The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.

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 shifts rapidly in the age of AI, how do we ensure students with disabilities aren't just included, but...

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 developmental delays with the systems designed to support it. This episode covers: The Power of Lived Exper...

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. January is the perfect time to look at life from a different lens and maybe adopt a fresh perspective. ...

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 big red flags - can make a big difference!   he Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.  The Cent...

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 tangible takeaways that are actually doable!  The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.  The Center for...

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 Disabilities  provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their famil...

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 what so many people go through by sharing the story of one family's diagnostic odyssey.   The Odyssey:...

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, and countless other pressing things to do. It's not going away.  If you want something to change, it's...

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 professionals who love and support them.  When The Odyssey's creator and host Erin Croyle asked, " What i...

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 Month, we wanted to highlight what it means to be a caregiver and why everyone should be looking out for...

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 co-teaching is, how it works, and what can be done to make truly inclusive education a reality.  The Odyssey: P...

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 our school communities, and beyond.  The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.  The Center for...

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 provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of ou...

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 anyone who is a teacher or a parent. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.  The Center for Fa...

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 Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.  The Center for Family Involvement  at VCU School of E...

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. Caregiving. Disability.  The Center for Family Involvement  at VCU School of Education's  Partnership fo...

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 or adult to go a day without having ultra-processed fare offered or simply sitting out to grab.  We're...

People with intellectual disabilities are s exually 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 can take to prevent abuse and empower our loved ones to protect themselves and understand the differenc...

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 so many practical, doable ideas for how we can make self-care happen!   The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregivi...

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 family support is so critical - so peers with lived experience can give us the information and empathy...

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 high-functioning and low-functioning. (You can listen to Part 1 here! )   The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. D...

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 federal guidelines, states can develop home and community based (HCBS) waivers to support people who wan...

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 have disabilities. That lived experience makes a huge difference when providing emotional and inform...

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 first day of school is the main event, but elves are busy all year long. Come to think of it, Santa mi...

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 spaces.  More than 30 years later, the ADA is showing its age.  Advocates argue that while the ADA ban...