Rockin the Difference

Nashville was more than just a fun getaway for Ryan and me. It was a trip filled with laughter, new experiences, unexpected breakthroughs, and some pretty special reminders of just how much growth can happen when we step outside our comfort zones.

In this special episode of Rockin' the Difference, Ryan joins me as we talk about our Nashville adventure, visiting dear friends, and some moments that were especially meaningful.

We talk about Ryan's bathroom breakthrough (yes, even going on an airplane!), navigating an unfamiliar home independently, and the confidence that comes from trying something...

The Independence I Asked For

I spent 23 years fighting for Ryan’s independence. Now that he’s an adult, he’s giving me exactly what I asked for… and it’s driving me a little crazy. 😂

From clogged toilets and broken furniture to shaving mishaps, dirty walls, and a whole lot of “Mom, I’ve got this!”—we’re talking about the messy, frustrating, hilarious reality of letting an adult child with blindness and autism become more independent.

Because sometimes the hardest part of independence isn’t teaching them how to do it…

It’s learning when to let g...

Today is one of my favorite episodes yet. ❤️🎙️

For the first time, I’m talking with the person who inspired this entire podcast… my son, Ryan, AKA Biscuit

So often, people hear words like blind or autistic and stop there. But Ryan is so much more than a diagnosis. He’s hilarious, kind, determined, sports-obsessed, a music lover, and the guy who keeps me laughing every single day.

In this episode, we’re sharing funny stories, inside jokes, memories from school, his love of hockey, surfing, Taekwondo, and life at Agape Vi...

NEW EPISODE: The Friends Who Walk This Journey With Me 

When people talk about raising a child with special needs, they often focus on the parents. But what about the friends who choose to stay?

In this episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I’m joined by two of my best friends who’ve been in my life since before Ryan was born. Andrea Heuer and Jenn Kiesby. They’ve watched him grow from a baby into the incredible man he is today. They’ve celebrated the victories, witnessed the challenges, and eventually raised their own children al...

No experts. No scripts. No agenda.

Just five special needs parents, three incredible individuals with disabilities, a beach house, and some honest conversations about life.

This week’s Rockin the Difference episode is a reminder that while our journeys may be different, the understanding we find in one another can be life-changing.

Come join us for laughter, stories, and a little beachside wisdom. 

Special Thank you to Rob, Beckie, Christina, Jenna, Jonathan, Kali and Ryan for making this episode so very special.  I love you all so much!

Beyond What You See | Featuring Tiffany V. Easterbrook

What if everything you thought you understood about someone… was only a fraction of the story?

In this special episode, Ryan and I sit down with Tiffany V. Easterbrook for her YouTube interview series to share our journey—one that goes far beyond first impressions. We talk about what it’s really like raising and living as a blind and autistic young man, the challenges we’ve faced, the growth we’ve experienced, and the powerful moments that have shaped who we are today.

Ryan joins the...

What happens when the traditional path no longer feels like the right one for your child?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Tiffany Henry as she opens up about the deeply personal decision to homeschool her autistic son. From navigating unmet needs in a conventional school setting to trusting her instincts as a mother, Tiffany shares the pivotal moments that led her to choose a different path.

We dive into the real, unfiltered side of homeschooling—the challenges, the doubts, the logistical hurdles, and the emotional weight of stepping outside the norm. Bu...

This episode wasn’t planned.
I found out my mother-in-law passed away just days before I leave on a big trip with my mom.
And as a special needs parent, moments like this hit differently.
How does your child process grief?
What does change feel like in their nervous system?
How do you hold space for them while also preparing to step away?
In this episode, I share how Ryan responds to unexpected news, what grief can look like in neurodivergence, and the tension of missing him deeply while also being grateful I’m ab...

In this episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I site down with Jennifer Caryn Brown—financial advisor and adoptive mom to a child with special challenges—for an honest and empowering conversation about caregiving, planning ahead, and finding peace of mind.

Jennifer shares her personal journey navigating special services, advocacy, and parenting, while also offering practical guidance on how families can financially prepare for their child’s future. From understanding key planning tools to shifting from fear-based decisions to intentional ones, this episode bridges lived experience with professional insight.

Whether you’re a caregiver just starting to think a...

