The Exceptional Caregivers Life

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Sharon Shelton and Ab Velasco to discuss gratitude in the caregiver journey. Sharon is a mom of two, including an adult son with an intellectual disability, and Ab is the father of a ten-year-old with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This episode addresses topics such as how to find gratitude in everyday challenges, focusing on small wins, and the unexpected perks and resilience of being a caregiver.Special thanks to the ⁠Family Advisory Council⁠ for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.All episodes are produced by ⁠LeadPodcasting⁠. Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here at ⁠https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/⁠ Follow our show on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter,⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠

Wendy and Liz are joined by guest Lynn Zalany to discuss theimportance of caring for the caregiver. This episode discusses the idea of recognizing, managing and preventing caregiver burnout, creating a supportive environment for caregivers, and their tips for self-care. Special thanks to the ⁠⁠Family Advisory Council⁠⁠ for making “TheExceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.All episodes are produced by ⁠⁠LeadPodcasting⁠⁠. Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stayup to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place.Sign up here at ⁠⁠https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/⁠⁠ Follow our show on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, Twitter,⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ 

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Natasha Christie and Nicole Payette to share what it’s like to be an advocate for your child. Natasha is a mother to a daughter with down syndrome and Nicole has been an advocate for her 13-year-old daughter with a neurodegenerative disorder. This episode delves into caregivers' perspectives on caring for a child with intellectual developmental disabilities, how caregivers can advocate for their child, and what pathways of advocacy exist.Special thanks to the Family Advisory Council for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.All episodes are produced by LeadPodcasting. Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here at https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/ Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter,LinkedIn and Facebook

Wendy and Liz are joined by guests Linda Koehler and Sara Marcelin-Elliott for first episode to share their lived experience of caring for a child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Linda is caregiver to her grandson with an autism, ADHD and global developmental delay diagnosis and Sara is a mother to an exceptional teen with dual diagnosis. This episode is all about finding families, the pros and cons of community, and the stages of community throughout your child’s life.Special thanks to the Family Advisory Council for making “The Exceptional Caregivers Life” podcast possible as well as Ab Velasco for coordinating logistics. This podcast was made possible by the donations from the Arthur and Audrey Cutten Foundation and The Harry E. Foster Foundation.All episodes are produced by LeadPodcasting. Stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs, services and work we are doing at Surrey Place. Sign up here at https://www.surreyplace.ca/subscribe/ Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter,LinkedIn and Facebook 

Connect with a community that gets it. Real and compassionate conversations about the highs and lows of caring for individuals with disabilities and complex needs, hosted by Surrey Place’s Family Advisory Council members Liz Phipps and Wendy Robertson. Stories of successes and challenges—of finding joy, hope, humour, respite and community to keep going on a journey that is often hard, exhausting and isolating. Hear about lived experiences with caring for individuals of all ages with autism, down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Emanuel Syndrome, medical fragility and other complex needs. Learn about finding community, self-care, advocacy and gratitude. Hopefully, you will be inspired by the relatable stories of these exceptional caregivers.