Episode Summary:

Parents of children with special needs often find themselves navigating complicated school systems, medical providers, evaluations, IEPs, and unfamiliar terminology. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina Kullberg sit down with Cambria Russell, Ph.D., Associate Executive Director at the Federation for Children with Special Needs, to talk about how parents can become confident advocates for their children while building stronger partnerships with schools and professionals.

Cambria shares her unique perspective as a former special educator, education leader, advocate, and parent of two children with disabilities. She explains why parents should recognize themselves as experts on their own children and how families can move from feeling like they are fighting against the school system to working together toward better outcomes.

The conversation also covers practical resources for families, including Parent Training and Information Centers, Parent to Parent programs, school-based parent groups, and ways to navigate a new diagnosis or suspected disability. Cambria also discusses inclusion, ableism, supporting families in everyday life, and why asking questions and listening to people with disabilities can help create more welcoming communities.

• Why parents are experts on their own children
• How to become a stronger advocate within the school system
• Ways to build a partnership with teachers, schools, and professionals
• What to do when you feel your child's needs aren't being met
• How Parent Training and Information Centers can support families
• How Parent to Parent programs connect families with lived experience
• What to do when your child is newly diagnosed or waiting for an evaluation
• How friends and family can better support parents of children with disabilities
• Why inclusion starts with asking questions and understanding individual needs
• How listening to people with disabilities can help challenge assumptions and reduce ableism

Cambria Russell, Ph.D. is the Associate Executive Director at the Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN). She began her career as a special educator and has worked in school leadership, teacher education, and advocacy. She is also a parent of two school-aged children.

Cambria brings together her professional experience in education and advocacy with her lived experience as a parent. Through her work at FCSN, she helps empower families, strengthen partnerships between families and professionals, and break down barriers so children and youth with disabilities can have better outcomes.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cambria-russell-320a464/
• Federation for Children with Special Needs: https://fcsn.org/

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Episode Summary:

Raising confident kids is about more than helping them succeed in school. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina Kullberg sit down with Dr. Michele Cho Dorado, a pediatric gastroenterologist, author, mother, and founder passionate about helping children become confident and money-smart from an early age.

Michele shares why she believes financial literacy should start when kids are young, and how parents can teach money through everyday conversations, play, hands-on experiences, and modeling. From saving and investing to starting pretend businesses and learning from failure, she explains how simple activities can help children develop curiosity, confidence, decision-making skills, and a growth mindset.

The conversation also explores the connection between money beliefs, family values, confidence, and the messages children absorb at home. Michele shares lessons from her own journey as a physician, investor, author, and entrepreneur, along with practical ways parents can encourage lifelong learning and help their children become thoughtful, independent decision-makers.

• Why financial literacy should start early in childhood
• How parents can teach money through everyday activities and play
• The importance of modeling healthy money habits at home
• How curiosity and asking questions build confidence
• Why failure can be one of the best learning tools for kids
• How money beliefs and family experiences can shape children
• Ways to encourage a growth mindset and independent decision-making
• How financial confidence connects to broader life skills and self-confidence

Dr. Michele Cho Dorado is a pediatric gastroenterologist, author, mother, investor, and entrepreneur passionate about raising confident, curious, and money-smart kids. Inspired by her own children, she created Reach for the Stars, a collection of children's books and educational resources designed to introduce young learners to financial concepts through engaging stories and real-life experiences.

Michele believes financial education is about much more than teaching children what money means. It is about helping them develop the confidence to ask questions, make decisions, take thoughtful risks, learn from failure, and build a healthy relationship with money.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelecd

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How can parents help children feel more confident, capable, and empowered as they grow? In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina sit down with Jessica Hardy, a child life specialist with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families in pediatric hospital settings, to explore how parents can support children through medical experiences, everyday decisions, screen time, and the journey toward independence.

Jessica shares what inspired her to work with children and families and explains how child life specialists help children understand and cope with medical experiences. She discusses the importance of giving children developmentally appropriate information, offering choices, using coping tools, and advocating for pain management during procedures such as vaccinations and medical visits.

The conversation also explores screen time, setting healthy boundaries around technology, and why giving children age-appropriate choices and responsibilities can help build confidence. Jessica shares practical parenting insights from her professional experience and her own journey raising two children, including the importance of staying connected while giving kids the space they need to become independent.

• How child life specialists help children cope with medical experiences and new diagnoses
• Ways parents can prepare children for doctor visits, vaccinations, and procedures
• Why pain management and giving children choices can make medical experiences easier
• How parents can build confidence by giving children age-appropriate responsibilities
• The connection between independence, decision-making, and self-confidence
• How to set healthy boundaries around screen time and technology
• Why staying connected and available helps children develop independence
• How to support children through the natural push and pull of growing up

Jessica Hardy is a child life specialist with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families in pediatric hospital settings. She holds a bachelor's degree in child development and family and consumer studies and has built her career around helping families navigate new diagnoses, medical procedures, hospitalization, and emotional challenges.

As a child life specialist, Jessica helps children understand what is happening to them, prepares them for medical experiences using age-appropriate information, and provides coping tools, distraction, play, and opportunities for children to make choices. Her approach focuses on helping children feel supported, informed, and empowered during experiences that can otherwise feel overwhelming.

Jessica also brings a deep understanding of family dynamics and parenting challenges to her work. In this conversation, she shares practical wisdom on helping children develop confidence, responsibility, independence, and the ability to make decisions while maintaining a strong connection with their parents.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessica-hardy-boise

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