Unbound Futures Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/unbound-futures Unbound Futures is a conversation between Joyner and Shubha—two parents raising autistic kids with high/complex support needs—that explores a life where parenting becomes a site of innovation, community becomes a strategy, and liberation is something we learn to practice together. Grounded in their own lived experiences across race, class, gender, queerness, and disability, Shubha and Joyner invite additional practical wisdom and political analysis through conversations with guests with lived experience in disability justice. By intentionally centering the legacies and priorities of non-speaking and highly marginalized disabled people, Unbound Futures reimagines the role of parent caregivers in movements by connecting the daily work of supporting direct care, communication access, safety, education, and community integration to how we are building freedom from the margins. © 2026 Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick 89f2405b-e83a-5e43-82ef-1832d14b8337 yes Joyner Emerick en Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:52:53 -0700 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:53:23 -0700 https://img.transistorcdn.com/Y3c5Xb_aAor3SOujYS5JLxS_WMO_6K_myZ0Pp1X3HFE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lYmY2/NzJiNGEyNzExN2Iz/Y2M1ZDQxZTlhOGI5/Yzg4YS5qcGVn.jpg Unbound Futures episodic Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick Unbound Futures is a conversation between Joyner and Shubha—two parents raising autistic kids with high/complex support needs—that explores a life where parenting becomes a site of innovation, community becomes a strategy, and liberation is something we learn to practice together. Grounded in their own lived experiences across race, class, gender, queerness, and disability, Shubha and Joyner invite additional practical wisdom and political analysis through conversations with guests with lived experience in disability justice. By intentionally centering the legacies and priorities of non-speaking and highly marginalized disabled people, Unbound Futures reimagines the role of parent caregivers in movements by connecting the daily work of supporting direct care, communication access, safety, education, and community integration to how we are building freedom from the margins. Unbound Futures is a conversation between Joyner and Shubha—two parents raising autistic kids with high/complex support needs—that explores a life where parenting becomes a site of innovation, community becomes a strategy, and liberation is something we learn to practice together. autism, disability, autistic, disability justice, parenting, disability, social justice Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick No No Lives in the Balance CPS model and one non-speaking kid 3 3 Lives in the Balance CPS model and one non-speaking kid full 011d36ed-d1de-408f-b7d2-4f6fa85c34ab https://share.transistor.fm/s/e1dd2aed In this episode Shubha talks to Zaidee Martin - an expert on the Lives in the Balance CPS model.  CPS is a model that changes our lens to believe kids do well when they can, and empowers kids to be central to solving problems around expectations they can't meet.  But CPS is often shown as a method that requires language and communication, leaving many of us with non-speaking kids to feel like CPS isn't right for our families.  However, for Shubha and Joyner CPS has been central to how they parent, even if in a totally different way than how the books talk about it.

They pack in a lot including why CPS has been so meaningful to each of them, why they feel it's even more important to use with the most marginalized kids (and people!) like non-speaking kids, BIPOC kids, and other disabled kids most often left out of the conversation. Then they spend 45 minutes with Zaidee Martin coaching Shubha on a current, real-life, challenge with their non-speaking kid ("my kid is climbing everything!").  Zaidee shows what it can look like to have a Plan B conversation with a kid through experimentation and actions, rather than language.  And near the end Zaidee helps Shubha have an epiphany about how they haven't been giving A- enough credit.

0:00 - Introductions and what is CPS
12:00 - Pontificating about CPS
42:00 - Zaidee coaching Shubha on problem-solving
1:23:00 - Zaidee gives Shubha an epiphany about what they've been doing with A-, and what they could be doing

Resources:

]]> In this episode Shubha talks to Zaidee Martin - an expert on the Lives in the Balance CPS model.  CPS is a model that changes our lens to believe kids do well when they can, and empowers kids to be central to solving problems around expectations they can't meet.  But CPS is often shown as a method that requires language and communication, leaving many of us with non-speaking kids to feel like CPS isn't right for our families.  However, for Shubha and Joyner CPS has been central to how they parent, even if in a totally different way than how the books talk about it.

