S1 Episode 14 - Sam Shimel

🧩 We are so excited to introduce our 2nd  special guest for Autism Awareness / Acceptance Month Sam Shimel 

🎙️ In this episode, Sam shares her journey as an adult on the autism spectrum, breaking barriers and redefining what it means to shine with confidence and purpose. As a pageant queen 👑, theater performer 🎭, and passionate volunteer with multiple organizations, Sam is using her voice to inspire, advocate, and make a real difference in her community.

💙 Tune in as we talk about:
• Embracing authenticity and being yourself 
• Navigating life on the spectrum as an adult
• Finding confidence through pageantry, theater and the arts 
• The power of service and giving back
• Confidence, crowns, and creating impact

This episode is full of heart, empowerment, and inspiration you won’t want to miss!

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:09

Welcome to another episode of Mom's Raising the Spectrum.

SPEAKER_04 0:14

And today we have a wonderful guest with us, my dear friend Sam. Say hello, Sam. Hi, I'm Sam. I'm so glad you're here with us. So Sam and I uh know each other through the Sparkles pageant, which you've heard uh previously another queen was on our episode, Diane. And so yeah, that's how we met. And we'll just kind of uh dip right in.

SPEAKER_05 0:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 0:48

Alright, so how did you get involved with sparkles?

SPEAKER_01 0:53

Um, one of my friends, Amy, told me about sparkles, and I actually um told Amy I I found Amy on Facebook and Sparkles on Facebook as well. Another Amy? No. Oh, it was Alexis. Yes, yes, it was Alexis. Alexis on Facebook and um Miss Arizona. Um because I was looking for um pageants for for special needs people.

SPEAKER_04 1:28

Yeah, and then you saw that she was involved with sparkles.

SPEAKER_01 1:32

And then I was looking for those pageants for free pageants, yeah. And then Alexis was on Sparkles, so I asked Alexis if I could meet sparkles, but that's how I found sparkles. Yay!

SPEAKER_04 1:44

So how did you come across her um her pig? Like, because I know she was Miss Arizona teen at the time, right? How did you find her? She just came across after. Wow. See, that's it. Isn't that wonderful how the world works? It's really cool. Yes. And that was um, you joined back in was it a year ago? It was like December 2024, right?

SPEAKER_01 2:10

I think it was 2023. I could be wrong.

SPEAKER_04 2:13

No, I think it was I think it was 24.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 2:16

Because 23 Jackson was just done the treatment. I think he was already done by then. But I remember uh we were we had a Sparkles movie day where we uh have a Christmas party and we went and saw Wicked.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Oh yes, it was that year.

SPEAKER_04 2:31

Yes, and that was when our dear mama T who was on the table um just got diagnosed with cancer, and so that was a special, special event. Um and Alexis crowned you like that event.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Yes, it was so special.

SPEAKER_03 2:48

Was that your first time being crowned?

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Yes, how awesome it was it was awesome. Oh, what a what was that feeling like? It was amazing. I felt like a true queen. Yes, yes, you are. Yes, yes, thank you.

SPEAKER_04 3:03

And she was around, there were so many wonderful sparkle ladies there already, just welcome welcoming her and celebrating her.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Yes, like Diane, she welcomed me into the Sparker's family, like amazing.

SPEAKER_04 3:16

Yeah, she was awesome. Yeah. Uh so what's been your favorite part about um being in that group of women?

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Um, being welcomed into a family of girls.

SPEAKER_04 3:27

Yeah. And all girls that are going through something kind of similar.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 3:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

And having somebody to give me a ride when I need a ride. A great support system.

SPEAKER_04 3:40

Yeah. It's cool. And then you we see right here you have your sparkles. Then you have your other title, Miss Arizona Amazing. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

So what motivated you to do that?

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Um, motivated me seeing the other non-disabled people get their titles in Arizona.

SPEAKER_04 4:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

And um, especially Amy being woman of achievement, she motivated me to go out for a title. That makes me so happy because I wanted to get a title like her. Yeah. Yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 4:18

And that was um that was your first time competing in like a a a large like pageant where you're competing on stage, right? Yeah, wow, what was that like?

SPEAKER_01 4:28

It was awesome. My buddy was very encouraging encouraging encouraging and awesome.

SPEAKER_04 4:36

Do you remember who your buddy was? He was his name was Roger all. So this pageant, they have um buddies that help them through the whole like process. Yeah. Yeah. And um, little fun facts, I'm gonna be judging uh the this year's pageant when she's passing down her title. So I am so excited and honored to see some incredible women.

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_04 5:03

Um what areas of competition were there?

SPEAKER_01 5:06

Um, there's gonna be an interview, a um talent, what should they call passion?

