Celebrating the Unexpected and Undergoing Transformation with Jillian Benfield

Special Education Advocacy with Ashley Barlow

Chances are you’ve experienced the Unexpected, and if you’ve stuck around here in the make-lemonade place that I’ve created, you have probably embraced the Unexpected as a Gift. Today I welcome author, blogger, and speaker Jillian Benfield, whose relatable book, “The Gift of the Unexpected,” explores how she unpacked her son’s Down syndrome diagnosis during a time of transition in her life. My favorite part is when Jillian and I discuss her explanation of how we undergo hardship rather than overcoming it. I’m telling you – it’s deep, and it’s beautiful! Have a listen today!

Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/8sxy0FeREto

Meet my guest:

Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast. Learn more at jillianbenfield.com.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillianbenfieldblog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillianbenfield/