Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast

Season 3 Intro:

We are so excited to be back for another season of podcast episodes This season we have episodes filled with incredible insights from experts on topics such as future planning and heart felt stories from families like ours.

We’re so excited for this season. We know you’ll find encouragement, connection, and hope for the road ahead. So please take a second to follow us and you won’t miss an episode.

Eric and Christen Freund are co-founders of Hope on the Hard Road Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting, encouraging, and bringing hope to families on the special needs journey through a variety of tangible resources and faith-based encouragement. College sweethearts, Eric and Christen have been married for 25 years and live in Southern California with their son Caleb and their daughter Abbey who is diagnosed with Autism. 

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
• Website: 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

 

Dad's Searies

Season 2 Wrap Up

Wow what a season of podcast episodes filled with incredible insights from experts and heart felt stories from families like all of ours. This season we had experts sharing on topics such as Special Needs Ministries for churches, Supports for families like The Regional Center, Medi Cal, IHSS, and future planning resources like limited conservatorship, SSI and Cal Able accounts, and the highly anticipated “self determination program ”.

Listen in to high lights of Season 2.  Then go back and listen again to your favorite episodes.  We look forward to seeing you back here in the fall for season 3. 

 

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: 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

 

Dad's Series:

“The Additional Needs Blogfather Part 2” with Mark Arnold

We continue our Dad series with author, speaker, advocate, ministry director and co founder Mark Arnold, also known as the Additional needs Blogfather.  Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with churches all over the UK.  He is also a dad of a son with Autism, so he understands the joys and challenges of a raising a child with special needs. Dads, after listening to this episode and Eric and Mark’s conversation you will definitely walk away feeling seen and heard.

Join in the conversation and connect with other Dads who get it at our upcoming Dad’s Meet Up this Thursday and be watching for our annual Dad’s Day Out event COMING in THIS SUMMER!

Connect with Mark at:

Episode Links and Resources:

Mark Arnold is the author of The Additional Needs Blogfather blog.  You can follow his blog and reach out to him on his website at https://theadditionalneedsblogfather.com/

Mark Arnold (The Additional Needs Blogfather) is the Additional Needs Ministry Director for Urban Saints’ pioneering additional needs ministry, including training, consultancy, conference speaking and resourcing: http://www.urbansaints.org/additionalneeds

He is co-founder of the ‘Additional Needs Alliance’, a learning and support community of almost three thousand organizations, children’s & youth workers, parents and more who are passionate about inclusion and belonging in the UK and beyond: http://www.additionalneedsalliance.org.uk

Mark is founder of ‘The Dads Fire Circle’, a place for dads and dad figures for children, young people and young adults with additional needs to gather, share and support each other: http://www.thedadsfirecircle.com

He is a ‘Churches for All’ partner, a member of the ‘Council for Disabled Children’ the ‘European Disability Network’ and the ‘Living Fully Network’, serves on the executive for ‘Children Matter!’ and writes a monthly additional needs column for Premier Youth and Children’s Work (YCW) magazine as well as being a writer/contributor for Firefly Community, Key Ministry, The Mighty, Different Dream, DAD.info, and BRF Parenting For Faith.

Mark is the author of ‘How To Include Autistic Children And Young People In Church’ creating a place of belonging and spiritual development for all: https://grovebooks.co.uk/products/y-65-how-to-include-autistic-children-and-young-people-in-church-creating-a-place-of-belonging-and-spiritual-development-for-all

Mark is dad to James, a 19-year-old Autistic young man, who journeys with Epilepsy, Learning Difficulties and Anxiety.

 

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: 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

Dad's Series:

“The Additional Needs Blogfather Part 1” with Mark Arnold

We begin our Dad series with author, speaker, advocate, ministry director and co founder Mark Arnold, also known as the Additional needs Blogfather.  Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with churches all over the UK.  He is also a dad of a son with Autism, so he understands the joys and challenges of a raising a child with special needs. Dads, after listening to this episode and Eric and Mark’s conversation you will definitely walk away feeling seen and heard.

Join in the conversation and connect with other Dads who get it at our upcoming Dad’s Meet Up this Thursday and be watching for our annual Dad’s Day Out event COMING in THIS SUMMER!

