Embrace the Unexpected

Most of the time in our lives, we can get comfortable and very settled in what we do. What would happens when a new opportunity or situation presents itself or you are in routine and now you are not. Then what? When my son with autism wanted his own place, I had to face the letting go and change of routine. When I was a Flight Attendant, my mother-in-law was sick and I left my job to take full time care of her. Life has a way of moving you forward into the next unexpected. How do you embrace the change?

It is not easy at times to embrace your circumstances, but when you are in the healing process and come out victorious and share your stories with others,Wow! That is powerful and it shows the movement of God i our lives. This is why I share the stories about my life, and the life with my son who has autism. Listen in on this powerful story of Norma and how God is healing her scars.

Mrs. Mattie Daniels-MCNeal is a returning guest to discuss the relationship between the siblings with one of them having autism. Autism brings in another dynamic between the siblings relationship and at times the parents my have to intervene to give a clear understanding on what is going on or can a parent put undo burden upon another child to get assistance with the child who have autism? Join the discussion.

Autism is a complicated disorder that you can't pin down to just one thing for all the children that is on the Spectrum. Karen Dana will share how she travel through the unknown of autism and reveal her findings fro her research in what she discovered as she continue to help her daughter with the disorder. What other factors could be a cause and effect of autism?

RaNae Envy will share her story from pain to triumph. At the age of 8 years old the unthinkable happened in RaNae life. The phone rang in the middle of the night, first her father answered and yelled, then her mother was crying uncontrollably. Her grandfather, her mother's dad, had committed suicide by gunshot. Her mother, after that fell into deep depression and later also took her life by suicide. How many of us, die while we are still living? How many give up their dreams? How many just let life run them rather than them run their life. These are the question that RaNae asked herself. Tune in and listen to how she over came this unexpected challenge and began to embrace her life.

We may at times put Pastor's on a pedestal and not recognize some of the challenges they maybe going through. Rev. Hunt and Rev. Ron will talk about the unexpected pain of love ones and how they manage to keep in the faith, manage their feelings, and help their love ones through the journey.

In this episode we will look at the special education classroom through the eye's of an Assistance to the Teacher in the classroom. What do an Assistance see? What do the Assistant see as the most important need of the children and how can the system better service the children and the parents? An Assistance work closely with both children, parents and also the Teacher. Join in the conversation. Share your thoughts and experience.

I will go deeper in Living With Autism, sharing the obstacles and challenging situations as my autistic son began to journey through the Public Educational System. The most difficult and rewarding times was trying to navigate through a system that was not prepared to educate a child with autism. To all the pioneer parents who sent there autistic children to a Public School System before my son attended, I say Thank You, because of your courage, I was able to go through the door and continuing in the push forward until the needs of our children are met as well as understood.

Continuing the story of a step-father joining the journey of his wife who has a son with autism. This time it's personal because Paul is not just a guest he is my husband, who have excepted me and my journey with my son Melvin. Join in on the conversation.

Often times, the mother's are sharing the their challenges and feelings of raising a autistic child. Seldom, do we hear from the fathers. Tonight, Willis McNeal will share from a male point of view, his perspective raising a son with autism. I invite you to listen to his story.

Excepting the unexpected diagnoses of autism for your child can be devastating. How do you overcome and push through those thoughts and emotions to become the advocate that your child need? What is it like for a working single mom raising her children and on has autism? Tune in and listen to Mattie Daniels-McNeal as she share her story how she overcame those thoughts and all the other challenges that come with it.

The doctors and teachers have a program or plan for your autistic child, that's wonderful but have you ever considered adding a supplemental activity that emerges the autistic child into more socialization? What about traditional activities that will integrate them with all children such as softball, bowling etc. Everyone will not say no. There are some organizations that will include an autistic child. This was a tremendous help with my son in developing social, and communication skills. Tune in on Friday. Start thinking outside the norm.

Bernadette had a challenging childhood, living in Chicago, not because of lack of food,or clothing or shelter but because of witnessing the violate physical and verbal abuse of her mother at the hands of her step-father. She clung to her faith in God and hoped one day she would be able to leave that heartache behind. Before she was twenty years old she was pregnant, married, and moved to another state. She was filled with hopes, and dreams of a better outcome than what she grew up in. She was already filled with heartache but was receiving joy from the birth of her healthy baby boy, so she was told by the doctor. In the year of 1978, at three years old, she sent her son to pre-school. The third week of school, the teacher met her at the door, she wanted to talk with her. That is the first time she heard the word autism. What is autism and what is going to happen to my son?