Welcome to The Journey
A news magazine created to connect, inform & inspire
Voices of IDD
Apr 17, 2023
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
Often called “the mother of the disability rights movement,” Heumann’s remarkable story reminds us that real change only happens when we have the courage to imagine it … and the persistence to fight for it.
Lego man navigating around an autism-friendly theme park
Apr 17, 2023
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
Full of colors, activity, sounds, smells and crowds, a day at the theme park has the potential to race out of control like a rollercoaster. Thankfully, that’s all changing, as parks embrace accommodations for guests on the spectrum.
Beyond Gold
Gordon Hartman and his daughter Morgan
Sep 01, 2023
Kristin Jarvis Adams
Andrew's mom

A young man with a dream to work in a professional kitchen is given the chance he needs … thanks to a chef who asked him the right questions. It’s a perfect example of an important tactic when communicating with people of any ability.

Feb 22, 2023
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
An Arizona mom talks about her son’s recent move into a one-of-a-kind residential community for adults with disabilities in North Phoenix.
Sitting on a white countertop with a white wall in the background are three wooden dice with black questions marks one one side of each. The dice are casting shadows to the left.
Feb 22, 2023
Mara Topps
Solutions Coordinator, Partners4Housing
Solutions Coordinator Mara Topps explores the often-heated debate surrounding the language of autism and shares with us how she approaches this subject with families.
Nov 18, 2022
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
This season, shop with a purpose. Shop at disability-owned businesses. Our first ever holiday gift guide features some funny, beautiful, and delicious gifts that are sure to add something extra special to your gift giving this year.
Hands holding a gift-shaped white paper cutout from a first-person perspective against a background of holiday lights.
Apr 25, 2022
Kristin Jarvis Adams
Andrew's mom
Sometimes a faith community is found in the most unlikely places. Kristin Jarvis Adams, author of The Chicken Who Saved Us: The Remarkable Story of Andrew and Frightful, shares a powerful story about her son's journey toward faith.
grandfather with glasses and chef hat smiles at grandson who is wearing a multicolored chef hat and white chef jacket
Aug 01, 2022
Kristin Jarvis Adams
Andrew's mom
At my first parent-teacher conference of my son’s third-grade year, the special education teacher shuffled papers around her desk for thirty seconds too long. Nervous sweat pricked at my skin, and I feared nothing but more problems. What happened next changed everything.
Oct 21, 2021
Kristin Jarvis Adams
Andrew's mom
My son’s superpower is his ability to become an expert on any subject he takes a special interest in. After performing his first cooking demonstration in the first grade, he dreamed of becoming a chef. Now 25 years old, Andrew—a young man with autism—works part-time as a prep chef in a commercial catering kitchen. And makes some absolutely killer fried chicken for friends and family.
Young smiling man with dark hair and light-colored eyes poses and wears a big grin. He is wearing a purple dress shirt and a Pacman-themed suit jacket with a tie to match.
Nov 18, 2022
Shea Belsky
Academic settings can be a turbulent environment for autistic learners, especially collegiate settings. Shea Belsky shares his experiences at Cornell University and provides some solid advice both for students, and the college staff who support them.
Feb 03, 2022
Partners4Housing staff
The process to create a shared living solution for your adult Loved One with I/DD comes with some good-sized challenges. One of the first hurdles to clear is securing that all-important Section 8 voucher. While there’s nothing too complicated about the process, it can take a long time and it can feel like you’re stuck in limbo instead of moving ahead.
Aug 01, 2022
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
For 86 years, one organization has been driving change in King County, Washington, by working toward one simple mantra: “Work with us, not on us.”
Aug 01, 2022
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
With few exceptions, searching for work is stressful and challenging. For jobseekers on the autism spectrum, the process can be beyond overwhelming. Understanding this, the Organization for Autism Research created Hire Autism, a new kind of job board for a neurodiverse workplace.
Nov 18, 2022
Pam Blanton
Partners4Housing CEO
In this first installment of our two-part series on The Little Things, Pam shares her thoughts on the idea of choice … one of the critical elements that, in her experience, make community-based living so fulfilling.
Apr 25, 2022
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
Understanding Medicaid waiver assessment in your state -- some great advice from a mom who's been there. We recently talked with Sheree Maxwell, mom to Conor, who graciously shared her experience with their recent state assessment.
Apr 25, 2022
Carol Pearson
Partners4Housing
When speaking with mixed media artist Brette Flora, one thing becomes abundantly clear: She has a firm understanding of what art means to her, and why it’s so important in her life. You'll fall in love with her artwork, and her outlook on life and creativity.
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