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Giving Tuesday: Honoring Halle, Building Community, and Giving Back
Giving Tuesday is almost upon us, which means it's officially time to channel your inner Halle and spread joy like it’s your superpower. If you ever got a Halle Hug, you know her kindness could flip an entire day around. She believed tiny acts of compassion could ripple out and change the world, and honestly....she was onto something there. This week on Strength Happens , Janine and I talked about the heart behind the Halle Grace Foundation and other incredible organization
Jillian Heilman
Nov 265 min read


When the Clouds Roll In: Finding My Strength Again
Cloudy view at the top of Mount Osceola It’s been a tough few months for me. What was supposed to be a routine surgery, turned out to be more complicated than anyone expected. I was out of work for four weeks, went back for a week and a half, and then found myself home again with complications. The recovery was overwhelming and frustrating: physically, mentally, emotionally. And like most caregivers, I found myself trying to balance my own healing while still trying to show
Jillian Heilman
Nov 115 min read


Care, Chaos, and Self-Care: Finding Strength in the Life of a Caregiver
Caregiving is one of those roles that sounds noble and meaningful and it is but it’s also exhausting, all-consuming, and sometimes...
Jillian Heilman
Oct 103 min read


Words Matter: Autism, Trump's Tylenol Claims, and the Harm of Misinformation
Words matter. As both a disability professional and the mother of three children with varying forms of neurodiversity, I’ve spent the...
Jillian Heilman
Sep 263 min read


The Power of Friendship in the Caregiver Journey
Whether you ease into caregiving, slowly realize you have become one, or get tossed into the deep end with no idea how to swim, as I did...
Jillian Heilman
Sep 94 min read


10 Tips for College Students with a Chronic Illness/Disability
Hello! My name is Neeley Heilman, and I am Jill Heilman’s wonderful daughter (her words, not mine!). College is already a scary and...
Jillian Heilman
Aug 304 min read


Celebrating Inclusion: A Special Needs Graduation Story
There are moments in life you dream about but aren’t sure will ever come about. For us, one of those moments was Morgan’s high school...

Janine Harrity
Aug 263 min read


Back to School: College Edition...Navigating Dorm Drop Off Looks a Little Different with Disability
August always brings that familiar back-to-school buzz for parents, but those feelings hit differently when your child is heading off to...
Jillian Heilman
Aug 123 min read


Back to School: Looks a Little Different for Parents of Kids with Disabilities
It’s Back-to-School Season! That time of year where you hunt down the cute backpack and matching lunch box. Grab the $.75 box of Crayola...
Jillian Heilman
Aug 54 min read


What do Running, a Roll of Quarters, and Reading Harry Potter All Have in Common? Hint: Coping Creatively.
When I first became a mom, I felt like I had to wear a cape. One that was always present, always attached, silently telling others that I...
Jillian Heilman
Jul 234 min read


Grace: More Than Just a Middle Name - It's a Survival Skill
Sometimes grief shows up before we even know it’s arrived. It stirs quietly beneath the surface...sharp, silent, and unannounced. That’s...
Jillian Heilman
Jul 153 min read


The Day Everything Changed: Revisiting Halle's Diagnosis and Finding Strength in Telling Her Story
When we launched the Strength Happens podcast through the Halle Grace Foundation, one of the goals we had in mind was to help others...
Jillian Heilman
Jul 93 min read


Podcast in Progress: Strength, Disability, Friendship, and Figuring It Out as We Go
Starting a podcast sounded like a great idea over coffee. We had a story to tell—many stories, actually. Stories of motherhood,...
Jillian Heilman
Jul 23 min read


This Is 50: Love, Loss, Laughter, and Launching a Podcast
I turned 50 this year. My feet have arthritis. I’m in pain daily. My vision is shit. I have more wrinkles than I care to admit, and let’s...
Jillian Heilman
Jun 244 min read


10 Years and Going Strong
It has a bittersweet year for us at the Foundation, as this year marked our 10th Annual Halle Grace Toy Drive and it was bigger,...
Jillian Heilman
Jun 163 min read


Disability is DEI
Disclaimer: The views of this post are those of myself and do not represent any entity that I have worked for or currently work for. ...
Jillian Heilman
Feb 189 min read


Servicing Others by Sprinkling a Little Sparkle and Joy
The Halle Grace Foundation had the opportunity to partner with United Healthcare’s Service Heroes Program this March during their annual...
Jillian Heilman
Mar 26, 20235 min read


The Ripple Effect
Sometimes it only takes one person, one voice to create change. Now that I write that, I think OFTEN, change happens when one person...
Jillian Heilman
Oct 20, 20223 min read


The Other Side of Disability
Some people call me a "Pollyanna," I always try to find the good in any situation. If you don't know the reference - you have to go on...
Jillian Heilman
May 17, 20224 min read


Waiting
Neeley was just wheeled back into surgery, “looped up” on a bit of versed before she is intubated. I am sitting in the waiting room. My...
Jillian Heilman
Jan 19, 20222 min read

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