SPEAKER_02 5:14

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

And there's usually a I don't remember what it's called, where a right-hand man walks you down in a dress. Oh, so is that like your evening gown? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:25

And then you have like an intro, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:27

An intro. Yeah, yes. Yes. Pretty cool.

SPEAKER_04 5:30

Yeah, did you have a favorite part?

SPEAKER_01 5:32

The passion. It's always my favorite part.

SPEAKER_04 5:34

What did you do?

SPEAKER_01 5:35

Dance. Of course you do. This year I'm gonna be dancing again to my favorite song. Not getting real dad right now. Yeah. It's really awesome.

SPEAKER_04 5:44

I can't wait to see it. Yes. I have it all prepared already. So, um, I asked that question. You go ahead and ask the next one. I asked for that one. So go ahead and ask her. I got too excited.

SPEAKER_03 6:01

Low time. Give me an old pageantry, and I'm like, ah! Final question. Final question. Yeah, yeah. You went to nationals.

unknown 6:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 6:10

So what was that experience like for you?

SPEAKER_01 6:13

It was emotional because um it I'd wake up early and um my room was at the very top of of the hotel, and it was very loud. There's a train station right down the street, and the train just kept going past. And then at the end of our stay, a fire alarm went off.

SPEAKER_04 6:36

Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

And we don't know why, but a couple other rooms had a fire alarm go off for no reason.

SPEAKER_04 6:43

You know what? Sometimes some people are silly and they hang their hangers on things they shouldn't, like fire sprinklers, and that can set it off sometimes.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

That wasn't even us.

SPEAKER_04 6:53

Yeah. Wow, so you uh had to deal with all those over stimulating things while there, and it was in Chicago?

SPEAKER_01 7:01

Yeah. Wow. And we're still paying money back, so it's tough.

SPEAKER_04 7:06

It was expensive, and then um it was overstimulating someplace new. Have you ever traveled out of Arizona before?

SPEAKER_01 7:15

No, we're trying to save up for a trip to Australia now. Oh, go big or go home. Just moved there.

SPEAKER_04 7:23

Your sister just moved there? Yeah. Oh my gosh, that'd be really cool. So we'll see. Yeah. Um. What was what has been your favorite appearance or moment as Miss Arizona Meeting?

SPEAKER_01 7:37

I've gotta say the casino night the other night. Yeah? Did you enjoy it beating some other queen's buttons in um what was it? Cracks. Cracks.

SPEAKER_04 7:48

So it was really fun. So uh the there's this ranch that I worked with um and trained with our horses to ride in the Providence All Soul Parade. Yes. And they were having a casino night like fundraiser, and she loves uh horses and animals and has experience with them. So she came along too, and uh the party was just now getting going, so we would kind of get up and play. They had like you know, casino games there, and there was the craps table open and just the people just sitting there, the workers, and I'm like, I want to go learn. I've never like I've never I've always been too intimidated to a casino. So we got up there, started learning, and then she kicked my butt. She kicked all of our butts. I guess I'm a true gambler. Yeah. You've done some fun things with this title. You did the Proto Soul Parade with me.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

Um done so many things. Yes, all on my Facebook account. Yeah, sometimes you have to go back and look and see what you've done, huh? I pinned the most recent thing to the top of my account if you follow me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 8:55

Well, we'll definitely tag you so that way if people want to follow you, they can follow your journey. Um, we just uh have one more question about pageantry. Alrighty.

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Do you see yourself continuing to do pageants in the future?

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Yes, I'm trying to win a photo contest for one right now for the epic um photo contest. Oh yeah, because you want to do that system. Yes. Yeah. Um right now I don't have any votes, but I'm trying to win that photo contest.

SPEAKER_03 9:28

We'll get it, we'll promote it.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

And if I do win that, I still have to pay for the um fee. So if you like to support that, you can. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:38

But you signed up for another one, didn't you? Yes. Uh virtual planet? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:43

Oh, I didn't know they do.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Yeah, there's a beautiful sunshine rose. It's a free national contest. If you if anybody's interested, you can still sign up. Yeah. It's nonprofit.

SPEAKER_04 9:53

Yeah, it's pretty cool. They I think that really took off during the pandemic. Um, yeah, and so that's still kind of a thing in the way.

SPEAKER_02 10:01

Still going on.

SPEAKER_04 10:02

Yeah, yeah. And then she'll forever be a Sparkles Queen. So she'll always have that title, and um, we'll do things with that group together. And we've got we're gonna try and plan some fun things. Yes. Um, so you've done some amazing things, not just in pageantry, but in your everyday life too.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

So growing up, were there any challenges that you remember facing? Um, not that I remember that I would like to talk about at the moment. Oh, we're asking. Yeah, yeah, no problem.

