Live Well. Love Strong.

Sarah.washington

A new space for healing through empowering, connecting, and uplifting mothers raising children with disabilities by sharing authentic stories, trusted information, and therapeutic support. This is the place for moms to feel seen, heard, and supported—transforming isolation into connection, everyday survival, and community.

  1. Apr 27

    What Children with Disabilities Teach the World | Dash Gordon Foundation

    What does it truly mean to be an ally in the disability community? In this episode of the Live Well, Love Strong podcast, Sarah sits down with Tim “Dash Gordon” Glover, founder of the Dash Gordon Foundation, to talk about how a simple idea while DoorDashing unexpectedly turned into a powerful movement supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. Dash shares the story of how putting on a superhero costume to deliver food sparked something much bigger. What began as a fun way to take his wife on vacation quickly grew into a mission to help families in need and shine a light on the talents and abilities of children and adults with disabilities. Together, Sarah and Dash talk about: • What it means to be a true ally in the disability community• Why caregivers and parents often feel unseen and unsupported• How communities can better include individuals with disabilities• The importance of giving every child the opportunity to try• The four life lessons children with disabilities teach the world Dash also shares how this work transformed him personally and why he believes a major shift is happening in how society sees disability and inclusion. This conversation is heartfelt, honest, and full of encouragement for caregivers, parents, and anyone who wants to make a difference. If you have ever wondered how you can step forward as an ally, this episode is for you. Learn more about the Dash Gordon Foundation:https://www.thedashgordonfoundation.org Connect with Live Well, Love Strong:Websitehttps://www.livewelllovestrong.com/caregiverconnection Caregiver Connection Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/caregiverconnectionlwls/ Keywords: disability advocacy, disability community, disability inclusion, special needs parenting, caregiver support, disability awareness, allyship, disability nonprofits, special needs families, Dash Gordon Foundation

    34 min

  2. Apr 12

    When a Sibling Becomes the Future Caregiver | The Disability Family Story No One Talks About

    What is it like to grow up knowing you may one day become your sibling’s caregiver? In this episode of the Live Well. Love Strong. Podcast, Sarah sits down with author, advocate, and nonprofit director Amanda Owen to talk about the sibling perspective in disability families. Amanda shares her experience growing up with her brother Nick, who has a rare chromosomal disability, and the emotional reality many siblings quietly carry. From childhood memories to the weight of future caregiving, this conversation explores the parts of disability family life that are rarely discussed. Amanda also shares insights from her book Rarely Different, written to help parents better understand the experience of neurotypical siblings in special needs families. In this episode we talk about: • Growing up with a sibling with disabilities• The emotional weight siblings carry• Preparing for the future when parents are gone• How parents can support neurotypical siblings• Letting siblings be siblings, not caregivers Learn more about Amanda Owen and her work:https://piecesofme.org Learn more about Caregiver Connection:https://www.livewelllovestrong.com/caregiverconnection Join the Caregiver Connection Facebook community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/caregiverconnectionlwls/

    47 min

  3. Mar 30

    The Grief No One Talks About in Caregiving

    Caregivers often experience a kind of grief that few people talk about. In this episode, therapist and mom Amanda Griffith-Atkins joins us to discuss ambiguous grief, the kind of grief that happens when someone you love is still here, but life looks very different than you imagined. Amanda shares her journey raising her son with Prader-Willi Syndrome and explains why caregivers often feel guilt or shame around their grief, even when they deeply love their children. We explore: • The reality of ambiguous grief• Why grief and joy can exist at the same time• The pressure caregivers feel to stay positive• How to practice self-compassion• What healthy grieving looks like over time This conversation is honest, validating, and deeply human. Learn more about Amanda Griffith-Atkins:https://amandagriffithatkins.com Learn more about Live Well. Love Strong.:https://www.livewelllovestrong.com Join our Caregiver Connection community:https://www.livewelllovestrong.com/caregiverconnection Join the Caregiver Connection Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/caregiverconnectionlwls/

    34 min

  4. Mar 16

    Building Strength and Confidence for Every Ability

    In this episode of Live Well. Love Strong., Sarah sits down with Tammy and Teri from Special Strong and Special Strong West Houston, an adaptive fitness program designed to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After years of working in education and serving families in the special needs community, they recognized a gap. Traditional gyms are often not designed with individuals with disabilities in mind. Instead of accepting that limitation, they created a fitness environment where people of every ability can build strength, confidence, independence, and community. Through personalized training and a supportive approach, Special Strong helps individuals with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and other developmental or physical challenges experience the benefits of movement and fitness. Tammy and Teri share the heart behind their mission, the transformations they have witnessed, and why inclusive fitness can have a lasting impact not just on individuals, but on entire families. Learn more about Special Strong West Houston: https://specialstrongwesthouston.com Learn more about the podcast and resources from Live Well. Love Strong: https://livewelllovestrong.com

