We’re starting this year off strong with an important conversation all about school and inclusion. If you’re parenting a child with a disability, we think you’ll relate! Enjoy.. When Micha and her family moved across the country this summer, she realized it might be time to shift her son’s classroom setting as well. In this week’s episode, Micha’s discussing her decision to place Ace in a more restrictive classroom environment and we’re answering lots of hard questions about school for our kiddos with Down Syndrome.. Is inclusion really always the best option? Are you no longer an advocate if you choose a non-inclusive setting for your child?
Read MoreAs we head into the new year, we invite you to confront your privilege and pursue justice alongside us. Start by listening (or listening again) to this interview with Jalondra Davis. Enjoy.. We know that Down Syndrome does not affect one more race more than another so why is the advocacy space not more diverse? We have Jalondra Davis - author, scholar, feminist, and mother, on to address this topic and more. We’re chatting about everything from her son’s diagnosis story to the many systems that impact our children with Down Syndrome and the intersections between different types of injustice. Get ready to take notes, friends. We have so much to learn from Jalondra.
Read MoreWe’re back with another one of our favorite interviews! Join us for a fun and insightful conversation with an extraordinary self-advocate! Enjoy.. At 22 years old, Matthew Schwab is a public speaker, employee, volunteer, ambassador, intern, campaign manager, and so much more. You may have even seen him advocating for employing people with disabilities on his TedX Talk! When he’s not writing speeches or selling merchandise, he’s sending emails or hanging out with his girlfriend. We’re so happy he took the time to sit down with us and chat all about his busy life, his future goals, and his journey from being sad about his Down Syndrome diagnosis to embracing it!
Read More“There’s no way to make virtual learning fair for everyone…” Micha said it best but we’re all thinking it right?! Getting your child’s IEP needs met during virtual learning seems nearly impossible. And no one understands the legal battle behind a student’s disability rights quite like Vickie Brett and Amanda Selogie, two special education lawyers who created one of our favorite nonprofits: The Inclusive Education Project. We’re so grateful to have Vickie and Amanda on for an important conversation about IEP anxiety, disability education rights, virtual learning success stories (yes, they do exist!) and when to have your kiddo’s next distance learning IEP (the sooner, the better). Cheering you on, friends!
Read MoreWhen Micha and her family moved across the country this summer, she realized it might be time to shift her son’s classroom setting as well. In this week’s episode, Micha’s discussing her decision to place Ace in a more restrictive classroom environment and we’re answering lots of hard questions about school for our kiddos with Down Syndrome.. Is inclusion really always the best option? What if you don’t have the access or opportunity to pursue inclusion? Are you no longer an advocate if you choose a non-inclusive setting for your child?
Read MoreHave you ever felt like you’re preparing for battle when you’re getting ready for an IEP meeting? You’ve gathered all your resources, you’ve been to all the conferences, and you’ve asked everyone you know for advice, but you’re still worried about being met with negativity and pushback. We’ve all been there. Let’s face it, the education system wasn’t made for our kiddos, and it takes a whole lot of advocacy (+ an amazing IEP team) to make school work for them. That’s why today we’re chatting about our tips for going into those (sometimes daunting) meetings.. what to say, what not to say, when to speak up, and when to remove someone from your IEP team.
Read MoreAnyone else feeling more uncertain about the upcoming school year than ever before? We know we are! That’s why we have Dr. Spinazzi back on the show for a special episode about her insights into Covid-19 and her thoughts on sending kids to school in the middle of this pandemic. Not only is she a physician and professor, Dr. Spinazzi is the medical director of Charlie’s Clinic, a Down Syndrome specific clinic in Oakland, CA. We are so grateful for her infinite wisdom and her heart for our kiddos. Join us for a chat about classroom safety, school precautions, the risks and benefits of distance learning, + so much more. And whatever the school year looks like for you and your family, we are cheering you on.
