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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.
Episodes

Monday Jan 10, 2022
”2022 Preview” with Eric and Christen Freund
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
"2022 Preview" with Eric and Christen Freund
Eric and Christen Preview the upcoming Podcasts for the 2022 Year. Join us to listen to what is coming to the Hope on the Hard Road Podcast.
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Monday Dec 13, 2021
”2021 Year-in-Review” with Eric and Christen Freund
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
"2021 Year-in-Review" with Eric and Christen Freund
This is going to be a fun episode. Eric and Christen celebrate Christmas by sharing a few holiday helps and recap this years 2021 podcast episodes. Whether your listening while working out, on the road, or sitting at the table with a cup of coffee or your favorite tea, we hope you take a moment to listen and enjoy.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Eric and Christen Freund
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Monday Nov 29, 2021
”Applied Behavior Analysis” with Megan Sprague
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Therapy Series:
Applied Behavior Analysis with Megan Sprague
Hey guys today we are sharing another great episode in our Therapy Series. Megan Sprague is the Clinical Director of ABA at Hope Comprehensive Center for Development and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, who even at a young age was passionate about helping those around her with special needs. On this episode, Megan shares some valuable insights into behaviors and she gives some timely advice as we head into the holiday season, a time when our kids find themselves off schedule and often disregulated.
Episode Links and Resources:
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Megan Sprague, BCBA
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hopeccd/
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
More about Megan:
As long as Megan Sprague can remember she has been focused on inclusion and teaching. This passion led her to get her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona in Family Studies and Human Development with a minor in counseling in Special Education. She then went on to fall in love with autism and behavior analysis and attended the University of North Texas to obtain her Master’s degree in Behavior Analysis. Megan has been a BCBA since 2009 and is proud to have influenced growth in many children, families, and staff in the process. Megan’s passion has grown to include building a program that keeps the heart in all services, allows parents and staff to feel supported and part of each client’s progress. She is proud to influence the growth of others towards their goals of becoming BCBAs and further helping the clients we serve. Megan is extremely proud of the team and program being built that provides top quality behavior analytic services, trains clinical staff with client led priorities and out of the box thinking, and is expanding to serve so many in Southern California. When not geeking out over her standard celeration charts, Megan is spending time with her husband and two small children in Temecula, crocheting, and is rarely found without a cup of coffee to keep it all going. She looks forward to helping anyone navigate their services or learn more about ABA.

Monday Nov 15, 2021
”Occupational Therapy” with Jan Dalby
Monday Nov 15, 2021
Monday Nov 15, 2021
Therapy Series:
"Occupational Therapy" with Jan Dalby
Thanks for joining us for today’s podcast, another episode in our current Therapy series. We first met Jan Dalby at our daughter’s therapy clinic where Jan is both Occupational Therapist and co owner. She also founded a nonprofit called Fearfully and Wonderfully Made which hosts special needs sports camps, something we’ll be talking about. Jan has a vast amount of knowledge and experience both as a parent and working as a pediatric Occupational Therapist and TEACCH Certified Practitioner
Episode Links and Resources:
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Jan Dalby, OTR/L
President, K.I.D.S. Therapy Associates, Inc
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Monday Nov 01, 2021
“Counseling for Special Needs Families” with Cheryl Jordan
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Therapy Series:
“Counseling for Special Needs Families” with Cheryl Jordan
Today’s episode from our Therapy Series is filled with lots of practical insights and valuable information for families considering counseling. Cheryl Jordan has been married to her husband Rob for 29 years and they have two boys in their late teens/early 20’s. She began her career as a physical therapist and after entering the world of counseling as a parent, she decided to make a career change to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She has worked with children, adults and couples as a bereavement counseling and as a mental health counselor for a day treatment center for teens with behavior and executive functioning challenges.
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Monday Oct 18, 2021
“Special Needs Ministry” with Janice Chan
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Ministry Series:
“Special Needs Ministry” with Janice Chan
You’re going to love today’s episode about Special Needs Ministry. Janice Chan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and former moderate/severe special education teacher. She is a part-time lecturer in the Department of Special Education at San Diego State University, teaching and supervising aspiring Special Education teachers. She also works with several research teams, focusing on disability inclusion and the development of autism interventions for use in schools. In the community, Janice serves as the Vice President of Banding Together, a San Diego-based music therapy nonprofit, and as the Disability Ministry Deacon at Reservoir Church in Escondido.
Episode Links and Resources
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Janice Chan, BCBA
Buddy Break Coordinator
Special Needs Ministry Deacon
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Monday Oct 04, 2021
“Miracle 139 International” with Linda Martin
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Ministry Series:
“Miracle 139 International” with Linda Martin
You guys are gonna love today’s episode from our Ministry Series. Linda Martin is a music therapist and the President and Core Team Lead for Miracle 139 International which serves 36 countries. She has an amazing heart for special needs ministry and an amazing story that we know you’ll want to hear.
Episode Links and Resources:
Linda Martin, MME, MT-BC
Miracle 139 International
- Website: miracle139international.org
- miracle139international.org/videolibrary (disability-related tips videos in English, Spanish & Mandarin)
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Monday Sep 20, 2021
“Rights and Recommendations in the IEP Process” with Wendy Dumlao
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Special Education Series:
“Rights and Recommendations in the IEP Process” with Wendy Dumlao
Wendy Dumlao has been an attorney for almost 14 years practicing disability law. She worked for 5 years as the Clients Rights Advocate in San Diego, before opening her own practice. She specializes in advocacy related to Regional Center services, Social Security, Medi-Cal, IHSS and special education. So she has a lot of great insights to share.
Episode Links and Resources:
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Law Office of Wendy R. Dumlao
1804 Garnet Avenue #435
San Diego, CA 92109
(209) 663-9541
Fax: 951-506-9120
[email protected] - SERR manual form Disability Rights CA -SERR – Special Education Rights and Responsibilities – This manual explains how to become eligible for special education, how to request and advocate for special education services, and what to do if you disagree with school districts. (disabilityrightsca.org)
- Compliance Complaint with CDE - Complaint Process - Quality Assurance Process (CA Dept of Education)
- OAH and Due Process Complaint - OAH SE Forms (ca.gov)
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.
- Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Hope on the Hard Road, Inc
Hope on the Hard Road Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping connect and encourage families with children of all ages with special needs through programs designed to support the unique needs of the individual, the family, and the community.
Check our or website