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

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