Posts in General
92. Politics & Down Syndrome w/Kayla McKeon & Ashley Helsing
92. Politics & Down Syndrome w/Kayla McKeon & Ashley Helsing

The last time we chatted with Kayla McKeon back in November 2018, she was lobbying for the ABLE to Work act that allows individuals with disabilities to save money without losing their benefits. Today, the act has passed, but Kayla (the first registered lobbyist with Down Syndrome) has certainly not stopped working hard!

Her and Ashley Helsing are part of the National Down Syndrome Society’s policy team that lobbies on capitol hill and advocates for Down Syndrome in DC! They’re telling us all about what matters most for people with disabilities in the current political world: Covid-19 relief packages, marriage equality, meaningful employment, virtual school, and so much more.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, VotingComment
91. Putting the "Social" In Social Distancing w/Jessica Hunter & Larkin O'Leary
91. Putting the "Social" In Social Distancing w/Jessica Hunter & Larkin O'Leary

Jessica Hunter and Larkin O’Leary may have started their advocacy journey as @justtwomomssr on Instagram, but they’ve now created their own nonprofit: Common Ground Society. And they're using their platform to put the “social” back in “social distancing” by creating a virtual buddy program for children with and without disabilities. We love the work these ladies are doing and we know you will too! So friends, join us for another chat with Jessica and Larkin about friendship in the days of distance learning, creating connections during Covid-19, and resources to advocate in your own school district!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, MotherhoodComment
90. How To Advocate Right Where You Are
90. How To Advocate Right Where You Are

Alright friends, you asked! And we’re answering.. What’s the most challenging part of advocacy for you? How do you advocate if you don’t have tons of followers? What do you wish people knew about your child with DS? And how do you keep from comparing yourself to other advocates?... We’re chatting about all of this + more today! Because let’s face it, advocacy is exciting and rewarding but also hard and messy. So let’s give each other grace and keep showing up. Wherever we are.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, AdvocacyComment
89. Let's Talk About Transitions, ft. Kenzie Clark
89. Let's Talk About Transitions, ft. Kenzie Clark

Kenzie Clark is a former special educator and the brains behind Able Transition Consulting, a service that equips individuals with disabilities with the resources to enter adulthood and thrive! The Able team is all about person-centered planning and making sure that young adults with disabilities have a voice in their transition! That’s why Kenzie’s here to chat about all things transitions, education, adulthood, + more. We’re also discussing practical tips you can use to empower your kiddos to make their own choices now and in the future!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, TransitionComment
88. (Un)learning the Advocacy Language
88. (Un)learning the Advocacy Language

When it comes to finding the right language to use in this advocacy space, it can be tricky.. to say the least! Do we go with person-first or identity-first language? Should we say disabled or differently abled? And how can we use language to empower our kiddos with Down Syndrome? We’ve done a lot of learning (and unlearning!) to try and figure this all out. And as women who do not have any disabilities or diagnoses, we know we still have a long way to go!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, LanguageComment
87. Life Update: Moving Mishaps + More!
87. Life Update: Moving Mishaps + More!

In the midst of moving (and yes all three of us are moving this month!), we feel unorganized and uncomfortable, and we know our kids must feel it too! So how do we help our kiddos with Down Syndrome transition when we’re still working on it ourselves? We don’t have all the answers but do we have some of our favorite “social story” apps + quite a few mistakes for you all to learn from! So friends, sit down and chat with just the three of us about our decisions to move and all the things we’re doing (or should be doing) to help our kiddos transition!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Moving, Transitions, AdvocacyComment
86. Palliative Care & Parenting Our Heroes w/Jen Bartz
86. Palliative Care & Parenting Our Heroes w/Jen Bartz

Not only is Jen Bartz a mother to three, she is a narrative shifter in the healthcare community, especially when it comes to palliative care for our medically-complex kiddos. After her son James passed away, Jen and her husband were inspired to create Hero’s Path Palliative Care. Hero’s Path is a non-profit organization that exists to “empower children with serious illness to live fully by providing outstanding, customized palliative care.” Jen’s heart for children receiving palliative care is powerful. That’s why we’re so thankful she’s here to share how we can support and advocate for these families!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Healthcare Comment
85. Is Inclusion Always The Best Option?
85. Is Inclusion Always The Best Option?

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? 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?

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, EducationComment
84. Michelle Sie Whitten on Creating the Global DS Foundation, Media Representation, + More
84. Michelle Sie Whitten on Creating the Global DS Foundation, Media Representation, + More

After giving birth to her daughter with Down Syndrome, Michelle Sie Whitten noticed a gap in medical research and quality healthcare for people with DS. And from that moment on, she sought to fill that gap by co-founding the Global Down Syndrome Foundation -- the leading organization dedicated to research, medical care, education, and advocacy for people rockin’ an extra chromosome! We’re so grateful to have her on the podcast for a conversation about the beginning of Global, the “Be Beautiful Be Yourself” fashion show, DS in the media, and so much more!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Non ProfitsComment
83. So Everything's Going Wrong, Now What?
83. So Everything's Going Wrong, Now What?

This week we’re sharing a special recording we did at a recent event with the We Are Brave Together community, hosted by Jessica Patay. We Are Brave Together is “passionate about supporting, serving, and inspiring Special Needs Moms.” Most importantly, they want you to know that you are not alone, friends! That’s why today we’re sharing our “everything’s going wrong” moments and how we reacted to them.. gardening, grieving, and sometimes giving up. The stress of this year has left us feeling so much weight on our shoulders — let’s help each other carry it.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown SyndromeComment
82. All things Speech & Feeding w/Shandy Laskey (CCC-SLP)
82. All things Speech & Feeding w/Shandy Laskey (CCC-SLP)

If you’re anything like us, you may have wondered (AKA worried) about your child’s speech! How much therapy do they need? What can we do at home? The questions never end! That’s why today we have Shandy Laskey (speech language pathologist, functional nutritionist, and feeding specialist) on to chat about all the things our kiddos need before even thinking about speech therapy... What on earth is the gut-brain connection and why do we actually go gluten/dairy free? Shandy is here with all this information as well as plenty of recommendations! Take notes, friends!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, SpeechComment
81. Pregnant In A Pandemic w/Abby Green
81. Pregnant In A Pandemic w/Abby Green

What do you do when your pregnancy isn’t what you thought it would be.. when Covid-19 and a shocking diagnosis leave you looking for answers? Well if you’re anything like Abby Green, you discover that what really matters is not the celebrations and expectations, it’s that you love your baby no matter what. Today we have this pregnant lucky mama on to tell us all about her pregnancy in a pandemic, receiving a Down Syndrome diagnosis alone, and joining #TheLuckyFew before even giving birth. We’re also touching on the shock and confusion that comes with a Down Syndrome diagnosis, who to tell and when to tell them, and how to navigate it all in the middle of Covid-19. Thinking of all you mamas who are pregnant during this wild year! We see you and we are cheering you on!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Pregnancy, DiagnosisComment
80. Assuming Intelligence in Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy
80. Assuming Intelligence in Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy

“Who decides how smart you are?” Dr. Sarathy is back on the show to chat about this idea from her Tedx talk, as well as her son’s extraordinary educational journey that involves poetry, patterns, and more! We’re also discussing fearless learning, the teach don’t test method, and the unfortunate way that people measure intelligence by appearance. You don’t want to miss this one, friends!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, IntelligenceComment
79. Understanding Functional Nutrition for Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy
79. Understanding Functional Nutrition for Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy

When it comes to feeding our kids with DS, we’re all just doing the best we can right? Some days our best is a PBJ and some days it's fresh baked gluten free bread! But everyday, we want to fuel them with food that helps them be their best! That’s why we have Dr. Sarathy on this episode for a conversation all about functional nutrition. Not only does she have two masters degrees and her PHD, she’s a mother to a child with a dual diagnosis of down syndrome and autism, as well as a fellow podcast host! So friends, join us for a chat about all things nutrition, whole foods, “picky eaters,” and the small changes that make a huge difference!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, NutritionComment
78. Building Trust (Not Barriers) w/Your Child's IEP Team
78. Building Trust (Not Barriers) w/Your Child's IEP Team

Have 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.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, SchoolComment