Special Fathers' Network Podcast

Our guest this week is Doug Noll, of Fresno County, CA, who worked for 20 years as a corporate lawyer, is a professional mediator, recognized expert in the area of peacemaking and conflict resolution, co-founder of Prison of Peace, and author of four books, including the Best-Seller - De-Escalate: How to Calm An Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less. Most remarkably, growing up in San Marino, CA, Doug was the oldest of five, was blind, partially deaf and club footed. At three he had corrective surgery. In 4th grade his sight was 20/400. While Doug knew he was loved, he describes his childhood as 'quite miserable.' With Laurel Kaufer, Doug founded Prison of Peace in 2009. The Prison of Peace project has been the most profound peace training Doug has conducted thus far in his career. He has been deeply moved by inmates who have learned and applied deep, empathic listening skills, leadership skills, and problem-solving skills to reduce violence in their prison communities. Their dedication to learning, improv

Our guest this week is Sanath Kumar Ramesh of San Jose, CA, IL, the father of a son with a super rare disease, a successful tech executive and co-founder of the Open Treatment Foundation. Sanath and his wife, Ramya, have been married for 7 years and are the proud parents of Raghav, who is 3 and was diagnosed with SSMD or Sedaghatiantype Spondylo Metaphyseal Dysplasia an extremely rare progressive disease.Sanath is very open and transparent about his early denial. And we learn about Sanath's efforts to create the Open Treatment Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to creating a software platform that streamlines therapy development for any monogenic rare disease regardless of rarity and geography. We also learn about the Raising Rare Podcast that Sanath hosts to draw attention to the Open Treatment Foundation and efforts to educate, enlighten and inspire those touched by rare disease. It’s a fascinating and uplifting story about gratitude, overcoming denial, as well as making the most of life, in the face of rar

Our guest this week is Jim Mullen, a disabled Chicago Police Officer who was shot and catastrophically injured in the line of duty, leaving him a ventilator dependent quadriplegic. We’ll hear how Jim's life has changed, how his injury has affected him, his wife and his daughter (who was only 7 months old at the time), about his hobby of buying and selling vintage muscle cars, how he has started marketing and selling his mother’s delicious apple sauce recipe through Mullen's Food Company, now available at Amazon, Walmart and other national retailers. It’s a fascinating and uplifting story about gratitude and making the most of life, in the face of severe adversity, here on this week’s Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Website - http://www.mullenfoods.com Email - Mullenfoods@outlook.com CPMF – https://cpdmemorial.org/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mullen-4797b010/ CBS Reporter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei74KnRvcQ4 Please take the SFN Early Intervention Parent Survey and as a token

Our guests this week are Toby Brown of Colorado Springs and Jesse Hohn of Littleton, CO. Toby and his wife, Angela Bird, have been married for 15 years and are the proud parents of two children; Kavan (19) and Anabelle (17).Jesse and his wife, Felima, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of three children: Ethan (21), Arianna (18) and Sadie (14). Four of their five children have Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (or SDS), a rare genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body, particularly the bone marrow, pancreas and skeletal system. We learn about how Toby and Jesse's friendship has evolved as a result of both having children with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. We also learn about many of the organizations that have played an instrumental role in the lives of the Brown and Hohn families, including: Camp Sunshine in Maine, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics of Colorado, Team Impact and the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation. It's an uplifting story about two dedicated dads, their c

Our guest this week is Dr. Eric Endlich, of Sonoma, CA who is an Autistic man, the father of two, a Psychologist, author and founder of Top College Consultants, an organization that serves students with Autism, ADHD and other learning differences, navigate the college admissions process. Eric and his wife, Kristina, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of two children; Elyse (21) and Alex (24) who is Autistic. Eric discovered late in life he is Autistic, which has helped him relate to his son and has shaped his career. His book, “Older Autistic Adults In Their Words, The Lost Generation”, is available on Amazon. We’ll hear Eric’s fascinating story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast.Top College Consultants - https://www.topcollegeconsultants.com Asperger Autism Network (AANE) - https://www.aane.org Email - eendlich1@gmail.com Book: Older Autistic Adults: In Their Own Words - https://tinyurl.com/5czzzyhfPhone – (617) 515-3568LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/topcolleg

