No More Chasing “Normal” with Author and Counselor Loresa Stansell

Loresa Stansell, Author of No More Chasing “Normal”!

Our guest this week is Author and Counselor Loresa Stansell. She is the author of the book No More Chasing “Normal” The Emotional Guide for Parents of Children with Autism, Down Syndrome & All Other Disabilities.

Our loss of normal and the unique emotional roller coaster we ride is summed up in the A-typical Cyclic Grief (ACG) model. ACG is explained and experienced in detail through the life of a woman named Lori. Each chapter in this first of its kind book, provides discussion by the author and challenge questions for parents or caregivers aimed at helping them work through their own emotional reactions.

Loresa Stansell, LPC, NCC

Loresa Stansell, LPC, NCC

Stansell Counseling & Consulting Services, LLC

Loresa is a licensed mental health counselor. She is the parent of a 25 year old young man with a developmental disability. In 2010 she copyrighted a new grief model called A-Typical Cyclic Grief (ACG) to describe the unique emotional waves encountered by parents that have children with special needs.

As Loresa says, It is time to break the shame barrier and silence of our grief experience!! This book is about what YOU experience and how to work through our emotional challenges as a parent of a child with special needsOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT OUR SOURCE OF GRIEF IT IS THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF TRYING TO MAKE THEM FIT INTO A SOCIETY BUILT ON NORMS THAT THEY DO NO MEET.”

This is an awesome book! My hope and prayer is that one day all educators, physicians, counselors, and families will understand the A-Typical Cyclic Grief model just as we all understand the stages of grief model.” – Julie Ames


This book provides an in-depth look at the emotional impacts faced by parents of children with special needs. This is the stuff your research doesn’t tell you.
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Special Olympics Florida & Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community Tampa Bay

Special Olympics FL & Special Olympics Healthy Community!!

This week we have representatives from Special Olympics Florida and Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community – Tampa Bay!

Special Olympics Florida is a program that provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Special Olympics Florida, Healthy Community is a premier, health care delivery approach that focuses on the whole person with an intellectual or developmental disability and provides integrated health care coordination that includes primary health care.

Pictured left to right: Special Olympics FL Regional Director West Coast – Bankole Adebanjo, Special Olympics FL Area 8 Sports Director Polk and Hillsborough Counties – Shelly Henry, Healthy Community, Community Outreach Manager, Cydnee Dennison, Julie Ames, SNFH


Special Olympics Florida Healty Community -Tampa Bay
Good health is necessary for persons with an intellectual or developmental disability to secure the freedom to work, learn, and engage in their families and communities.

We believe that sports can teach us all important lessons. When we train and strive for a goal, it teaches us to dream. When we struggle, it teaches us determination. When we win, we find joy. And if we lose, we can find the strength to try again.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Families Raising, Inspiring, Educating, and Networking for Down Syndrome

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. – Families Raising, Inspiring, Educating, & Networking for Down Syndrome!

Our guest is Belinda Romero of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome of West Florida.

The Mission of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome West Florida is to provide all encompassing educational and support services to families who have been impacted by Down Syndrome; while promoting complete community integration of those impacted by Down Syndrome. Serving families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, & Pasco Counties.

Pictured: Belinda Romero and Julie Ames, SNFH


F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
The goals are to:

  • Provide broad reaching educational services for families impacted by Down Syndrome.
  • Provide financial and social service support for families impacted by Down Syndrome.
  • Provide outreach to the Tampa Bay Area community in education and community integration for families impacted by Down Syndrome.

Like on Facebook: Friends Down Syndrome West Florida

Grace Anna Sings – True Story of hope from a little girl whose song inspires the world

Grace Anna Sings!

Our guests this week are Angela Ray Rodgers. the author of Grace Anna Sings and her seven-year old daughter Grace Anna!

Grace Anna Sings, is an incredible true story of hope from a little girl whose song inspires the world. Grace Anna has Conradi-Hunermann Syndrome. She has had multiple surgeries. Through it all she has been an inspiration to those who know her. She started singing when before she could talk. What a lovely voice of hope and grace.

Visit Grace Anna Sings on Facebook

Tampa Update Autism Friendly Tampa Initiative and Public Private Partnerships for Housing Those with IDDD (Intellectual Disabilities & Developmental Disabilities)

Tampa Update – Autism Friendly Tampa Initiative and Public/Private Partnerships for Housing Those with IDDD (Intellectual Disabilities & Developmental Disabilities)

We welcome Luis Viera, Tampa City Councilman and Susan Morgan, the Project Manager for Gracepoint’s new special needs affordable housing.

Topics include:

  • Mayor’s Autism Friendly Tampa Initiative
  • Autism Friendly Playground
  • Public-Private Partnerships for building housing for those with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD)

 

We were also delighted to welcome News Channel 8 WFLA Morning News Anchor,
Gayle Guyardo, who joined us for the interview – more on that to come!

Gayle Guyardo Luis Viera and Julie Ames Autism Friendly Tampa

Julie Ames, Gayle Guyardo, and Luis Viera

graham at gracepoint housingThe Graham has 80 residents. Gracepoint privately funded the project, the first affordable housing units Gracepoint built from the ground-up using low income housing tax credits and a loan from the state of Florida.

