Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast
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.
Episodes
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...
Future Planning Series:
“Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together” with Amanda Owen
You’re not gonna want to miss this inspiring episode with author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Amanda Owen, founder and executive director of Puzzle Pieces in Owensboro, Kentucky. Amanda shares her journey from special education teacher and sibling to nonprofit leader, highlighting the challenges, triumphs, and personal motivations behind her mission. On t...
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 o...
“That’s a Wrap for Season 4!” with Eric and Christen Freund
Hey guys, That’s a wrap for season 4!
We had so many great episodes this season and we can’t wait for Season 5 starting in August! Guys, We can hardly believe we’re headed into year 5 of the podcast!
We have some incredible guests coming on this season, many of whom you likely already know and follow. So be sure to follow the podcast and our Youtube channel to catch all ...
Mental Health Series
“Mental Health in Teens and Young Adults with Disabilities” with Cheryl Jordan
Today is the final episode of our Mental Health Series. We are thrilled that board director and licensed therapist, Cheryl Jordan could join us today for this informative discussion. It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re talking about “Men...
Series: Mental Heath
“Mental Health for Families with Special Needs” with Elizabeth Strout
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Studies show that individuals with disabilities, including children, experience higher rates of mental health distress and mental health disorders compared to those without disabilities. Today as we discuss this important topic we are excited to introduce you to Elizabeth Strout, licensed clinical soc...
Ministry Series:
“International Disability Ministry” with Linda Martin
We are so excited to have Linda Martin, Founder & President of Miracle 139 International, back on with us, for today’s podcast episode!
Linda is a Board-Certified Music Therapist, specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorders, behavior management, and music therapy assessment. With over two...
Disability Ministry Series
'Autism and the Church' with Pastor Russ Ewell
Welcome back to the Podcast. Today we have Russ Ewell, lead pastor of Bay Area Christian Church and father of two children with special needs as our guest. As a father and an advocate in the special needs community he understands the need for creating inclusive environments for our children. As a Pastor, he and his wife have launched a free, step-by-step ...
Family Series
'Motherhood & Special Needs' with Becky Wall
Welcome back. On this episode the focus is on moms. As moms we have our own unique stories to share. And as we approach World Down Syndrome Day, we are delighted to have Becky Wall on with us again to share her story as a mom of a son diagnosed with both Down Syndrome and Autism. Becky works for Fa...
Family Series: “Creativity in Marriage & Parenting” with Angela and Mike O’Brien
You are going to love this episode! We have Angela O’Brien of the Especially Organized Podcast back on and she’s joined by her husband Mike.
This is going to be another fun and heartfelt episode in our marriage and family series that you won’t want to miss!
Family Series: 'Building a Healthy Marriage' with Garett and Becky Wall
We are continuing on in our family series with an episode on marriage and parenting with Garett and Becky Wall. These 2 are an amazing couple and team! Becky and Garett live in Louisville, Kentucky and have two children, Lily (14) and Isaac (12), who is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Autism.
Family Series:
“Teammates in Marriage”
Intro:
With our Date Night coming up on Feb 15th, on this episode we’re sharing last year’s Date Night presentation. As caregiving couples it is often hard to find quality time to connect. That is what our Date Night is all about. We hope you’ll be inspired and encouraged by this message of hope on how even under the hardest of circumstances we can still thrive as “Teammates in Marriage”.
Bio...
Show Notes: Camille Block
Family Series: “Hope for Secondhand Suffering”
Intro:
We begin our Family Series with an episode dedicated to all of the amazing siblings out there. If you are a sibling of someone with special needs we want you to know that we see you and we celebrate you. Siblings often miss out on allot in life and yet siblings also often become som...
🎉 2025 Happy New Year Preview! 🎉
Welcome to a brand-new year with Hope on the Hard Road! In this special episode, we reflect on the challenges and victories of the past year and share an exciting look at what’s ahead in 2025.
Get a sneak peek of upcoming episodes featuring topics like navigating family dynamics, self-care strategies for caregivers, and inspiring guest stories of resilience and hope. Plus, we’ll share ways you can...
2024 Year End Review
As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on some of the most powerful and inspiring moments from our fall season. In this special year-end review episode, we revisit stories of resilience, the power of community, and the joy of celebrating milestones — big and small.
Join us as we highlight these memorable clips and the incredible voices that remind us we’re never alone on this journey. T...
Series: Medical
“Advocacy and Fundraising for Medical Families” with Abby Zachritz
Today is our final episode in our medical family series, and it’s a good one. Abby Zachritz is an advocate, corporate consultant, speaker, and a mother of five including a son with disability. Known as 'Advocacy Abby,' she provides essential support and resources to families facing life-altering situations. As Co-Founder of the Connect Platform,...
Series: Medical
“Medical Caregiving and Community” with Andy and Laura Gibson
Intro:
We are talking today with Andy and Laura Gibson, co founders of Certain Hope Community, a nonprofit bringing hope and support to families located in Michigan, and we love that ofcourse. Andy and Laura have 4 children and their youngest daughter Briella was born with a rare chr...
Series: Medical
“Finding Hope in the Midst of Medical Complexity” with Andrea Bourne Foster
Welcome to the podcast. This episode is full of heart and hope. Today we begin our Medical series with author, speaker, educator and advocate Andrea Bourne Foster. Andrea is the mom of 2 beautiful daughters diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis and epilepsy. She is no stranger to hospital stays and ongoing procedures and we are blessed to have ...
Series: Future Planning
"Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Employment" with Aleyada Toruno
We continue on in our Future Planning Series today with a topic that many of us have allot of questions about. Can an individual receive both Supplemental Security Income or SSI and be employed earning an income. This can be a complicated subject and we are incredibly blessed to have expert Aleyda Toruno on today to explain it all to ...
Series: Future Panning
"Future Planning" with Wendy Smith
Welcome back to the podcast. Today we begin our Future Planning Series with Wendy Smith of Home of Guiding Hands. Wendy is an incredible resource. She is not only a parent of a 31 year old son with a disability, but has also been working with and advocating for people with developmental disabilities for more than thirty-five years.
Wendy has worked in residential, respite,...
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