SPEAKER_04 10:34

Do you um do you remember or do you want to talk about like school and if you had any favorite subjects? Uh, did you do like theater and stuff in school? Talk a little bit anything about that?

SPEAKER_01 10:47

I really liked in high school my RTC class. I had the best commander, Commander Schmidt. He led the class really well. He was really good with us special needs cadets. That's a wonderful. Where was I here in Arizona? Yeah, at Thunderbird High School. Oh, Thunderbird! Yeah. Did you guys have that? If you ever want to have a good school for your special needs high schoolers, go to Thunderbird, put them in RTC. That's interesting. It's a really good high school for special needs people. Oh, that's wonderful.

SPEAKER_04 11:17

That, well, I'm sure some other families will be so happy to hear that. Yeah. Thank you for sharing.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

You're welcome.

SPEAKER_02 11:25

And I can go now. What are some things that can maybe I guess be a challenge to you?

SPEAKER_01 11:33

Sometimes transportation, as I take the ride of care granted.

SPEAKER_04 11:38

Diane mentioned how stressful that can be. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:41

Yeah. Sometimes getting here on time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:45

You're relying on someone else, huh?

SPEAKER_01 11:47

Yeah, and sometimes grandma can bring pictures, sometimes she can't. Sometimes I pay for a cab, sometimes I can't.

SPEAKER_04 11:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

So you're I'm very proud of you.

SPEAKER_04 11:57

You do very well independently with getting your rides and stuff. So I know that can be stressful and challenging.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 12:03

Very proud of you.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

And finding a job sometimes too, so yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:09

Yeah. I mean, that just goes for anybody really in Arizona. Yeah. But I can't imagine.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

But it's fun.

SPEAKER_04 12:15

Yeah. Well, you are incredible. Um, you are part of the Lowe's Academy, which ECU. That's uh Grand Canyon University. Uh tell us a little bit about that program and what you're learning here. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

It was made by my friend Emma Curgan's dear parents.

SPEAKER_04 12:38

Our girl Emma.

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Um, her mom and dad made it um because she needed a college college experience because she never went to college. And um it's for people that need a work program experience. And and right now we're working on resumes, and then we get an internship next year starting in April. So it's really cool. We do like I want to work at the Havoc House, which is like a restaurant. Oh, it is? Yeah, it's really cool. You get to pick where you work. You do?

SPEAKER_04 13:13

Do they have like a selective of ones that you can choose from?

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Yeah, that's cool. It's really cool. You get to pick where you work.

SPEAKER_04 13:19

Yeah, I think I'm in Choice Creator Joe's, and that she's been there for two years, I think.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Yeah, then you get to graduate with the whole class, get it up and down. Yeah, it's really cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:29

And remind me when you are graduating on yours again. I want to try to go. 2027. Oh, it's now in April. Oh, so your other thing you were talking about, something different?

SPEAKER_01 13:40

Um, the internship, oh, starts in September.

SPEAKER_04 13:42

Okay, cool. That's awesome. All right. Well, you are so involved um in working and getting back to your community. You were talking about working. Are you currently working right now?

SPEAKER_01 13:57

No. That's why I'm in the Lowe's Academy for that experience.

SPEAKER_04 14:00

That's great. Forward progress. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 14:05

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 14:17

Oh. Oh, well, let's see. Uh where have have you worked before though?

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Yes, I have. Where are some places you've worked? Movie theater, AMC.

SPEAKER_04 14:30

I thought it was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

It was I only worked there for a few months during the summertime just for the experience. Oh good. At thrift store for a few months.

SPEAKER_04 14:40

Yeah, which one?

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Like a bill or um, it was a small thrift store um GSE program. Oh, cool. They only paid me a few dollars an hour, so I quit.

SPEAKER_04 14:49

Yeah, not worth it, huh? No. Yeah. Well, you got some good work experience under your belt, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

It was cool though.

SPEAKER_04 14:58

Yeah, that's good. You probably learned something, huh?

SPEAKER_01 15:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:02

And that's all I worked otherwise. Well, good.

SPEAKER_04 15:05

Uh you well, you know, with uh GCU, I think that's the right program, and you'll you'll get a good job from there for sure. They're they seem like it's a great place to be to get into the workforce.

SPEAKER_01 15:17

Yes, thank you, Amy. You're welcome.

SPEAKER_03 15:19

Let's go. Say mine. Of course. So if you could have a dream job, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01 15:27

Probably an admin or veterinary or even doing production somewhere, because I love technology. I had a feeling I knew the answer to the yeah. We're judging a competition, you know? Yeah. I've always wanted to judge a competition.

