Meghan Weaver interviews Charlie Taylor from Foundation of Strength, discussing their partnership with gyms to provide fitness programs for individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and other different abilities. Charlie shares his journey, from his early interest in weightlifting to his initiation into training individuals with special needs. They talk about the origins of Foundation of Strength, the challenges of expensive personal training, and Charlie's innovative approaches to making fitness accessible. The discussion covers specific training methods, including adaptations for individuals with low muscle tone, and the significance of inclusive, fun fitness activities. Charlie also emphasizes the importance of nutrition, offering practical healthy substitutions for common food and drink habits. The episode wraps up with Charlie sharing his personal and professional highlights and the future plans for expanding their inclusive fitness programs.

Charlie Taylor is founder of the Foundation of Strength. He started the foundation in 2019 to promote fitness in the special needs community. He is a Jacksonville native and owned a security company (Security 101) until he retired in 2023. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for 30 years, has 4 adult children and one granddaughter with his first grandson due in September.

In this episode of 'Rare Meat for Moms, host Meghan Weaver addresses the topic of sibling relationships within families with children with IDD or a rare diagnosis. Meghan shares practical family activities and one-on-one bonding ideas to help strengthen the bond with your other children by ensuring individual attention. Highlights include personalized family experiences like 'Tuesdays with the Brunettes,' one-on-one trips, and the benefits of shared and separate spaces for siblings. Plus, Meghan's 14-year-old daughter, Nora, joins in for a Q&A, providing insight into her experience and bonding strategies. The episode underscores the importance of balancing family activities and individual attention in a family dynamic that includes a child with special needs.

00:00 Introduction to Rare Meat for Moms

00:13 Strengthening Sibling Bonds

03:24 One-on-One Time with Kids

05:37 Family Vacations

07:27 Q&A with Nora: Life with a Sibling with GAND

25:44 Three Good Things and Conclusion

Essential Safeguards and Hacks for Parents of Children with Rare Diagnoses

In this episode of Rare Meat for Moms, host Meghan Weaver shares practical tips for keeping children safe at home. Meghan details five key safeguards: (1) a freezer door alarm to prevent food spoilage, (2) a secondary lock on the main entrance to control access, (3) a Ring spotlight camera paired with a Ring chime (4) a super wide adjustable baby gate to create safe play areas, and (5) an interior motion sensor with a plugin pager to alert parents if a child is on the move at night. Alongside the safeguards, Meghan also offers a handy travel hack using FaceTime as a monitor. She concludes with a personal reflection and three positive experiences that have recently uplifted her.

00:00 Welcome to Rare Meat for Moms

01:25 Five Personal Safeguards for Home

01:35 Freezer Door Alarm

03:56 Secondary Lock on Main Entrance

05:26 Ring Spotlight Camera and Chime

07:00 Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard

09:01 Motion Sensor with Plugin Pager

14:06 Three Good Things

20:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links:

Freezer Alarm https://amzn.to/4aBCsu9

Door Swing Bar Lock https://amzn.to/4gjS1Ir

Wireless Caregiver Pager Motion Alarm https://amzn.to/40ElmaD

Extra Long Fence Play Yard https://amzn.to/3PULIA4

Ring Spotlight Cam Sensor https://amzn.to/3WETrpH

Ring Chime https://amzn.to/4hBWxTF