In this heartfelt episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with an incredible mom Becky, and her two adult daughters, Hannah and Nicole, to honor the life and legacy of Breanna—their daughter and sister who had multiple disabilities, including blindness and mobility challenges, and who passed away three years ago. Together, we explore the deep love, joy, and challenges they experienced as a special needs family, and how Breanna’s presence shaped their bond.

We talk about the funny memories, the hard days, the strength Breanna unknowingly gave them, and what life looks like now without her physical presence—but with her spirit still very much alive. This emotional and uplifting conversation is a tribute to unconditional love, sisterhood, and the resilience of families who walk this unique path.

Tune in for a story that will move your heart and remind you that the love we give and receive knows no limits.

Today we’re talking about something so many special needs parents struggle with—helping our kids learn to advocate for themselves.

I’ve personally been dealing with this forever with my son, who is now 21-year-old, who is blind and autistic. He has a hard time voicing his needs—whether it’s letting me know if he’s hungry or not feeling well, asking for help, or even just problem-solving in everyday situations.

Today, I want to share some real-life examples of the challenges we face, explore why this happens, and—most importantly—open up the conversation to see what has worked for you as fellow parents and caregivers.

I would love to hear your stories or strategies you've used to help your kid advocate for themselves. You can find me on Instagram @rockin_the_difference and leave a DM or comment. Or email me at rockingthedifference@gmail.com

On today’s episode of Rocking the Difference, I am honored to welcome an incredible guest whose story is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of self-belief. Amanda Casarella grew up facing challenges that many of us can relate to—struggling with a learning disability, battling debilitating migraines that kept her out of school, and navigating the stigma of being placed in special education. On top of that, she endured shame and abuse that made her believe her identity and worth were tied to her disability.

She made the courageous choice to reclaim her narrative, break free from the limitations placed on her, and step into the truth of who she is. Today, she embraces her journey, knowing that every challenge shaped the powerhouse woman she’s become. She’s now a passionate actress and entrepreneur, using her experiences sharing her journey to inspire others, proving that our past does not define us—our determination does.

You can find Amanda Casarella here:

Instagram: @Amanda.Casarella and @alittlehouseorganized

www.amandacasarella.com

www.alittlehouseorganized.com

After the busyness of the holidays, I wanted to get back in touch with you all and talk about intention, creating community and upcoming changes and challenges this year.

Here is a quick episode to get reconnected!

Some great Podcasts to check out: The Special Needs Mom Podcast - Episode: Stabilizing After Winter Break and Moms Talk Autism Podcast

You can find me on Instagram @Rockin_the_Difference Email: rockinthedifference@gmail.com

Today I talk with my friend, Nada, on the sacrifices we make as parents of special needs individuals.

We all make sacrifices to ensure our kids are getting the best of what we can give them. With Nada, this meant moving countries with her kids, while her husband stayed. It meant giving up what she was familiar with to make sure her son lived a full life and adjusting to a new family dynamic with her kids and long distance marriage.

She's an amazing woman and I hope you can resonate with her story.

In this episode we discuss how life can just be OVERWHELMING.

In today's episode I talk with Erin and Bruce Wilson who founded If I Need Help.

They started this non profit which provides a system to help find special needs kids, as well as individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimers, that go missing, especially for those who can’t communicate. It uses modern technologies to help reunite those who might become lost, disoriented or need assistance in a critical moment.

They share what inspired them to start this business, how it has impacted their family, how to learn more about it as well as some awesome success stories.

To learn more you can find the at www.ifineedhelp.org

In this episode I talk about my son, Ryan, reaching a milestone and moving towards that next phase from being in the school years bubble into adulthood and how that unpredictability and foreverness hit me hard.

If you have comments or ideas you'd like to share on this topic, I'd love to hear them and possibly expand on them in future episodes.

You can DM on Instragram: /rockin_the_difference or email me at rockingthedifference@gmail.com