SPEAKER_04 15:44

Yeah. That's more something like on the side, but like a dream job. You love your animals, yes, animals. And and your production stuff. Yes, yeah. And speaking of animals, you volunteer with the Humane Society. Yes. Tell us about that and what you do there.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

Well, I'm doing the street team, which is literally going out at last at the ball games, which is what we're doing right now, hanging out with the puppies, and adopting them out. I've been sending Amy the pictures of the puppies. They're so cute. I I don't even dare show them to my husband. Three of the four adopted out every time. That's awesome. And when I'm sitting up in the van with them, they're like whining at me, and I'm like, oh, poor puppies. Oh. It's so cute.

SPEAKER_04 16:34

I bet it's rewarding when you see them get adopted. It is.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

I'm like, oh no, Barty's going home. Great home.

SPEAKER_04 16:42

Do you name them or is that what their name is? Oh my gosh, how funny. Yeah. We were at the um uh the name horseshows. Thank you. And she was over there volunteering with the Union Society. I'm like, I'm hanging out with horses and she's hanging out with the dogs. They are so cute. What what else do you do? You just kind of go to a dance and help the dogs get puppies or get adopted and hang out with them.

SPEAKER_01 17:09

Yeah, once in a while I go to admin support. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 17:12

Do you do I think I heard you say something about like you go and walk them or something? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

That's what I do at the um street team. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:20

Good for you. It's cool. What do you like most about working with the animals?

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Just picking them up and hugging them and you know. Isn't it in my arms?

SPEAKER_04 17:35

Especially the little windsolves. Yes. Yeah, yeah. They're so tiny. Do you mainly um work with the like the puppies and not the older ones?

SPEAKER_01 17:42

Yes, I cannot do the little green dogs. Those are the big ones. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 17:47

Yeah. That can be challenging parts, especially when they have their own, um, when they're set in their own ways, right? Yes. Yeah. And what are some other places you volunteer? I believe you volunteer with your church as well.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

Yes, I do um the sound and lights with my with my church.

SPEAKER_02 18:07

Amazing.

SPEAKER_01 18:08

I at some and it's the same sound and lights every time. At one point every time, I do three things at once. Three things at once? Light, sound, switch at once. More time. Multi tasking. It's really fun.

SPEAKER_04 18:24

That's awesome that you enjoyed that. That seems like it'd be too confusing for me. This is all confusing. For me? I'm still trying to figure it out. We should have tired Sam from the get-go. I mean, we should have brought you from the get-go. Okay, Sam, what do we do? You know your stuff.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

I'm also looking to be a DJ sometimes, so fun.

SPEAKER_04 18:47

She's got the good energy for that. She's a good dancer. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We've done some dancing together.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 18:54

Where else do you volunteer?

SPEAKER_01 18:56

Girl Scouts. I'm a volunteer. Girl Scouts. Girl Scout all the way through. I'm the energy of her too. Of course. You are. They call me cheese. Cheese? Yeah. Yeah, they call you cheese. And well, when I was in Girl Scouts as a Girl Scout, I came and when I walked into my CAT1 camp, they were this one girl was passing around blocks hotel and cheese. And they were like, Do you want some cheese? And this actual counselor was like, think you're a canteening. And I was like, cheese? Cheese?

SPEAKER_04 19:31

And it's stuck. That's too cute. What do you do with the Girl Scouts when you volunteer? Just help out with it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Yeah. But apparents are supposed to do that, but I'm yeah.

unknown 19:44

Hey.

SPEAKER_04 19:44

But I can always use an extra hand.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Yep. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 19:47

What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie?

SPEAKER_01 19:49

Oh, I can only have the glitter feet ones, but like a cheese did you know you want to be Explore more.

SPEAKER_04 19:54

Oh I know, I want to try that one. I can only have the I can only have the thin bits because they're the only ones that don't have the dairy. But I didn't think that because it's all chocolate, but it's just cocoa. There's no milk.

SPEAKER_03 20:06

Actually, I didn't think about that.

SPEAKER_04 20:08

I didn't have a lot of chocolate. One of the girls at my dance, uh my dance group, my dance group was like, uh, no, you can have that. I was like, yes. I got my dairy-free mint chocolate chip or my dairy-free vanilla ice cream and like crumble puff was in it.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

I ate a big bowl of ice cream before I came here.

SPEAKER_04 20:31

Can you have dairy? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:33

Was it dairy-free or did you No big bowl of ice cream? Why did you okay.

SPEAKER_04 20:38

Girl, you're crazy.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

I don't know why. What kind of ice cream? Extreme chocolate. Oh, that sounds so good. Yeah. Yeah. Since we're talking about ice cream.

