Episodes

  • FCG ON LOCATION - Walk for Autism Acceptance

    FCG ON LOCATION - Walk for Autism Acceptance
    May 15 2025
    Join hosts Heather and Steve as they take Finding Common Ground on the road to Utica, New York for the annual Autism Walk. Despite drizzly skies, the energy was electric—over 50 resource tables, $150,000 raised, and hundreds of families, self‑advocates, service providers, and local leaders coming together in solidarity.In this special on‑location episode you’ll hear:
    • Personal Journeys: A conversation with an author who has turned his lived experience with autism into a series of children's books.
    • Advocacy in Action: Diane Tanner of Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids on mental‑health funding and Assemblyman Miller’s vision for policy change.
    • Community Impact: Dr. Kelberman reflects on 20 years of grassroots growth and future plans.
    • Self‑Advocate Voices: Christian and Veronica share how they’re forging independence through employment and peer‑led initiatives.
    • Local Innovation: Highlights from Books, Art & More and LifePlan/ACA on creative supports and care management.
    Whether you’re an ally, a family member, or simply curious, this episode captures the resilience and unity of the autism community—and shows why our work continues year‑round. Tune in to discover inspiring stories, practical resources, and how you can help keep the momentum going. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    20 mins
  • From Tragedy to Technology – Protecting Vulnerable Loved Ones with Guardian Watch AIfinal

    From Tragedy to Technology – Protecting Vulnerable Loved Ones with Guardian Watch AIfinal
    May 7 2025
    Today, as the perpetrator (Garnet Collins) is sentenced for his crimes, we release this episode to stand in solidarity with Anil and Shalini Babbar’s family and amplify their fight for justice and protection. Their journey from heartbreak to hope explains the development of Guardian Watch AI and how technology—combined with community involvement—can not only hold perpetrators accountable but also prevent future abuse.Impactful Quotes from the ParentsShalini Babbar: "To get a call from a strange number and shortly thereafter receive a video of my son's physical and sexual abuse has been by far the most devastating thing I've ever experienced. My son screaming in pain, howling in agony, saying he wants to call his mommy. It echoes in my head all the time. A selfless whistleblower staff member could no longer tolerate the abuse he was witnessing and felt compelled to alert us. We will forever be grateful to him. This man took matters into his own hands and if not for his courage, my son would still be a victim."Anil Babbar: Listen as we put to rest the tired argument that "privacy rights" are why cameras should not be permitted in group homes. The truth is, cameras are already in place in many settings to protect us. Those who cannot testify to the abuse they’ve endured deserve the same safeguards as everyone else, not less. "We need to create a grassroots campaign to ensure cameras are installed in these facilities. It's the only way to protect our most vulnerable."The Shocking Reality of AbuseThe prevalence of abuse in care facilities is staggering:The Justice Center investigates 90,000+ cases of potential abuse or neglect each year in the state of New York.80% of abuse goes unreported.Disabled children are 5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.4 out of 5 disabled females have experienced sexual violence.Many vulnerable victims cannot testify, making convictions difficult without video evidence.Taxpayer money funds facilities where abuse goes unchecked for decades.The System Needs to Change: In other care sectors, like nursing homes, facilities are penalized for abuse—through fines and adjustments to reimbursement rates when patterns of abuse are identified. Why doesn’t this happen in residential facilities for people with disabilities? Medicaid dollars should not fund abuse. If facilities were required to repay Medicaid for timeframes when abuse occurred, it would create a powerful incentive to improve safety protocols and oversight.Learn how this wasn't the first time the Anderson Autism Center has faced scrutiny. Twenty years ago, at the same residential option for children under 21, unchecked abuse resulted in the death of Jonathan Carey. How are these tragedies still happening decades later? This podcast digs into why we need systemic change to protect our loved ones.A Call to Action: Be Part of the SolutionParents, caregivers, and advocates can actively participate in this mission. By submitting video footage of behaviors—like stimming or common reactions—families can help train Guardian Watch AI to distinguish between typical movements and potential signs of abuse. Your contributions will help protect countless vulnerable individuals from harm.This isn’t just about detecting abuse but proactively creating an ecosystem that prevents it. Imagine an AI system that detects elevated heart rates or distress signals, allowing for early intervention, alerting staff, and calling for backup. It’s not just a documentation tool—it’s a safety net that supports the staff as much as the disability community. In cases where staff are falsely accused, video footage can serve as a safeguard, providing context and proof of proper conduct.This platform has the potential to protect everyone involved. Many staff members feel undervalued and disrespected, which makes it harder for them to step forward when they witness travesties. Guardian Watch AI can help document events accurately, providing clarity in ambiguous situations and ensuring that the truth prevails. Law enforcement and The Justice Center have acknowledged that having video evidence would be extremely helpful in clarifying cases where witnesses have difficulty communicating and/or fear retaliation.Visit the official website to learn more and get involved: https://app.guardianwatch.ai/Learn More: For more about the case and the family’s journey, watch the news coverage here: https://www.fox5ny.com/news/autism-facility-faces-abuse-allegations-after-shocking-video-surfacesThis episode is more than just a story—it’s a call to action. Be part of a movement to create safer environments for our most vulnerable. Listen to this powerful episode, hear Anil and Shalini’s story, and find out how you can join the effort to protect those who cannot protect ...
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Backstage Pass: Nearly One Year of Unscripted Advocacy

