Living and Thriving

Living and Thriving To serve as a resource for special needs families & individuals so that they are LIVING and THRIVING A long description? YAY! These can be very life threatening.

I am a late diagnosed autistic adult. We thought it was ADHD when I was in college, but it turns out I am autistic with ADHD comorbid. I also live with immune deficiency and mast cell disease (still testing as to which one). I am also a survivor living with congenital rubella syndrome. I created this page after creating a community group for special needs families and individuals. And while the gr

oup is networked under the Autism Society of Alabama at present time, the page is mobile and serves as a resource for all special needs. The reason I created the group was due to a need for an inclusive group that can encompass the lifespan of the individual. And too many groups don't do that. We don't meet in one particular location. We go out in the community and do activities there. The advantage to this page is that it can still be a resource even if I move out of Alabama. I am leaning toward creating a special blog for this page, but have not quite decided on the logistics for it. On this page, I do encourage identity-first language over people-first language. I don't tolerate the use of the R word. I spotlight people and businesses who are succeeding or helping us succeed. I want all special needs individuals to be able to reach a point where they are not only living in their communities but also thriving instead of just surviving. And to do that, we need to make sure that our leadership is on board.

05/28/2026
05/19/2026
05/18/2026
05/18/2026

Your healthcare organization may already believe in accessible treatment. But:
- Are you prepared to communicate with a person that doesn’t communicate verbally?
- Can a wheelchair user access your standard equipment like scales and exam tables?
- Do staff know how to document accommodation needs and respond consistently?

The Disability Equity Collaborative’s new Implementation Guide for Healthcare Organizations is designed to help healthcare providers move from intention to implementation. This practical resource can help healthcare providers of all sizes build more accessible and inclusive systems of care.

Access the guide here:
https://www.disabilityequitycollaborative.org/implementation-guide/
Improving disability access improves healthcare for everyone.

05/11/2026
05/11/2026

Happy Monday all👋! We hope all had a blessed Mother’s Day. Registration for The 2nd Annual Catch-22 Resource Venue is now LIVE🤗!! Our Catch-22 Resource Venue is the 1st of its kind public resource fair in the Chicago Proper area for adults with disabilities. The registration link is as follows: https://bit.ly/3QWYcep
Thank you to our sponsors 19th Ward Alderman Matt O'Shea’s office, Al's Cookie Mixx, & The Arc of Illinois for your support & making this year’s event more impactful. Please refer to the flyer for more details. Stay tuned! More exciting event details are soon to follow🤗!

05/05/2026

I cannot even believe I’m saying this, but I’ll be on The Kelly Clarkson Show on May 27th talking all about my travels, blog, and my nonprofit!!! 😁 WHAT A DREAM OF A DAY!!!! 😭

P.S: Kelly is the sweetest human on the planet. I love her so much!

04/25/2026

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Chicago, IL

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