SPEAKER_04 20:52

Yeah. And speaking of dancing, we got our groove on at the best buddies bow back in February. And I'm sure you remember Cyrus telling you about this story. Did you watch Cyrus' episode? Yes. He talked about you the flat tire you discovered. Thankful for her. Because I would have took off and we would have had a flat tire. Oh, by the way, I look at my shoes, people. We're rocking, it's Autism Awareness Day, World Autism Day. Woo! It's such a great honor to have you here on this special day. But speaking of Best Buddies, you're involved with that group. Yes. What all have you done with them?

SPEAKER_01 21:43

I'm currently a Best Buddies Ambassador and with a few of our other Sparkles queens as well. And um I think Nikki and a few other of them. And I'm and they're Pretty cool, and we do the I think it's best buddies, it's like nationals, but I forgot what it's called. And we go over to um another state and we stay in the storms of this um other college, and we go do that whole big nationals type thing. So cool. And I think Miss America speaks there. Oh, Miss America.

SPEAKER_04 22:26

The America organization uh does a lot.

SPEAKER_01 22:28

It's really cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 22:31

And when we went to the Best Buddies Ball, she like knew all the staff. They're like, Sam, Sam, you know, sure is popular.

SPEAKER_01 22:38

That's why I'm an ambassador because everybody knows me.

SPEAKER_04 22:41

Yeah. What has that experience um being involved with Best Buddy uh been like for you?

SPEAKER_01 22:47

It's really cool. Yeah. Like my theater director's my buddy. Oh, really? To hang out. Wow.

SPEAKER_04 22:53

So she asked a follow-up question.

SPEAKER_03 22:59

And then what do you enjoy most about being part of the best buddies?

SPEAKER_01 23:04

Just being there and having fun with everybody in my program.

SPEAKER_04 23:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:09

It's a great group of people.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

And the events we have once in a while? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:12

And we're not able to build the friendship, the best buddies friendship walk on the 11th. And that's the exact same date and time as the every year. So, yeah. Yeah, that is your birthday.

SPEAKER_03 23:26

The 11th. I know that. You're like, I know that.

SPEAKER_04 23:29

So we're our birthdays are super close. I'm the 7th. The 11th. In 88. Ooh, wow. So I'm just a few days older than her. Um, you've also participated in um Night to Shine. We went together, um, meeting you and Robin and Emma, but you've gone before I met you. Yes. How long have you been going? That would have been my third year. Third year? Wow. Nice. And was it all all every year at the Highlands Church? Yes. She knew everybody there too.

SPEAKER_01 24:04

Yeah. She's like wonderfully.

SPEAKER_04 24:06

Yeah. Yes. She really is.

SPEAKER_01 24:08

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 24:09

What do you like most about nutrition?

SPEAKER_01 24:11

It's just really fun and it's a place to be social, and Highlands give you the free shirt and the free swag. That's why I like Highlands.

SPEAKER_04 24:20

Can't you can't give up, I mean you can't give uh permittion say. Nothing beats free swag, right? Yes. Right. And then she gets some karaoke. She likes to do her karaoke.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Oh yes. She likes to sing some country black songs. Yes. If you give me on a karaoke screen, I'll do karaoke anytime.

SPEAKER_04 24:39

Not meaning, I'm a little nervous.

SPEAKER_02 24:43

I can stage free.

SPEAKER_04 24:46

I I do better as a group. One more thing we want to ask you about about all the programs you've been involved. Yeah. Um, you did a talent show. I think it was in circles, families, and Arizona Autism. United? Yes. How did you hear about that?

SPEAKER_01 25:04

My theater company.

SPEAKER_04 25:05

Yeah, they encourage you to do it.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 25:08

Yeah, and what did you do?

SPEAKER_01 25:10

I danced to a song. We did it at Nationals.

SPEAKER_04 25:13

It was a really good dance. Yeah, I'll just send you the link.

SPEAKER_01 25:17

Yeah, if you guys want to watch it, it's on YouTube.

SPEAKER_04 25:20

Are you gonna do it again?

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Uh yes. They're gonna release the details and wait. Nice. So Yeah, they do.

SPEAKER_04 25:26

It's called uh what is it called? Talent? I don't believe it. It's like talent showcase, yeah. It's called. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's really neat. And the other sparkle screens have done it too. Yes. Yeah. You're just always doing fun stuff. I love that. She's not afraid to get up and perform.

SPEAKER_03 25:43

I am.

SPEAKER_05 25:45

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03 25:47

It's a work in progress. Yeah. This is warming me up.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Speaking of dancing, I also tried um auditioning for the Mercury hip hop team. Oh, is that? It was uh terrifying. Yeah. It was not fun. It was the last one to provide, and it was a very terrifying dance.