    Backstage Pass: Nearly One Year of Unscripted Advocacy
    Apr 30 2025
    Pull up a virtual backstage chair—this episode is just Heather & Steve, nearly one year in the making. No guests, no scripts, just two advocates who refuse to let the conversation end at “cut.” We revisit our most powerful moments, unpack the “quiet parts” that echo long after the camera stops rolling, and give you the inside scoop on what’s coming next. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for rallying around CDPAP topics lately. We know this platform has been CDPAP-heavy—and we appreciate your understanding. Remember, every issue matters here: home care, federal funding, community innovations, and more.In this free-wheeling episode, you’ll:
    • Relive Standout Moments: Revisit some of the debates that have shaped Finding Common Ground and hear why they still matter: “On his 21st birthday, every single program stops. There is no fallback, no transition to adulthood for these same kinds of programs that he still needs. It took quite an undertaking trying to get him somewhere. At the very last minute we got the miracle, and he moved in yesterday.”
    • Explore the Camera Conundrum: Why aren’t group homes outfitted with the same camera technology we see in every other sector? “If you’re in a hospital, there are cameras. If you’re in a school, on a bus, if you’re in a store, if you’re in a nursing home, we even use cameras to keep our cars safe. Why not our most vulnerable?” We dismantle the tired privacy arguments and sketch out how we could make it work for everyone’s safety.
    • Meet Our Newest Allies: Learn how a horrifying abuse case at the Anderson Autism Center forged Heather’s bond with Shalini (the boy’s mother) and led to a collaboration with his Dad, Anil. Their pioneering AI platform will not only document and expose abuse, it aims to prevent it before it happens. Stay tuned for a deep-dive episode on how you can help train this technology, so it’s designed with your family’s needs in mind.
    • Follow Steve’s Foster-to-Family Mission: After welcoming nearly 200 children into their home, Steve and his wife are finalizing their last adoptions—and you’ll be astonished by the stories they’ll share once their family is complete. Buckle up for an upcoming mini-series of eye-opening revelations and groundbreaking solutions they couldn't discuss until now.
    Why Listen to this Episode?
    • Respectful Dialogue: We tackle the issues blowing up other platforms. Just last month, nearly 80,000 people engaged with our RFK Jr. autism post with only three comments that "crossed the line" with a disrespectful tone. Which shows us what’s possible when we welcome raw truths and diverse perspectives.
    • Common Ground = Real Change: Every voice matters. By sharing honest stories from every side, we pave the way to solutions that last long after we are gone.
    • Your Voice Matters: Tune in, then dive into the discussion. Tell us which topics you want us to explore next—home care, housing, policy, or something entirely new.
    Listen now on your favorite podcast app or watch on YouTube. The backstage door is open—come join the conversation that keeps going long after the cameras are off.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    36 mins
  • The Sh*t You’re Not Supposed to Talk About with Jackie Ceonzo

