When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone and did something you were afraid to do?  What have you been talking yourself out of but know deep down you're meant to do that thing? Well this episode is for you! I FINALLY bet on myself and pushed myself out of my comfort zone and it paid off! Listen in.____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

Today's guest, Andrea, and I had an amazing conversation all about the special education world, teaching, integrated classrooms, positive intent and so much more! Tune In!Andrea's Bio:With over 20 years of experience, Andrea Haas is an experienced educator who has taught students in general and special education settings. She has also worked with adults in teacher training programs, provided professional development for elementary teachers, and mentored new teachers in diverse K-8 classrooms. Andrea holds a Master's degree in Reading Instruction and is a National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy.In reaction to the need for elementary teachers to have more support in teaching kids how to read and write, Andrea founded Elm Tree Education. This platform offers personalized online literacy coaching, consultation services, and ongoing professional development for teachers. Through Elm Tree Education, Andrea aims to empower teachers to confidently meet the learning needs of all students in their classrooms while cultivating practices that embrace the whole child and prioritize inclusivity.In today's challenging educational landscape, Andrea is a valuable resource, providing teachers with personalized support, research-backed strategies, and reliable expertise.Connect with Andrea: WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYoutube____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

Happy New Year! I look back on 2023 and share my dog, Gauge's, 2024 goals!____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

Stefan's Bio:A published photographer, published author, and a published pug dad who was diagnosed with ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder at 39 leading a huge change in my life for the better.Contact Stefan! All his contact info is on his websites! www.stefanglazer.comwww.navigatingneurodivergence.org____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

This week I had the honor to meet and talk with another Katie... just spelt different! Katie's story is so inspiring, it's a must listen and man she has had so many road blocks (her words) in her life but yet has overcome them / drove right through them and proved to herself she CAN do what she puts her mind to!Listen in and share with all of your friends and family!Katie's Bio:My name is Katie Selby. I’m a person with a language impairment and a learning disability. I was diagnosed with my language impairment at the young age of three and with my learning disability at the age of five. I’m the only person in my immediate and extended family who lives with a disability. I’m unaware of any cause for my disabilities.I participated in the special education system from the time I was three years old until I graduated from high school. My high school counselor told me that instead of going to college, I should look for work in child care. There were others in my life who advised me against college. I didn’t listen to the people who were deterring me from my lifelong dream. I listened only to those who supported me in making my dream come true.Although it was difficult at times, I went to college and learned how to advocate for my educational needs. After receiving my college degree, I began working to support individuals with disabilities in the school setting as well as the home setting. I support my students with their goals and help them become as independent as they can be.I come from a unique social group. All of my friends are people with disabilities. We are not a support group; we just have the same life experiences. About four years ago, I wrote a blog article for “The Mighty” to share my story. Since then, I’ve shared my story on several learning disability social media pages. It feels like I’m sharing my story with the whole world! Connect with Katie!InstagramFacebook____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

Michelle has heard many "you can't do that", "you shouldn't go into this", but she has broken through all of that negativity and proved herself right, that she CAN do what she puts her mind to and she has! She is now educating, empowering and encouraging people with and without disabilities each and every day! Michelle's Bio:Michelle Steiner lives with an invisible disability. She has articles published on The Mighty, Non Verbal Learning Project, Dyscalculia Blog, The Reluctant Spoonie, Collective, Imagine the World as One Magazine, and Word Gathering. She has had her photographs featured in Word Gathering and Independent and Work Ready. She works as a paraeducator in a school with students with disabilities. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two cats.Connect with Michelle!Facebook Instagram Blog (Michelle's Mission)____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

This episode is so inspiring! Billie shares about growing up in the Midwest, her struggles in school, to being an amazing Entrepreneur who invented a product to solve an issue she had in her day to day!Tune into an incredibility inspiring episode where Billie will encourage you to go after your ideas and to not give up! A bit about Billie:Billie is the Founder and CEO of Repaint Studios and inventor of the Repaint Tray. She is a mom of two, an avid DIYer, and a Midwest gal through and through. While she always seems to be losing her phone, she still sees her ADHD as a superpower that helps her harness her creativity and always strives to find the good in every situation and every person she meets.Connect with Billie:WebsiteInstagram (personal)Instagram (business)FacebookTikTok

Today is a special day! It's an amazing episode with my first guest of season 4, Christine Perkin! And this is a perfect episode to have right now, seeing it's Dyslexia Awareness Month and Christine is an amazing teacher up in Canada working with educators and students with dyslexia every day! Christine is a Special Ed. and literacy teacher, specifically working with students that have significant learning disabilities & ADHD. Most recently, teaching middle school has provided Christine for an opportunity to learn and engage with older students that are still learning to read. Teaching striving readers is a passion of hers, and bringing the Science of Reading into literacy instruction has brought so much success to her students and co-teachers. Throughout her teaching career, Christine has taught every grade from K-8 with a special focus on literacy, social emotional wellness, and learning disabilities in the inclusive classroom. When not in the classroom, Christine can be found outside camping or exploring the Rocky Mountains with her husband and two boys. She loves to write, connect with other educators, and inspire through her personal stories of teaching. Connect with Christine below!WebsiteFacebookInstagram ____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

It's October and you know what that means? Dyslexia Awareness Month! Let's talk about it! Listen in!____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/ 

This one is to my past students I had the privilege to teach at UW-Stout! YOU GOT THIS! ____________________________Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/