Connect with Mark at:

Episode Links and Resources:

Mark Arnold is the author of The Additional Needs Blogfather blog.  You can follow his blog and reach out to him on his website at https://theadditionalneedsblogfather.com/

Mark Arnold (The Additional Needs Blogfather) is the Additional Needs Ministry Director for Urban Saints’ pioneering additional needs ministry, including training, consultancy, conference speaking and resourcing: http://www.urbansaints.org/additionalneeds

He is co-founder of the ‘Additional Needs Alliance’, a learning and support community of almost three thousand organizations, children’s & youth workers, parents and more who are passionate about inclusion and belonging in the UK and beyond: http://www.additionalneedsalliance.org.uk

Mark is founder of ‘The Dads Fire Circle’, a place for dads and dad figures for children, young people and young adults with additional needs to gather, share and support each other: http://www.thedadsfirecircle.com

He is a ‘Churches for All’ partner, a member of the ‘Council for Disabled Children’ the ‘European Disability Network’ and the ‘Living Fully Network’, serves on the executive for ‘Children Matter!’ and writes a monthly additional needs column for Premier Youth and Children’s Work (YCW) magazine as well as being a writer/contributor for Firefly Community, Key Ministry, The Mighty, Different Dream, DAD.info, and BRF Parenting For Faith.

Mark is the author of ‘How To Include Autistic Children And Young People In Church’ creating a place of belonging and spiritual development for all: https://grovebooks.co.uk/products/y-65-how-to-include-autistic-children-and-young-people-in-church-creating-a-place-of-belonging-and-spiritual-development-for-all

Mark is dad to James, a 19-year-old Autistic young man, who journeys with Epilepsy, Learning Difficulties and Anxiety.

 

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: 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

Mom's Series:

"Gathering Dandelions" with Melissa Maimone

Mom's Series:

"Unexpected Blessings" with Sandra Peoples

Hey guys, we’re so excited your joining us today. It’s the start of our Mom series and Sandra Peoples is back and sharing with us mom to mom in this episode. Sandra is the author of Unexpected Blessings and the special needs ministry consultant for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. Lets listen in as she shares her story.

Sandra Peoples (PhD student at SWBTS) is a special-needs mom and sibling. She and her family live outside of Houston, TX where she serves her church as the Inclusion Coordinator for Special Needs Families. She is also the Special Needs Ministry Consultant for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention

. She’s the author of 

. You can connect with her at 

 

Medical Diagnosis Series

“Rising Above a Medical Diagnosis” with Becky Davidson

You are really going to enjoy listening to this episode. Becky Davidson is the Co-founder and President of Rising Above Ministries in Cookeville Tennesee. Becky is a mom of an adult son with special needs and is passionate about supporting and encouraging special-needs families, just like us. Along with her late husband Jeff Davidson, she co-authored “Common Man Extraordinary Call, Thriving as the Dad of a Child with Special Needs.” Their story is also featured in Tim Tebow’s new book, Mission Possible. Becky is a wealth of knowledge in the special needs community and an inspiration.

 

Becky Davidson

Rising Above Ministries

(931) 526-7473

risingaboveministries.org

 

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

 

Medical Diagnosis Series

"Living with a Rare Medical Diagnosis" with Jolene Philo

We’re excited to share this next episode with you. We’re beginning our medical diagnosis series with awarding winning author and speaker Jolene Philo.

Jolene Philo grew up in a caregiving family and raised a son with medical special needs. As a teacher, she created an inclusive classroom for children with disabilities for 25 years. Her books for the special needs and disability community, including Does My Child Have PTSD? and Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities. She hosts the award-winning blog, www.DifferentDream.com. See Jane Run! and See Jane Sing!, the first two mysteries in her series featuring characters with disabilities, were published in June and September of 2022.

Special Needs website: www.DifferentDream.com
Fiction website: www.jolenephilo.com
Facebook special needs page: https://www.facebook.com/DifferentDream
Facebook fiction group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2388180041395036
Instagram: @downthegravelrd
Twitter: @jolenephilo