    The Sh*t You’re Not Supposed to Talk About with Jackie Ceonzo
    Apr 23 2025
    This is the episode where we say the quiet parts out loud.Heather and Steve sit down with powerhouse advocate Jackie Ceonzo, founder of SNACK and co-founder of Families for Disability Rights, for a raw, fearless conversation about the side of parenting and disability advocacy that rarely gets airtime—but absolutely needs to.Jackie has been featured on Good Morning America, built inclusive programs from scratch, and helped launch the Coalition for Self-Direction to protect families navigating complex needs, broken systems, and constant burnout. But she didn’t get there by playing it safe. Like so many of us, she started out overwhelmed, unseen, and determined to build what her child needed when no one else would.

    “If we’re these silent soldiers, no one’s going to help us. And we’re going to drop dead if we keep trying to do this by ourselves.” – Jackie Ceonzo

    In this episode, we cover the sh*t you’re not supposed to talk about—literally and figuratively. Topics too often filtered out of polite conversation or edited for public comfort, including:
    • Embarrassing (but funny) moments in public
    • Fecal smearing and lifelong toileting challenges
    • Aggression, broken doors, and the emotional toll of staying safe
    • Public meltdowns and the joy of being judged by strangers in the frozen food aisle
    • Puberty, sexuality, and trying to explain hormones to someone who still presents as child-like
    • Caregiver isolation, burnout, and the “dark thoughts” no one says out loud (like Googling group homes at 3AM—or fantasizing about five minutes of silence in a locked bathroom)
    Jackie shares her journey raising a son with profound autism, creating SNACK so both of her sons could grow up side-by-side, and realizing that when systems fall short, parents have to build what’s missing. Her message is blunt, empowering, and refreshingly unapologetic:

    “Common sense has been out the window for way too long… So that’s why I said, you know what? I’m gonna do my own thing. No one is coming to save us. So we built it ourselves.”

    This episode will challenge you, move you, and make you feel seen. Whether you’re a caregiver, advocate, sibling, or policymaker, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of what families are facing and why silence is no longer an option.We’re not here to sugarcoat. We’re here to speak the truth.Tune in. Share it. And remember: No one is coming to save us. So let's build the future we need, together.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    52 mins
  • Heather Burroughs Attachments Sat, Apr 12, 11:12 AM (2 days ago) to me, STEVE Eamonn Scanlon - From Local Action to Statewide Impact for C

    Heather Burroughs Attachments Sat, Apr 12, 11:12 AM (2 days ago) to me, STEVE Eamonn Scanlon - From Local Action to Statewide Impact for C
    Apr 16 2025
    Don’t expect transparency. That’s what you have to dig for.” – Eamonn Scanlon, The Children's Agenda
    What happens when over 140,000 students are suspended from school each year in New York? When families can’t get basic developmental services until it’s too late? When the people in power act like the system is working just fine? This week on Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve are joined by Eamonn Scanlon from The Children’s Agenda to expose the cracks in the foundation of our education and care systems—and what we can do to fix them.

    🎧 In this episode:
    • Real Power: Learn how building coalitions and reshaping narratives are just as critical as passing legislation.

    • Suspensions That Solve Nothing: Hear why blanket school suspensions don’t change behavior—and what does.

    • A Broken Early Intervention System: NY is dead last in timely early intervention services. Eamonn breaks down how that failure starts before kids even enter the school system.

    • From Foster Care to the Classroom: Steve shares his personal experience with therapeutic foster care—and how trauma-informed systems are still more buzzword than reality.

    • No Support? No Success. Heather explains how gaps in services impact families like hers—where Early Intervention delays and suspension risks aren’t just stats—they’re real life.


