“It’s like learning a new language,” Croyle said. “Depending on which state you live in, there are different systems and different supports. It’s confusing.”
She knew she needed help to navigate her new reality, and in her search for a community and support system, she found her new life’s work as an advocate.
For nearly 10 years, Croyle has worked as a communications specialist with the Family Engagement Center at Disability Partnership, a program of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education. The grant-funded organization, comprised entirely of people with disabilities or family members of people with disabilities, provides emotional and informational support to people living with disabilities and their families.
In 2023, Croyle launched “The Odyssey,” a podcast featuring stories and personal accounts that highlight the challenges faced by families and caregivers of people with disabilities. Episodes are released monthly and cover everything from the isolating feeling of being a parent to the reality of learning how to support a loved one.
“I really wanted to launch [the podcast] “There’s very little content out there for families and carers of people with disabilities,” she says. “It’s a completely different life experience. I thought it would be great if there was something like that because 14 years ago when I was a new parent I felt so alone and there was nothing I could relate to. I’m a journalist by trade and I have the skills, so I said, ‘I’ll give it a go.'”
In one episode, Croyle explains the finer points of applying for a Medicaid waiver, and in another, she discusses practical ideas for self-care. Though the podcast’s guests share a variety of real-life experiences, they all share the same goal: to educate and be part of their community.
Heather Trammell, family support director for the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia, was one of the people Croyle met early on after her son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
“I’m so glad she took the initiative to seek us out,” Trammell said, recalling the early days of her friendship with Croyle. “Not everyone does that. … Some people don’t reach out for support, and I always feel so bad that they feel so alone, when in reality there are so many of us out there trying to fight alongside you.”
Trammell knows how difficult it can be to navigate the ever-changing world of helping care for people with disabilities: As a parent of a child with Down Syndrome herself, she remembers being in the same position new parents and caregivers face every day.
“It’s hard to say, ‘I know how you feel,’ but I’ll never forget how it felt to be in that position when you don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said. “I wanted to know that I wasn’t alone. Making sure parents know they have friends, men and women in their midst who understand, is one of the things I really love about my job.”
This September, Tramell appeared on “The Odyssey” with Croyle to discuss how the Down Syndrome Society supports families with children or loved ones newly diagnosed with a lifelong disability, and shared her experience of finding out about her own child’s diagnosis.
The podcast is currently in its second season and there’s no shortage of topics to cover.
“There’s so much story to tell because it’s so unknown out there,” Croyle said. “So many ideas. So little time.” [If the podcast] If that’s all I do, I could have a different interview every week.”
As “Odyssey” continues to develop, she hopes to continue reaching people searching for the same community she once hoped to find, and pave the way for others to share their own stories.
“There’s a lot to talk about and a lot of voices out there that need to be heard,” Croyle said of the podcast, “and it not only broadens my vision and perception of my community and the world. [but] It also allows me to hear other people’s opinions.”
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