 


Tampa City Council Luis Viera District 7Tampa City Council
Luis Viera
District 7

Special Needs Ministry – Emily Colson, author of Dancing with Max, & Sally DePalma with One Roof Initiative

Emily Colson and Sally DePalma!

Emily Colson author of Dancing with Max and Sally DePalmaThe One Roof Initiative Executive Director discuss the upcoming September 30th, “Disability and Your Church Symposium”

Emily speaks in churches and organizations nationwide, and has appeared on numerous media outlets including Focus on the Family. In her book Dancing with Max, Emily and her father, Chuck Colson, shared the struggle and beauty of life with Max, Emily’s 23 year-old son with autism. The book has  been awarded “Book of the Year” by the Autism Society.

As the “Disability and Your Church” Keynote Speaker, Emily will capture your heart with tenderness and encouragement gained through her own experience raising a son with autism and struggling to find their place within the church.

Pictured: Emily Colson and Max, Sally DePalma, The One Roof Initiative and Julie Ames, SNFH


Disability and Your Church – A Training and Equipping Event!
Date:  Saturday, September 30, 2017
Time: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., Lutz, FL 33548
Cost: $30 (lunch is included).  Register at:  www.idlewild.org/disability
Press Release

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Disability and Your Church Symposium – September 30, 2017!

Disability and Your Church – A Training and Equipping Event!

The One Roof Initiative is proud to partner with Idlewild Baptist Church to host the 3rd Annual “Disability and Your Church” Symposium on Saturday, September 30th! The event will be held 8:30am-3:00pm at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, and will feature experts and those active in front line adaptive ministry. A variety of workshop presentations will be offered, addressing the topics of communication, behavior, ministry to adults with disabilities, and more! Cost: $30, lunch is included! Register Online Here: www.idlewild.org/disability

This year, Senior Pastors and church leaderships are particularly encouraged to attend. Idlewild’s Senior Pastor, Ken Whitten, will be spearheading a host of speakers who will be part of our two session Pastor Track.  We are excited to present this year’s keynote speaker, Emily Colson, author of the award-winning book, “Dancing with Max”.

Read the Full Disability and Your Church Press Release

Tahni Cullen, Author of Josiah’s Fire and The Good Gift Giver – 21 Days of Unexpected Blessings

Tahni Cullen, Author of “Josiah’s Fire”!

Our guest this week is Tahni Cullen. She is the author along with Cheryl Ricker of the book Josiah’s Fire. Josiah’s Fire was recently a #1 Bestseller for Special Needs Parenting on AmazonThey along with Josiah Cullen have a new devotional The Good Gift Giver – 21 Days of Unexpected Blessings.

Tahni and her husband Joe were thrust into a nightmare when their two-year-old-son, Josiah, a typical toddler, suddenly lost his ability to speak, play, and socialize. The diagnosis was Autism Spectrum Disorder. Five years later, Josiah, who had not been formally taught to read or write, suddenly began to type on his iPad profound sentences about God, science, history, business, music, strangers, and his heavenly encounters.

Tahni Cullen

Vocational Rehabilitation – School to Work Transition Programs with Milton Moss

Vocational Rehabilitation-School To Work Transition!!

Milton Moss, Area Supervisor for Hillsborough, Hernando, and Pasco Counties for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation – FL Dept. of Education, and Kate Saksefski a Supervisor for Adult and Student Customers explain what Vocational Rehabilitation is; and the new STAR Program for students 15 to 21 years old that helps students train for a job, continue their education and / or work after leaving high school.

Pictured: Milton Moss, Area Supervisor for Hillsborough, Hernando, and Pasco Counties for the
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation – FL Dept. of Education, Kate Saksefski a Supervisor for Adult
and Student Customers, Julie Ames, SNFH,

September 30th Disability and Your Church Symposium with Sally DePalma & Deana Troyer

Sally DePalma and Deana Troyer!

This week’s show features Sally DePalmaThe One Roof Initiative and Deana Troyer, Idlewild Church Special Needs Ministry .

Sally and Deana discuss the September 30, 2017 Disability and Your Church Symposium A Training and Equipping Event! Idlewild Church, Special Needs Ministry & The One Roof Initiative are bringing together speakers, trainers and ministry leaders to equip church staff and volunteers to reach, teach and serve individuals with disabilities and developmental delays.

Experts and those on front-line adaptive ministry share wisdom, insights and practical knowledge on a host of topics via a broad itinerary of workshops.  This year will feature Pastor Track Workshops that speak directly to Senior and Associate Pastors about the need and value of having disability ministries in our congregations, without ignoring considerations of risk management.  There will be various Breakout Topics for churches wanting to start or grow special needs ministries and for those well-established.

Pictured: Sally DePalma, The One Roof Initiative & Deana Troyer, Idlewild Church and Julie Ames, SNFH

Keynote Speaker Emily Colson will capture your heart with tenderness and encouragement gained through her own experience raising a son with autism and struggling to find their place within the church.

Time: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., Lutz, FL 33548
**Cost: $30 (lunch is included)

**Early bird registration of $20 is available until June 15.** Register at: www.idlewild.org/disability