SPEAKER_04 26:11

Yeah, it's probably really, really extremely.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

Yeah, I tried. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:17

But I tried. I wish there's like that hip hop for homies group. I wish there was one for like autism.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Yeah. You know what I mean? I know.

SPEAKER_04 26:26

Yeah, so the hipier than hip hop for homies. Like hip hop for homies. It's for like Down syndrome kids. And so it's they're so good. It's so much fun. No, I asked them if I could join. Maybe we could start something. But you have to have Down syndrome. Yeah, maybe we can start an autism one.

SPEAKER_03 26:41

Yeah. That'd be cool. Yeah. Another product that I don't really have.

SPEAKER_04 26:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 26:47

The bills are already turning right.

SPEAKER_04 26:48

Yeah, yeah. Alright, we're gonna move on to services and support. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:59

So what kind of services or supports have been helpful for you?

SPEAKER_01 27:03

Um, my day program. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 27:08

How often do you go to that?

SPEAKER_01 27:10

I only go three times a week. Right now, um, it's paused because I'm moving. I'm gonna start it back up in May. But it's an autism-based day program because it's called the Aspire program. We just started up like a few weeks ago because they were moving it from a different um section of the program they were in. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_04 27:32

What do you do when you're there?

SPEAKER_01 27:34

Um they still are still building it, so we don't really know what they're doing. Yeah. But it's actually players gonna get all kinds of different things. It's really cool. Yeah. Yeah, my goals are to help them build the program when they come back. So it's part of the foundation.

SPEAKER_04 27:51

Yeah, you probably got some great ideas.

SPEAKER_01 27:53

I do. Yeah. And it's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_04 27:56

Yeah, what uh do you also get like um you are um on DDD?

SPEAKER_01 28:01

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 28:02

Yes, and you uh what do you get through DDD?

SPEAKER_01 28:05

Um, I actually get free meals every two weeks through um GA foods. If you ask your support creator for free meals for GA Foods, you get 14 free meals every two weeks. I didn't know that!

SPEAKER_03 28:18

Do they like deliver it to you? Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:21

Either by delivery truck or FedEx.

SPEAKER_04 28:24

They deliver it to your home?

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:26

I wonder if it's only for adults.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

No?

SPEAKER_04 28:28

No?

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Everybody.

SPEAKER_04 28:30

Really? Yeah. Even kids? Yeah. Okay. Well that would help because Jackson's so picky with his food. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 28:39

We can pick the box.

SPEAKER_04 28:40

G-A foods?

SPEAKER_01 28:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:42

Okay. It's really good. You just taught me something new, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:47

And then also your grandma is your uh provider. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 28:51

Right? Yes. Yes, it's all. My aunt's my attendant.

SPEAKER_04 28:54

Your tenant care provider too? Yeah. Right. It's sometimes you can have family. Yeah. They get paid and they also, you know, get to help you out. Yes. Yeah. And what else do you? Do you get any other types of services?

SPEAKER_01 29:07

Like speech, no tea. I used to get speech, but they said I'm valuable. I used I have an AAC device, but I barely use it.

SPEAKER_04 29:15

Only if you I know I remember you mentioned you used it when or you brought it with you somewhere.

SPEAKER_01 29:20

Yeah, I have it with me just in case.

SPEAKER_04 29:22

Just in case. When do you feel like you need it if like your anxiety's too high and you can't get the words out?

SPEAKER_03 29:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 29:28

Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah. That's helpful, huh?

SPEAKER_03 29:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 29:31

You just hit the button. Yeah. So I know um a while back ago when I was looking for um uh a like a ranch of horses to ride in the province of Sulford, you mentioned that you were involved with an equine therapy group. Huh? Didn't you do like a horse therapy? Equine therapy? I did a horse camp. You did a horse camp, that's right. Yes. Yes, what was that like?

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Um, I did that camp once every year with my church in November. Oh. And yeah, once every year with my church.

SPEAKER_04 30:09

Yay, where so you get to like uh stay at a ranch and work with horses?

SPEAKER_01 30:14

It's a day camp, so we go out to the ranch, we ride a horse, we go through vocations once. You get to play games and ride around a horse with people, and it's really cool.

SPEAKER_04 30:26

It's not amazing. Yeah. The horses are just amazing creatures, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01 30:29

Yeah, it is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:31

What do you feel a sense of joy when you're home? Yes.

SPEAKER_01 30:34

I love it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:35

Love to do some horse riding.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 30:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:38

I love trail rides too. After your baby. After you have your baby.

SPEAKER_03 30:42

I have zero experience with horses.

