How We...Special Needs
Welcome to How We... Special Needs, a podcast about navigating life with Special Needs and how it transforms families. This podcast aims to share how we talk about Special Needs, how we live with Special Needs, and how Special Needs have changed our families. I’m Minie, an Italian special needs mum living in Sydney, sharing my personal diary as I walk alongside my daughter’s journey with Kabuki Syndrome. But this podcast isn’t just about us - it’s about us. Through heartfelt stories, interviews with other special needs parents, and honest conversations, we’ll explore the challenges, victories, and emotions that come with raising extraordinary children. Together, we’ll share the tears, the laughter, and the questions we might be too afraid to ask. Whether you’re part of the special needs community or simply curious about this roller coaster called life, you’re welcome here. This podcast offers a raw, relatable, and unconventional window into the world of disabilities, genetic conditions, and medical families. I aim to release new episodes weekly or fortnightly, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback along the way. Let’s celebrate the love, strength, and stories that make this journey unforgettable. 💚
Episodes
In this podcast episode I interview Mari, an amazing mum - and Zumba instructor - who shares on socials Kai's (her son) journey with Hirschsprung Disease and ASD (autism).
The interview spans from the complexities of a bowel disease like Hirschsprung, to an episode of discrimination from a day care centre, the challenges that couples face when their child has very complex needs, and more.
Mari explains everything with such ...
“You should take care of yourself!”
“Go get a massage!”
“Don’t forget to rest!”
Have you ever heard these well-meaning but *completely useless* pieces of advice? I did—over and over again—when I was a new mum, deep in the trenches of sleepless nights, hospital visits, and feeding pumps. And let me tell you: they didn’t help. At all.
Hi, I’m Minie, a special needs mum based in Sydney, and today’s video is part rant, part love lette...
I was invited to speak on the theme "expansion" at the event @Storiesthatstir, on the 24th February 2025. I know the lovely organiser, Monica, and I was honoured when she invited me to talk about our story.
This is the story of how becoming a special needs parent didn’t just expand our world—it catapulted us into a multiverse. One filled with fear, medical trauma, endless questions... but above all, with love.
I share our j...
What happens when one date—April 25th—means two completely different things depending on where you live?
In this reflective episode, I read a blog entry I wrote about Anzac Day and Liberation Day, and what they mean to me as an Italian-Australian mum raising a child with special needs. Whether it’s silence or celebration, loss or liberation, this day reminds us of the importance of memory, peace, and teaching our children the deeper...
🎙️ Life with a SWASH Brace: What Parents Should Know
When my daughter was prescribed a SWASH brace, I didn’t expect to cry—but I did. In this episode, I’m sharing our honest experience with this hip-stabilizing orthosis: the emotions, the pros and cons, and how we’re learning to cope day by day.
You’ll hear:
💚 What the SWASH brace is and why it's used
💚 My unfiltered reaction as a special needs mum
💚 The practica...
In this podcast episode I interview La Toya, a sweet and strong mum who shares on socials Luna's (her daughter) journey with Kleefstra Syndrome.
La Toya shares Luna's and her family's roller coaster with such honesty and courage, it's truly inspiring to hear her story!
Are you a special needs parent? Are you interested in being interviewed on How We...Special Needs? Let me know!
It's story time!
In this episode I will share with you the story behind the lovely butterflies that for two years have populated our kitchen and dining room, and why it's so hard to say goodbye.
What should I do now? Should I put them back? Should I put something else instead? Let me know in the comments!
Did you like this episode? Let me know! 💕
Don’t forget to subscribe for...
This is my first interview and it couldn't have been with a better guest: Ana Romanow. She's a super mum and super woman who's sharing her son's journey with Menkes Disease.
Although Philip is not here with us anymore, his light and meaningful life keep inspiring all of us! I am so grateful that Ana allowed us to know even just a fragment of her intense experience with motherhood and Menkes.
Ar...
We recorded this episode on Christmas Eve and we made gnocchi di patate (potato gnocchi), while recapping what happened in our 2024. Check the YouTube video to see the cooking part! Have you ever tried gnocchi? Let me know in the comments!
Here are a few links that I mention in this episode:
Recipe of gnocchi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mekB2Mg2eRs
Tube Weaning Spreadsheet: https://www.mykabukigirl.com/fo...
🎙️ Episode 5: Forgiveness and a Christmas to Remember
This week on How We...Special Needs, I share a deeply personal story from Christmas 2022—our first Christmas as a family, spent in a hospital ward with our newborn daughter recovering from open-heart surgery. It’s a story of exhaustion, pain, and a difficult encounter that left a lasting mark.
But this episode isn’t just about hardship. It’s also about growth, faith, and the powe...
When our therapy centre unexpectedly increased their charges, I was overwhelmed, frustrated, and at a crossroads. But on a tearful drive to yet another therapy session, an unexpected moment changed everything—a sign from my mum, through the beautiful notes of The Blue Danube.
Do you have a beloved one who is not with you anymore, and yet is still "with you" all the time? Let me know in the comments!
👉 Next Episode Teaser: ...
In this episode of How We…Special Needs, I’m diving into a topic we all know too well: milestones. My daughter Beatrice, who has Kabuki syndrome, has made incredible strides with her communication—she can now say 20 words! But as any parent in our community knows, milestones can be a double-edged sword.
I’ll share a personal moment of Googling how many words a typical 2-year-old speaks (spoiler alert: it wasn’t what I expected) and ...
Welcome to the first episode of How We...Special Needs! 🌟 I dedicate it to my beautiful daughter, Beatrice, as she celebrates her 2nd birthday. I reflect on the challenges and triumphs of her first two years—open-heart surgery at 8 days old, endless hospital stays, therapies, and milestones we’ve celebrated together.
What a journey, guys!
🎉 Join me as I shout “Hip Hip Hooray!” for Beatrice and set the tone for what’s to come on thi...
Hi, I’m Minie, an Italian special needs mum based in Sydney.
My daughter has a rare genetic condition called Kabuki syndrome and on My Kabuki Girl I share our journey throughout medical issues, disabilities, therapies and lovely family moments.
But here’s the thing: there are so many traumas, so many aspects of special needs parenting and motherhood in general that are completely ignored by society or, even worse, treated like tabus,...
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