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Special Needs Daily

LA Enright

Life with Special Needs children and adults can be beautifully messy, unbelievably exhausting, and unexpectedly hilarious.

Special Needs Daily is a place where parents, caregivers, etc., can breathe, laugh at things most wouldn't understand, and remember that none of us have to do it alone.

This isn't a podcast about having all the answers. It's about finding joy in the chaos, humor in the hard days, and hope in the middle of real life.

So grab your cold cup of coffee, hide in the pantry, and laugh through the tears with us.

If you're raising a child with special needs, and you desperately need a smile today...welcome home!

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9 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 11 min
English

Episodes 9

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S1 · E9
Sunday · 16 min
Our Hope Is Not For Sale
“My child was nonverbal, until we tried THIS.” You’ve seen the posts. The green smoothie, supplement, diet or latest “miracle” followed by a child suddenly speaking, and, conveniently, a link to buy it. In this very personal Episode 9, I’m talking about the dangerous line between hope and false hope, the guilt these promises can create for special-needs parents, and why our children’s progress should never become someone else’s sales pitch. And seriously, if you got an autistic child with sensory issues to willingly drink that thick green smoothie, forget the testimonial. Show me THAT.
- Transcript
S1 · E8
September 9 · 14 min
More Than Words
I almost didn't take my nonverbal autistic teenage twins to our community pool because sometimes I just don't have the energy for the stares, questions and explanations. I'm so glad I did. Two young boys, one simple sign and an afternoon in the pool reminded me that communication doesn't always need words, and sometimes the people we're preparing ourselves to defend our children against may completely surprise us. My boys didn't say a single word that day, and somehow four kids understood each other perfectly.
- Transcript
S1 · E7
September 4 · 10 min
The Holiday Weekend
A three-day weekend sounds relaxing, until you realize school is closed Monday. 😂 For special needs parents and caregivers, holiday weekends can bring a strange mix of wanting to be included, knowing an invitation might be more stressful than staying home, and then wondering why staying home can still feel a little lonely. In this episode, I’m talking barbecues, backup chargers, keeping our kids safe, scanning exits like Secret Service, and the complicated truth that sometimes we don’t want to go, but we still want to be asked.
- Transcript
August 30 · 12 min
See the Able NOT the Label
When I was reprimanded for calling my own boys “non-verbal,” my Jersey came out, and it got me thinking. Labels can unlock services, support and accommodations. But they can never tell you who our children are or what they’re capable of becoming. A report is a snapshot of where they are. It is NOT a prophecy of where they’re going. Let’s talk labels, and why we should always see the able, not the label.
- Transcript
S1 · E5
August 24 · 13 min
I Had A Plan Today, That's Adorable!
Ever make a plan to get your life together… only to have life remind you that it was never consulted? I had a plan: wake up before the boys, get a head start on my day, answer emails, return calls and maybe even squeeze in a podcast. What actually happened? Very little sleep, one thing after another, and somehow I ended up snaking a toilet. In this episode of Special Needs Daily, we’re talking about those days when the best-laid plans don’t just go sideways, they take a hard left into plumbing. Because sometimes success isn’t crushing your morning routine. Sometimes it’s just surviving the morning with your sense of humor intact.
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S1 · E4
August 22 · 13 min
High School and Hills Oh My!
The first day of high school is a big deal. The first day of high school with twin non-verbal autistic teenagers? That’s a whole different kind of drop-off. I walked in cracking jokes with security and walked out wondering who was watching my boys, whether they understood I was coming back, and questioning every decision I’d just made. Cue the tears, the box breathing…and Nelly singing Hot in Herre at exactly the right moment. This is special needs parenting: pride, panic, love, laughter and letting go…sometimes all before you even make it home.
- Transcript
S1 · E3
August 18 · 8 min
No Accommodations & Nowhere to go!
High school registration with zero special-needs accommodations. A burning Amazon truck. Three hours stranded on the 5. And two non-verbal autistic teenage boys who finally decided clothing was optional. Just another week at Special Needs Daily. This episode is about advocating when the system doesn't get it right, surviving when life REALLY doesn't go according to plan—and finding something to laugh about in the middle of it all. Because sometimes you don't laugh because it's funny. You laugh because you made it through.
- Transcript
August 7 · 6 min
Email Questions, Laughter & Two Cents
I know I said my 2nd episode would involve a guest, and that is happening, we are just coordinating busy schedules. So in the meantime, I thought I'd answer a couple questions that I received through specialneedsdaily.com. I also share something that I had to use both hands over my mouth to keep from running through my lips!
- Transcript
S1 · E1
August 3 · 6 min
Why We Laugh Anyway
In this first episode, I'm sharing who I am, why I started Special Needs Daily, and why I believe laughter isn't ignoring the hard, it helps us survive it. So if you're laughing on the days you're too tired to even smile, then Welcome, you're our people!
- Transcript

Showing 1–9 of 9 episodes