This episode’s conversation with guest, Laura Escayg, focuses on what special needs parents may be challenged by and how they can feel more supported and cope better with the heaviness they may be experiencing as a special needs parent.

Laura also shares about some events experienced in her own and her son, Isaiah's life. Marcia shares some from hers and her daughter, Emma's as well.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Laura Escayg and Her Journey

02:47 The Birth of Disability Activism

05:27 Founding Cause and Effect

07:47 Media and INtersetionality in Disability Advocacy

12:21 Personal Reflections on Motherhood and Activism

14:56 The Shift in Perspective as a Parent

17:08 The Importance of Storytelling

19:51 The Impact of Loss of Expectations

22:16 Isaiah's Journey and Challenges

24:32 The Power of Empathy and Community

42:55 Navigating the Diagnosis Journey

44:16 Isaiah's Progress and Family Dynamics

48:59 The Emotional Landscape of Parenting Special Needs

01:02:56 Advice for New and Experienced Parents

01:07:55 Exploring the Spiritual Journey of Caregiving

About our guest

Laura Escayg is a singer/songwriter and disability activist who released her first album twenty years ago to audiences in the region and Europe. After the birth of her son, Isaiah, who is severely intellectually challenged, she made the choice to give up her pursuit of her music career to meet his needs and was thrust into the world of disability activism. She is the co-founder of two NGOs, CKFTO and Cause An Effect.

Alongside her husband Francis and their three children, she has poured her talents as an artist, writer and performer into Cause An Effect, and set out to create stories that humanize people with disabilities and celebrate their right to live their best life.

Their website link: ⁠www.causeaneffect.co⁠

Their social media pages:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/1WEuAD1yHz/⁠

⁠https://youtu.be/E3Ri8PK6QWg?si=g19KBg_tv6HVNeEz⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/causeaneffectorg?igsh=MXh2NW05cGFiZmRibQ==⁠

About the podcast host

Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a speaker, coach, and special needs parent, podcaster, author, and strategy lecturer. She runs the Special Needs Parent Podcast because she aims to make special needs parents feel valued, connected, and supported.

Get her Amazon bestselling book, Lighting the Path, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://books2read.com/lightingthepath⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find Marcia on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MarciaNB8/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @specialneedsparentjourney

Join the FREE Lighting the Path Community for Special Needs Parents at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/jG6JEHafR3TWTyqG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