SPEAKER_04 30:44

Oh.

SPEAKER_03 30:44

Well, I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_04 30:46

That's good. I have yet to sense that fear. Yes, they do.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:52

Well, animals tend to like me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

Well, hopefully I get a donkey so at least they just took a bunch of burrows from the problem with those is that they're already you have to have someone that can train them.

SPEAKER_04 31:08

Because they're so stubborn in their ways, and so it's hard. It's good best to hit them when they're young.

SPEAKER_01 31:14

I just thought it would be. I know. I thought about it. I thought about it too. I want to watch on it too.

SPEAKER_04 31:19

I don't want to do it trying to train those horses. Oh, those burrows, man.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

Like, no burrows.

SPEAKER_04 31:25

Yeah, I know. Yeah. There's a lot of them.

SPEAKER_01 31:28

I'm a news girly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:31

It can be dangerous watching the news. I can try that too, because it's just it could be really sad. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:37

Unfortunately. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What has helped you the most in your journey?

SPEAKER_01 31:45

My my music, my family, and basically my pageant family. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:52

The second second family.

SPEAKER_01 31:54

Yeah. Being with this community, just being able to talk to people about my journey. Yeah. You know? Yeah. It's helpful.

SPEAKER_04 32:02

Yeah, it's fun. It brings you uh a connection and you're inspiring others, I feel like.

SPEAKER_01 32:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:11

And then so exciting, I can wait to talk about this on our podcast, is your theater. We've already mentioned a little bit about it. It's called Detour Theater. Yes. How did you get started with them?

SPEAKER_01 32:25

Um, I heard about it at a summer camp I went to called Civitan. And um they had a theater camp that I went to. Oh. And then I just wanted to go to Detour after I did their summer camp over there.

SPEAKER_04 32:42

That just got you hooked, huh? Yes. Yeah, so they are all the cats are um individuals with any type of disability, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Like right now we have a few blind people, a few deaf people, people with walkers, people with wheelchairs, pains, anything.

SPEAKER_04 33:00

Down syndrome, autism, all kinds of different disabilities. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

Stress, anxiety, anything.

SPEAKER_04 33:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:08

How long have you been doing theater for?

SPEAKER_01 33:10

Um, I'd say about four years. Four years? Oh, that's great.

SPEAKER_04 33:15

Crazy. It goes fast, huh? It does. Time flies when you're having fun. That is true, right? What do you enjoy most about being on stage?

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Oh, just the thrill of it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 33:29

Thrill of it. I love it. It's fun. That's my creator. And I get that from dancing too. Okay. So, yeah. Excitement, nervous, all at the same time.

SPEAKER_03 33:41

Yes, right?

SPEAKER_04 33:42

It's like when I create new systems. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:45

It's not as fun as your head. No. I still need it. Yeah. What roles have you played?

SPEAKER_01 33:53

Oh, so many. My favorite roles, I've gotta say, was in the last show, Huxley in the Adam Family.

SPEAKER_04 34:00

Yes, I got to see her. She got to scream that she's been like a cute.

SPEAKER_01 34:04

She did so good.

SPEAKER_04 34:06

She made everyone laugh.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

Tony Bear and the Spelling Bee.

unknown 34:10

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 34:10

I got to play Miss Norberry and Mean Girls. Oh my god! Those were my three favorites. Yeah. That's awesome. It's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_04 34:21

Yeah, and then right now they're working on Greece, but you're not gonna be in the cast, but you're gonna be helping with production.

SPEAKER_01 34:28

Yes. Yeah. The crew they they um named me as an intern, so I'm helping with little everything. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 34:34

She's just so talented in so many ways. Yes. It's amazing. That you can do on behind the scenes and on stage, right? Yes. Yeah. I'm also on the detour board. Oh, that's right.

SPEAKER_01 34:46

Oh wow. So cool.

SPEAKER_04 34:49

Yeah, what do you do when you're on the board?

SPEAKER_01 34:50

I remember at large show.

SPEAKER_04 34:52

Like help like with casting and stuff like that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

But I'm going at for president in August.

SPEAKER_04 34:59

I'll be rooting for you. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:06

My friend um Barry's going for pres uh vice president.

SPEAKER_04 35:10

Oh that'd be fun if you two work together on it. It's gonna be fun. Yeah. And Emma, our other Sparkles Queen and friend, is um she sh Sam encouraged her to join and she got casted as Marty and Green. So I can't wait to see them in June.

SPEAKER_01 35:27

And she has a great solo song.

SPEAKER_04 35:29

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, we're seeing. Yeah. It's gonna be so much fun. If I'll probably be when you are either giving birth or just have your game. Well my time.