They pack in a lot including why CPS has been so meaningful to each of them, why they feel it's even more important to use with the most marginalized kids (and people!) like non-speaking kids, BIPOC kids, and other disabled kids most often left out of the conversation. Then they spend 45 minutes with Zaidee Martin coaching Shubha on a current, real-life, challenge with their non-speaking kid ("my kid is climbing everything!").  Zaidee shows what it can look like to have a Plan B conversation with a kid through experimentation and actions, rather than language.  And near the end Zaidee helps Shubha have an epiphany about how they haven't been giving A- enough credit.

0:00 - Introductions and what is CPS
12:00 - Pontificating about CPS
42:00 - Zaidee coaching Shubha on problem-solving
1:23:00 - Zaidee gives Shubha an epiphany about what they've been doing with A-, and what they could be doing

Resources:

]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:57:47 -0700 Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick 5541 In this episode Shubha talks to Zaidee Martin - an expert on the Lives in the Balance CPS model.  CPS is a model that changes our lens to believe kids do well when they can, and empowers kids to be central to solving problems around expectations they can't meet.  But CPS is often shown as a method that requires language and communication, leaving many of us with non-speaking kids to feel like CPS isn't right for our families.  However, for Shubha and Joyner CPS has been central to how they parent, even if in a totally different way than how the books talk about it.

They pack in a lot including why CPS has been so meaningful to each of them, why they feel it's even more important to use with the most marginalized kids (and people!) like non-speaking kids, BIPOC kids, and other disabled kids most often left out of the conversation. Then they spend 45 minutes with Zaidee Martin coaching Shubha on a current, real-life, challenge with their non-speaking kid ("my kid is climbing everything!").  Zaidee shows what it can look like to have a Plan B conversation with a kid through experimentation and actions, rather than language.  And near the end Zaidee helps Shubha have an epiphany about how they haven't been giving A- enough credit.

0:00 - Introductions and what is CPS
12:00 - Pontificating about CPS
42:00 - Zaidee coaching Shubha on problem-solving
1:23:00 - Zaidee gives Shubha an epiphany about what they've been doing with A-, and what they could be doing

Resources:

]]> autism, disability, disability justice, parenting, CPS, Ross Greene No Shubha Balabaer Zaidee Martin My Access Need Is a Paradigm Shift 2 2 My Access Need Is a Paradigm Shift full 3e5625ff-33c6-4ec5-abb4-76c46e7103c3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e5aa26e Joyner and Shubha discuss what it looks like to parent from a place of accepting that our kids, and ourselves, have needs.  Not trying to question them or change them.  And we share examples of what that really looks like.  Even when it's HARD.  Even when it means our non-speaking kid needs to stay in the kitchen 24/7, even for showering.  And we talk about how often the need we and our kids have is actually a paradigm shift.  The harm it does to parents and families when this isn't the approach taken by professionals.  And what does this all have to do with the resistance in Minnesota?  A lot.

  • (00:20) - We all have needs. What are our needs right now?  Does anyone have special needs?  How to access needs.
  • (13:00) - Examples of accepting and embracing a need around movement and eating
  • (24:00) - It's hard when Needs are viewed through a list of "standard" needs. Sometimes the only need is a paradigm shift. Example of meeting paradigm shift need by finding amazing school.
  • (42:40) - Parenting non-speaking kids means centering trust, because we often know what our kids need, but not Why. Practical examples of how we support our kids to feel trusted, in non-traditional ways.
  • (01:12:00) - Adults put their access needs onto disabled kids, because they cling to normalcy. The MN occupation and why normalcy is killing us.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

References:

]]> Joyner and Shubha discuss what it looks like to parent from a place of accepting that our kids, and ourselves, have needs.  Not trying to question them or change them.  And we share examples of what that really looks like.  Even when it's HARD.  Even when it means our non-speaking kid needs to stay in the kitchen 24/7, even for showering.  And we talk about how often the need we and our kids have is actually a paradigm shift.  The harm it does to parents and families when this isn't the approach taken by professionals.  And what does this all have to do with the resistance in Minnesota?  A lot.

  • (00:20) - We all have needs. What are our needs right now?  Does anyone have special needs?  How to access needs.
  • (13:00) - Examples of accepting and embracing a need around movement and eating
  • (24:00) - It's hard when Needs are viewed through a list of "standard" needs. Sometimes the only need is a paradigm shift. Example of meeting paradigm shift need by finding amazing school.
  • (42:40) - Parenting non-speaking kids means centering trust, because we often know what our kids need, but not Why. Practical examples of how we support our kids to feel trusted, in non-traditional ways.
  • (01:12:00) - Adults put their access needs onto disabled kids, because they cling to normalcy. The MN occupation and why normalcy is killing us.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

References:

]]> Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:35:00 -0700 Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick 4835 Joyner and Shubha discuss what it looks like to parent from a place of accepting that our kids, and ourselves, have needs.  Not trying to question them or change them.  And we share examples of what that really looks like.  Even when it's HARD.  Even when it means our non-speaking kid needs to stay in the kitchen 24/7, even for showering.  And we talk about how often the need we and our kids have is actually a paradigm shift.  The harm it does to parents and families when this isn't the approach taken by professionals.  And what does this all have to do with the resistance in Minnesota?  A lot.

  • (00:20) - We all have needs. What are our needs right now?  Does anyone have special needs?  How to access needs.
  • (13:00) - Examples of accepting and embracing a need around movement and eating
  • (24:00) - It's hard when Needs are viewed through a list of "standard" needs. Sometimes the only need is a paradigm shift. Example of meeting paradigm shift need by finding amazing school.
  • (42:40) - Parenting non-speaking kids means centering trust, because we often know what our kids need, but not Why. Practical examples of how we support our kids to feel trusted, in non-traditional ways.
  • (01:12:00) - Adults put their access needs onto disabled kids, because they cling to normalcy. The MN occupation and why normalcy is killing us.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

References:

]]> autism, disability, autistic, disability justice, parenting, disability, social justice No Joyner Emerick Shubha Balabaer Introductions And Life Under MN Occupation 1 1 Introductions And Life Under MN Occupation full a418b25b-9f3e-485a-be7e-2113278fc396 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3be71a37 Joyner and Shubha introduce themselves, their identities, and their kids, exploring risks, systemic power, and disabled family life under occupation in Minneapolis.   


The discussion about Minneapolis begins about 40 minutes from the end.

Referenced in this episode:

]]> Joyner and Shubha introduce themselves, their identities, and their kids, exploring risks, systemic power, and disabled family life under occupation in Minneapolis.   


The discussion about Minneapolis begins about 40 minutes from the end.

Referenced in this episode:

]]> Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:14:09 -0800 Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick 4763 Joyner and Shubha introduce themselves, their identities, and their kids, exploring risks, systemic power, and disabled family life under occupation in Minneapolis.   


The discussion about Minneapolis begins about 40 minutes from the end.

Referenced in this episode:

]]> autism, disability, autistic, disability justice, parenting, disability, social justice No Joyner Emerick Shubha Balabaer Bonus Episode: Theme Songs 1 1 Bonus Episode: Theme Songs bonus 36765015-4393-49ec-9d5f-0e68bd069190 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1dbdfaaf Shubha cries, sharing 3 clips of songs that are so meaningful in their liberated parenting. That remind them of their kid. That could have been the perfect theme songs if we had the rights.

]]> Shubha cries, sharing 3 clips of songs that are so meaningful in their liberated parenting. That remind them of their kid. That could have been the perfect theme songs if we had the rights.

]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:26:08 -0800 Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick Shubha Balabaer and Joyner Emerick 559 Shubha cries, sharing 3 clips of songs that are so meaningful in their liberated parenting. That remind them of their kid. That could have been the perfect theme songs if we had the rights.

]]> autism, disability, autistic, disability justice, parenting, disability, social justice No