Interview with Eric Goll (Sibling / Advocate)

Creating an Awesome Ordinary Life...

Recording Date: June 22, 2022

Summary: Gerry interviews Eric Goll, founder of empoweringability.org website and podcast. Eric provides resources, guides, and supports to families struggling to create ordinary lives for their family members and themselves. Listen as Eric shares his journey and lessons learned as Sarah's brother, supporter, and advocate, to creating an awesome ordinary life for both Sarah and himself. We hope you enjoy this and all of the episodes in Our Parallel Paths...

Transcript: Download transcript here.

Keywords: Eric Goll, sibling, awesome ordinary life, person centered supports, empoweringability.org, disability, autism, independent living, Gerry Arango, parallel paths, our parallel paths, advocacy, social model of support, social model

Topical Index:

• Overview [00:00]
• Introductions [01:11]
• Importance of a sibling's voice [02:37]
• who will be the caregiver [04:11]
• family in crisis [05:55]
• making decisions [06:40]
• social model of support06:13]
• importance of relationships [11:38]
• lack of support from the system [14:18]
• making connections [15:42]
• imagining new possibilities [16:36]
• contrast of opportunities [18:22]
• Lessons learned [21:22]
• reclaiming the role of sibling [23:01]
• taking care of myself [24:30]
• having difficult conversations [28:30]
• Closing [34:56]

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Our Parallel Paths: Season One Wrap-Up

Subtitle: Take-aways & Reflections

Recording Date: June 27, 2022

Transcript: Download transcript here.

Keywords: Our Parallel Paths, Gerry Arango, Ruth Landsman Dianne Perry, Darcy Elks, Suzanne Muensch, dignity of risk, self-care, for caregivers, information sharing, when the caregiver passes, setting boundaries, creating a support network, Gerry Arango

Summary: Gerry shares some thoughts and reflections she has had as Season One of "Our Parallel Paths: A Future for My Loved One With a Disability... & Me! "comes to a close. I you are new here, we encourage you to listen to all of the season one episodes, and to join us for season two!

Topical Index:

• Introduction [00:00]
• Applying it to ourselves [01:52]
• Learning to say no [03:30]Ask for help [03:46]
• Find you drive [04:30]
• Be a fried to others [06:01]
• Information Sharing [06:48]
• Tools to use [07:57]
• Dignity of Risk [10:18]
• Resiliency [11:21]
• Closing [12:54]

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Ep. 05 - Interview with Darcy Elks (Parent/Advocate)

CHALLENGES, STRUGGLES, & VICTORIES...

Recording Date: June 22, 2022

Summary: Gerry interviews Darcy Elks, parent / advocate / and presenter. Darcy shares the struggles, challenges, and yes - the victories of her family's journey towards Mary's future, and their own. Darcy also shares the emotions journey as they navigate support systems, education, and the dignity of risk. We hope you enjoy this and all of the episodes in Our Parallel Paths...

Transcript: Download transcript here.

Keywords: Darcy Elks, risk, dignity of risk, person centered supports, setting goals, sharing the vision, planning tools, Our Parallel Paths, Gerry Arango

Topical Index:

• Overview [00:00]
• Introductions [01:24]
• Hard times and What We've Learned [02:32]
• The Vision - Mary would be missed if she wasn't there [03:46]
• Preschool [04:22]
• Elementary School [05:12]
• The good times - Fifth Grade through middle school [06:13]
• The challenges of High School [06:42]
• Going back to the vision [08:59]
• West Chester University [09:46]
• Dignity of Risk [10:45]
• What's Next [13:13]
• What I've learned along the way [14:45]
• Working in a theater [17:09]
• Our vision for ourselves [20:22]
• Enjoying my daughter [22:23]
• Some resources to share [27:03]
• Closing [32:11]

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Ep. 4 - Interview with Suzanne Muench - Sibling

Subtitle: Expectations

Recording Date: June 1, 2022

Transcript: Download transcript HERE

Keywords: disability, siblings with disabilities, disabled siblings, expectations, family dynamics and disability, disability and family balance, disability and support options, letting go, changing roles, Sibshops, sibling support, Suzanne Muench

Summary: Gerry interviews Suzanne Muench, whose brother John has a disability. Listen to a poignant conversation as Suzanne shares balancing expectations with reality, changing roles and her journey towards self-care. Suzanne shares her struggles navigating the change of roles from sibling, to caregiver, and back again.

