Moments of Joy

Families raising children with disabilities often don’t leave church because they’ve lost faith. Many leave because they feel unseen, unsupported, isolated, or overwhelmed trying to navigate spaces that were never designed with their children in mind. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Pastor Craig Johnson, founder of Champions Club, a worldwide special needs ministry that has helped launch...

What happens when a dentist truly understands children with disabilities? 💙 In this conversation, we’re talking about the importance of compassionate dental care for children with special needs, how parents often have to advocate in medical offices, sensory challenges during appointments, and why finding the right provider matters so much. We also discuss practical ways dental offices can better...

Here's the truth: living with profound autism means lifelong caregiving—it's overwhelming but also filled with moments of hope. 👉 Tag a parent who needs to hear this today. Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of severe autism? Gunner's journey from early milestones to challenging years—and now breakthrough moments—show us that progress, no matter how small, is strength in...

She changed the conversation around autism—and tomorrow, she’s sitting down with us. 💙 In honor of the first day of Autism Awareness Month, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Holly Robinson Peete—actress, advocate, author, and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation. But more than anything… she’s a mom. A mom who has walked this journey of raising a child with autism, using her voice...

In this episode of the Moments of Joy podcast, Camille sits down with her friend Taylor J for a heartfelt and honest conversation about how friends and extended family members can better support families raising children with special needs. Whether you’re a sibling, grandparent, cousin, or close friend, you may often wonder: How can I help? This episode dives into the kind of help that actually ma...

We’re diving into a powerful conversation that every caregiver needs to hear. I’m joined by my friend, Dr. Tiyahri Wilson, Counseling Psychologist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), as we talk about the mental health of parents raising children with special needs. Dr. Wilson brings both professional insight and heartfelt compassion—offering practical tools, encouragement, and reminders t...

Summary: In this episode of the Moments of Joy Podcast, Camille Joy discusses the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs, emphasizing the importance of community, understanding, and self-care. She shares personal experiences of feeling misunderstood and offers encouragement to parents navigating similar struggles. The episode highlights the need for mental health prioritization...

In this episode of the Moments of Joy podcast, Camille Joy discusses the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process for children with special needs. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the special education system, advocating for children's rights, and the necessity of evaluations to identify needs. Camille shares personal stories and insights on navigating IEP meetings, the significan...

In this conversation, Areva Martin shares her journey as an advocate for autism awareness and support, stemming from her personal experiences as a mother of a child with autism. She discusses the disparities in services available to families based on socioeconomic status and race, the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, and the need for community support. Areva emphasizes that communic...

In this episode of the Moments of Joy podcast, Camille Joy interviews Irisa Leverette, who shares her journey of raising her son Darius, who is on the autism spectrum. They discuss the importance of autism awareness and acceptance, the challenges of navigating the education system, and the need for advocacy. The conversation also touches on planning for the future, employment opportunities for ind...

In this episode of the Moments of Joy podcast, host Camille Joy sits down with R&B singer Faith Evans to discuss her journey as a mother raising an autistic son, Ryder. Faith shares her experiences from the initial concerns about Ryder's development to navigating the complexities of autism diagnosis, early intervention, and the challenges faced within the school system. The conversation highli...

In this heartfelt episode of the Moments of Joy Podcast, I open up about the emotional rollercoaster that comes with receiving a diagnosis for your child—whether it's autism, ADHD, developmental delays, or another special need. As a special needs parent, I share the top lessons I wish I knew from day one. 💛 If you're a parent, caregiver, or family member navigating the world of special needs pare...

In this episode of Moments of Joy, I sit down with the Houston Area;  Katy, Texas Police Department to discuss Project Guardian, a program designed to improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals with special needs. We dive into how this initiative helps keep our loved ones safe and how you can advocate for similar programs in your own community. Every child deserves to be understo...

"To the Parent Who Needs Encouragement—This is for You" Welcome back to Moments of Joy! If you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or just in need of a little encouragement, this episode is for you. As parents raising children with special needs, we carry so much on our shoulders—but you are not alone. In this episode, I share words of hope, strength, and joy to remind you that you are doing an inc...

Welcome back! Whew! It's been a awhile but we are gearing up to come back and spread encouragement for the community we love most! New episodes coming 3/26/2025. Im so excited. Be sure to connect with us on social media and spread the word.

During this weeks episode I'm sending a special shout out to all of the parents raising children with special needs.  Autism has been something that over the years has gained a lot of attention.  Its gotten awareness but its time for more acceptance.  This episode has been brought to you by Big Heart  Toys!  This weekend Maison received a pretty cool set of toys from @bighearttoys. They are great...

On this weeks episode Im sitting down with Licensed Therapist Nadia Fiorita. We talked about why parents prioritizing their own wellbeing is so important and  Nadia shared simple things they can start to do when we feel overwhelmed and stressed out.  She gave tips on identifying anxiety in our children and ourselves and how to manage.

It was such a pleasure to sit down and chat with founder of Tasium Worldwide an apparel line dedicated to autistic people. Jose's passion came from being the older sibling to someone with autism. You've gotta hear this....Listen in   Follow him on social media @Tasium.worldwide

Today Im sitting down with Teresa Girolamo, Ph. D., she is an autistic language in autism researcher and assistant professor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University. As director of the Brain, Environment, and Language Lab, she works with racially and ethnically minoritized autistic individuals with language impairment. This population is underserved in research, hin...

Join me today as I chat with amazing tik tok mom @Zulekha WIlliams. She has an amazing platform encouraging Autism moms and providing many resources. 

Welcome back! Thank you for baring with me as we had a winter break. Today we are sitting down to chat with Melanie Oates. @melanieoates_ Mom of two special needs children. It was wonderful to hear her journey and what resources have worked for her. She made a tough decision of placing her daughter in a 24/7 respite care facility.

Today Im chatting with the creator of the platform Nigh Functioning Autism Tiffany aka TJ. She is a 39 year old mom of two who has been diagnosed with Autism. I love her platform because there is nothing like being educated from an adult with Autism. Tiffany adds another layer and that is being Autistic and Black. During this episode  she educates us on sooooo many topics. The puzzle piece, aac de...

During this episode I'm sitting down with founder of Happiness is Down Syndrome and mom of Jed, Misty Con Snyder. We chat about diagnosis, resources, the beauty of raising a child with special needs.  

Today my special guest is the mom of Ibrahim Hamed and her name is Yasmeen. They are constantly going viral on Tik tok and Instagram for showing the day to day life of her family and son who is now an adult living with Autism and Cerebral Palsy. We sit down for a candid discussion that is sure to encourage parents raising children with special needs.  

Today I'm sitting down to chat with the founder of non profit organization Hearts of Joy International. Hearts of Joy is a non profit that  provides life saving heart surgery to individuals with Down Syndrome. They are dedicated to serving vulnerable children who otherwise would have no access to quality medical care. 50% of children born with Down Syndrome are born with a congenital heart defect...