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Ep 12 — What if inclusion in schools didn’t have to be a constant fight? Adrian Wood, PhD, shares what actually helped her son with autism thrive in their public school system. Adrian and Amy Julia Becker explore: Building trust with educatorsCollaboration and creativityNavigating IEPs and transitionsSmall changes that make a big difference03:36 Navigating Public School for Children with Disabilities 05:59 Creative Thinking and Working Together as a Team 15:01 Strategies for Success 22:01 Preparing for Transitions in Education Ask Me Anything: Record (or email) your question for our upcoming Ask Me Anything episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/ __ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: VLOG: Tales of an Educated Debutante_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT: Adrian Wood is the creator of the vlog Tales of an Educated Debutante. She has a PhD in Educational Research and contributes to Today Parents, The Today Show, and the Love What Matters blog. She lives in rural eastern North Carolina with her family. She is the co-author of Autism Out Loud.   CONNECT with Adrian on her website (talesofaneducateddebutante.com), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.  __ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

Feeling alone in the hard parts of parenting a child with a disability? Hear how other families are finding support, encouragement, and practical ways to navigate the challenges while celebrating the joys. Plus, a quick review is the perfect Christmas gift to help more families discover Take the Next Step! Mentioned: Niro Feliciano's Take the Next Step episode00:00 Intro 00:31 Your Feedback 03:33 Backstory and Future Reimagining _ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E11 — Feeling the holiday overwhelm creep in already? Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano, author of All is CALMish, unpacks why disability families carry extra emotional weight this time of year—and how small, doable shifts can bring more peace. We explore: realistic expectationsmicro-moments of delightasking for helpbuilding a holiday season that fits your family, not InstagramMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: All is CALMish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays by Niro FelicianoSubscribe to Amy Julia’s Substack newsletter: amyjuliabecker.com/subscribe__ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Niro Feliciano is a psychotherapist and an expert on anxiety, stress, and relationships. She holds a master's degree from Columbia University and is the author of This Book Won't Make You Happy and All is CALMish. She is a frequent guest on the TODAY show and her column, "Is This Normal?" appears on Today.com. Her work has appeared in publications such as Real Simple, Oprah Daily, the New York Times, HuffPost, and Psychology Today. Niro is a first-generation Sri Lankan American and lives with her family in Connecticut. Web: nirofeliciano.com Instagram: @niro_feliciano Facebook: /nirotherapy _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E10 — From Frustration to Connection: If your home feels tense or chaotic, connection might be a missing piece. Recording artist Sho Baraka joins Amy Julia Becker to share how his family moved from daily breakdowns and aggression to a home marked by peace. Sho reflects on his story of parenting two sons with autism and the surprising power of proximity—how simply being with our kids can open doors to communication, trust, and calm. 00:00 Introduction to Sho Baraka 03:07 Navigating Communication with Nonspeaking Children 11:14 The Power of Proximity 13:25 Moving from Aggression to Peace 18:52 Marriage and Family Life 21:55 Practical Tools for Families MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Words, 2006: https://youtu.be/VImB2ALPQic?si=ej0PI35tdMPCN1RWSho on the GoodHard Story podcast with Katherine Wolf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=512teMbA_gwDr Marion Blank: https://dmlearninglab.com/about-us-2/ASD Reading: https://www.asdreading.com/_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Sho Baraka has spent the last 18 years traveling the world as a recording artist, consultant, speaker and writer. He is a co-founder of The And Campaign and founding member of the internationally known hip-hop consortium 116 Clique and record label, Reach Records. Sho served as a visiting professor at Wake Forest University & Warner Pacific University and is currently an editorial director at Christianity Today. Sho is also working with MyBLVD to build a community called "Good Culture". A space that will galvanize cultivators around story, art & ideas. Sho lives in Atlanta, GA with Patreece, his wife of 22 years, and their three children. Sho and Patreece have two boys on the autism spectrum and find themselves as ambassadors and advocates in the Autism community. Sho Baraka (@amishobaraka) • Instagram photos and videos https://substack.com/@goodculture https://www.shobaraka.com/ https://www.youtube.com/shobarakashow https://www.facebook.com/shobaraka _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E9 — Awkward questions about disability happen. Here’s how parents can respond. Carrie Hahn, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother, joins Amy Julia Becker to share actionable strategies to: navigate conversations and correct misconceptionsmake disability normal in playhelp kids feel seen and respected without feeling singled out00:00 Intro 03:14 Myths About Disability 05:33 Talking About Disability in Public 09:05 Challenging Assumptions of Incompetence 14:32 Making Disability Normal in Play 19:08 Turning Conversation Mistakes into Learning 23:38 Practical Tools for Caregivers MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Beyond Inclusion: Raising Anti-Ableist Kids by Carrie Hahn_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Carrie Hahn is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother. She has served children of a variety of ages in a variety of settings and has taken on additional endeavors of interest, such as an autism support group for caregivers, the distribution of a parent education newsletter, and giving talks at conferences for family advocacy groups. She creates and shares content related to disability and neurodivergence on her website and social media and uses her platform to promote education and advocacy. Hahn is the mother of two neurodivergent children, one of whom also has physical disabilities. Her book Beyond Inclusion: Raising Anti-Ableist Kids came out in July of 2024. Carrie’s professional and personal lives have intensified her passion for making a safer and less ableist world. CONNECT with Carrie Hahn on her website (informdisability.com), Facebook (@informspeechandlanguage), and Instagram (@carriecch80) _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E8 — Asking for help shouldn’t feel impossible. In this episode, Jordan Arogeti, CEO of SupportNow, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about why asking for help can feel so hard, especially for disability families. They explore how SupportNow offers a simple path toward connection and lasting support. Connect to Community download: A one-page guide to help families experiencing disability map out the connections that matter most within their communities. Get the guide: amyjuliabecker.com/connect-to-community-guide-free-download/ 00:00 Introduction to Support Now 05:11 Barriers to Connection and Asking for Help 10:07 How to Ask for Help 13:39 Real-Life Examples of Support Now 16:21 Understanding Support Languages 20:03 Next Steps for Getting Connected MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Jordan’s Support Languages TEDxSupportnow.orgSupport Languages quizInstagram: @supportnow_org_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jordan Arogeti is on a mission to change the way we support friends and families in hard times. As CEO and Co-Founder of SupportNow—a free platform that simplifies giving funds, meals, and time—she’s helped raise over $5 million for families across all 50 states. Her background in tech sales, passion for women in leadership, and personal experience as a mom of three shaped the vision behind SupportNow. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Jordan lives in Atlanta with her husband Scott, and their three kids; Nace (6), Remi (5), and Hayes (2). IG: @supportnow_org Website: Supportnow.org and www.supportlanguages.com _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E7 — Q+R: How do I take care of myself and avoid burnout? How do I make sure siblings aren't overlooked? Is it okay to grieve? Where can my child build lifelong friendships? How do I stop feeling guilty? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker and Matt Mooney, co-founder of 99 Balloons, respond to your questions. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions! Chapter List 00:00 Introduction 04:30 I’m so tired as a parent. How do I avoid burnout? 06:13 How do I make sure siblings aren't overlooked? 10:35 Is it okay to grieve? 17:16 Where can my child build lifelong friendships? 23:29 How do I let go of guilt and take the next step? __ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: When Matthew Mooney and his wife Ginny were 30 weeks pregnant, they learned their son Eliot had trisomy 18. Eliot was born eight weeks later and lived for 99 days. The Mooneys founded 99 Balloons, a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities locally and globally.  Matt now serves on the 99 Balloons Board and lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with Ginny and their three children—Hazel, Anders, and Lena.  A writer, speaker, and consultant on disability and inclusion, Matthew is also an attorney and received his PhD in Theological Ethics at Aberdeen University. His work has taken him to Haiti, Mexico, Ukraine, Uganda, India, and beyond. Websites: 99 Balloons :: matthewlylemooney Social: insta  __ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E6 — What if one powerful way to advocate for your child is simply to delight in who they are? Author and advocate Heather Avis talks with Amy Julia about learning to find joy in family life, even when the world isn’t built for disability. They explore: Why delight can rewrite the disability narrativeWhat it takes to move from deficit to delightThe ripple effect of delight in our relationships and communitiesHow to lean into love and delight instead of anxiety and fear__ UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/ __ Reimagining the Good Life episode with John Swinton: amyjuliabecker.com/swinton-disability/ __ 01:44 Advocacy and Family Dynamics 04:51 Delight and the Disability Narrative 09:54 How to Move from Deficit to Delight 13:12 Finding Delight in Family Life 19:39 The Ripple Effect of Delight in Relationships 23:31 Leaning into Delight and Love Instead of Anxiety and Fear __ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Lucky FewHeather's new Book, I Like You So Much_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Heather Avis is a New York Times bestselling author, public speaker, podcaster, and a Down syndrome advocate. She is the founder of and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, an advocacy organization dedicated to shouting worth, shifting narratives, and reimagining what it looks like when we create spaces of belonging. She lives in Southern California with her husband Josh and three kids, Macyn, Truly, and August and two Goldendoodles, Maeby and George Michael. Website: https://www.heatheravis.