#Life Without a Filter

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Cheryl Farley

10 episodes

3 weeks ago

If you support a young adult with a disability, the transition from school to adult services can feel overwhelming. In this week's episode, I break down one of my favorite tools: The Arc of Massachusetts Transition Timeline—a resource that takes a truly holistic approach from ages 13 to 22. I share what I found most helpful, what I wish the handout included, and how our family navigated key milestones like person-centered planning, travel training, adult service referrals, and preparing for l...

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Episodes (10/10)

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 9: Transition 201: A Holistic Look at The Arc of Massachusetts Transition Timeline

3 weeks ago

17 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 8:“Turning 18: What Families Need to Know (201 Series)”

If you have a child with disabilities between the ages of 14–22, you’ve probably already felt the pressure that comes with turning 18. There are forms, referrals, applications, decisions… and it can all feel like a lot. In this week’s episode, I take a deeper dive into the Turning 18 Checklist and walk through: ➡️ Why the 688 Referral needs to happen early ➡️ Selective Service details (and why it actually matters) ➡️ The reality of Section 8 waitlists ➡️ Guardianship v...

1 month ago

17 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 7: What we are thankful for this Thanksgiving Season

As families supporting young adults with disabilities, our days can be full and complex — but they’re also full of moments worth celebrating. In this week’s episode of Life Without a Filter, I share a personal reflection on the things we are especially grateful for as we continue building and managing L’s participant-directed program. From the flexibility of personalized scheduling, to inclusive community opportunities, to dedicated staff and supportive partners — these pieces make all the di...

1 month ago

7 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 6: Creating a Vision Plan for a Participant Directed Program

When you decide to explore self-direction for your young adult, the first big step is creating a Vision Plan — your family’s roadmap for what adulthood will look like. In this week’s episode of Life Without a Filter, I share how our family built L’s Vision Plan — from using his Person-Centered Plan and transition assessments to mapping out goals, daily supports, and even writing job descriptions for staff. It’s a process that takes time, planning, and teamwork — but the effort pays off when y...

2 months ago

11 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 5: Putting Your Child in the Driver's Seat: A Parent's Guide to Person-Centered Planning

Today, we’re diving deep into a topic that I am passionate about: Person-Centered Planning. This concept is absolutely fundamental to empowering our kids as they plan for their futures. Resources: Charting the Life Course: https://www.lifecoursetools.com/ I'm Determined Framework: https://imdetermined.org/ PATH and MAPS Framework: https://inclusion.com/path-maps-and-person-centered-planning/ SnapType Pro: https://snaptypeapp.com/ Clicker: https://cricksoft....

2 months ago

11 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode #4 – October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! This year marks the 80th anniversary of NDEAM, with the theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent.” 💡 Listen to this week's episode to learn more about: ✔️ What NDEAM is all about ✔️ Why employment matters for young adults with disabilities ✔️ How we’re building job readiness into L’s plan ✔️ Local organizations making a difference 👉 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam Let’s celebrate the value and t...

3 months ago

9 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 3: What is Self-Directed Programming?

Self Direction: What It Is & How We Got Here In this episode of Life Without a Filter, Cheryl breaks down the basics of self-direction programming through DDS in Massachusetts and shares the behind-the-scenes story of how her family prepared for this path with her son, L. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What self-direction is and how it’s funded through DDS.The difference between Agency with Choice and Participant Directed Programming.Why Cheryl’s family chose Participant ...

3 months ago

14 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 2: Goodbye School, Hello Unknowns: Intro to Transition Planning 101

✨ Goodbye School, Hello Unknowns ✨ When the school “bubble” pops, it can feel overwhelming. Services, waitlists, adult systems—it’s a lot. In Episode 2 of Life Without a Filter, I’m breaking down Transition Planning 101: ✅ What transition planning really means ✅ When it starts (and why it’s different by state) ✅ The 3 pillars every parent & teacher should know ✅ Checklists that make the process less scary If you’re a parent or teacher wondering what’s next after public school—th...

3 months ago

9 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Episode 1: Welcome to Life Without a Filter!

When the school bus stops coming, what happens next? Let's talk about the fears, questions, and realities families face the day public education ends. Welcome to Episode 1 of Life Without a Filter! In this episode, you will hear a bit about our family and the decision we made when our son, L, finished his public school education. Join us for future episodes as we take deep dives into what a self-direction program is, what I need to do to make it work, and hear from other families ...

4 months ago

8 minutes

#Life Without a Filter

Introduction to #Life Without a Filter

9 months ago