『Finding Common Ground』のカバーアート

Finding Common Ground

Finding Common Ground

著者： ROC Vox Podcast Network
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 Many families feel like they're treading water, especially those living with autism and other developmental differences. As your hosts, we get it, and we know this frustration all too well.

In response, we've created tried-and-true strategies that help everyday people achieve extraordinary things. Even those who might have doubted themselves can borrow our confidence, follow one of our "blueprints," and with a supportive community cheering them on, make the impossible happen.

Each success inspires those coming up behind us, creating a ripple effect of positive change—Which is why we'll never run out of content!Our podcast tackles tough issues head-on with unfiltered conversations focused on solutions.

We won't avoid "the elephant in the room"—in fact, we'll invite it to dinner! Our unique format appeals to people from across the globe, offering strategies that turn efforts for one into advocacy for the greater good. We breakdown topics like innovative housing, effective self-advocacy, and healthcare complexities, guided by our audience on what to cover next.

Each episode offers fresh perspectives, featuring many guests you won't find on mainstream platforms. We intentionally invite differing viewpoints because finding common ground with those we see as obstacles is the surest way to create new and innovative solutions.

Join our Supporter's Club and check out our merch. Let’s ensure the A/I/DD community's voice is heard. If you want to dig deeper, schedule a session with us. We happily work one-on-one, develop trainings, and offer public speaking engagements to assist individuals and organizations in promoting things like inclusivity and equity.

Join our community, plant seeds of positive change, and before you know it, you'll be moving mountains with us! Want to support our mission and access exclusive content? Join our Supporter's Club and check out our merch.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.Copyright ROC Vox Podcast Network 心理学 心理学・心の健康 衛生・健康的な生活
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  • Larissa Martin: Why CDPAP Matters & How to Speak Up Before Aug 18th

    Larissa Martin: Why CDPAP Matters & How to Speak Up Before Aug 18th
    2025/08/12
    In this urgent and deeply personal episode of Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve welcome Larissa Martin — a self-advocate who has relied on New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) for 17 years. Larissa’s voice is raw and real as she shares why this program has been her lifeline, how the rushed transition to Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) has shaken the system, and why now is the moment to speak up. Over 70,000 people have already been forced into more expensive agency-based care. Thousands more have lost their caregivers altogether — often because aides quit after wrong, delayed, or missing paychecks. This isn’t just inconvenient; it’s led to declining health, hospitalizations, forced institutionalization, and, tragically, preventable deaths. One of CDPAP’s greatest strengths is the ability to hire people we trust — not strangers an agency assigns. Larissa puts it simply: “Even if we don’t know a caregiver well at first, many become like family over time. That’s why it was so painful for consumers to see New York hire a company with a record of payroll violations. Like Senator Rivera has said, the harm is no longer hypothetical. PPL is repeating their pattern. They are driving down enrollment by forcing our caregivers to quit.” One of Larissa's own caregivers, already stretched thin with five kids, now worries every payday if she’ll be paid correctly. This constant stress is unnecessary, inhumane, and dangerous. In just 20 weeks, PPL has caused more chaos, potential fraud, and harm than our previous Fiscal Intermediaries did in the decades since CDPAP began — which is why CMS, the DOJ, and the FBI are now involved. But where is our own Department of Labor? Felony-level wage theft on this scale demands their attention, yet there has been no public acknowledgment that one of the largest workforces in our state is being exploited in plain sight. Every day they stay silent, more families lose the care they depend on, and more workers pay the price for a crisis they didn’t create. The DOH Commissioner promised the transition would make it easier for caregivers to get paid and save the state money. In reality, people are losing care, being pushed into costlier options, and facing devastating consequences. Anger is justified — but Larissa challenges all of us to go further: share our stories, put the harm on record, and be part of the solution. If you’ve been affected by the CDPAP transition, you have until Monday, August 18th to submit written testimony. It doesn’t have to be long or perfect — just honest. Your voice matters. Without it, change may never come. How to Submit Testimony:
    1. Write about your personal experience with CDPAP and the impact of PPL’s takeover.
    2. Share specifics: payment delays, insurance issues, caregiver shortages, or disruptions.
    3. Keep it respectful but real — your lived experience is powerful.
    4. Email your testimony to steen@nysenate.gov. If you choose to be anonymous, sign as “Jane Doe.”
    Whether you’re a CDPAP consumer, caregiver, family member, or concerned New Yorker, your testimony matters to the 700,000 people who were connected to CDPAP before PPL’s monopoly. When someone told Larissa she should move to another state that would treat her better, she replied: “I want to stay and fight not just for me, but for other people in the program that don’t have that option to leave.” Listen now to hear Larissa’s powerful story — and learn how you can make yours heard before the deadline.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    39 分
  • 🎙️ Craig & Sally Benoit: "Fostering" Love, Limits, and System Reform

    🎙️ Craig & Sally Benoit: "Fostering" Love, Limits, and System Reform
    2025/08/07
    On this episode of Finding Common Ground with Heather and Steve, we talk with Craig and Sally Benoit, a remarkable couple who’ve fostered over 50 children and adopted 13—each with their own story, needs, and quirks. From the first few minutes, you’ll feel their blend of grit and humor.
    Whether it’s juggling allergy lists, remembering who hates peas this week, or managing bedtime with over a dozen different routines, they’ve seen it all. Craig joked that just loading the dishwasher feels like a military operation—because in their house, even the spoons have backstories. It’s funny, it’s chaotic, and it’s completely real. A peek into the kind of parenting that will make you laugh and nod in recognition, whether you’ve raised one kid or twenty.
    This episode is full of laugh-out-loud funny moments, balanced with some deeply moving ones too. The Benoits speak candidly about navigating the foster care and disability systems, and what it really takes to build a stable, loving home when the systems around you are broken. From setting boundaries to learning how to advocate for special education services and adult supports, their insights will hit home for anyone trying to raise children in complex circumstances.
    This episode isn't just about their extraordinary family—it’s about what happens when everyday people refuse to give up on kids society often overlooks. The Benoits didn’t wait for a perfect system. They did what they could with what they had, and they’re not done yet.
    One moment that cuts through the noise: When Craig and Sally agreed to meet a boy who had once lived with Steve, they expected the "usual pitch" that minimized the difficulties and were stunned and grateful when they received honesty instead. Steve placed a bag of torn, chewed-up shirts on the table. "He chews every collar," he said. Not dramatic. Just real. A behavior that others might’ve hidden to make the placement happen. But Steve didn’t hide anything and the Benoits didn’t run.
    “We aren’t afraid of hard things,” Sally said. She explained that knowing where the pain points are helps them figure out which children will thrive in their home and which may need a different path. They lovingly joke that their full house isn’t for everyone, but what makes this conversation unforgettable is that nothing was sugar coated. They let us backstage into the chaos, the love, and the realities most people never see.
    Fostering isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, even when it’s hard. This episode delivers honest insights, unexpected laughter, and maybe... the push you need to take that first step.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    52 分
  • 🎧 From Isolation to Impact: Alexandra Fernandez’s Quest to Bring Her Twins Safely Home

    🎧 From Isolation to Impact: Alexandra Fernandez’s Quest to Bring Her Twins Safely Home
    2025/07/17
    In this powerful episode of Finding Common Ground with Heather & Steve, we sit down with Alexandra Fernandez, a devoted mother of 10-year-old twins with profound autism. Alexandra bravely shares what it’s like to care for children with such intensive needs—and what happens when the right supports simply don’t exist.After speaking up at OPWDD’s first Listening Tour session in Central New York, Alexandra's heartfelt testimony caught the attention of Commissioner Willow Baer. The result? Real action—and real change. Her twins will soon be coming home! While it’s a dream come true, Alexandra knows that the challenges that existed before their hospital stay haven’t magically disappeared. More work is needed to ensure that this time is different—that the family is truly wrapped in the supports and safety nets they need to make this a lasting, sustainable solution.This conversation reminds us that advocacy works, that one voice can ripple outward, and that sometimes the win we desperately need is closer than we think. A few highlights:
    • What makes profound autism different—and why the system isn’t built to support it
    • Alexandra’s practical solutions: from in-home potty training programs to behavioral crisis lines
    • A behind-the-scenes look at the Center for Discovery’s new specialty hospital
    "To have the opportunity to tell our story is rare—and when you’re caring for someone with profound autism, the isolation can be overwhelming. The level of care required, the services that are missing, the boundaries we’re not allowed to cross—these are things most people don’t see, but they define our everyday." – AlexandraIf you've ever wondered whether your voice matters, this episode proves it does. This podcast is a personal mission. We’re not funded by big sponsors—we grow through shares, likes, comments, and subscriptions. Help us spread stories that make a difference:
    • Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform
    • Like, comment, and follow us on YouTube
    • Share this episode with someone who needs a little hope today


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    1 時間 5 分
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