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluckyfewofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLuckyFewOfficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99_OFh29y9lVqZyHY2Xztw Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lucky-few/id1349646917 New Book, I Like You So Much: https://www.amazon.com/Like-You-So-Much-Celebrating/dp/0310166594/ Photo Credit: © Camilynne Photography _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E5 — We all long to belong. But for many families experiencing disability, true belonging can feel out of reach. In this episode, researcher and advocate Erik Carter joins Amy Julia Becker to unpack how small steps toward inclusion and belonging can transform entire communities. They explore: How families can foster communities of belongingCommon barriers that block belongingThe benefits for everyone when communities embrace belonging__ UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/ __ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 10 Dimensions of BelongingBaylor Center for Disability and FlourishingArticle: "To Build Better Playgrounds, Company Turns to Kids With Disabilities"__ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ __ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Erik Carter, Ph.D., is professor and Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities. His research and writing focus on principle-driven and research-based strategies for promoting full participation, relationships, and valued roles for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He serves as Executive Director of the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, which aims to promote the thriving of people with disabilities and their families. He joined the Baylor faculty in 2023. http://www.erikwcarter.com We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E4 — Overwhelmed by therapies, appointments, and never-ending “to-dos”? Author Jillian Benfield shares practical tools for families experiencing disability—offering parents guidance on setting limits, saying yes to what matters, and finding beauty in everyday life. Jillian and Amy Julia Becker explore: Parenting and caregiving without burning outDeveloping a yes/no filterTurning routines into lasting habitsCreating a clear vision for your familyHonest gratitude as a tool for resilienceUPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/ __ FREE DOWNLOAD: 30 Next Steps for Parents available at: amyjuliabecker.com/parent-gift/ 00:00 Introduction 04:49 Overwhelmed AND Grateful 05:43 The Beauty of the Unexpected 07:26 Discerning a Vision for Your Family 11:10 Creating a Yes/No Filter 16:04 Acknowledgment of Limitations and Possibilities 17:15 The Difference Between Routines and Habits 20:34 Honest Gratitude 23:00 You Don't Have to Do It All __ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Podcast episode: James Clear: Building & Changing Habits (#183 rebroadcast)Jillian's newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df185a2154bd20026a1b01bJillian’s books: Overwhelmed & Grateful: The Key to Finding God's Goodness in All Life's Ups & Downs and The Gift of the Unexpected: Discovering Who You Were Meant to Be When Life Goes Off Plan_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Her freelance essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings and community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress's National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida's Space Coast. Learn more at JillianBenfield.com. _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E3 — Many of us don't want to ask for help, but what if being needful isn’t weakness but a doorway to connection, friendship, and belonging? Kevan Chandler, coauthor of The Hospitality of Need, shares his personal story with Amy Julia Becker, reflecting on his experiences with spinal muscular atrophy, neediness, and the ways mutual care shapes his life. They explore: What peer-to-peer caregiving looks likeHow disability opens doors to friendshipWays to start supportive friendshipsHow your view of need shapes connectionWhy vulnerability and care are worth the riskConnect to Community download: A one-page guide to help families experiencing disability map out the connections that matter most. With simple prompts, you’ll identify the peers, mentors, experts, and supports—both within the disability community and in your wider circles—that create strength, encouragement, and belonging for your family. Get the guide: amyjuliabecker.com/connect-to-community-guide-free-download/ __ UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/ __ 00:00 Introduction  02:15 Kevin Chandler's Story of Disability and Neediness 10:51 Peer-to-Peer Caregiving  18:06 Building Relationships and Community 23:24 Final Thoughts and Invitations __ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT: KEVAN CHANDLER is the founder of the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan and speaks worldwide about friendship and disability. He and his wife, Katie, enjoy doing everything together, including growing vegetables and reading to each other. Kevan was the second of his siblings to be diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, type 2, a rare neuromuscular disease. In 2016, he and his friends took a trip across Europe, leaving his wheelchair at home, and his friends carried him for three weeks in a backpack. An avid storyteller, Kevan is an author and speaker worldwide about his friendships and unique life with a disability, being a featured speaker for Tedx and Google, as well as various conferences, pharmaceutical companies, and universities.  _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E2 — What if delight is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker talks with therapist and author Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSP, about how parents—especially those raising children with disabilities—can bring delight into everyday family life. Together, they explore: What gets in the way of delighting in our childrenHow to shift focus from deficits to strengthsWhy a parent’s own sense of being delightful mattersHow honesty about both joy and sorrow helps children build resilienceSimple, practical ways to start delighting in your kids today__ UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/ __ 00:00 Introduction to Delight in Parenting 03:04 Understanding Delight and Its Importance 06:02 Expressing Delight: Practical Examples 09:14 Barriers to Delight: Agenda and Anxiety 12:06 Focusing on Strengths Over Deficits 15:05 Balancing Delight with Hardship 18:09 The Role of Self-Care in Parenting 21:09 Practical Steps to Cultivate Delight 23:59 Conclusion and Future Conversations __ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Raising Girls by Melissa Trevathan and Sissy GoffHope Heals CampAmy Julia’s Reimagining Family Life with Disability workshop__ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ __ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Sissy Goff, M. Ed., LPC-MHSP, is the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee, where she works alongside her puppy counseling assistant-in-training, Patches the Havanese. Since 1993, she has been helping girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them to be. Sissy is a sought-after speaker for parenting events across the country and is a frequent guest on media outlets including NBC News, CNN, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and Christianity Today. She is the bestselling author of 14 books including her first full-color children’s book, Lucy Learns to be Brave: A Lesson in Courage. She is the co-host of the 11 million+ downloaded podcast, Raising Boys and Girls. A transplanted Razorback who lives in Nashville, you can follow Sissy on Instagram @raisingboysandgirls and @sissygoff and at www.raisingboysandgirls.com. __ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow on Instagram at @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

E1 — "How could there be a good future in the midst of so much loss?" If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the challenges of disability—or if you know a family walking that road—you won’t want to miss this conversation with Katherine Wolf. She is an author, advocate, and co-founder of Hope Heals. Together, Katherine and Amy Julia Becker explore how families can reimagine disability, build connection, and celebrate life—even when it doesn’t look the way they once imagined. From the dinner table to the slow work of recovery, learn how to find delight in the story you have. Discover: How to experience joy in the process, not just the outcomeDaily habits to cultivate gratitude and delightHow to build a supportive, connected communityWhy purpose and contribution matter for every family_ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Katherine’s books, resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities: hopeheals.com. Luke 14_ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Katherine Wolf is an author, advocate, and co-founder of Hope Heals. After she survived a near-fatal brainstem stroke at age 26, her family’s journey through disability has become a public witness that good and hard can co-exist in the same story. Through caregiving, storytelling, and lived theology, Katherine is inviting others into a vision of hope, interdependence, and embodied resilience. She and her husband Jay live in Atlanta with their two sons. Website: www.hopeheals.com  Instagram: @hopeheals _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!

Welcome to Take the Next Step, a weekly podcast for families experiencing disability, offering practical guidance, encouragement, and hope. I’m Amy Julia Becker, writer, speaker, and mom to Penny, my 19-year-old daughter with Down syndrome. Each Wednesday, I’ll bring you short, hope-filled conversations with fellow parents, therapists, and disability advocates. We'll explore how to: Navigate the challenges of disability parentingCreate moments of delight, joy, and connection at homeConnect with a supportive community where your family belongsTake small, doable steps toward a flourishing futureOur first season features Katherine Wolf, stroke survivor and disability advocate; therapist Sissy Goff; researcher Erik Carter; and author Jillian Benfield—plus many more! If you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed, searching for connection, or wondering what comes next, you’re not alone. Your family is a gift. Your child matters. And we need you among us. New episodes every week starting September 17. __ WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals. We want to hear from you. Send us a text!