Our guest this week is Joe Lang of Sacramento, CA who is managing partner at Lang, Hansen, Giroux & Kidane, a lobbying/government relations firm, as well as the co-founder of Jordan’s Guardian Angels, a non-profit whose mission is helping to improve and bring joy to the lives of children and families in the Coachella Valley and beyond. Joe and his wife, Cynthia, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of two children; Blythe (30) and Jordan (16), who was diagnosed with PPP2R5D, now known as Jordan’s Syndrome. We’ll learn about the Lang family journey, how PPP2R5D was named Jordan Syndrome, how Jordan’s Guardian Angels came into existence and how they support & bring joy to the lives of families raising children with special healthcare needs.Jordan’s Guardian Angels - https://jordansguardianangels.org Family Conference Documentary - https://jordansguardianangels.org/watch-our-story/ Email - jlang@lhom.com Phone – (916) 708-1802Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring pr

This week David Hirsch talks with fellow Illini Adam Bleakney, head coach of the wheelchair track program, which is part of the Division Of Disability Resources & Educational Services in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We also meet: Amanda McGrory and Brian Siemann, two University of Illinois graduates who were part of the wheelchair track team and who have both competed in numerous international Paralympic events. You’ll learn about their backstories, what brought them to the world of adaptive athletics at UofI, as well as how their university experience has allowed them to prosper, find meaningful employment, to compete at the highest levels internationally and to see the world. It’s an amazing trio of stories that you’ll hear on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast. University of Illinois Adaptive Athletics Programs – https://www.disability.illinois.edu LinkedIn –Adam - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-bleakney-4ba61421/ Amanda - ht

Our guest this week is Rabbi Kalman Samuels of Jerusalem, Israel. Rabbi Samuels and his wife, Malki, have seven children, one of whom, Yossi, became deaf and blind after being administered a faulty vaccine at two. We’ll hear the remarkable story of how Yossi learned to communicate, to read, and how Kalman and Malki started Shalva, a seven story state-of-the art center on five acres in downtown Jerusalem, which serves as a beacon of hope, helping thousands of disabled children weekly, gain an ability to have a higher quality life. We’ll also hear about Kalman’s book, “Dreams Never Dreamed: A Mother’s Promise That Transformed Her Son’s Breakthrough into a Beacon of Hope” available on Amazon. It’s an amazing story and one you’ll enjoy on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Links:SHALVA The Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities - https://www.shalva.org Book - Dreams Never Dreamed: A Mother’s. Promise That Transformed Her Son’s Breakthrough into a Beacon of Hope -

Our guest this week is Shayne Gaffney of Windham, NH, a cycling & running coach, a licensed physical therapy assistant, and father of two including a daughter with CytoMegaloVirus, or CMV.Shayne and his wife, Megan, have been married for 8 years and are the proud parents of two children: Finn (5) and Grace (3), who was diagnosed with CytoMegaloVirus or CMV, a common virus, but when a baby is born with congenital CMV infection, it can result in several long-term health problems. We learn about the Gaffney family journey, their advocacy for those impacted by CMV and the role Easter Seals & the CMV Foundation has played in their lives. That's all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Email – Gaffney.shayne@gmail.comPhone – (978) 604-5543LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayne-gaffney-19011914a/ Easter Seals of New Hampshire - https://www.easterseals.com/nh/ National CMV Foundation - https://www.nationalcmv.org Website – https://www.nowiknowcmv.com Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad

Our guest this week is Doug Robb of Long Valley, NJ the father of five including two with Autism, a financial advisor and co-founder of Seat At The Table Foundation, a non-profit organization.Doug and his wife, Dara, have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of five children; Taylor (27), Dougie (25), Jackson (22), Peyton (21), and Mia (19). Dougie and Jackson are both on the Autism spectrum. We’ll learn about Doug's background, growing up in NJ, his interest in football with a brief brush with the NFL, his career in financial services, as well as the ups and downs of raising five children, including two with Autism. We also learn about their deep faith and commitment to their marriage and family as well as the vision they have for the Seat At The Table Foundation, a non-profit to serve those with different abilities. It’s a uplifting as well as insightful story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Facebook Page - https://m.facebook.com/A-Seat-at-t