SPEAKER_01 35:43

No, just do in June. It will get recorded, so we will send it to you. Yes. Yes, I definitely want to watch it.

SPEAKER_03 35:50

Yes. I'll let you ask a lot of fun. Alright. What play or role would you love to do next?

SPEAKER_01 35:59

Ooh. Oh gosh. I would love to maybe. Oh, this is a hard one. Right. There are two of them. I would love to play Annie and then such a good Annie! I just got good channels. You would make such a good Annie with your cute curly hair. Oh gosh. And one of the Skylar sisters at Hamilton. Those two. Because I have a whole dance routine for that song. Oh I love it.

SPEAKER_04 36:29

When I was in high school, I don't think I told you this, I went to New York. Ooh. Did I tell you about that? No. So my dance team, or my dance team, uh, every year they go to New York. And we go to like Broadway shows, take classes at um uh like Broadway Dance Center, we got to Rocquette, we got to Tor Juilliard, all that. And so we when we took classes, it was with um the Broadway show we were gonna see that night. So one day was Mama Mia and the other day was hairspray. Like, how cool was that? I'll never forget that. And like we got to talk with the cast. Yeah. I'm like, if I could, if I was an okay singer, I would have done Broadway. I would have liked it on Broadway. That's really cool.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

The first thing I was in high school was like a munchkin and the whiz, and I didn't have to do much. Oh, I didn't have to do much.

SPEAKER_04 37:22

It was perfect. Well, Sam, you have done so many incredible things, and it's so inspiring to see her do that, right?

SPEAKER_02 37:30

Yes, yes, which leads us into the advocacy in your voice. So, what are some changes you would like to see in the autism community?

SPEAKER_01 37:41

Um, I would love to see more autism more autism people have chances to more scholarships for autism people to go to college, more live-in programs so people can experience college for live-in programs. Yeah, that is so important. And more autism people to have chances for jobs, more live-in programs for um properties like first place to have properties like that to be cheaper. Right, it's so expensive. Not calling them out, they just need to be cheaper.

SPEAKER_04 38:25

All of that goes for most places.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

Yeah, yeah. Because I've been looking at this property oak tree b and I want them to build it faster so I can live there. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:39

They've come a long way. It's just they still got more to go to be more affordable and accessible.

SPEAKER_01 38:46

And I want them to be more affordable and accessible. Yeah. And more places like that to be built, and more transportation accessibility too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:55

Like so the I thought those are the three big things: transportation, work, and housing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:01

Those are the three big things for sure.

SPEAKER_04 39:03

Yeah. And you know, it's just with every year, hopefully we get closer and closer to bigger, better changes.

SPEAKER_01 39:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:10

What do you wish more people understood about individuals on the spectrum?

SPEAKER_01 39:15

That we are one person, we are not um different than anybody else. That we should be treated like everybody else. That's right. We are not different. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:29

I mean, you're different. Everybody's different, right? Yeah, I'm different, you're different, we're all different in our own little world.

SPEAKER_01 39:36

Yeah, that's what I mean. We're different. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:40

And your own person, and then not two people on the spectrum are exactly the same. Yeah, I feel like that's a big misconception. Yeah. Is that they think just because there's like a uh you're not autistic if you don't do this, this, or this, or you are autistic. No. Yeah. That's why it's called the spectrum. Yes, right.

SPEAKER_01 39:59

And everybody should be treated the same.

SPEAKER_04 40:01

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 40:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:02

Yeah. No matter what your challenges are, because we all have our own little challenges.

SPEAKER_01 40:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:06

We just gotta accommodate each other, right? Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

I love that.

SPEAKER_04 40:11

Yeah. And I mean, that goes, you know, for um any individuals that have any type of need, whether it's, you know, a senior, a baby, a child, you know, a toddler, teenager, almost the same. They all have different wants and needs.

SPEAKER_03 40:28

Yes. That are constantly changing.

SPEAKER_04 40:30

Constantly changing. Yes. All right, well, we're almost done. Yay, good time. Yeah, yeah. All right. Well, we're gonna move on forward. We just have a few more questions for you all, okay?

SPEAKER_05 40:44

Yes, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 45:18

We want to take a moment to thank Ideal for sponsoring today's episode of Mom's Raising the Spectrum. Ideal is a creative education and community space that brings together learning, innovation, and collaboration. They support entrepreneurs, educators, creators, and organizations by providing resources, events, and a studio environment designed to help ideals grow and thrive. We're especially grateful to Ideal for allowing us to record this podcast in their studio and for supporting conversations that matter to families and communities. To learn more about what they do, you can visit idealu.io. Thank you, Ideal, for believing in community creativity, and purpose driven impact.