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http://https://youtu.be/opmQVlQjwaQ

ETB 35 – In this episode I talk with Timothy Glover, corporate trainer by day and real life superhero, Dash Gordon by night.   Initially created to raise some extra money for a vacation, Tim started having fun with the whole Dash idea and began texting people that he was Dash Gordon.  Eventually he decided to add a costume before heading out to do deliveries and the rest is history.

Dash has a heart for the special needs community, for people who are living through difficult times and for people going through serious medical issues.  He makes a difference by showing up, putting a smile on their faces and helping out anyway he can.

Dash believes his calling is to work in the community with anyone that needs help.  His total goal is just to put smiles and laughter in people’s life.   He gets to meet incredible people, find out what they need and how he can team up with them to do greater things.  He brings joy to everyone he meets and has made an incredible difference for some well deserving individuals and families around town.

Dash is a community superhero created by the community.   Since April, when Tim first stepped out in costume as his alter ego, he’s been getting lots of media attention first appearing in a League City news story, then on ABC/Channel 13  and KHOU/Channel 11 in Houston.  Next,  Dash will be featured on 104.1 KRBE radio.   He is working with Saved by Faith Productions on a 10 part series called the Dash Gordon Chronicles.

Dash is also focused on working with Angela Bishop and Brewed Blessings to help bring her dream of a special needs coffee shop in League City to fruition.

Be sure to connect with Dash Gordon on social media for more exciting adventures.

Connect with Dash:
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6xVo_Ds3_-MbtBdCbQiVQ
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079491165658
TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@dashgordon2022
IG: http://www.instagram.com/dash_gordon2022

Dash Gordon in the Media:
https://www.leaguecitytx.gov/4270/Timothy-Glover
https://abc13.com/dash-gordon-door-delivery-driver-timothy-glover-league-city-texas/11776281/
https://www.khou.com/video/news/local/dash-gordon-delivery-driver-spices-up-gig-by-wearing-superhero-costume/285-ed8e1e2d-a71f-4f38-ac2d-d68916ea8475

Brewed Blessings:
https://www.brewedblessings.com/

Connect with Sandy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 34:  In this episode I talk with Beth Haas, teacher and mother of 3 beautiful daughters about her oldest daughter, Annalee who has Down syndrome.   During the 18th week of Beth’s first pregnancy, she and her husband John were told their unborn baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and was probably not going to be compatible with life.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. As the baby develops during pregnancy, the left side of the heart does not form correctly.  Without surgery, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is deadly, usually within the first few days or weeks of life.  With treatment, many babies survive, although most will have complications later in life

When they learned at birth that Annalee’s diagnosis was Down syndrome, not hypoplastic left heart syndrome, it was a miracle.

Annalee was in the NICU for a while and had open heart surgery at 23 months.  She also was unable to have thin liquids without aspirating them into her lungs, so initially she had an NG tube.  All of her liquids needed to be thickened for years, but with therapy and training and the right kinds of straws, Annalee eventually learned not to aspirate.

Now at age 17, Annalee is included in general education classes, participates in student council and was also invited to be a part of the Groundbreaker’s Leadership team at her high school.

She takes classes at the Kennedy Dance Studio, has choreographed her own dances, going all the way to the national level in the PTA Reflections Annual Art Contest under the category of Dance Choreography and brought home a bronze medal this year.  She has her own Youtube channel where you can see her perform some of her dances.

Annalee will be in the TET (Teacher Education Training) Class at high school this year,  teaching classes in the same elementary school where her mom teaches.  TET provides high school students with teaching experiences to determine whether or not they would like to pursue a career in public education.  The goal is for Annalee to get a certification to become a teacher’s assistant.

Teaching Your Child with Special Needs To Ride A Bicycle in 4 Easy Steps
https://twominuteparenting.com/how-to-teach-your-child-with-special-needs-to-bike-in-4-easy-steps/

Kennedy Dance Theatre:
https://www.kennedydance.com/

PTA Reflections
https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections

Connect with Annalee
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrw1d2I2ShE0tcecHJBQbA

Connect with Sandy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 33:  In this episode I announce a brief break as we quarantine, then head out on a family vacation.