Read MoreIn just one day, Kenny Clutch went from dancing in the hospital room for his son Kristian who had cancer, to speaking on the news and being reposted by celebrities everywhere. Not only is he “The Dancing Dad,” Kenny is also a husband, father of 4, Down Syndrome advocate, and a motivational speaker. Today he’s sharing the story behind his nickname and how his experiences have lead him to host “Shift Makers,” a special event focused on developing positive strategies to deal with life’s challenges. So friends, join us for a chat about advocacy, adversity, pain, positivity, and of course— dancing.
Read MoreKayla Craig is a mother, author, podcaster, journalist, and so much more. She and her husband lead a diverse family made up of four beautiful children -- including two adopted kiddos and one with Down Syndrome! After realizing how curious other kids were about her unique family, she put pen to paper and decided to write “Just Really Joseph,” a book to help young children understand what really makes a family. Today, Kayla is sharing about her motherhood journey, her daughter’s experience with infantile spasms, and how to have hard conversations about faith. We’re also touching on ethical and safe adoption, white savior complex, and the reasons people actually pursue international adoption.
Read MoreAs parents of children with Down Syndrome, we’ve heard of about 1 million things we should be doing to improve the brain power of our kiddos… and we’re guessing you’ve heard them too! Do we say yes or no to B-12, Tylenol, dairy? Is gluten really that bad? And what on earth do we do about vaccines?.. We’ve brought on an expert to answer all of this and more! Dr. Brian Skotko is the director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Down Syndrome Program, a brother to a sister with DS, and the creator of Brain Train: a program for individuals with DS designed to boost brain function and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Read MoreJust when we thought IEPs couldn’t get any more complicated (and summer couldn’t sound any better!)... Enter Covid-19! Join us for a chat about how we’re handling unfinished plans for kids going into middle school and new plans for a future kindergartener, in the midst of a global pandemic! We’re also discussing our exciting summer plans… Does anyone want to hang out with the dog in the front yard?! (Again…) So friends, if you’re feeling like things are out of control right now -- know that you are not alone. We are cheering you on and (virtually) holding you close.
Read MoreAs our country has wrestled with the realities of racism over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been reflecting quite a bit over here and we’re guessing that many of you have too. So let’s talk about it. In this episode, we’re sharing our recent experience at protests, our own journeys/encounters with racism, and what we’re doing now to diversify our networks and stand with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Plus, we’re diving deep into how being a mother of a child with Down Syndrome affects the way we see racism and oppressive systems. Thanks for being here, friends.
Read MoreTeresa Unnerstall is an author, speaker, consultant, and mother to Nick - her 26 year old son with Down Syndrome and Autism. She has nearly 3 decades of experience on dual diagnosis.. which means this episode is full of wisdom, and so is Teresa! She shares three tips to keep in mind for your kiddo with DS/ASD, including behavior specialists, speech therapists, and sensory diets (and we’re not just talking about food here). We’re also chatting all about her book, “A New Course, A Mother’s Journey Navigating Down Syndrome And Autism” and what to ask for in an IEP meeting.
Read MoreJessica Hunter and Larkin O’Leary are on Instagram as @JustTwoMomssr but we all know there’s no such thing as “just a mom!” And these ladies prove it. What started as a presentation on Down Syndrome in a preschool classroom has lead to advocacy at over 30 different schools in their county, and even a trip to California’s capitol! We are so happy to have chatted with Jessica and Larkin all about their friendship, changed perceptions, school presentations, and the many beautiful stories that have emerged. So grab a tissue and text your favorite lucky mama and tell them to join you for a listen to this episode!
Read MoreLet’s face it, we all love voice-command technology (maybe even a little too much sometimes..) and our kiddos love it too. But Siri and Alexa and Google Home can’t always understand our loved ones with Down Syndrome. That’s why Ed Casagrande, the chair of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), launched Project Understood. Ed and his team are collecting voices from individuals with Down Syndrome and working with Google to ensure that the future of voice technology includes everyone. Matthew Macneil is among the many individuals with Down Syndrome to have donated his voice to this campaign, recording nearly one thousand unique phrases in the span of just a few days!
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