    33 min

  5. Mar 2

    Navigating Texas Disability Services

    Navigating disability services in Texas can be confusing, exhausting, and far more complex than families expect. In this episode, Sarah Washington is joined by advocates and autism moms Tenika Combs (Got Advocacy) and Angela Kimble for a practical and honest conversation about Medicaid waivers, Social Security Disability, LIDDA intake, and what supports are available as children transition into adulthood. They discuss long waitlists, eligibility changes after age 18, how to approach IDD vs mental health intake, what day habilitation programs provide, and how Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation can offer support starting in the teen years. They also talk openly about caregiver burnout and the kind of self-care that makes this long journey sustainable. Resources mentioned: Got Advocacy – https://gotadvocacy.orgGot Advocacy Resource Page – https://gotadvocacy.org/resourcesTexas Workforce Commission – https://www.twc.texas.gov

    1h 3m

  6. Feb 16

    Wired and Tired: Calming Caregiver Anxiety Without Shame

    Caregiving can train your nervous system to live on high alert, even on a “routine” Tuesday. In this episode of Live Well, Love Strong, Sarah sits down with Keri Aschoff, LPC, a trauma-informed therapist and fellow mom, to talk about what caregiver anxiety and burnout really look like in the body and what actually helps. Keri shares her family’s story of her daughter collapsing at a homecoming dance and later being diagnosed with dysautonomia, including POTS, and how that lived experience reshaped both her motherhood and her professional practice. Together, Sarah and Keri name the patterns so many caregivers carry: chronic anxiety, burnout, the low hum of irritability, and that heavy dread feeling that leaves you both wired and exhausted at the same time. They unpack why anxiety is not a personal failure, how the nervous system can over-calibrate after years in the trenches, and why trying to “do it right” can sometimes make things harder. You’ll hear practical tools you can start today, including the PACE framework (Pause, Assess, Choose, Engage and Empower), the “jellyfish” muscle release technique, slow exhales to calm the stress response, hydration as nervous system support, and simple ways to burn off adrenaline in real life. This episode is honest, practical, and deeply validating for parents and caregivers who feel like their bodies never fully come down. You are not broken. Your nervous system has been protecting you. And it can learn to recalibrate. To connect with Keri or learn more about her counseling services in Texas, visit kindworkscounselor.com.

    40 min

  7. Feb 16

    When Love Isn’t Enough: Finding Help for the Hardest Behaviors

    This episode is heavy. And it is real. We talk openly about aggressive behaviors, self-injury, and property destruction. We also talk about the moment many caregivers quietly reach, when love, patience, and grit are no longer enough on their own. Our guest, Jaime Hrobar, shares her journey navigating neuro-behavioral centers, advocating fiercely for her child, and finding a plan that finally brought clarity and relief. She walks us through what she learned, what she wishes she had known sooner, and how asking for help became an act of love, not failure. We cried. We laughed. And we held space for every caregiver who has been told to “just hang in there” when things felt impossible. If this conversation resonates, we want you to know you do not have to carry it alone. Through Live Well. Love Strong.’s Caregiver Connection, caregivers are paired with other caregivers who understand this road firsthand. It is a place for encouragement, shared wisdom, and honest conversations when things feel overwhelming. Learn more about Caregiver Connection athttps://www.livewelllovestrong.com/caregiverconnection Join the Caregiver Connection Facebook group herehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/caregiverconnectionlwls/ More from Jaime and her community:Homebound & Healing Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/HomeboundandHealingWebsite and resources: https://www.jaimehrobar.com You are not alone. And help can look different than you imagined.

    50 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    A Little About Homeopathy with Peggy Chipkin

    When Sarah first met family nurse practitioner and homeopath Peggy Chipkin, she was a young mom in New Orleans with a baby in distress, a lot of tears, and not many answers. In this episode, Peggy joins Live Well. Love Strong. to share what homeopathy is, how it works, and why it has been such a powerful tool for families like Sarah’s. Peggy explains how homeopathy looks at the whole person, including emotional and physical patterns, and why remedies are chosen in such an individualized way. She talks about working alongside conventional medicine, using homeopathy safely with existing treatments, and what she watches for when a client’s system is actually getting stronger. You will hear about the idea of the “vital force,” how strengthening it can shift sleep, mood, and resilience, and why suppression of symptoms is not the same as true healing. Throughout the conversation, Peggy keeps her focus on caregivers of children with disabilities. She offers validation for the high stress and cortisol so many parents live with, talks about the importance of support and respite, and shares real-life stories of how homeopathy has improved quality of life for her clients. Sarah also shares her own experiences using homeopathy with her kids, including fevers and gut issues, and how having more knowledge helped her make confident choices. If you have been curious about homeopathy, want options that can work alongside your child’s current care team, or simply need encouragement as a caregiver, this episode is a gentle, informative place to start. #LiveWellLoveStrong #CaregiverLife #SpecialNeedsParenting #DisabilityMom #DisabilityDad #CaregiverSupport #CaregiverCommunity #Homeopathy #HolisticHealth #FunctionalFamilyCare #AlternativeMedicine #GentleHealing #PediatricWellness #GutHealth #NervousSystemSupport #VitalForce #SpecialNeedsFamily #MedicalMamas #ComplexKids #ChronicIllnessKids #MamaNeedsSupport #YouAreNotAlone #ParentingABeautifulDifference

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A new space for healing through empowering, connecting, and uplifting mothers raising children with disabilities by sharing authentic stories, trusted information, and therapeutic support. This is the place for moms to feel seen, heard, and supported—transforming isolation into connection, everyday survival, and community.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah.washington
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sarah.washington
  • Show Website
    Live Well. Love Strong.