Topical Index:

• Overview [00:00]
• Introductions [01:23]
• Choosing what to share [03:11]
• Importance of family balance [04:14]
• Defining my career [05:19]
• Lack of conversation [07:01]
• Shifting roles from sibling to caregiver [09:19]
• Finding the right supports [10:26]
• Reclaiming the role of sibling [11:24]
• Personal struggles and self-care [13:34]
• Balancing the needs of care-giver and family [17:57]
• What I wish I knew [18:10]
• Conversations vs. expectations [19:22]
• Empowering Families [20:30]
• Acknowledging successes [23:51]
• Letting go of control [25:03]
• A positive change for all [26:44]
• Sibshops - supporting the sibling's journey [29:55]
• Some resources to share [32:16]
• What's next for Susanne and John [37:07]
• Closing [39:11]

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Ep. 3 - Interview with Ruth Landsman - Parent / Advocate

Subtitle: Having the Tough Conversations

Recording Date: April 29, 2022

Transcript: Download transcript HERE

Keywords: Estate planning, special needs trust, difficult conversations, caregiver, caregiving, independent living, birth of a child with a disability, special education, The Parents' Exchange,

Summary: Gerry interviews Ruth Landsman, executive director of Parents' Exchange, and advocacy group for parents of children with disabilities. Ruth shares her journey from learning of Mitchell's disabilities, to her conscious planning for a future for Mitchell without her. Ruth shares the exploration of difficult conversations, and the importance of having those conversations earlier rather than later.

Topical Index:

• Overview [00:00]
• Introductions [02:18]
• Pregnancy and birth [02:45]
• The changing vision [03:47]
• Connecting with other parents [05:55]
• Transition [07:43]
• Continuity of housing and supports [10:07]
• What happens when I am gone [12:30]
• Preparing a letter of intent [15:17]
• Starting the shift of support now [16:36]
• Financial planning [17:57]
• Mitchell's apartment [19:23]
• Regret of missed milestones [24:27]
• We have moved [25:56]
• Have the conversation / Ask the questions [27:32]
• Plan now for the future [29:19]
• Closing [31:48]

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Ep2 - Interview With Diane Perry - Parent / Advocate

Recording Date: Aprili 22, 2022

Transcript: Download transcript HERE

Keywords: PATH, Person Centered Planning, vision board, IEP, transition, transition planning, support system, caregiver, shared visions, parallel paths, Diane Perry

Summary: Diane Perry shares with Gerry the various tools she has found helpful in creating a vision for her son David's future, but also for her own. Join us as we travel the Parallel Paths of David and Diane Perry.

Topical Index:

• Overview [00:00]
• Introductions [01:25]
• Choosing a topic [02:20]
• The vision of an active life [03:24]
• Sharing the vision [05:16]
• A Tax-Paying Citizen [07:36]
• David takes over the vision [09:06]
• Fears and concerns [10:37]
• Diane's Path [11:33]
• Pitfalls and celebrations [15:31]
• A Strong support system [17:46]
• What I Wish I Knew [21:09]
• The Dark Places [23:02]
• Graduation Day - The Vision is Real [27:22]
• The importance of the tools [31:16]
• What's next [32:53]
• Closing [34:39]

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Ep1 - Our Parallel Paths with Geralyn Arango, Host & Parent

Recording Date: March 24, 2022

Keywords: disability, transition, future planning, adults with disabilities, independence, planning, dignity of risk, finding balance in our families, caregiving, family life

Summary: Welcome to Our Parallel Paths - A Future for My Loved One With a Disability... And Me! On Our Parallel Paths, we'll talk about creating a promising future for the child with an intellectual disability who becomes an adult and a promising future for ourselves as our role as parent, family member, caregiver. Whoever we are evolves alongside them. There's more than one path, more than one future to talk about. And that's why we're here. Some remarkable people will share their stories in upcoming episodes. I'll be listening with you, and I'll have some questions for our guests too.

Transcript: Download Transcript Here

Topical List:

• Introductions [00:00]
• Overview [01:26]
• About Gerry [02:43]
• Plans change [04:26]
• Dignity of Risk [08:16]
• Striking a Balance [09:20]
• Gerry Interview... Gerry! [10:21]
• Closing [19:13]

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