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13 | Worried about Elopement? Free Safety Programs and Registries for Wandering, Elopement, and Emergencies for Special Needs Children and Adults Every Family Should Know
In this solo episode of Adult Special Needs Caregiving, host Jenny Olson shares some of the best free safety programs and registries for families caring for a child or adult with autism, Down syndrome, dementia, intellectual and developmental disorders, and  communication disabilities. Jenny opens up about the scary moment her son Ben eloped as a toddler, and why programs like these matter so much, especially during summer when wandering and elopement risks go up.
She walks through several free tools every caregiver should know about, including the Blue Envelope Program for traffic stops, Take Me Home and Safe Encounter registries, Project Lifesaver and WanderFlag tracking programs, SMART 911 safety profiles, the Big Red Safety Box wandering prevention kit, and state Silver Alert programs for missing persons. These resources can help first responders, police, and medical teams respond faster and more safely if your loved one wanders, elopes, or is involved in a medical emergency. Whether your loved one is 3 or 45, these programs are designed to give caregivers peace of mind and give first responders the information they need right away. Best of all, these programs are free and easy to set up before a crisis ever happens.
Grab Jenny's FREE downloadable PDF with all the program info on Instagram @adult.special.needs.caregiving or click below: 
Special Needs Safety and Elopement Prevention Checklist

12 | How the VizyPlan App is Helping Autism Families Navigate Daily Routines with Founder Justin Bowman
In this episode of Adult Special Needs Caregiving, host Jenny Olson talks with Justin Bowman, founder and CEO of VizyPlan, a visual routine and planner app for kids and adults with autism, ADHD, and other special needs. Justin shares the story of his son Sawyer's autism diagnosis and how his own family's struggles with meltdowns, transitions, and communication led him and his wife Danielle, a speech language pathologist, to create an app that turns sticky notes and picture boards into an easy digital tool. You'll learn how VizyPlan uses AI generated images, avatars, and social stories to help kids and adults understand their day, prepare for new places, and feel less anxious about change. Justin also talks about the app's calendar features, IEP meeting support, provider tools, and a brand new calming feature called Resna that uses heart rate data to help with focus and anxiety. This episode is packed with real, practical ideas for special needs parents and caregivers looking for tools that actually make daily life easier, whether your loved one is a young child or an adult on the spectrum. Justin also shares great advice on finding community and support in the autism and disability space.
Note: This episode is not sponsored, and Jenny is not an affiliate of VizyPlan.
VizyPlan app: https://vizyplan.com/Justin Bowman: https://www.instagram.com/vizyplan/Follow the podcast on Instagram
Timestamps:
00:01:49 – Justin introduces himself and his family
00:02:22 – Sawyer's early signs and autism diagnosis journey
00:08:01 – How Vizyplan started with sticky notes and picture binders
00:12:11 – Moving from paper visuals to AI generated images
00:16:00 – How Vizyplan avatars and Vizy Stories were created
00:18:09 – Using countdowns to prepare kids for big events
00:20:20 – Vizyplan's provider tools and Vizi Advocate for IEP meetings
00:25:43 – How Vizyplan can help special needs adults, not just kids
00:29:23 – Introducing Resna, a new calming and focus tool
00:32:25 – Pricing, free trial, and how to download Vizyplan
00:36:10 – Justin's advice on finding community and support online

11 | When an Adult Sibling Becomes the Caregiver: conversation with Stefanie Hennes about Ralph’s Law and AdvocacyIn this episode of Adult Special Needs Caregiving, host Jenny Olson sits down with Stefanie Hennes, a sibling caregiver who stepped up to care for her brother Ralph, who has autism and an intellectual disability. Stefanie shares what it was really like moving Ralph across state lines to live with her family after their mom passed away suddenly and their dad could no longer provide care. If you're a caregiver dealing with Medicaid waivers, waiting lists, or state disability services, this episode is packed with real talk and practical tips. Stefanie walks through the frustrating legal roadblocks she hit when Ralph's Medicaid waiver services didn't transfer between states, and how that fight led her to work with Maryland lawmakers to pass "Ralph's Law," legislation designed to help other families avoid the same struggle. You'll also hear how she prepared her own kids and husband for a major family change, tips on organizing important documents and disability records, and heartfelt stories about what it's really like to be both a sibling and a full time caregiver. Whether you're a parent, a sibling caregiver, or planning for the future of a loved one with special needs, this conversation offers hope, honesty, and advice.Follow and subscribe to the podcast!  We'd also love ratings and reviews to help more people discover the show.  Thank you for listening!Follow Stefanie and Ralph: https://www.instagram.com/spreadingjoywithralphieboy/Follow the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/

