Épisodes

  • 🎧 Showing Up Without Burning Out: The Unfiltered Catch-Up

    🎧 Showing Up Without Burning Out: The Unfiltered Catch-Up
    Oct 23 2025
    What happens when two advocates hit pause on the chaos and just talk it out?Heather and Steve take a breather from the headlines and just talk. In this unfiltered catch-up, they open up about juggling life, advocacy, and everything in between — from Heather’s upcoming trip to the First Place Global Symposium to Steve’s work with the National Council on Severe Autism.
    They trade stories, laughter, and strategy on how to keep showing up without burning out, diving into transition challenges, teasing their upcoming guest lineup, and showing how the right conversation can make all the difference. Listen now for a real, no-guest look behind the movement they’re building together.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    37 min
  • 🎙️ Barrier Demolition with Kurt Roskopf

    🎙️ Barrier Demolition with Kurt Roskopf
    Oct 20 2025
    What happens when we stop patting ourselves on the back for “special” inclusion—and start building communities where accommodations are normal, and leadership is shared?In this episode, Heather and Steve talk with Kurt Roskopf, disability ally and founder of the Everybody Skis program. When a skier who needed some accommodations was sent home dry, Kurt felt awful—and that moment reframed how he approached every day after that. It set in motion a movement that redefined inclusion across Wisconsin and beyond.Steve first met Kurt through the Helpipedia initiative—a national collaboration connecting families, educators, and professionals to disability resources. We discuss this as well as what real inclusion looks like. Moving from symbolic gestures to structural change. which gives you a blueprint for rethinking belonging in your own community.Blueprint for Barrier DemolitionKurt’s journey reveals lessons that can reshape how we approach everything—from the way we build teams and plan community events to how we design classrooms, businesses, or neighborhood spaces. The blueprint that emerges isn’t about following exact steps, but about rethinking how we show up and realizing that small shifts can spark big change.Listeners will leave asking themselves:
    • What would true inclusion look like in my space?
    • How might I remove one barrier this week?
    • Who could I invite to lead beside me instead of waiting to be invited?
    Kurt’s reflections remind us that we’re not just making room for people—we’re rebooting the way our communities work. Real inclusion isn’t a one-time act of kindness; it’s a redesign of how we live, learn, and lead together.You’ll hear moments that stay with you:“When people with disabilities lead, they teach us how to move mountains.”
    “We’re not just opening doors—we’re rebooting the whole planet so everyone can walk through.”

    Learn More
    Helpipedia.org
    kurt@spiritofthegame.org

    Text or call: (262) 372-1754If you're ready to move beyond the feel-good photo-op and build true belonging in your own hometown, this episode is your invitation to start.









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    42 min
  • Bonus Episode! Finding Common Ground On Location: Pathways for Success

    Bonus Episode! Finding Common Ground On Location: Pathways for Success
    Oct 9 2025
    Steve and Guest Host Alexandra Fernandez speak with Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, Parent Advocate and founder of Better Together Kathy Caruso and others about the Pathways for Success event which brought experts and advocates from across New York State to Utica. Check out the full video of the event on our YouTube Channel:

    https://youtu.be/pIiFhcaPYqs

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    12 min
  • Straight Answers to Tough Questions with Assembly Member Brian Miller

    Straight Answers to Tough Questions with Assembly Member Brian Miller
    Oct 1 2025
    What if the fastest way to protect disability services this year isn’t a viral post—but scheduling a meeting now, before legislators head back to Albany? In this episode, AM Brian Miller gives straight answers and a playbook you can use now—from timing your outreach to crafting testimony that actually moves votes.

    Why listen: Unlike many politicians, Miller doesn’t dodge the tough stuff. He leans in. Listen as he dives into the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), looming Medicaid reforms (including the CDPAP rollout), DSP wages, the red tape that blocks common-sense partnerships, and how to make your voice count before this legislative session begins.

    You’ll learn practical moves:
    • Perfect timing: While summer is a great time to connect with legislators, fall works too—and it’s not too late. Now is the moment to book longer, substantive meetings that won’t be possible once session starts, so your stories can shape bills before legislators are back in Albany.
    • How to advocate: Replace mass emails with personal letters/calls that get read and get returned.
    • Testify like a pro: Use a 5-minute structure (personal story → crisp facts → clear ask) and always follow up with the panel afterward.
    • Unstick the system: Pair innovative pilots with smarter funding routes (Veterans, Aging, Education, Medicaid) and identify one word or phrase that could be tweaked in law/reg so that solutions aren't blocked.
    • Policy focus areas: ADA/Olmstead compliance, DSP wage action, pausing/assessing rushed reforms, and making oversight reports accessible to the public and legislators.
    Standout quotes:
    • “Really get involved and understand how the different funding streams and different groups can work together to help our loved ones because this could be a difficult chapter coming up, but it’s not the end of our story.” — Heather M. Burroughs
    • “Don’t rely on a form letter. Try to connect in person and be precise, but also personal.” — AM Brian Miller
    What Brian Miller models: Bridge-building, engineering-style problem solving (root-cause → corrective action), and a consistent record of showing up for disability families, on the record and in the room.

    Listen if you’re:
    Parents & caregivers, self-direction leaders, DSPs and providers, advocates preparing testimony, or anyone ready to trade outrage for outcomes. Hit play to grab the blueprint—and pass it to a friend who needs it.



    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    48 min
  • Pathways to Success

    Pathways to Success
    Sep 19 2025
    In this episode, we sit down with three incredible women—Bethany Wendt, Kathy Caruso, and Kim Karcic—to talk about Pathways for Success: Together We Thrive, a powerful event happening in Utica, NY.

    Each guest shared why they felt called to be part of this initiative and how families of individuals with disabilities often feel lonely, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. Their stories highlight the importance of coming together, building community, and making sure no one walks this journey alone.

    Guests
    • Bethany Wendt – Director of Community Relations at the Kelberman Center
      Website: https://www.kelberman.org/family-connect/family-education-and-training/
    • Kathy Caruso – Mom & Lead Facilitator for Better Together: Support and Advocacy
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Better-Together-Support-and-Advocacy-100057210018852/
    • Kim Karcic – Family Member, Teacher, and Advocate
    About the Event
    Saturday, Sept. 27
    9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
    The Parish on Broadway, 730 Broadway, Utica, NY
    Parking available at City Hall

    Who should attend?
    Parents & caregivers of individuals in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) community.

    What to expect:
    • Sessions on Early Intervention, School-Age Supports, Adult Services & Transition Planning
    • OPWDD Resources & Future Planning
    • Q&A Panel + Resource Tables featuring OPWDD, ARC, Life Plan, Kelberman & more
    • Light refreshments provided
    A full day of learning, connecting, and finding support—together.
    Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/KLFtaUPGG9

    If this event isn’t happening near you, but you think your community could benefit from something like this—consider this your blueprint!

    Be inspired, and reach out to any of these women to learn how you can make it happen in your hometown.

    Visit us at www.fcgadvocacy.org, follow us on social media, and help us grow our audience and impact.

    Together, we can build stronger pathways for success everywhere.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    44 min
  • Flawless Farms Grows Real Hope: Kristina Cope's Vision for Supporting Profound Needs

    Flawless Farms Grows Real Hope: Kristina Cope's Vision for Supporting Profound Needs
    Sep 12 2025
    What do families do when every call for help is desperate, every door seems to slam shut, and the only thing longer than the waitlist is the list of hoops to jump through—especially when their loved one with profound autism needs support now?

    In this episode of Finding Common Ground, we sit down with Kristina Cope—Michigan mom of three on the spectrum, RN, and founder of Flawless Farms. She’s on a mission to create an intentional community that welcomes families with profound needs instead of shutting them out.

    Together we explore housing deserts, “boarding” in hospitals, transportation gaps, and the growing crisis of catatonia. Kristina’s vision is clear: bring people together, secure land, build the first home, and create a model of community life where meaningful work, recreation, healthcare, and belonging are part of every day. If you’ve ever thought, “someone should build this,” this conversation will show you how to start—right where you are.

    Quotes that stay with you

    Kristina captures the urgency of the housing crisis when she says, “We could have a Benjamin’s Hope in every county and every state—and it would not be enough.”

    Steve reminds us that solutions won’t come from waiting on the system: “The cavalry is coming—it’s us.”

    And Kristina doesn’t shy away from the hard truth how sometimes “the model of inclusion then excludes them.”

