The Post Secondary Transition Conversation
We talk about 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
108 episodes
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. Interview: Kelly Nelson & Understanding ABLE Accounts_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...
091. Interview: Kelly Nelson & Understanding ABLE Accounts Pt. 2
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue their conversation with Kelly Nelson about ABLE accounts, exploring the many benefits and features these accounts offer. The discussion highlights flexibility, tax advantages, and built-in...
090. Interview: Kelly Nelson & Understanding ABLE Accounts Pt. 1
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss ABLE accounts with Kelly Nelson. They talk about how ABLE accounts are a financial tool allowing families to save money for individuals with disabilities without affecting their eligibility...
089. Interview - Martha Goodman; introducing the MEIRA Planning Tool_Full Discussion
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) sit down with advocate Martha Goodman, creator of the MEIRA (Maryland Education Information Resources and Advocacy) Planning Tool, to discuss how her work supports families navigating the complexit...
088. Interview - Martha Goodman; introducing the MEIRA Planning Tool Pt. 2
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) continue their discussion with Martha Goodman, an advocate who has created the MEIRA (Maryland Education Information Resources And Advocacy) Planning Tool. This part of the conversation highlights ...
087. Interview - Martha Goodman; introducing the MEIRA Planning Tool Pt. 1
This week, hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) have a conversation with Martha Goodman, an advocate who has created the MEIRA (Maryland Education Information Resources And Advocacy) Planning Tool. This tool aims to assist families in...
086. Apply for Supplmental Security Income (SSI) Online
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the process of applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) online, emphasizing the shift from in-person to electronic applications (post-COVID). They highlight the importance of disting...
085. National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the National Disability Employment Awareness Month and share about their experiences with a recent local event they attended. They talk about the events' featured presentations, breakout se...
Podshare: Special Needs Advanced Planning- 6 Pillars of Special Needs Financial Planning
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) had a BUSY few weeks planning for their local Transition Fair (and other stuff) 😏. In the meantime, Ms. Elizabeth Larson from Special Needs Advanced Plan...
084. What is a Transition Fair? A Guide for Families with Disabilities
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss more in-depth how transition fairs can help families with planning through the transition process. The duo highlight how fairs will typically promote providers and agencies offering various...
083. Navigating a Gap Year: What to Do When School Ends but DD Funding Hasn’t Started
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the challenges families may face when their children with disabilities transition out of school before turning 21. They highlight the importance of planning during the "gap year" and explor...
082. Back-to-School Transition Tips for Families
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are back for a brand new season and discuss the start of the new school year for families of students with disabilities. They emphasize the importance of letting the dust settle before reaching out...
Podshare: EXCEEDing Expectations (A TerpsEXCEED Podcast) - Why TerpsEXCEED?
As hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) work to navigate the beginning of their new school year, the friends at TerpsEXCEED gave permission to share out one of the discussions from their own podcast EXCEEDing Expectations. In this dis...
Podshare: The Oregon Transition Podcast - Supported Decision Making
As hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) take a break for the summer, their friends at the Oregon Transition Podcast (OTP) graciously gave permission to use one of their fantastic discussions. OTP's episode explores the difference betw...
081. Interview: Selina & Curtis Gray - A Self-Directed Journey (ep. 08 re-listen)
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are navigating their summer schedules, so they went back into the archive and re-cut one of their earliest interviews (along with a minor audio update). Selina & Curtis Gray share their experie...