Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker
Parenting a child with a disability can feel overwhelming and isolating—but you don’t have to journey this road alone. Take the Next Step offers practical insights to help you create a thriving future for your whole family. Join Amy Julia every Wednesday for honest conversations that offer simple next steps to build connection, belonging, and delight—at home and in community.
Episodes
27 episodes
How Disability Changed This Dad’s Idea of “Normal” with Mike Erre
E25—What do you do when the child you imagined isn’t the child you have? Pastor Mike Erre experienced the slow dismantling of achievement-based parenting when his son with Down syndrome was born. If you’re exhausted by comparisons and mi...
From Fear to Future: How Families Plan for a Good Life with Sheli Reynolds, PhD
E24—"I don't know what life can look like for my child." If you've ever felt that, this episode is for you. Sheli Reynolds, PhD, is a leader in disability innovation. She joins Amy Julia Becker to share free, practical tools that support...
How to Find Your People When You Feel Invisible with Katherine Wolf
E23—The meals stop coming. The texts slow down. And suddenly you feel like you’re navigating disability alone. Friends can be great at showing up in a crisis, but how do you find community for your family when life stays hard day after m...
Disability + Siblings: What the Research Says with Meghan Burke, PhD
E22—Is having a sibling with a disability hard on kids? Researcher Meghan Burke has spent years studying (and living) this question. Her findings might surprise you. In this episode, she joins Amy Julia Becker to share:what s...
After Diagnosis: Grief Isn’t the End of the Story with Dr. Curt Thompson
E21—As the mom of a daughter with Down syndrome, I have felt my fair share of complicated emotions over these past twenty years. And sometimes, I haven't known what to do with those emotions, especially the ones that seem negative, like ...
Disability + Family: What Is Good? What Is Hard? with Renee Dollenmayer
E20—Does your child struggle to understand who they are in a world that sees disability as a deficit? Renee Dollenmayer, founder of Even If Ministries, shares how living with cerebral palsy shap...
Disability and Simple Faith Practices for Exhausted Parents with Pam Harmon
E19—Many parents of children with disabilities carry deep spiritual questions and have very little space to process them. Amy Julia Becker talks with Pam Harmon about spiritual direction and why it can be a lifeline for parents navigatin...
Your Child’s Behavior Is Communication with Emily Longino
E18—Your child isn’t “misbehaving.” They’re trying to be understood. Many children with disabilities communicate through behavior, especially when spoken words aren’t available in the moment. Behavior analyst Emily Longino shares practic...
Why “Special Needs Ministry” Isn’t Enough with Rebecca Wall
E17—Is your family welcome at church? If Sunday mornings leave you more exhausted than encouraged, you’re not alone. Rebecca Wall, Executive Director of With Ministries, joins Amy Julia Becker to...
Parent + Caregiver: How to Do Both Without Burning Out with Juli Henderson
E16 — Parent and medical caregiver. Many parents of children with disabilities know the complexity of these two full-time roles. Juli Henderson, founder of In Our Arms, was the caregiver for h...
Disability: Tragedy, Inspiration… or Something Else? with Matthew Mooney
E15 — Tired of feeling like you have to “fix” your child—or turn their life into an inspiration story? Parents of kids with disabilities are often pushed toward two extremes: tragedy or triumph. But what if both miss the point? In this c...
How Disability Parents Can Get Organized Without Burning Out with Angela O’Brien
Ep 14 — If paperwork and clutter are exhausting you, you’re not alone. Professional organizer Angela O’Brien, mom to a young adult daughter with Down syndrome, talks with Amy Julia Becker about the unique organizing challenges of disabil...
Thriving in Marriage as Disability Parents with Todd and Kristin Evans
Ep 13 — There's a myth out there that raising a child with disabilities will doom a marriage. But the data tells a different story. In our conversation, authors Todd and Kristin Faith Evans join Amy Julia Becker to offer simple ways for ...
When Special Education Works with Adrian Wood
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 tru...
A Lifeline for Disability Parents: Your Feedback, Our Future
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 Ch...
From Chaos to Calm-ish: Holiday Survival for Disability Parents with Niro Feliciano, LCSW
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 ho...
The Power of Proximity in Disability Parenting with Sho Baraka
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 mark...
How to Handle Awkward Questions About Disability with Carrie Hahn
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 cor...
The Help Disability Parents Actually Need (But Rarely Ask For) with Jordan Arogeti
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 f...
What If I’m Just Exhausted? {Questions from Disability Parents} with Matt Mooney
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...
From Deficit to Delight: Changing the Disability Narrative with Heather Avis
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...
Disability & Belonging: “We Aren’t Us Without You” with Erik Carter
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 belongin...
Disability & Family: The Yes/No Filter Every Parent Needs with Jillian Benfield
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 bea...
The Hospitality of Need: Disability and Interdependence with Kevan Chandler
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,...
Parenting Kids with Disabilities: The Power of Delight with Sissy Goff
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 ...