The Boost’s Best Podcasts list is a way to discover the conversations and people who know exactly what parents, caregivers and self-advocates are going through. Ranging from let-it-all-out takes on raising children with disabilities to what an inclusive education can actually look like, there’s sure to be a podcast you’ll enjoy.
If you know of an exceptional podcast you think should be included, reach out! Contact The Boost or email fromtheboost@gmail.com
Best Podcasts
- What it is: An “uncensored” and often “irreverent” take on raising children with disabilities.
- Cohosts: Two moms, Iris Mehler and Alma Schneider, who are also, respectively, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
- The talk: Ranges from why relationships with neighbors are especially important when your child has a disability to personal stories about IEP meetings.
A Little Something Extra with Nancy Gianni & The GiGi
- What it is: It features conversations with passionate, accomplished parents, self-advocates, small business owners and more in hopes of motivating others to succeed.
- Cohosts: Nancy Gianni and GiGi Gianni, the founder of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, and the namesake of the Playhouse, respectively.
- The talk: Ranges from interviews with the founders of The Mix, a new dating platform for adults with Autism, to the mother of a daughter with cerebral palsy and founder of The Recess Project.
- What it is: A new NYS OPWDD podcast focusing on empowering people with developmental disabilities to live their best life.
- Host: Chester Finn, a nationally recognized disability rights advocate and Special Assistant with OPWDD.
- The talk: The first two looked at accessible tools and knowing one’s voting rights.
- What it is: It explores best practices, showcases success stories, and helps listeners “envision possibilities for innovation” through interviews with state and national experts. From The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey.
- Hosts: Faculty and Staff
- The talk: Ranges from the dedication, skill and impact of Direct Support Professionals to promoting best practices in mental health for people with IDD.
- What it is: Covers issues affecting the developmental disability community including the laws that govern it, with an emphasis on solutions and finding more impactful ways to advocate.
- Cohosts: Heather Burroughs and Steve Gonyea, parents and longtime NYS DD advocates.
- The talk: Ranges from a conversation with multimodal communicator Otto Lana to the realities facing home care in New York State with a guest who “dispels” common misconceptions about those who need caregiving.
- What it is: From WGTE (NPR), it features stories written and performed by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Cohosts: Ally Day and Becca Monteleone, both authors and associate professors of Disability Studies at the University of Toledo.
- The talk: They’ve covered the expectations people with IDD face, interviewing a man with two very different bosses (one who makes assumptions about autistic people, one who values his ideas an contributions), and a look at literal connections by talking to a man whose world opened up when he mastered the bus system.
- What it is: Its focus is education and it features conversations with inclusive education leaders, experts and advocates. From the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education.
- Host: Arthur Aston, a disability advocate.
- The talk: Recently covered was how businesses can collaborate with local schools and businesses to create inclusive work environments, and a look at one family’s journey working toward inclusion in their school district.
- What it is: Provides emotional support for parents of children with medical complexities and disabilities.
- Host: Madeleine Cheney, parent of a child with a rare syndrome and president of The Rare Life
- The talk: Examples include a talk about how to remind therapists that the kids they’re seeing are, well, also just kids, and one with a woman who, while pregnant, learns her son has a rare diagnosis and that her daughter will have the same disease.
- What it is: Conversations about inclusive education and what inclusion looks like in the real world, produced by the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education.
- Host: Tim Villegas, a public education expert who is also founder of the podcast.
- The talk: Recent conversations included a look at segregated special ed classrooms and the power of “belonging” through participation, relationships, and valued roles for children and adults with IDD.
- What it is: Its focus is learning disabilities, parenting differently wired/neurodivergent children and related topics.
- Host: Debbie Reber, parenting activist, author and speaker
- The talk: Recent interviews include one with PDA thought leaders Diane Gould and Ruth Fidler about demand avoidance (PDA), and one with parent coach Margaret Webb on how to help an autistic child with low self-esteem.