10 | Life Skills and Vocational Training for Special Needs Adults After Graduation Through Transition ProgramsDid you know your special needs child may be eligible for a free post high school transition program through their school district? Most families never find out until it is too late. Host Jenny Olson is here to change that. In this episode, she breaks down what extended school year services and transition programs are, how they work, and why every special needs caregiver should start asking about them as early as age 14. Jenny also shares her own family's experience getting her son Ben, who has autism and an intellectual disability, enrolled in a three year transition program through their local Colorado school district this fall.
Under the federal IDEA Act, school districts are required to provide transition services for eligible students with an IEP through age 21 or 22, depending on your state. That means your special needs young adult may have access to free vocational training, life skills classes, job coaching, and community based instruction even after high school ends. This is one of the most valuable and underused resources available to disability families, and this episode walks you through exactly what to look for and how to get started.
Jenny covers the different types of programs available, including transition programs that blend life skills and job training, vocational and job coaching programs, and community based instruction. She also spotlights an incredible national program called Project Search, a one year work preparation program available in over 40 states that places young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities into real workplace internships with the goal of landing competitive employment.
Jenny also gives a detailed look at the specific transition program her son Ben is starting this fall, including what the daily schedule looks like, what life skills and vocational training are offered, how the job training with local businesses works, and what it costs families. Spoiler: it is free.
If your special needs child is still in high school, do not wait for the school to bring this up. This episode will help you know exactly what to ask for and when.
If this episode was helpful, please follow and subscribe so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most.
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9 | Feeling Unprepared for Special Needs Adulthood? A Conversation with Candace Ridley of Mom’N Real Hard
This episode is a little different and we are so excited to share it with you. Host Jenny Olson was recently a guest on Candace Ridley's YouTube show Mom'N Real Hard, and the conversation was so good that it had to come to this podcast too. Candace is a fellow special needs mom to her son Lyric, and together she and Jenny dive deep into the world of special needs caregiving, from the middle school years all the way through preparing for adulthood.
In this heart to heart conversation, Jenny shares her family's journey raising her son Ben, who has autism and an intellectual disability, including what inclusive classrooms and unified sports have looked like for their family. Candace opens up about her own experience with school bullying, advocating for her son, and finding a school community that finally felt safe and supportive. Together they talk honestly about navigating social challenges, finding the right educational fit, and what it really takes to advocate for a child with special needs.
The conversation then shifts into the big stuff that every special needs parent and caregiver needs to know about as their child approaches adulthood. Jenny breaks down guardianship versus power of attorney, what ABLE accounts are and how they protect SSI eligibility, and what families should know about preparing for the transition to adult disability services. This is real, practical information mixed with genuine encouragement for caregivers who are feeling exhausted, isolated, or worried about the future.
This episode is packed with relatable mom talk, useful resources, and the kind of community and connection that every special needs caregiver needs to hear. Jenny and Candace remind us all that we are not alone on this journey, and that taking it one day at a time is enough.
Check out Candace Ridley and her show Mom'N Real Hard for more real conversations about motherhood.
www.momnrealhard.com
Mom'N Real Hard - YouTube
Spotify
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If this episode resonated with you, please follow/subscribe so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a rating and review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. 
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8 | A Letter of Gratitude Honoring Fathers and Father Figures in Special Needs Caregiving for Father’s DayThis Father's Day episode is a little different from our usual topics, and in the best possible way. Host Jenny Olson takes a step back from the world of SSI, Medicaid waivers, and guardianship paperwork to do something that does not happen nearly enough in the special needs caregiver community. She honors the dads, grandfathers, stepfathers, coaches, teachers, and father figures who show up every single day for their loved ones with special needs and for the caregivers beside them.
Whether you are a special needs dad yourself, a caregiver who is grateful for the father figure in your corner, or someone who just wants to recognize the good men in your life, this episode was made for you. Jenny talks about the quiet strength that so many special needs fathers carry, from sitting through IEP meetings and learning Medicaid waivers to being the steady, joyful presence that a whole family can lean on. She also honors the single dads doing this journey completely alone, the grandpas and community members who go out of their way to include kids and adults with special needs, and the fathers who think ahead quietly about special needs trusts and future planning because that is how they love.
Jenny also gets personal in this one, sharing heartfelt words of gratitude for her own husband of 20 years, her dad, her late father in law, and the community father figures who have included and accepted her son Ben over the years. It is a warm, honest, and touching episode that reminds us all to slow down and recognize the people who make this caregiving journey a little more possible.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a special needs dad or father figure in your life. And if you have a spare minute, please follow and subscribe and leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going.
If you found this episode helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review! 
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Episode 7: Step by Step Guide for Legal Guardianship for Special Needs Adults and Tips for Caregivers
If your special needs child is getting close to 18 and you are trying to figure out guardianship, this episode is exactly what you need. Host Jenny Olson shares the real, step by step experience of going through the legal adult guardianship process with her husband for their son Ben, who has autism and an intellectual disability. This is not legal advice, but it is an honest, personal walkthrough of what the process actually looked like for their family here in Colorado, from finding a lawyer to the court hearing with the judge.
Jenny covers the difference between full guardianship and power of attorney, why her family chose full guardianship for Ben, and what that decision really means as a parent. She talks through the emotional side of it too, including the parental guilt that can come with watching your child turn 18 while knowing their path looks different from their peers.
On the practical side, Jenny walks you through the full Colorado guardianship process from start to finish. She covers how they found a special needs lawyer, what documents were required, what the court visitor home visit looked like, and what actually happened during the Zoom hearing with the judge. She also shares how they used funding through their local Developmental Pathways organization to help cover the cost of the lawyer, and what the ongoing yearly reporting requirement looks like after guardianship is granted.
Whether you are just starting to research guardianship for your special needs adult child or loved one, or you are already in the middle of the process, Jenny's experience will help you feel less alone and more prepared for what is ahead.
If this episode was helpful, please follow and subscribe so you never miss a new episode, and take a moment to leave a rating and review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going! If you found this episode helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review! 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/

6 | SSI, SSDI, Medicaid & Medicare Disability Benefits Guide for Special Needs Families with Certified Benefits Specialist Amber Lydford
If you have ever felt completely lost trying to figure out SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, or vocational rehabilitation for your special needs child or adult loved one, this episode is going to be a game changer. Host Jenny Olson sits down with Amber Lydford, a Nationally Certified Benefits Specialist pertaining to all things social security and medicaid related. She helps with applications to appeals, and how working will impact a person’s benefits. She has over 12 years of experience helping disability families navigate the Social Security system. Amber also has three children of her own with different abilities, so she brings both professional expertise and a parent's heart to this conversation.
Amber breaks down the real difference between SSI and SSDI in plain language, explains what actually changes when your child turns 18, and shares why waiting too long to start the benefits process can cost your family critical services. She also covers the Katie Beckett and TEFRA Medicaid categories for children, why you should open an ABLE account before your child turns 18, and what the SSA Adult Blue Book actually is and how to use it when applying for benefits.
This episode also tackles one of the biggest myths in the special needs caregiver community, which is that working will automatically end your child's benefits. Amber explains exactly how SSI and SSDI work when your adult child starts earning income, what vocational rehabilitation can do to help, and why encouraging your young adult to work early could actually set them up for better benefits down the road.
You will also get practical tips on the two key Social Security forms to print out and review before applying, why you should always call your local Social Security office instead of the 800 number, and why keeping a detailed paper trail of every phone call and document submission is so important.
Amber's closing advice is something every caregiver needs to hear: a no does not mean never. It might just mean not yet, or it might mean they need more information. Do not stop fighting for your child.
Amber is nationally certified and available to help families across the United States. Her contact information will be in the show notes.
If this episode was helpful, please subscribe so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going.Helpful links about Social Security Benefits and More: SSA Ticket to Work Program: Home | Choose Work! - Ticket to Work - Social SecurityOfficial website of Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program.Listing of Impairments for Adults: Listing of Impairments - Adult Listings (Part A) | Disability | SSAEntry page - Adult Medical Impairments
 