I will see you on July 6th with another amazing parent to inspire and encourage you.  Until then, here are some things to keep you entertained:

Play Wordle
https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html

Become a Lego Sculptor (and leave your Law Degree behind)
https://youtu.be/8CP9hzSm60Y

Learn to Frost a Cake – A Beginner’s Guide
https://youtu.be/OxcWDrPAeWM

Play the Harmonica
https://youtu.be/ddM5RlWSJ4E

Start Your Own Podcast
https://youtu.be/Q8pfZna6H6Q

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 32:  In this episode I share a story about a time when Josiah at 9 years old, left our home unescorted and none of us were aware that he was even gone.   Sadly, this was not the first time it happened and it most definitely was not the last.  We had some pretty frightening experiences with Josiah eloping.   Despite our best efforts to keep him safely INSIDE our home, he was clever and oh so fast at figuring out how to slip away unattended.  He had no sense of danger or the ability to protect himself.

Fortunately, we either found him pretty quickly each time or he was returned to us by a kind stranger.   I’m so grateful Josiah’s eloping days are over.  It was a terrifying time for us.

Statistics suggest nearly half of children with autism wander or bolt from safe places.  If you have a child who wanders, my heart goes out to you.  Elopement is a very difficult behavior to work through.

Here are some resources and products that may help:

What to Do When Your Child Elopes
https://www.marcus.org/autism-resources/autism-tips-and-resources/what-to-do-when-your-child-elopes

Wandering Off (Elopement) Autism Tool Kit
https://pediatrust.com/Autism-Wandering-Off-Elopement

The Autism Project – Elopement Prevention Community
https://theautismproject.org/training-education/elopement-prevention/elopement-prevention-general-resources

AngelSense Tracking Device
https://www.angelsense.com/gps-for-autism-wandering/

Autism Elopement and Wandering Kit for Families
https://parentingchaos.com/autism-elopement-wandering-kit-for-families/

Pathfinders for Autism – Tracking Devices
https://pathfindersforautism.org/resources/safety/tracking-devices/

The Best Kids GPS Trackers and Wearables of 2022
https://www.safewise.com/resources/wearable-gps-tracking-devices-for-kids-guide/

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 31:  In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I continue to talk with former guests Jean and Brianna TenBrink, a dynamic mother/daughter duo about Project LEAH (Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm) a community coalition against educator abuse and mistreatment of children with disabilities in Texas public schools.

Jean,  an advocacy coordinator and mother of 3 daughters, 2 of whom are on different ends of the autistic spectrum  talks about the abuse her youngest daughter Leah was subject to in her self-contained classroom by teachers Jean knew well and trusted.  The abuse was misrepresented and school officials lied about the mistreatment.  It wasn’t until Jean watched video footage of the abuse herself, that she was made fully aware of all that her daughter endured at the hands of those they believed had Leah’s best interest at heart.

Brianna, Jean’s oldest daughter is the Director of Marketing and Sales for Neural Divergence, LLC.  As a Partner in the Texas Partners and Policymaking Program and a very recent MBA graduate, Brianna has been a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities for the past 13 years, winning the Sibling Scholarship from Knapps and Roberts law firm, the Rose Award from disAbility Connections, Inc., and Advocate of the Year award from the Arc of the Gulf Coast which granted her the opportunity to speak on the experiences of being a sibling at district-wide conferences.

Together Jean and Brianna have co-founded Project LEAH (Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm), an organization that armors parents, families and allies of loved ones of students in the Texas Public School System who have endured restraint, assault or seclusion with educational, legislative advocacy training to foster macro-level change.

Project LEAH is affiliated with The Arc of Texas, Disability Rights Texas, Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, and Texas Partners in Policymaking.

This is part 2 of a 2 part series.   If you haven’t heard the first half of the Project LEAH interview,  be sure to listen to it in its entirety.  Jean and Brianna share their hearts and vision for ending abuse and harm in schools.

Project LEAH TX
https://linktr.ee/projectleahtx

End #restraint #assault & #seclusion

Project LEAH Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4127855043987645/

Arc of Texas
https://www.thearcoftexas.org/

Disability Rights Texas
https://www.disabilityrightstx.org/en/home/

Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
https://endseclusion.org/

Texas Partners in Policymaking
https://txpartners.org/

Connect with Brianna:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebriannashley/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briashten

Connect with Jean:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superautismmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jean.tenbrink

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/