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Forever Home for our kids with disabilities.
Formerly Special Needs Moms - Circle of Strength.
This podcast has begun a shift in focus...
Hey, I’m Valerie, mom to two with disabilities (one visible, one invisible). We came up with housing solutions for our children.
This space has been created to help you navigate the journey of creating a secure, sustainable forever home for your child.
We’ll chat with parents on this path, realtors, financial planners, and other experts who can make the process easier. We'll be dropping an episode twice a month.
Seeing my eldest thrive living independent of us was a gift I didn’t always know I could give. I'm excited for you to have the opportunity to explore giving that gift to your child.
Keep building your child’s future!
Music acknowledgement: Audio Coffee - Denys Kyshchuk
Episodes
94 episodes
Music, Belonging & the Brain: How Music Therapy Supports Children with Disabilities with Jennifer Buchanan.
In this inspiring and heartfelt episode, Valerie welcomes Jennifer Buchanan, certified music therapist, author, and founder of JB Music Therapy.With more than three decades of experience, Jennifer shares the powerful impact music can hav...
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Why the Disability Tax Credit Is the Key to Unlocking Your Child’s Financial Future with Annie and Gordon VanderLeek
In this final episode of our series with estate planning lawyer and disability advocate Gordon VanderLeek and disability advocate Annie VanderLeek, we explore a critical shift in understanding the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).The DTC is o...
Why Aren’t Homes Built Accessible? Rethinking Housing for Our Future with Adam Arsenault
What if the homes we build today are the very thing limiting our independence tomorrow?In this eye-opening episode, Valerie sits down with builder and entrepreneur Adam Arsenault to explore the critical gaps in accessible housing—and why...
Accessible Design for Neurodivergence: Expert Insights on Sensory-Friendly Forever Homes with Ron Wickman
In this episode Ron shares his perspective: accessible, universal, and inclusive design isn’t specialized—it’s simply good design. But when designing for neurodivergence, the focus shifts toward creating calm, choice, and sensory-aware...
Understanding the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) in Canada with Annie and Gordon VanderLeek
In this episode, Valerie continues her conversation with estate planning lawyer Gordon VanderLeek and disability advocate Annie VanderLeek about an important support available to Canadian families raising children with disabilitie...
Designing Homes That Truly Welcome Everyone with Ron Wickman
In this episode, Valerie sits down with architect, author, and accessibility advocate Ron Wickman to explore what it truly means to design homes that support independence, dignity, and lifelong connection.Ron brings over 30 years ...
Protecting the Forever Home – Trusts, Planning & What Happens When You’re No Longer Here with Estate Lawyer Gordon VanderLeek
In Part Two of this informative conversation, I sit down again with estate lawyer Gordon VanderLeek, founder of VanderLeek Law, to unpack the legal and practical realities of securing a forever home for our children with disabilit...
Mobility, Dignity & Designing for the Future with Al Neary
Episode OverviewIn this episode, Valerie sits down with Al Neary, a mobility and rehabilitation expert with nearly 40 years of experience, to discuss how thoughtful equipment choices and home planning can support dignity, i...
From Survival to Sustainability: Autism Parenting and Long-Term Planning with Dr. Theresa Lyons
Episode SummaryIn this powerful and deeply validating episode, Valerie is joined by Dr. Theresa Lyons—international autism educator, Ivy League scientist, and autism parent—for an honest conversation about the hidden toll of paren...
Canadian Estate Planning, Advocacy, and the RDSP — with Gordon VanderLeek
In this episode, Valerie sits down with Gordon VanderLeek, founder of VanderLeek Law and a nationally respected voice in estate planning and disability advocacy. As both a lawyer and a father of five adopted children, three with long-ter...
Clarity, Consistency, and a Christmas Message of Hope with your host Valerie
As we close out 2025 and step into the Christmas season, Valerie offers a reflection on gratitude, hope, and the quiet, steady work of building a forever home for a child with disabilities. Through a beautiful allegory of a lantern maker, this ...
