Help for special needs parents Archives - Water Prairie

Monday, July 14, 2025

Episode #32: Disability Awareness Education for Children

Disability Awareness

Show Notes:

Do you have a child with a disability? Have you ever thought about how others might view a disability? Can you tell your child how to explain their disability to their friends?

Our guest for this episode is Gabriella Tiberio, a teenager who has created what may be the best representation of disabilities we’ve seen! She may be young, but she understands what it means to make disabilities a part of who someone is and not the only characteristic that people see.

Join us for this interview and find out what brought Gabriella to write a children’s book about disability awareness and how it’s being used to speak out for children in their schools and how others are using it to teach their children how to understand why some people they meet might need special accommodations at times.

Contact Gabriella:

Instagram: @gabriellatiberiooOrder Mrs Jones’s Wonderful Class(As an Amazon Associate, I may receive a commission if you make a purchase. This is a way you can help support the podcast!)

Connect with Us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie

Support this channel: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie

Music Used: “LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Episode #4: Special Needs Siblings

In this episode, Tonya talks with our son, Christopher, about growing up with a sibling who has special needs. Christopher shares how his understanding of his sister’s disability has changed since he was young, and he talks about their relationship today as young adults. Next week, Christopher will continue his conversation with Tonya and share some of the challenges he has had personally and how they have impacted his desire to play baseball in college.

Next week, in Episode #5, Christopher will continue his conversation with Tonya and share some of the challenges he has had personally and how they have impacted his desire to play baseball in college.

Connect with Us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie

Support this channel: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie

Music Used:

“Your Intro” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Episode #3 – Part 2: Space Camp, Surfing, and Zip Lining!

In this video podcast, Tonya talks with Olivia Wilkerson about what it was like to grow up having a visual impairment caused by Leber Congenital Amaurosis, a rare genetic cause of childhood blindness.

During this part of Episode #3, Olivia speaks to teachers who work with visually impaired students about how they can help their students in the classroom and help them become advocates for their own needs. She also describes her adventures at Space Camp, outdoor adventure camps, her other activities, and what she plans to do in the future.

In Part 1 of this episode, Olivia shared her memories of her younger years in school and gave tips for parents of what they might consider asking to include in their visually impaired child’s IEP at school and what they can do to help prepare their child for success in middle school and beyond.

Watch Part 1 of Episode #3: https://waterprairie.com/2022/02/11/leber-congenital-amaurosis/

Olivia’s Instagram: @O_Wilkerson04

Some of the topics covered during Olivia’s interview can be explored more below:

Braille Challenge: https://brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge/about

SCIVIS Space Camp: http://www.scivis.org/index.htm

Connect with Us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie

Support this channel: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie
Music Used:

1) “Your Intro” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Episode #3 – Part 1: Growing Up With a Visual Impairment

In this video podcast, Tonya talks with Olivia Wilkerson about what it was like to grow up having a visual impairment caused by Leber Congenital Amaurosis, a rare genetic cause of childhood blindness. Olivia shares her memories of her younger years in school and gives tips for parents of what they might consider asking to include in their visually impaired child’s IEP at school and what they can do to help prepare their child for success in middle school and beyond.

During Part 2 of this episode, Olivia speaks to teachers who work with visually impaired students about how they can help their students in the classroom and help them become advocates for their own needs. Be sure to listen to Part 2 to hear about how Olivia’s been involved with Space Camp, outdoor adventure camps, her other activities, and what she plans to do in the future.

Watch Part 2 of Episode #3: https://waterprairie.com/2022/02/11/leber-congenital-amaurosis-and-space-camp/

Olivia’s Instagram: @O_Wilkerson04

Some of the topics covered during Olivia’s interview can be explored more below:
Braille Challenge: https://brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge/about

Connect with Us:
https://linktr.ee/waterprairie

Support this channel:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie

Music Used:
1) “Your Intro” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Episode #2 – Part 1: Growing Up With Albinism, Nystagmus and Low Vision

This episode of the Water Prairie Chronicles is being posted in 2 parts so be sure to listen to both sections. Emily speaks with Tonya about what it was like growing up with albinism, high myopia and nystagmus. She gives some great advice to parents who have children with low vision and includes the accommodations she has found to be the most helpful to her in school and in college.

Emily played goalball, a Paralympic sport, as part of a local recreational group when she was younger, and she speaks about getting a program started at her college. Listen to her description of this fun way to help connect the low vision and blind community with the sighted community in a sport that everyone can be a part of.

Emily’s Instagram: @oemilygrace

Emily’s website: emilysoriginals.com

Goalball information and supplies: https://waterprairie.com/shopping/

Music Used: “Your Intro” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie

Episode #2 – Part 2: Accommodations for Low Vision Students & Goalball for All

Show Notes:

This episode of the Water Prairie Chronicles is being posted in 2 parts so be sure to listen to both sections. Emily speaks with Tonya about what it was like growing up with albinism, high myopia and nystagmus. She gives some great advice to parents who have children with low vision and includes the accommodations she has found to be the most helpful to her in school and in college.

Emily played goalball, a Paralympic sport, as part of a local recreational group when she was younger, and she speaks about getting a program started at her college. Listen to her description of this fun way to help connect the low vision and blind community with the sighted community in a sport that everyone can be a part of.

Emily’s Instagram: @oemilygrace

Emily’s website: emilysoriginals.com

Goalball Information: waterprairie.com/shopping

Music Used: “Your Intro” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie