The Post Secondary Transition Conversation
The ONLY podcast to cover the ins and outs (and everything in between) of the secondary transition process for families of students with disabilities! Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) serve as supportive guides, leading families step-by-step up each rung of the transition ladder.
Also check out our parent website: https://www.postsecondarytransition.com
Episodes
122 episodes
Podshare: T21Mom Podcast Ep. 110 Down Syndrome and the Post Secondary Transition
Back in 2023, we had the opportunity to talk with Mary Cardle for her T21Mom Podcast. Mary was kind enough to let us share out this episode as we are polishing off Q1 of the 2026-27 school year. We hope you...
115. Interview: Hunter DeMarcy_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) talk with podcast host and advocate Hunter DeMarcy about his work on A Talk of Carroll Podcast, where he connects with people in the neurodiverg...
114. Interview: Hunter DeMarcy Pt. 2
This week, hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue their talk with podcast host and advocate Hunter DeMarcy. Hunter speaks about his participation in Target Community’s day program, independent living in an apartment, and helpin...
113. Interview: Hunter DeMarcy Pt. 1
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) have a discussion with Hunter DeMarcy about his work as host of A Talk of Carroll Podcast, where he speaks with people connected to the neurodiv...
112. Parent Interview: Lavonne Smith
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) have an in-depth conversation with Lavonne Smith, a parent of an adult with special needs. Ms. Lavonne shares her son Thomas’s journey from exploring different work experiences in high school to se...
111. Interview: Thomas Smith
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) kick off Season 5 with Thomas Smith, a former student and adult with special needs who has worked at Weis Markets for 16 years. Thomas discusses on his va...
110. Inclusive Workforce Development at Sunflower Bakery with Beth Brady_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) speak with Beth Brady, director of admissions and student services at Sunflower Bakery, about the organization’s programs for young adults with disabilities. Beth explains how students build soft s...
109. Inclusive Workforce Development at Sunflower Bakery with Beth Brady Pt. 2
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) finish the second part of their discussion with Beth Brady from Sunflower Bakery. Beth explains the individualized support provided to students, including behavioral strategies and progress charts....
108. Inclusive Workforce Development at Sunflower Bakery with Beth Brady Pt. 1
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the Sunflower Bakery program with Beth Brady, their director of admissions and student services. Established in 2009, the bakery serves young adults with disabilities through culinary arts,...
107. Special Needs Financial Planning with Betsy Larson_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are joined by special needs financial planner Betsy Larson for a discussion on financial and estate planning for families of individuals with disabilities. Betsy explains the importance of planning...
106. Special Needs Financial Planning with Betsy Larson Pt. 2
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue their discussion with special needs financial planner Betsy Larson. This weeks discussion focuses on views on guardianship and emphasizing the need for individualized approaches. Betsy str...
105. Special Needs Financial Planning with Betsy Larson Pt. 1
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are joined by Betsy Larson, a financial planner for families with special needs. Betsy emphasizes the importance of planning for a "three-person" retirement, considering the needs of both parents a...
104. A Parent’s Guide to the New MSDE Endorsements
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss Endorsements (new in the state of Maryland) for students who are presently on the certificate track. The duo talk about how endorsements include community and citizenship, career and work r...
103. Your Transition Toolkit: From Freshman to Senior Year
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) revisit earlier discussions and chart the transition planning process across all four years of high school, highlighting how supports, planning, and responsibilities evolve for students with Indivi...
102. Interview: Liz Burley (retired Transition Coordinator)_Full Discussion
This week, Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are in "teacher-mode," putting the finishing touches to their quarterly progress notes. So this week, their posting a "throwback" discussion (from 2023 with some updated audio). They sat down ...
101. Exploring Meaningful Work in the Trades for Students with Disabilities with Travis Anderson
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) have a discussion with Travis Anderson, an electrician with 20+ years of experience and currently an adjunct professor at a local college. Travis emphasizes the importance of high expectations for ...
100. Special Needs Planning: Legal and Financial Considerations for Families
For this weeks conversation, Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss special needs planning. They emphasize the importance of updating wills, highlight the complexities of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Di...
099. The Future of Self-Directed Services: Navigating Proposed Medicaid Cuts_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are joined by Support Broker Jamie Brodnax to examine the far-reaching impact of proposed Medicaid budget cuts on self-directed services. The discussion explores potential policy changes, including...
098. The Future of Self-Directed Services: Navigating Proposed Medicaid Cuts Pt. 2
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue to discuss the impact of proposed budget cuts on self-direction services with friend-of-the-pod and Support Broker Jamie Brodnax. The trio cover how the Day-to-Day Administrator role may b...
097. The Future of Self-Directed Services: Navigating Proposed Medicaid Cuts Pt. 1
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are joined by friend-of-the-pod and Support Broker Jamie Brodnax. Together, they discuss the potential impact of Medicaid budget cuts on self-directed services. Jamie explains the possibl...
096. Parent Interview: Jane Plapinger - Transition is a Million Pieces_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) revisit a Season 2 parent interview with Jane Plapinger, improving the audio and combining the two parts into one conversation. Jane shares her experiences supporting her son David, who has autism,...
095. Keypoints About Guardianship Families Should Consider
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the complexities of guardianship; they highlight the importance of understanding legal capacity and exploring alternatives like supported decision-making. They note that voting rights exist...
094. Milestone
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) take a few minutes to reflect on their journey, now in the fourth season, and the diverse topics they've covered, including interviews, info sessions, and timelines. They celebrate reaching 94 epis...
093. Summer Opportunities for Students with Disabilities: Beyond Summer School
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss summer opportunities for students with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of considering alternatives to Extended School Year (ESY) programs. They highlight the benefits of work and v...
092. What is an ABLE Account? Financial Planning for Students with Disabilities with Kelly Nelson_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) speak with Kelly Nelson about ABLE accounts, highlighting how they allow individuals with disabilities to save money without affecting SSI, Social Security, or Medicaid eligibility. The conversatio...