Our guest this week is Sarah Putt of Seattle, WA, the mother of young child, the founder and clinical director of Sarah Bryan Therapy, and Creator/Host of the OT 4 Lyfe Podcast, dedicated to promoting and bringing awareness to the field of occupational therapy. We’ll learn about Sarah's background with degrees in psychology from Pepperdine University and masters in occupational therapy from University of Southern California, which prepared her for a career as an occupational therapist. We also learn about her role as a leader in the OT field, which includes mentoring younger OTs and hosting the OT4Lyfe Podcast, now with more than 100 episodes. It’s a uplifting as well as insightful story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahputt/Email - sarah@ot4lyfe.comSarah Bryan Therapy – https://sarahbryantherapy.com OT4Lyfe Website - https://ot4lyfe.com Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers ra

Our guest this week is Chris Velona of North Los Angeles, CA. Chris and his x-wife, Teresa, are the proud parents of two boys; Gage (16) and Sebastian (18), who was diagnosed with Batten Disease CLN8, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. We’ll learn about Chris' journey, which includes his own battle with alcoholism, shouldering the Batten Disease diagnosis, and creating Project Sebastian, a non-profit to support families touched by Batten Disease and rare disease. We also learn about a number of organizations that have played an influential role in their lives, including: Charlotte & Gwyneth Gray Foundation, the Batten Disease Support & Research Association, and Sebastian Velona Foundation, started by Teresa Fox, Sebastian's mom. It’s a fascinating story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophervelona/ Email- Info@projectsebastian.org Project Sebastian – https://www.projectsebastian.org Phone – (661) 414-4856Ch

Our guest this week is Justin DeVault of Algonquin, IL. Justin and his wife, Margaret, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of three; Hazel (3), Alice (5) and Henry (13). Hazel was diagnosed with Autism and Henry had a brain stroke shortly after birth, that lead to the loss of his sight and has impaired his neurological development. We’ll learn about Justin's journey, which included a sister with special needs and who is legally blind, teaching in a Montessori School, the full range of challenges their children have encountered and a number of organizations that have played an influential role in their lives, including: Dream Riders TLC, Clearbrook Arlington Heights, Duke University Cord Blood Bank and Thumbuddy Special. It’s a fascinating story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-devault-373043b9/ Email – pasteboardmask@gmail.com Dream Riders TLC - https://www.dreamriderstlc.com Clearbrook Arling

Our guest this week is Mike Graglia of Palo Alto, CA. Mike and his wife, Ashley, are parents to two boys John (3) and Tony (8) who was diagnosed with SynGap 1, a rare genetic disorder. We’ll learn about Mike's eclectic career including being a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia, as well as working at: the World Bank, Boston Consulting Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, New America, and Emerson Collective before jumping in full-time at the SynGAP Research Fund in a quest to find treatments and a cure for those who diagnosed with SynGap1. It’s a fascinating story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Website – https://www.syngapresearchfund.org SynGAP 10 Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/syngap10-weekly-10-minute-updates-on-syngap1-video/id1560389818 Email – mike@syngapresearchfund.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/graglia/ Evans/Graglia YouTube Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLO2hsAi4-M&t=

Our guest this week is Riana Milne of Del Rey Beach, FL, who is a mother of two, grandmother of six, a licensed mental health counselor with decades of experience, a global life & love coach, childhood and love trauma recovery specialist, bestselling author and fellow podcast host. Riana has a BA in Broadcasting & Speech Communications from Penn State University, and a MA in Applied Clinical & Counseling Psychology from Rowan University, NJ, plus a dozen certificates and licenses, including; Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Addictions Professional and Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor.She is also a best selling author including the books: - Live Beyond Your Dreams-Love Beyond Your DreamsRiana also hosts the Lessons In Life & Love Podcast, with well over 100 episodes. Riana offers sage advice for moms and dads for themselves and their relationships as well as those seeking help for their sons/daughters and other loved ones. Website - https://rianamilne.com > E-book and 4

