective of the world of special education from someone who sees it from both sides. Eleanor Janek is a dedicated special education teacher and a mother two two children with disabilties. Her insight is both eye opening and incredibly useful for virtually...
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Caring for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Doctor's Perspective
In this episode, host Erin Croyle and guest Dr. Kathryn Rooth talk about just how much, or how little, medical professionals know about treating patients with disabilities. Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Something you want to ask Dr. Rooth? Feel free to contact Erin via email. The...
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You Are Not Alone
Modern day parenting can be so isolating. It's an unfortunate reality many of us are struggling with. If you have a child or children with neurodiversity, medically complexities, or disabilities, it can feel downright lonely. But you are NEVER alone in this journey. The Odyssey: Parenting....
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Is Food Impacting Our Children More Than We Realize?
You are what you eat. That adage has been around forever for a reason. The foods we consume have changed drastically over the last few decades. Packaged, highly processed foods have flooded groceries, gas stations, schools, sporting events, and gatherings. It's practically impossible for a child…
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Abuse Prevention and Cultivating Healthy Relationships
People with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at a rate SEVEN TIMES HIGHER than people without disabilities. And that figure is likely a substantial underestimate, as it doesn't take into account repeated abuse or people living in institutions and group homes. There are steps we…
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Self-Care for Caregivers
Self-care is something we all need to do. But for many of us, it's an elusive practice. Caregivers are working harder than ever. Which makes self-care more important than ever. Knowing how real this struggle is, I reached out to my friend and chiropractor Dr. Sarah Gardner. She gets it, and has…
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Best of 2023
This odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability can be so many things: isolating, overwhelming, joyous, lonely, full, exhausting, exhilerating. The extreme ups and downs; the highs and lows. You can't fully understand it unless you live it. This episode explores why professional family to...
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Why We Must Stop Labeling People High-Functioning/Low-Functioning
It's natural for parents to want their children to reach their full potential. But who decides what that is? And at what cost? In part two of my interview with Heather Trammell, we explore how dangerous societal expectations can be; and how inaccurate and harmful it is to label people as...
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Everything You Need to Know About IFSP and Applying for Funds
When you have a child with a disability, you become more than just a parent. You become a caregiver. And many of us "parent-caregiver hybrids" have a lot to learn about supporting a child with a lifelong disability. Medicaid waivers can be one of the hardest things to understand. Under broad...
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What to Expect When the Unexpected Happens
The wishes, hopes, and dreams of expectant parents are many. Their baby having a lifelong disability usually is not one of them. When that happens, it can be devastating for families. The staff and volunteers at the Center for Family Involvement have family members with a disability. Some of us...
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Back to School Special
The back to school grind is tough for everyone, but it's over in a flash and parents get a breather during school hours. Except when they don't. The parents and caregivers of students with disabilities live in back to school mode all year long. It's almost like Santa preparing for Christmas. The...
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Does the ADA Need a Makeover?
An estimated 1 in 4 Americans has a disability significant enough that it impacts their daily life. When the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26th, 1990 it was celebrated as groundbreaking legislation that would grant access to jobs, schools, transportation, and public...
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Why We Need More Than Inclusion
Reaching full potential. Becoming independent. We want these things for our children. For kids with disabilities, providing the assistance they need while trying to achieve these goals is like walking a tightrope. Help from even the most well-intentioned people, often is not helpful. It's not…
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How to Survive and Thrive in Motherhood
There is no crystal ball to give us insight into what parenting a child with a disability is like. But conversations with Lisa Richard sure come close. Lisa is a mother to seven children ranging from ages 18 to 30. Two of her kids have Down syndrome. Lisa's honesty and insight is refreshing. She…
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Siblings Day Special!!
Every April 10th our social media feeds are flooded with throwback photos in honor of Siblings Day. It may seem like a stunt to keep us scrolling, but it's much more than that. In fact, there is an ongoing effort to get the United Nations to officially declare it "International Siblings Day."...
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Why Are Summer Camps Inaccessible for So Many Children?
Summer camp sign ups are well underway across the country. Parents and caregivers are scrambling to secure spots so they can work while their children make new friends, learn new skills, and have fun. It's not so simple for the estimated 17% of children ages 3 through 17 who have one or more...
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How Having a Child with a Disability Transforms You with Jamie Bruen
The moment you become a parent, your life is transformed forever. For parents of children with disabilities this transformation is on a whole other level. For some of us, it's a defining moment where our life is split in two: before and after. Because we're not just parents anymore. We're...
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Rare Diagnoses with Sarah Lepore, MSN, NNP-BC, Mother
One of the hardest things families go through is when something seems wrong with their baby or child. When we envision becoming parents, the hopes and dreams we have usually do not include a disability. Socital norms focus so much on "healthy" babies that getting a diagnosis of intellectual or...
About this show
The Odyssey podcast explores the unique journey we're sent on when a loved one has a disability. We dig deep into the joys and hardships. We celebrate how amazing the odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability are. But we don't shy away from the tough stuff either. Each episode will explore topics that hit a little different because of our life experience. Our guests' perspective will sometimes bring comfort and other times challenge the way we see the world.https://centerforfamilyinvolvementblog.org/
Hosted by
Erin Croyle