Life Without a Filter: A Parent’s Guide to Disability Transition, Self-Directed Adult Services & Life After Special Education

Are you trying to figure out how to start a self-directed program for your young adult, but not sure where to begin? When our family was going through this process, I found plenty of transition timelines—but nothing that clearly explained how to actually build a participant-directed (self-directed) program step by step. So I created one. In this episode, I walk you through my Self-Direction Progra...

What happens when your child transitions from special education to adult services? In this episode, we walk through the Massachusetts adult transition process, including how to apply for DDS adult eligibility, what the Individual Transition Plan (ITP) actually covers, and the major shift families face as they move from entitlement services under IDEA to eligibility-based adult services. You’ll lea...

🎙 New Episode: Building Your Team in a Self-Directed Program Thinking about self-direction for your young adult — or already on that path? In this episode, I’m talking about one of the most important pieces of the puzzle: building your team. From DDS coordinators and support brokers to family, friends, and staff, we’ll explore who’s involved, how to find the right supports, and why flexibility mat...

Self-determination and self-advocacy — you’ve probably heard these terms used interchangeably. But they’re not the same… and understanding the difference matters more than you might think. In this week’s podcast episode, I break down:  • what self-determination really means • how self-advocacy builds on it • and why your young adult needs both to move from planning to real-life action Here’s a que...

If you support a young adult with a disability, the transition from school to adult services can feel overwhelming. In this week's episode, I break down one of my favorite tools: The Arc of Massachusetts Transition Timeline—a resource that takes a truly holistic approach from ages 13 to 22. I share what I found most helpful, what I wish the handout included, and how our family navigated key m...

If you have a child with disabilities between the ages of 14–22, you’ve probably already felt the pressure that comes with turning 18. There are forms, referrals, applications, decisions… and it can all feel like a lot. In this week’s episode, I take a deeper dive into the Turning 18 Checklist and walk through:  ➡️ Why the 688 Referral needs to happen early  ➡️ Selective Service details (and why i...

As families supporting young adults with disabilities, our days can be full and complex — but they’re also full of moments worth celebrating. In this week’s episode of Life Without a Filter , I share a personal reflection on the things we are especially grateful for as we continue building and managing L’s participant-directed program. From the flexibility of personalized scheduling, to inclusive...

When you decide to explore self-direction for your young adult, the first big step is creating a Vision Plan — your family’s roadmap for what adulthood will look like. In this week’s episode of Life Without a Filter, I share how our family built L’s Vision Plan — from using his Person-Centered Plan and transition assessments to mapping out goals, daily supports, and even writing job descriptions f...

Today, we’re diving deep into a topic that I am passionate about: Person-Centered Planning. This concept is absolutely fundamental to empowering our kids as they plan for their futures. Resources: Charting the Life Course:  https://www.lifecoursetools.com/ I'm Determined Framework:  https://imdetermined.org/  PATH and MAPS Framework:  https://inclusion.com/path-maps-and-person-centered-planni...

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! This year marks the 80th anniversary of NDEAM, with the theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent.” 💡 Listen to this week's episode to learn more about:  ✔️ What NDEAM is all about  ✔️ Why employment matters for young adults with disabilities  ✔️ How we’re building job readiness into L’s plan  ✔️ Local organizations making a difference 👉...

 Self Direction:  What It Is & How We Got Here In this episode of Life Without a Filter , Cheryl breaks down the basics of self-direction programming through DDS in Massachusetts and shares the behind-the-scenes story of how her family prepared for this path with her son, L. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What self-direction is and how it’s funded through DDS. The difference between Agency...

✨ Goodbye School, Hello Unknowns ✨  When the school “bubble” pops, it can feel overwhelming. Services, waitlists, adult systems—it’s a lot. In Episode 2 of Life Without a Filter , I’m breaking down Transition Planning 101: ✅ What transition planning really means ✅ When it starts (and why it’s different by state) ✅ The 3 pillars every parent & teacher should know ✅ Checklists that make th...

When the school bus stops coming, what happens next?  Let's talk about the fears, questions, and realities families face the day public education ends. Welcome to Episode 1 of Life Without a Filter!  In this episode, you will hear a bit about our family and the decision we made when our son, L, finished his public school education. Join us for future episodes as we take deep dives into what a...

Don't want to miss an episode?  Make sure to subscribe, rate, and comment! Follow us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/life_without_a_filter_2025/ For more information on the resources we share, visit our website:  https://lifewithoutafiltercf.com/ As a Disclaimer,  I am NOT a lawyer, a medical doctor, or a licensed psychologist.  I am writing this blog as a mom sharing her journey and...