Future Planning Series: “The Dani Plan” Hey guys, we’re excited you joined us today! This is such a great episode! Our families know all too well the endless amounts of documentation required of us, just to get through the day let alone to plan for the future. Medication charts, daily schedules, appointment calendars there is so much to track. Our guests today get it. And what’s more they’ve created something to help!

Joel and Debbie, have three children including their 24 year old daughter Danielle, who is diagnosed with non verbal Autism. After first documenting Dani’s life in files stored on a computer, to be sure that if something happened to them, family or caregivers could step in and understand Dani’s everyday needs. Joel knew there had to be a better way. So In 2023, he and his new business partners launched the Dani Plan, and created a tool that would give caregivers an easy way to document, update, store, and share every detail of their loved one’s lives in a secure and safe environment.

Bio:

Joel Pearlman is a lifelong entrepreneur starting his first venture at 14, selling blow pops with his best friend out of his high school locker. While a student at Eastern Michigan University, he started his second business, a technology company with his high school business partner. For 32 years, he and his partner ran Image One, a successful business receiving multiple awards both locally and nationally including Forbes Magazine list of top 25 small businesses in America. Joel and his wife, Debbie, have three children including 24-year-old Danielle. Dani is nonverbal and has autism. More importantly, she has the most amazingly sweet nature. While working at Image One, Joel and Debbie documented Dani’s life in word documents stored on their computer. They wanted to make sure that if something happened to them, family or caregivers could step in and understand her everyday needs and the nuances of caring for her. They found the process unstructured and tedious, and Joel knew there had to be a better way. In 2022, Joel stepped into an Advisory Role at Image One, freeing his time to build a new business. A tool that would give caregivers an easy way to document, update, store and share every detail of their loved one’s lives in a secure and safe environment. In 2023, Joel and his new business partners launched the Dani Plan.

Website: daniplan.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyDaniPlan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydaniplan/

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead. Connect with Us: If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.

Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.

Future Planning Series:

“Welcome to Season 5” with Eric and Christen

Welcome Back for Season 5 of the Hope on the Hard Road podcast. We’re glad you joined us It’s going to be an incredible season! Don’t forget to subscribe so we you never miss an episode!! We have some really amazing guests on this season who many of you likely already know and follow! We have Chris Wenger otherwise known as “Speech Dude” joining us a little later on this year and coming up we have Heather Avis of “the Lucky Few Podcast” as well as a few other powerhouse friends joining us to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

This is a great time to share a little bit about Hope on the Hard Road. For those who are new to the podcast, Hope on the Hard Road, Inc is a nonprofit based out of San Diego CA which Christen and I founded in 2019 with the mission to connect, encourage, and bring hope to families journeying on the special needs road. We understand what families are dealing with every day as they walk this road, because we are a family just like you.

Whether that looks like medical complexity, developmental disabilities, or neurodiversity we are here for you. We have lots of resources and supports uniquely designed to wrap around the family, including this incredible podcast which features interviews with experts in the special needs community and heartfelt family stories. Beyond the podcast we also host local events every month for dads, moms, couples, siblings, and the entire family. And if you’re not local – no worries- we’ve got support groups on line as well that you can join. And head on over to our YouTube channel after this podcast to check out our FREE library of webinars with experts on so many of the hot topics our families need to know about such as Self Determination and Future planning.

Speaking of future planning. This is what we’re going to be talking about for the next couple of weeks on the podcast. We hope this Future Planning Series will be a powerful guide to helping you all as you take next steps. Don’t forget to subscribe and we’ll see you back here for the next episode!

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

Connect with Us: If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.

Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.