Spellers Series:

“Spelling Adventures and Advocacy” with Kelly and Pamela Schlenz

Hey guys, we’re excited you’re joining us for this episode! Today we begin our Spellers Series, highlighting this incredible form of communication. You won’t want to miss this informative and heartwarming series this month!

Kelly Schlenz is the Executive Director of Idyllwild Pines, a retreat and camp center nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. Along with his wife, Pamela, Kelly has dedicated his life to creating spaces where individuals and families can connect, grow, and find hope.

Inspired by their daughter, Naiya, who communicates through spelling, the Schlenz family has become passionate advocates for the spelling community. At Idyllwild Pines, Kelly and Pamela host specialized camps for spellers and their families, offering opportunities for connection, inclusion, and empowerment in a beautiful, supportive environment. Their leadership reflects their deep faith, family values, and commitment to building a world where every voice can be heard and celebrated.

Bio:

Kelly serves as the Executive Director at Idyllwild Pines Camp and Conference Center, where he brings leadership, vision, and a heart for community. He sees camp ministry as a powerful way to share the hope of Christ, build meaningful relationships, and create space for spiritual growth in the lives of others. Pamela is a devoted homeschool mom of three, passionate about nurturing both faith and education at home. Inspired by their own journey with their 15-year-old minimally speaking daughter, Kelly and Pamela partnered with Autistically Inclined to create Spellers Family Camps—transformative retreats designed to support and empower families of nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals by providing connection, community, and practical support with multimodal communication. Their mission is rooted in faith, compassion, inclusion and lived experience. When they're not hosting camps or homeschooling, you can find them enjoying mountain life with their three kids, two dogs and tending to their flock of 17 chickens.

www.idyllwildpines.org

autisticallyinclined.com

Instagram:

@adventureswithnaiyagrace

@Idyllwildpines

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

Connect with Us:

If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.

Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month Series:

“Happiness is Down Syndrome” with Misty Snyder

Welcome back to the Down Syndrome Awareness Month Series! Today, we’re joined by a truly inspiring guest — Misty Coy Snyder. Misty is an actor, singer, writer, entrepreneur, and a powerful advocate for the Down syndrome community. After receiving a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis for her second son, Misty created a global platform called Happiness is Down Syndrome, promoting inclusion, awareness, and the beauty of diversity.

She currently serves as the Creative Director for Global Outreach and Advancement at RODS Heroes, and in 2023, she launched her own podcast, Bold Voices, Soft Hearts, sharing moving stories of those who’ve found passion through pain.

Get ready for a heartfelt and hopeful conversation with Misty as we celebrate the voices that are changing the world — one story at a time.

Bio:

Misty Coy Snyder is an actor, singer, writer, entrepreneur, content creator and advocate for the Down syndrome community. She recently accepted the role of Creative Director for Global Outreach and Advancement for Down syndrome at RODS Heroes, which seeks to uncover the superpowers of individuals with Down syndrome. Upon receiving a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis for her second son in 2020, she created a worldwide platform to promote inclusion and awareness called, Happiness is Down syndrome. She launched her own podcast in 2023 called, Bold Voices, Soft Hearts, which features stories of those who have discovered their passion through pain. She, along with her family hope to show the beauty of diversity on a global scale!

Contacts:

https://youtu.be/BYQuLinx_dA?si=9xW6pFLOQjtALp8g

https://www.instagram.com/happinessisdownsyndrome?igsh=YjJ2dnlxaGNtazFq&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/mistycoysnyder/profilecard/?igsh=NWg4OGJncDdkenoy

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

Connect with Us:

If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.

Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month Series:

“The Lucky Few : Shifting Narratives” with Heather Avis

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and on today’s episode we are excited to welcome guest Heather Avis — New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and founder of The Lucky Few.

For over a decade, Heather has been shifting the narrative around Down syndrome, using storytelling, advocacy, and activism to build a world where everyone belongs. Through her work, she invites us to embrace our differences and shout the worth of every person.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation about identity, belonging, and what it means to create a space where all are seen and valued.

Bio:

Heather is the founder of The Lucky Few, a New York Times best-selling author, podcaster and a Down syndrome advocate, working to create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs. For more than a decade, she has led this effort by shouting worth, shifting narratives and reimagining what it looks like when we embrace our differences. The Lucky Few is an invitation to build a kinder, more inclusive world. We accomplish this through a combination of advocacy and activism, narrative-shifting and storytelling. The Lucky Few believes in inspiring and challenging our audiences, calling them to listen, read, share, contribute and support as we work to create a world where differences are embraced and everyone belongs.

@heatheravis

@theluckyfewofficial

heatheravis.com

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

Connect with Us:

If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.

Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.