As 2025 comes to a close, this  episode of Rockin the Difference reflects on a year of profound change, challenges, and growth. I share what it meant to navigate major caregiving transitions for my son Ryan, face unexpected delays and emotional strain, and arrive at year’s end feeling both stretched and resilient. As I turn 50 on New Year’s Eve and reflects on shedding old layers to step into a new season, this episode marks the beginning of a year-end tradition—one rooted in honesty, healing, hope, and moving forward with intention.

Today on Rockin the Difference, we’re talking with someone whose story rewrites what resilience can look like.
Josh Bridgewater is the oldest skateboarder with spina bifida — a title he never set out to earn, but one he carries with pride. Born with his spine outside his body, Josh has endured more than 46 surgeries just to keep moving through life as normally as possible.

Growing up, he faced bullying, isolation, and the kind of challenges most of us will never understand. But everything changed the day he found skateboarding — and with it, a community that accepted him ex...

💫 What do you get when you mix courage, comedy, two white canes and 3 canines?
Meet Brennan (21) and Mina (17) — two siblings who are blind, bold, and breaking barriers every day alongside their amazing mom, Parisa. ❤️

In this week’s Rockin the Difference episode, we dive into what it’s really like navigating a world that’s not always designed for them — the funny moments, the frustrating ones, and how they use their Instagram @yes_I_cane to educate and inspire others. 👩‍🦯✨

🎧 Tune in and see the world through a whole new lens — one full of strength, laughter, and love.

🎙️ Episode 21: Russel Burke: Finding Purpose after Paralysis

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with my friend Russ (@russ_on_wheelz), whose life changed forever after a boating accident at Lake Havasu left him quadriplegic.

Russ opens up about his life before the accident — the energy, adventure, and freedom — and the life-altering moment that tested everything he thought he knew about strength and purpose. He shares candidly about the early days of recovery, the emotional and physical battles, and the unwavering determination that helped him rebuild not just his body...

✨ New Episode of Rockin’ the Difference ✨
Being a special needs parent means carrying an invisible load that most people never see. In this solo episode, I take you behind the scenes of my life as a single mom to my adult son—sharing the scheduling, the driving, the advocacy, and the emotional weight of planning for the future, all while balancing a full-time job and trying to care for myself, too. 💙

🎧 In this episode, I talk about:

In this  episode of Rockin the Difference, host Chandra Neal shares the behind-the-scenes story of preparing for international travel with her adult son, Ryan, who is blind and autistic. From a frustrating passport battle that required the help of her congressman, to packing with intention and securing disability accommodations, Chandra walks listeners through the real challenges — and the powerful surprises — she encountered while traveling to Brazil.

This episode is a must-listen for any caregiver who’s ever wondered if big adventures are even possible. They are — and sometimes, they open doors to unexpected growth.

🎯 Topics Covered:

In this powerful episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I sit down with my dear friend Chris Velona — a devoted father, rare disease advocate, and founder of Project Sebastian, a nonprofit inspired by his son Sebastian, who was diagnosed with Batten disease, a rare and terminal neurodegenerative disorder.

Chris shares his family’s emotional journey, the heartbreaking diagnosis, and how he chose to turn pain into purpose by creating a platform for awareness, connection, and hope. We talk about the emotional toll of caregiving, and what it's like to live day by day when the future is uncertain — yet stil...

In this episode, I open up about the early years when first learned my son had special needs—and all the emotions that came with it: grief, fear, uncertainty. If I could sit with that younger version of myself, I’d tell her this...

In this heartfelt episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with an incredible mom Becky,  and her two adult daughters, Hannah and Nicole,  to honor the life and legacy of Breanna—their daughter and sister who had multiple disabilities, including blindness and mobility challenges, and who passed away three years ago. Together, we explore the deep love, joy, and challenges they experienced as a special needs family, and how Breanna’s presence shaped their bond.

We talk about the funny memories, the hard days, the strength Breanna unknowingly gave them, and what life looks like now withou...

Today we’re talking about something so many special needs parents struggle with—helping our kids learn to advocate for themselves.

I’ve personally been dealing with this forever with my son, who is now 21-year-old, who is blind and autistic. He has a hard time voicing his needs—whether it’s letting me know if he’s hungry or not feeling well, asking for help, or even just problem-solving in everyday situations.

Today, I want to share some real-life examples of the challenges we face, explore why this happens, and—most importantly—open up the conversation...

