Hello! I guide parents of kids with disabilities to create a forever home for their child.
'Live with Intention & Embrace the Journey.' Hi, I’m Valerie!
I’m passionate about guiding parents who have children with disabilities to a place where together we have created a roadmap for a forever home for their child. Having successfully established a forever home for my oldest it brings me joy to help others with all the nuances involved in setting up the home they want for their child.
Love this! Where there is a Will and the possibility of JOY, there is a way!
💜
Three weeks ago I released a VERY important episode of Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities, where I interviewed Eric Goll, a disability life-planning expert, who has helped over 1,000 families create meaningful, independent futures for their loved ones.
Who else can relate to the following?
As parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities, we often spend years focused on immediate needs—medical appointments, therapies, education, and daily support.
But an important question remains:
What happens when we can no longer provide that support ourselves?
It's one of the hardest questions parents face—and one that many put off because life is already so full.
Eric shared his helpful 8-Step Life Planning Process, which allows families to move from crisis-based thinking to intentional future planning.
Some key insights from our conversation:
• Independence is not all-or-nothing; it's about growing capability.
• Meaningful relationships are essential for long-term quality of life.
• Support circles can help create sustainable futures.
• Housing is only one piece of a much larger life plan.
• Small, consistent actions create significant change over time.
Future planning can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to happen all at once. A meaningful future is built one step, one conversation, and one intentional decision at a time.
🎧 Listen to the episode or 🎥 watch - Links in the comments.👇🏽
And please share with someone who would benefit from this message.
What is one step you've taken—or would like to take—to create a stronger future for a loved one with a disability?
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey🎒
🏡 What if accessibility renovations didn't have to look clinical?
In the latest episode of Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities, I sit down with Griffin Simony, co-founder of Shift Projects, to discuss how accessible homes can be both functional and beautiful.
We talk about:
✨ Universal design vs. accessible design
✨ Creating homes that promote independence
✨ Future-proofing your home for changing needs
✨ Accessible bathroom renovations, elevators, and lifts
✨ The importance of working with experienced professionals
✨ Why your home should make you feel empowered—not reminded of limitations
One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation is that accessibility features can be integrated so thoughtfully that they simply feel like great design.
If you're raising a child with a disability, supporting an aging loved one, or planning a forever home, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiration.
🎧 Listen to the episode or 🎥 watch - Links in the comments.👇🏽
- And please share with someone who would benefit from this message.
Listen now and discover how thoughtful design can improve quality of life for the entire family.
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey🎒
I was so EXCITED to share this episode 3 weeks ago of me having a conversation with a LONG time friend!!!
In case you missed it… here it is again… me showcasing Telisa Dubasov!!!
We talked about the incredible impact adaptive dance and movement can have for children and adults with disabilities.
This conversation explores:
✨ Adaptive dance and sensory regulation
✨ Building meaningful community for adults with disabilities
✨ Why movement is “therapy in disguise”
✨ The importance of belonging and connection
✨ Creating purposeful lives beyond school years
We also discuss an important part of creating a “Forever Home” — ensuring our children have meaningful activities, friendships, and opportunities for joy and connection throughout adulthood.
As a parent of a daughter with complex disabilities, this episode was deeply personal for me. Watching my daughter perform on stage for the first time through Telisa’s adaptive dance program was something I never thought possible. It was so special for my Mum, as she got to make the outfit for that performance!
Thank you, Telisa, for the incredible work you continue to do through Bloom Wellness Collective.
🌸 Learn more about Bloom Wellness Collective at bloomwell.ca
🎧 Listen to the episode or 🎥 watch - Links in the comments.👇🏽
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey.🎒
🏡 What happens when you're no longer able to care for your child with a disability?
It's one of the hardest questions parents face—and one that many put off because life is already so full.
In this week's episode of Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities, I sit down with disability life-planning expert Eric Goll - founder of Empowering Ability, who has helped over 1,000 families create meaningful, independent futures for their loved ones.
We discuss:
✅ Caregiver burnout and why it happens
✅ Creating a future beyond crisis planning
✅ Building independence one small step at a time
✅ The power of support circles
✅ Alternatives to traditional group homes
✅ Eric's 8-Step Life Planning Process
One of my favorite takeaways:
💜 "The best time to plant an oak tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today."
If you've been wondering where to start planning for your child's future, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen to the episode or 🎥 watch - Links in the comments.👇🏽 - And please share with someone who would benefit from this message.
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey🎒
I’m sharing this podcast episode again!!! Why??? Because it's so good!!!
What if the person you thought couldn’t communicate… actually understood everything?
What happens when we stop assuming competence is tied to speech?
In this emotional and eye-opening conversation, Lakshmi Rao Sankar Executive Director at Crimson Rise shares how non-speaking autistic individuals are gaining access to communication through Spelling to Communicate (S2C) — unlocking voice, autonomy, and self-determination.
This conversation completely reframes how we understand communication, intelligence, and inclusion.
We talk about:
💬 Communication access for non-speaking autistics
💬 The difference between speech and language
💬 Autism, autonomy, and future planning
💬 Forever homes and supported living
💬 The trauma of being unheard
💬 Empowering autistic individuals to shape their own futures
One of the most powerful reminders from this episode:
“Your child does not have to live in silence.”
“Having a voice leads to autonomy.”
🎧 Listen to the episode or 🎥 watch - Links in the comments.👇🏽
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey.🎒
💜 New Podcast Episode 💜
I’m so excited to share this conversation with my dear friend Telisa Dubasov from Bloom Wellness Collective.
Telisa has dedicated her life to making dance, movement, and wellness accessible for children and adults with disabilities — and the impact has been incredible.
In this episode, we talk about:
✨ How dance supports physical, emotional, and sensory development
✨ Why connection and community matter so much for our kids
✨ Meaningful activities for adults with disabilities
✨ The importance of movement, joy, and belonging
✨ Creating a true “Forever Home” beyond just housing
This episode is especially meaningful to me because Telisa worked with my daughter Melody-Anne for many years, helping her experience the joy of dance and performance in ways I never imagined possible.
If you are a parent, caregiver, educator, therapist, or disability advocate, I know this conversation will encourage and inspire you.
🎧 Listen to the episode or 🎥 watch - Links in the comments.👇🏽 - And please share with someone who would benefit from this message.
Live with Intention - Embrace the Journey.🎒