    This episode is raw, inspiring, and practical. If you need hope and a path forward, you won’t want to miss it.

    Support the show by subscribing on your favorite podcast app, leaving a review, sharing it with a friend, and subscribing on YouTube. Every click helps other families find the solutions they’ve been searching for. Learn more and connect with us at www.fcgadvocacy.org and explore Kristina’s work at www.flawlessfarmsmi.com.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    47 min
  • 🎙️ Kathleen Hayes: Breaking Down Barriers to Community Mental Health Care

    🎙️ Kathleen Hayes: Breaking Down Barriers to Community Mental Health Care
    Sep 4 2025
    “It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.” Kathleen Hayes didn’t just take a position at the Neighborhood Center—she found her purpose. In this powerful episode of Finding Common Ground, we explore how one small organization in Utica, NY is reimagining what mental health and family support can look like when systems get out of the way and people are met where they are.

    Kathleen shares her journey from frontline provider to program supervisor, opening up about the real-life impact of community-based treatment, in-home therapy, and 24/7 crisis response teams. You’ll learn about Kindred Connections, a trauma-informed support system for adoptive and guardian families that helps combat isolation and build resilience—with birthday parties, family fun days, and intentional peer connections at its heart.
    But this isn’t just a feel-good story about one organization doing good work—it’s a blueprint. As Steve puts it: “If I was an executive director anywhere else and I knew this service was needed, I’d be looking to replicate it.”
    If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually working in youth mental health, how to prevent crisis before it happens, or what real trauma-informed care looks like outside a hospital or institution, this conversation is a must-listen.
    Whether you’re a parent, policymaker, therapist, advocate, or just someone trying to make your corner of the world better, this episode will give you hope—and a few ideas worth stealing.
    Tune in now to learn:
    • Why group therapy is giving providers new insight into kids’ needs
    • How mobile crisis teams are preventing hospitalizations
    • What makes adoptive family support stick
    • Why Kathleen says the work is hard—but worth it
    Don’t miss this glimpse into what’s possible when community leads the way and PLEASE check out our new website: https://www.fcgadvocacy.org/


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    35 min
  • Redefining Autism Support: LaShona Johnson’s Roadmap for Families

    Redefining Autism Support: LaShona Johnson’s Roadmap for Families
    Aug 28 2025
    What if an autism diagnosis wasn’t the end—but the spark that ignites a journey toward connection, advocacy, and growth?In this deeply moving episode of Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve welcome LaShona Johnson, whose dual roles as a parent and disability community advocate uniquely inform her insights. Together, they explore how LaShona’s experience raising her son with autism evolved into a mission—and ultimately, a guidebook—for others navigating the path ahead.
    LaShona's journey is full of moments that feel too familiar

    —to be real, raw, and hopeful all at once:“I just kept feeling like…something is not quite right. Something is off.”
    — On trusting that gut when early signs emerged“It was relief and grief all at the same time.”

    — On the emotional paradox of finally receiving a diagnosis“If this door isn’t open, let’s call another person until we find somewhere for him to go.”
    — On the power of persistence and relentless advocacy“He can tell you all about model trains… that’s his special interests.”
    — On how a child’s passion can become a powerful bridge“This diagnosis isn’t the end. It’s just a shift in perspective … instead of focusing on fixing, let’s focus on connection, advocacy, and growing together.”
    — On reframing the narrative for familiesIn this episode, Heather, Steve, and LaShona cover:
    • Early signs and the complicated road to right-fit diagnosis and intervention
    • Navigating preschool, reading challenges, and the tough school-system pivots
    • how writing The Autism Roadmap: From Early Diagnosis to Academic Success became LaShona’s way of lighting the path for families just getting started
    • Tips for building a vital support network—3 to 5 people who serve as your crew
    • Reimagining success: supporting fathers, blending professional knowledge with parental emotion, and moving toward adult services with creative strategies
    If you’ve ever searched for practical tools to move beyond overwhelm, this episode delivers—with warmth, transparency, and hope. LaShona’s experience isn’t just inspirational—it’s a blueprint you can test in your own backyard.
    LaShona’s book is available now: https://a.co/d/iPiEiwK Give it a listen for honest conversation, real wisdom, and a roadmap that reminds us: the journey continues, and it can feel like home.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    47 min