All Abilities No Filter

What happens when you're no longer here to care for your child? For many families of children with special needs, that question can feel overwhelming. In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, host Jake Edgar sits down with Michael Ringel, CPA, Chartered Special Needs Consultant, and Founder of Special Needs Wealth Planning, to discuss the financial strategies every family should understand when planning for the future. Michael shares his unique "Planning for Two Lifetimes" approach and explains how families can protect government benefits, utilize Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts, avoid costly financial mistakes, and create long-term security for their loved ones. He also discusses retirement planning, funding future care, choosing trustees, and practical steps families can take today to gain peace of mind about tomorrow. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or professional supporting individuals with disabilities, this episode provides valuable guidance on one of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of special needs planning.

In this heartfelt episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we sit down with John Fela, a former educator with experience in both general and special education, to explore the journey of fatherhood through the lens of raising a child with disabilities. John opens up about the emotional and practical challenges that come with balancing advocacy, parenting, and personal growth. He shares honest reflections on the hurdles he’s faced, but also the beautiful opportunities he’s discovered in building a deeper connection with his child. Throughout our conversation, John highlights the importance of community and support, encouraging parents to reach out, ask for help, and connect with others walking a similar path. With his background in education and his work with national advocacy organizations, John brings a unique perspective that blends compassion, experience, and wisdom. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or advocate, this episode will remind you that you don’t have to go through it alone—and that there’s real power in shared stories and support.

In this powerful episode of All Abilities, No Filter, host Jake Edgar sits down with Robert DeLena, a devoted father who shares his heartfelt journey raising his son, Ryan. From early childhood, Ryan displayed significant behavioral and emotional challenges that led to difficult decisions within the school system—including multiple residential placements that, in hindsight, Robert realized were not always in Ryan’s best interest. Robert opens up about the turning point that transformed everything: skiing. What began as a simple activity became a lifeline—a way for father and son to reconnect, rebuild trust, and rediscover joy. Through skiing, Ryan developed confidence, focus, and resilience that carried over into every part of his life, opening doors to opportunities that once seemed impossible. This episode explores how parents and caregivers can find unique, meaningful ways to connect with their children who struggle behaviorally or emotionally—and how the right approach can completely change a child’s trajectory.

IEPs don’t have to be confusing. In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, Jake sits down to break down the Individualized Education Program step by step—explaining what each part means, why it matters, and how parents and educators can use it to make sure every child gets the right support. Whether you’re walking into your very first IEP meeting or looking for strategies to advocate more effectively, Jake gives you the clarity and confidence you need to navigate the process. Clear, practical, and easy to follow—this is your go-to IEP guide. Listen now and take the stress out of IEPs!

In this powerful episode, we explore one of the most critical topics in behavioral health: why proper training is essential when working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Whether you're a caregiver, therapist, direct care staff member, or healthcare leader, this conversation will challenge you to think deeper about how training impacts safety, outcomes, and relationships. We're joined by Rebekah Wright, Chief Operating Officer at Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health. Rebekah shares expert insight on what effective staff development looks like, how to create consistency in care, and why hands-on, values-driven training is non-negotiable in today’s behavioral health landscape. If you care about improving patient outcomes, reducing burnout, and creating a culture of respect and understanding, this episode is a must-listen. 🔹 Real-world strategies 🔹 Leadership insight 🔹 Actionable takeaways for teams and facilities Listen now and discover how smart training can transform not just your staff — but the lives of those you serve.

In this powerful episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we dive into the realities of burnout and compassion fatigue faced by educators, therapists, and caregivers working with students on the autism spectrum and individuals with developmental disabilities. If you’ve ever felt emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or under-supported while trying to meet the needs of your students or clients, you’re not alone. This conversation unpacks what compassion fatigue in special education really looks like and explores how burnout affects educators, caregivers, and disability support professionals. We discuss: The emotional exhaustion of working with disabled students and managing complex IEPs The toll of constantly advocating for others while neglecting your own needs The rise of teacher burnout in autism education The impact of secondary trauma and chronic stress in disability support roles Strategies to cope, set boundaries, and preserve your passion for the work Whether you're a special education teacher, IEP team member, ABA therapist, parent, or anyone working in autism education, this episode sheds light on the hidden cost of caring—and how to care for yourself too. "That compassion fatigue's a real thing when you just spend all day advocating . Taking care of people all day, helping people get to their end goal. And you can feel your own self just wearing away and you're just giving everything to help other people." "all these strategies that I've used, all these things that have made me feel like I know what I'm doing. Are now not working. You're just physically tired from just putting, putting on the show to get this kid to buy into what you're doing. But now it is that your self worth is taking a hit. This just, I'm not good at this anymore. I'm not the teacher I thought I was. If I get more students like this or there's more kids I can't reach. And so progress there stops, and then it just feels like a waterfall is falling down on you, , in the classroom to where like you're, you're just far behind on everything and then every day is just trying to catch up to the next day." "I remember working with a family, , just as a advocate role for their IEP and , I kept catching the mom and dad that I'm working with saying is they kept saying, oh, I shouldn't say this. They're just tired that they are just so exhausted all the time and they're frustrated with their kid, they're frustrated with the school, um, and different elements. They were very afraid and nervous to express any type of frustration with the environment that's going on. And, ' even the dad, he would just like, I know it makes me sound like a bad dad and that does not make you a bad dad that is making you human I you just because you're a father and you're advocating for your. , Your child doesn't mean you can't express frustration. It just makes you human and things. And I feel, I do feel like that a lot of the time as a educator that I just, I can't express that it's not what teachers do, but to be frustrated, to be, um, worn out, it's okay. It makes you human and it's healthier to one, express it and talk about it. 'cause then you can start to problem solve. " "But the advice I give to parents is kind of the same advice I've taken for myself. . There's nothing wrong with an adjusting an expectation or a goal for your child. It does not mean you're quitting on them. It does not mean you think they're less. You're just focusing on their own in individualism. You're focusing on what works for them. And sometimes it takes decreasing this or increasing that, but understanding that's okay. It is trial and error."

In this powerful episode of All Abilities, No Filter, Brandon and the other hosts sit down with Jaime Hrobar — a mother, writer, and fierce advocate who shares her deeply personal and transformative journey of raising two autistic children while facing and overcoming her own struggles with addiction. Jaime opens up about what it’s like to be a parent navigating some of the most complex challenges in the world of autism — from early intervention to adulthood, from severe behaviors to IEP meetings, and from medical systems to school systems. Through it all, Jaime’s unwavering commitment to her children has made her a beacon of support for other families walking a similar path. But her strength didn’t come without struggle. Jaime also shares her journey through addiction and she reaches her turning point that shaped her into the determined and compassionate advocate she is today. Her recovery wasn’t just about healing herself — it was about becoming the mother her children needed and deserved. Now the voice behind the Facebook page Homebound and Healing and the author of the upcoming book Beyond Belief: How a Recovering Atheist Met God on a Bench, Jaime brings both vulnerability and fierce advocacy to this heartfelt conversation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration, honesty, and a reminder of what it means to fight for the people you love — even when you're still finding your way back to yourself.