My Autism Ally Podcast

Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

What the Wavier…Why a Case Manager?

In this episode we speak with Steve from IPMG about Case Manager service in your Indiana BDDS wavier. Case management helps families navigate services and to help support the individual and their families.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Tiffany-Kicking Cancer's A** while Parenting the Spectrum

In this episode we spoke with Tiffany. She is a married mom of 5 children. She is sharing her family’s autism story.

Be forewarned, this episode contains a swear word or several, so you may not want listen to this with young, impressionable ears nearby.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Brooke’s Story- Raising those on the Spectrum

In this episode we will be speaking with Brooke about the joys and challenges of raising her 3 children - all of whom who are on the autism spectrum- while being married to someone on the autism spectrum.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

What’s the Waiver? Part 2

In this series we will be going over Indiana’s Family Supports Waiver and helping you better understand what this waiver covers. Part 2 specifically covers what happens after you have been targeted to receive waiver services. If you want to be able to see the PowerPoint that goes along with this discussion, visit and subscribe to the My Autism Ally YouTube channel.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

What’s the Waiver? Part 1

In this series we will be going over Indiana’s Family Supports Waiver and helping you better understand what this waiver covers. If you want to be able to see the PowerPoint that goes along with this discussion, visit and subscribe to the My Autism Ally YouTube channel.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Jill’s Story -Raising those on the Spectrum

Jill is a mom to a more significantly impacted individual on the autism spectrum. She shares the struggles and joys of her autism journey. As well as how God has helped her and her family see autism as a blessing.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Holidays on the Spectrum

In this episode Susan and Samantha are sharing what they have learned from their 15+ years of experience of navigating the holidays with their loved ones on the autism spectrum. Regardless of where on the spectrum your loved one is, there is sure to be something useful for you to incorporate into your holiday routine. They also share what they are thankful for this year.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Did you know about… Sensory Cuts?

How does your individual with autism do at haircuts? Let me guess, not well. Then you need to check out this podcast. Today we are speaking with Taylor Talamantes, owner and operator of Sensory Cuts here in Fort Wayne, IN.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Raising those on the Spectrum- Joyce’s Story

During this series we will be speaking with a several families who are raising children on the autism spectrum. Our hope is that by listening to these stories that you will gain information to help you as you navigate parenting your child on the autism spectrum.

This episode is Joyce's story. Her daughter Rebecca is a young adult on the autism spectrum who was diagnosed in her teens after being misdiagnosed when she was younger. Rebecca was bullied when she was in school and as a result suffers from PTSD. Joyce talks frankly about how that experience affected Rebecca and her family, even to this day.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Special Education Series- #4 What is Pre-ETS?

This episode, we are speaking with LaToya Allen, MS, CRC from Northeast Indiana as Youth Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Pre-Employment Transition Services referred as Pre-ETS its a great opportunity to ensure students ages 14-22, have access to meaningful career planning in order to help with the seamless movement from high school to employment or post-secondary training.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Fun in the Sun #4 All Abilities Aquatics

The Fun in the Sun series is about connecting individuals and families affected by autism with area fun spots and year-round adaptive supports, services and summer activities that are available. This episode we speak with Dr. Katherine Crowell, OTD, OTR-Founder/Owner of All Abilities Aquatics, LLC.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Aiming for Awareness

Today’s episode we talk to Aiming for Awareness co-founder Geni Niedosik. She shares with us how Aiming for Awareness got started 6 years ago. Susan and Samantha learn a lot about darts and how you don’t have to know how to play darts to enjoy all the fun that will be happening on June 19th!

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Special Education Series- #3 Department of Education with Dr. Nancy Holsapple

Welcome back to our Special Education series. This episode we have Dr. Nancy Holsapple, Director of Special Education at the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). Dr. Holsapple shares with us her personal connection to special education, the role of IDOE, and offers resources and explains the role of a special education director at the district level.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Cruisin’ for Acceptance Event

Just a short episode where Susan and Sam talk about My Autism Ally’s upcoming Cruisin For Acceptance Event on Sunday, April 25th 1-4pm at Glenbrook Square Mall

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Susan Crowell Susan Crowell

Fun in the Sun #3- Science Central

This episode we speak with Megan Price, Science Central, School & Public Program Manager. She shares with us the supports and programs available at Science Central for those on the autism spectrum.

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Samantha Drudge Samantha Drudge

Special Education Series- #1 Where to begin?

Our first of multiple interviews with Nicole Hicks- Program Specialist at IN*SOURCE. She’s going to help us better understand your child’s rights under Article 7- Indiana’s Special Education Law.

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Susan Crowell Susan Crowell

Fun in the Sun #2 Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

On this episode we speak with Andria Schmitz the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Education Curator about year-round adaptive supports, services and summer activities are available at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo for those affected by autism.

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