FASD Hope is a podcast series about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), through the lens of parent advocates with over eighteen years of lived experience.
On this 20th episode of FASD Hope, Natalie Vecchione (Podcast Host) speaks with Josh Bechtel, an author and President of Lighthouse Publications, LLC and founder of FMV Publishing Services. Josh has written several books, including his memoir "Finding My Voice: A Journey into Faith". Josh was born in November of 1977 in Pendleton, Oregon. He was placed in foster care at the age of one and a half. After a series of foster placements, he was eventually adopted by a conservative, Mennonite family in Estacada, Oregon. He later learned that he had a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and his family (and fellow members of their Mennonite Community) received a consultation from Diane Malbin, author of "Trying Differently Rather Than Harder" and founder of FASCETS. Josh credits speaking with Diane Malbin and reading her book as extremely helpful in learning about how his brain functioned and learning to make accommodations for himself. In this twenties and early thirties, Josh worked at a children's home in Virginia and a men's rehabilitation center in Indiana. During that time, Josh reconnected with his biological parents and family. He lives in Akron, OH and he divides his time between odd jobs and expending his creative energies in a small business he founded in 2015, called "Finding My Voice Publishing and Services", inspired by the title of his memoir "Finding My Voice: A Journey into Faith".
During this open and insightful conversation, Josh and Natalie discuss the following topics: Josh's story and adoption journey, how he learned about his FASD diagnosis (from Diane Malbin), the many accommodations he developed throughout his lifetime, how his writing saved him (and became a tremendous strength for him), his additional strengths and his advice to teens and young adults living with an FASD (and their parents / caregivers / loved ones). Josh's story is one of determination, accommodation and hope.
"Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now. but you will know after this.' " - John 13:7
RESOURCES-
Josh Bechtel, President, Lighthouse Publications, LLC
FMV Publishing and Services
www.findingmyvoice.us
jaypeebee77@gmail.com
"Trying Differently Rather Than Harder" by Diane Malbin, MSW (1999/2002/2017)
FASCETS - https://fascets.org/
FASD Hope -
http://www.fasdhope.com/
info@fasdhope.com
Instagram - @fasdhope
Facebook - @fasdhope1
Pinterest - @fasdhope1
139 - Run FASD 2022 - A Conversation with Team Run FASD
138 - Season 3 Premiere - FASD Fireworks in Florida - A Conversation with Lindsey Munns
137 - Hope is Gritty - Season 2 Finale
136 - A Love-Stretched Life - Part 2 - A Conversation with Jillana Goble
135 - A Love-Stretched Life - Part 1 - A Conversation with Jillana Goble
134 - Parent Caregiver Mental Health - A Conversation with Jess Ronne
133 - The Reel Hope Project - A Conversation with Abby Marino
131 - Foster Hope NY - A Conversation with Hannah Bender
132 - Silent No More - A Conversation with Miranda B.
130 - Digging Deeper in FASD - A Conversation with Ann Yurcek
129 - A Legacy in FASD and Law - A Conversation with Kay Kelly
128 - The FASD Collaborative Project - A Conversation with Emily Rusnak
127 - Unseen Documentary - A Conversation with Amanda and Tom Dyer
126 - 4 Paws For Ability - A Conversation with Kelly Camm and Laurie Hodne
125 - FASD Legislative Update - A Conversation with Susan Shepard Carlson and Jenn Wisdahl
124 - The FAS Project- Netherlands - A Conversation with Luke Schut and Dami Munter
123 - The FASD Forum ’22 - NOFASD Australia
122 -Explained By Brain FASD Online Training - A Conversation with Dr. Vanessa Spiller
121 - All About FASD - Gratitude, Optimism and FASD with Dr. Jerrod Brown
120 - We Still Struggle, But It’s OK - The Dadcast with John and Natalie Vecchione
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