SSA Form 3368: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3368-bk.pdfSSA form/PDF 3373: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3373-bk.pdfAmber Lydford- Nationally Certified Benefits Specialist pertaining to all things social security and medicaid related. From application to appeal, to how working will impact the benefits.For advice on benefits, email Amber at: Helperatheart86@gmail.com
If you found this episode helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review! 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/

Single Dad Caregiver Burnout While Raising 3 Autistic Sons: A talk with Rob Gorski, the Autism Dad
If you are a special needs caregiver who has ever felt completely alone in this journey, this episode is for you. Host Jenny Olson sits down with Rob Gorski, known online as The Autism Dad, who has been raising three sons with autism largely on his own for over a decade. Rob is also a blogger, podcaster, and soon to be published author who has been sharing his honest caregiving story online for almost 20 years. This is a real, raw, and hopeful conversation about what adult autism caregiving actually looks like from the inside.
Rob opens up about what it was like to go from a two parent household to solo parenting three neurodivergent kids overnight, and how he found a way to keep going even when it felt impossible. He and Jenny talk about what it means to stop apologizing for your child's autism in public, how to handle rude comments and stares as your special needs child grows into an adult, and why the judgment gets harder as they get bigger but no less important to push through.
This episode also gets into some really encouraging territory. Rob shares that his oldest son Gavin, who was told he might never live independently, is now working, saving money, and moving toward his own place. His youngest son Emmett, who was non speaking until age four, is finishing high school while also completing his second year of college full time. Rob's message to every caregiver is clear: never let anyone put your child in a box and never underestimate what they are capable of.
Jenny and Rob also dig into caregiver burnout, self care, and what it means to finally find your village, whether that is a partner, a neighbor, a Facebook group, or another special needs parent at a basketball game. Rob also gives a sneak peek at his upcoming book, coming out December 2026, which is designed to help newly diagnosed families feel supported, hopeful, and less alone from day one.
Find Rob Gorski and preorder his book online at theautismdad.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/theautismdad 
If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going.Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/

Special Needs Transition Checklist To Do Before Your Child Turns 18
If your child with special needs is getting close to 18, this episode is a must listen. Host Jenny Olson breaks down five things every special needs caregiver, parent, and carer should know and do before their child transitions into adulthood. From case management programs to Medicaid waivers to guardianship, these are the real steps that Jenny wishes she had known about sooner in her own journey with her son Ben, who has autism and an intellectual disability.
In this episode you will learn about finding a case management agency in your area, like Developmental Pathways in Colorado, and why connecting with one early can open doors to funding, resources, and support you didn't even know existed. Jenny also covers special needs trusts and why setting one up early can protect your child's access to vital benefits like SSI and Medicaid down the road.
Jenny walks through the difference between guardianship and power of attorney in a clear and easy to understand way, and explains why starting that process around age 17 can save you a lot of stress. She also talks about what adult day services, therapies, and job training programs can look like after high school ends, and how to start figuring out what the right fit might be for your child.
And then there are the waivers. Jenny gets into the DD waiver, the SLS waiver, SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid, including why some of these waitlists are so long that you need to get on them years before your child turns 18. She also shares how these programs are all connected and why the order you apply for them actually matters.
This episode is packed with practical information for caregivers and disability families who are navigating the special needs transition to adulthood and trying to figure out where to even start.
If this episode was helpful, please subscribe (by clicking the "+" to follow on Apple podcast, for example) so you never miss a new episode and take a moment to leave a review. It helps other special needs caregivers and disability families find this community when they need it most. You are doing an amazing job. Keep going.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adult.special.needs.caregiving/