    💬 Must-Hear Quotes:
    • “Suspensions don’t work. We need discipline that actually changes behavior.” — Eamonn Scanlon [24:56]

    • “The early intervention system? It’s disconnected. And that’s a massive problem.” — Eamonn Scanlon [32:37]

    • “If we had 100,000 people in Albany tomorrow? All of this melts away.” — Eamonn Scanlon [43:09]

    • “If they admit the problem, they have to fix the problem.” — Eamonn Scanlon [13:26]

    Why You Need to Listen: If you care about educational equity, disability rights, or just making systems actually work for kids and families, this episode is a rallying cry.

    We’re not here to complain—we’re here to organize, act, and make sure no family is left to navigate broken systems alone.
    👉 Tune in now and learn how you can become part of the movement: Kids Can’t Wait and Solutions Not Suspensions


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    51 mins
  • National Council on Severe Autism: Driving Change with Jackie Kancir and Tammy Snyder

    National Council on Severe Autism: Driving Change with Jackie Kancir and Tammy Snyder
    Apr 7 2025
    In this powerful episode, Heather and Steve sit down with Jackie Kancir, Executive Director of the National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA), and Tammy Snyder, New York State Chair for NCSA—two incredible women who live the reality of severe autism every single day and fight to make a difference far beyond their own families.

    “We didn’t choose this path—but we’re choosing to walk it with purpose, for every family who feels unseen.” – Tammy Snyder
    “There’s a whole population of individuals being left out of the conversation. We’re here to change that.” – Jackie Kancir

    NCSA traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to bring these urgent concerns to national policymakers—and Steve was there, standing alongside them in solidarity. This conversation dives into why this kind of targeted approach matters and how you can be part of the growing advocacy network.

    Together, we cover:
    • Why the voices of those with severe autism are drowned out in mainstream conversations

    • The emotional cost of navigating broken systems How policy fails families—and what must change

    • What’s happening in New York State that most people aren’t talking about

    • How you can connect and take action through NCSA’s national and state-level networks


    This episode doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. It’s a raw, honest, and necessary conversation that lays the groundwork for real advocacy. If you’ve ever felt like no one gets it, this one’s for you. These women do. And they’re not backing down.

    🎧 Listen now and join a growing movement of people finding strength in shared stories—and taking action that matters.

    🌐 Learn more and connect with NCSA:
    👉 National Network Map – Find your state!
    👉 New York State Page

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Art of Belonging: Fayna Pearlman’s Insights on Community Building

    The Art of Belonging: Fayna Pearlman’s Insights on Community Building
    Mar 20 2025
    What does it really mean to belong? How can embracing radical self-honesty and internal security transform our relationships and the communities we live in?
    In this episode of Finding Common Ground, Heather and Steve sit down with Fayna Claire Pearlman, a community-building expert, to explore these profound questions.




    Fayna shares powerful insights into how authentic connections start from within. Reflecting on the buzzword "safety," she challenges us to shift our focus:"There's this concept of safety. We talk about that a lot. It's such a buzzword now—'I need to feel safe, I need to feel safe.' There's this idea of safety as an external form... like having a roof over your head or enough money for food. But security, to put a spin on all of this, is similar but comes from an internal space—where even if I don't have a roof over my head, I know I'll be okay.

    "Here are 3 key takeaways from our conversation with Fayna:
    • Radical Self-Honesty: Building genuine connections begins with acknowledging our needs and emotions—even when it’s uncomfortable.
    • Internal Security vs. External Safety: Fayna’s approach encourages developing an inner foundation that shapes how we engage with the world.
    • Community as a Bridge: Community is the essential link between who we are individually and how we find meaning, belonging, and growth.
    Whether you’re seeking deeper personal connections or ways to strengthen your community, this conversation will leave you with practical insights and a fresh perspective on what it means to truly belong. Don’t miss the full episode!
    Share your thoughts in the comments.
    Pass this on to someone who could benefit from these insights.
    Tune into Finding Common Ground for more inspiring conversations that spark change!



































    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Nash Redux 4_final

    Nash Redux 4_final
    Mar 12 2025
    46 mins