Empowering Families: Home Security, Mentorship, and Building a Legacy with Katie Hall
In this episode, Valerie sits down with Katie Hall—wife, mom, Gigi, mentor to teens and young adults with disabilities, and founder of Secure Your Hive. Katie shares her journey into mentoring, how this work has shaped her life an...
Launching With Support: One Mom’s Journey to Independent Living for Her Autistic Daughter — with Dr. Elisabeth “Betsy” Woolner
In this episode Valerie sits down with special guest Dr. Elisabeth (Betsy) Woolner — an 'almost' retired family physician, university clinical lecturer, and mother of two adult children, one with developmental disabilities.Betsy s...
With Us, Not For Us: Inclusion, Employment & Empowerment with Mark and John Cronin
Episode OverviewIn this powerful and heart-opening episode, Valerie is joined by father–son duo Mark and John Cronin, founders of John’s Crazy Socks, the world’s largest sock store with a mission to spread happi...
Considerations when creating your child's forever home: Valerie poses 10 questions to ask yourself.
Episode SummaryA forever home isn’t just a physical space—it’s a lifelong foundation of love, care, and possibility. In this episode, host Valerie Arbeau, mom to two children with disabilities, author, and life coa...
Moving Out on His Own: Ishan’s Story of Determination, Independence, and Real Talk About Independent Living.
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Valerie reconnects with Ishan Manerikar — a witty, fiercely independent 24-year-old student living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. Diagnosed at 18 months and raised alongside a younger sister who a...
Planning for Tomorrow, Grace for Today: A Conversation on Guardianship & Estate Planning with Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro
In this episode, Valerie chats with Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, a certified elder law attorney, founder of East Coast Elder Law, and a nationally recognized voice in special needs planning. Shannon not only brings deep expertise in g...
Building Independence: Preparing Your Child for Life Beyond Home with Dr. Molly Sullivan Denny.
Episode Summary:In this episode, Valerie sits down with Dr. Molly Sullivan Denny, Director of Daymark Living to talk about preparing young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for life beyond the fam...
Dreams, surrender, and when your son initiates moving out with Theresa Noye
In this episode we explore what it means to parent with humility, surrender, and unconditional love while also equipping children with disabilities to live fully and independently.What happens when your child with disabilities starts dre...
ABLE Accounts with Financial Planner John Gallia (3/3)
ABLE accounts with financial planner John Gallia Keywords:Special needs, financial planning, ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, government benefits, SSI, RDSP, financial literacy, tax benefits, early p...
Building a community for our kids with disabilities with Dr. Molly Denny
In this conversation, Valerie and Dr. Molly Sullivan Denny discuss the journey of creating a supportive environment for individuals with special needs, focusing on independence, early intervention, and community support. Dr. Denny shares her ex...
“Trust Matters: Setting Up a Special Needs Trust for Your Child’s Future” with John Gallia.
Episode Summary:In this episode of ‘Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities’, Valerie is joined for the second time by John Gallia from Gallia Wealth Management for a powerful and practical conversation about special needs trusts - H...
Accessible Homes with Realtor Susan Janzen
Episode Summary:In this informative episode of ‘Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities’, I sit down with resilience coach, accessibility advocate, and realtor Susan Janzen. Fun fact about Susan – she is the lead singer of the...
Navigating the Financial Steps to Your Child’s Forever Home with John Gallia CFP®, ChSNC®
Episode Description:In this episode, we dive into the vital first steps every parent should take when thinking about a "forever home" for their child with disabilities. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the options or unsure where t...
Designing Safe, Purpose-Built Homes: A Conversation with Niti Prakash
Niti Prakash is a Disability Sector Consultant & Lawyer as well as disability accommodation/independent living options specialist at Disability Housing Solutions. Niti recently took on the role of Head of Engagement and Growth at Disability...