On today’s episode of Rocking the Difference, I am honored to welcome an incredible guest whose story is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of self-belief. Amanda Casarella grew up facing challenges that many of us can relate to—struggling with a learning disability, battling debilitating migraines that kept her out of school, and navigating the stigma of being placed in special education. On top of that, she endured shame and abuse that made her believe her identity and worth were tied to her disability.

She made the courageous choice to reclaim her narrative, break free...

After the busyness of the holidays, I wanted to get back in touch with you all and talk about intention, creating community and upcoming changes and challenges this year. 

Here is a quick episode to get reconnected!

Some great Podcasts to check out: 
The Special Needs Mom Podcast - Episode: Stabilizing After Winter Break
and 
Moms Talk Autism Podcast

You can find me on Instagram @Rockin_the_Difference
Email: [email protected]

Today I talk with my friend, Nada, on the sacrifices we make as parents of special needs individuals.  

We all make sacrifices to ensure our kids are getting the best of what we can give them.  With Nada, this meant moving countries with her kids, while her husband stayed.   It meant giving up what she was familiar with to make sure her son lived a full life and adjusting to a new family dynamic with her kids and long distance marriage.  

She's an amazing woman and I hope you can resonate with her story.  

In this episode we discuss how life can just be OVERWHELMING. 

In today's episode I talk with Erin and Bruce Wilson who founded If I Need Help.  

They started this non profit which provides a system to help find special needs kids, as well as individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimers,  that go missing, especially for those who can’t communicate.  It uses modern technologies to help reunite those who might become lost, disoriented or need assistance in a critical moment.  

They share what inspired them to start this business, how it has impacted their family, how to learn more about it as well as some awesome...

In this episode I talk about my son, Ryan, reaching a milestone and moving towards that next phase from being in the school years bubble  into adulthood and how that unpredictability and foreverness hit me hard. 

If you have comments or ideas you'd like to share on this topic, I'd love to hear them and possibly expand on them in future episodes.

You can DM on Instragram: /rockin_the_difference or email me at [email protected]

Aubrie Forte has been a special person in our lives for almost 17 years now. She has been a teacher in special education and now works directly with schools to support programs on campus, with students, teachers and families. She was Ryan's teacher throughout elementary school and is lovingly known as Ryan's Forever Teacher because she continues to be a part of his life. 

She has a BA in SpED and an MA in mod/severe disabilities.  She shares her insights on what she has learned along her journey from the students and families she has been involved wi...

Being a mom of a blind and autistic adult, you have many experiences and learn so many things.  Some of the most valuable things you learn are from your child themselves.  In this episode I share 8 valuable things I have learned from my kid.  

If you would like to share your stories please DM on Instagram @rockin_the_difference or email [email protected]

Please rate and review this podcast if you found this content helpful. 

Until next time, Keep Rockin the Difference!

This episode I talk with Pat Coskran, a father of 37 year old Sean, who is autistic.  

He has been a special education teacher and coach in the Special Olympics. 

He is also the author of "Growing up with Sean" found where most books are sold. 

He shares his perspective as a dad, finding connection with community in his way as he took over being Sean's primary caregiver; his struggle with his ego to be in control, grief and denial; the IEP process from the perspective of a parent and an educator, how the fut...

In this episode I share how connections with my friends and my community inside and outside of the special needs space has been a life saver for me.  

I didn't realize how much I needed to connect with others in order to feel fulfilled in my life.  This can take a lot when you're raising a special needs kid, but it is vital and the effort to get connected is well worth it. 

If you can any information you would like to share or hear on this podcast, you can email at [email protected] or...

In this special episode I bring on my amazing friends, Ashley, Tricia and Parisa, better known as the BBBs or Bonded By Blindness.  We have an amazing bond because we all have blind kids. And although we all have unique stories, we can relate to each other on this journey.  And it is so important to have someone to relate to in this special needs life. 

We share our stories and experience, share laughter and tears, struggles and love.  I hope you enjoy my first guests on Rockin The Difference!

This episode talks about the AAAs of moving forward through the challenges and fears you face being a special needs parent and how working through these ideas could help you live a happy special life. 

In this episode I continue sharing my experience of becoming a special needs mom.  After first finding out my baby was blind, a second diagnosis was on its way.  

I share how this impacted me and how I moved forward with it. 

I hope it can resonate with many of you. 

In this first episode of Rockin The Difference, Chandra shares how her journey of being a parent of a special needs kid began. 

Trailer introducing Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to connect with people living alongside someone with special needs.