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
39 - Special Needs Homeschooling - Part 2: A Conversation with Candice Dugger
38 - Special Needs Homeschooling - Part 1: A Conversation with Valerie Castle
37 - Respite is Essential: A Conversation with Andrea Faris Roberts
36 - FASD Legislation Update: A Conversation with Susan Shepard Carlson
35 - Time for Each Other: The Dadcast
34 - Staying Sane as You Homeschool: A Conversation with Kathy Kuhl
33 - Tenacity and Hope: A Conversation with Rebecca Tillou
32 - From Surviving to Thriving with FASD: A Conversation with Dr. Christie Petrenko
31 - The Papillion Center: A Conversation with Chris Troutt
30 - The Resilience Room: A Conversation with Eileen Devine
29 - Love Me Enough: A Conversation with Helen Orcutt and Em Twomey
28 - Guided Growth: A Conversation with Dr. Ira Chasnoff
27 - Double Dose of Homeschool Hope with Deven Vasko and Beth Corcoran
26 - Climbing Down Holiday Mountain: A Conversation with Shannon Iacobacci
25 - Christmas Episode - Gifts for Your Journey with Cindy LaJoy
24 - When Grace and Brain Based Parenting Meet: A Conversation with Michelle Catania
23 - Looking Forward in 2021: A Conversation with Sara Swan
22 - EMBRACED: A Conversation with Joel Sheagren
21 - Spotlight on FASD: A Conversation with Jessica Rutherford and Clare Devanney-Glynn
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