Our guest this week is Catherine Whitchter of Milwaukee, WI a mother two daughters, one of whom has Epilepsy. Catherine is also one the country’s most well-respected experts on IEPs or Individual Education Plans. She is also a podcast host and has created the Master IEP Coach program. We’ll learn about her career as a Special Education teacher, growing up with a younger brother with Down syndrome and hear some sage advice on how to create win-win strategies to help your child succeed. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Show Links:Website - https://catherinewhitcher.mykajabi.com Email – catherine@catherinewhitcher.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinewhitcher/ Special Education Inner Circle Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-inner-circle/id1484686234website: https://www.masteriepcoach.comSpecial Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Father

Our guest this week is Duncan Keya of Nairobi, Kenya, the father of four children and a Designated Migration Officer at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi. Duncan and his wife, wife, Faith, have been married for six years and are the proud parents of four children: Luka (5), who has Autism, Khalayi (2) who has Albinism and two other children: Keith (13) and Kaylee (6) from his first marriage. Duncan has become an outspoken advocate for families raising children with all types of special healthcare needs and has helped start the SFN Nairobi Dads Meetup Group. It's a very compelling story all here on the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Kenya Autism Alliance - http://www.kenyaautismalliance.org Albinism Society of Kenya Website – https://albinismsocietyofkenya.org/blog/blog-2/ Positive Exposures Kenya website - http://www.positiveexposure-kenya.orgEmail – duncan.keya@gmail.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-keya-03155729/ Andy Speaks - https://andy.or.ke Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to da

Our guest this week is William "Bill" Strickland, Jr. of Pittsburg, PA, a John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Genius Fellow, founder of Bidwell Training Center and Manchester Craftsman's Guild, an author, and a former pilot. Bill is the quintessential social entrepreneur. Through his love of the arts and specifically pottery, Bill has been offering welfare moms, out of work steel workers and at-risk youth vocational training in the arts and culinary worlds. Bill Strickland and his work offers new hope to displaced and underemployed workers around the country and we’re proud to have him be our guest for this 200th Special Father Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Personal website - http://www.bill-strickland.com/home.html Email - wstricklandjr@mcg-btc.org Website - https://www.manchesterbidwell.org TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/speakers/bill_strickland Harvard Video - https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/voices/events/strickland/ Book - Make the Impossible Possible - https://www.amazon.com/Make-Impossible-Possib

Our guest this week is Damion Navarro of Frankfort, IL, owner of NES Environmental, a father of three, including son Carter, who has Down Syndrome, and now a farmer! Damion and his wife, Sherri, are co-founders of Navarro Farm, a place to grow and employ people with all types of ability. We’ll hear Damion’s and the Navarro Farm story in this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Navarro Farm - https://www.navarrofarm.orgEmail – damion@navarrofarm.org LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damion-navarro-31314160/ CBS Story - https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/08/13/navarro-farm-frankfort-illinois-special-needs/Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who under

Our guest this week is Jeremiah Kuria of Maaimahiu, Kenya, the father of three adult children and co-founder of Ubuntu Life, a Non-Governmental Organization and global lifestyle brand that provides economic security to hundreds of families raising children with special needs. Jeremiah reflects on his growing up in Escarpment, Kenya as the oldest of six children, the cultural differences, his paternal grandfather who was an assistant chief in their village, working in a children's home in Kenya, and going to school, working and living in Grand Rapids, MI for eight years.Jeremiah also reflects on the chance encounter in he had in 2000 with Zane Wilemon, a Texas pastor doing missionary work in Kenya and how that friendship led to the creation of Ubuntu Life, a NGO and global lifestyle brand providing economic security to hundreds of families raising children with special needs. It's an enlightening and inspiring story about serving the poorest of the poor and providing meaningful employment to those willing to