Posts in General
108. The One Where We Interview Our Kids
108. The One Where We Interview Our Kids

We’re finishing the month of March with a very special interview with our favorite self-advocates.. our own children! That’s right, we have Ace, Sunny, Macy, and August on the podcast today for a sweet convo complete with a special “wheels on the bus” number just for you all! Plus the kids are telling us all about their favorite tv shows, sports, and music — don’t miss an update on Heather’s Beyonce NY’s resolution! They’re also answering the question: “What is your favorite thing about yourself?” and the responses are sweeter than we even imagined.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, AdvocacyComment
107. Confidence & Cookies w/Collette Divitto (Collettey's Cookies)
107. Confidence & Cookies w/Collette Divitto (Collettey's Cookies)

Collette Divitto graduated college and moved to Boston with the hopes of finding a job and getting her adult life started. But when she got there, every job she applied for told her she just “wasn’t the right fit.” So she took matters into her own hands and turned her famous chocolate chip cookie recipe into a successful company. And Collettey’s Cookies was born. Today, Collette is an accomplished business owner and well-known public speaker.. her favorite thing to ask people is “Why are you so surprised?” We’re so excited to have her on the show to chat about inclusive employment, self-advocacy, and of course — cookies! Be sure to check out Collettey’s Cookies for gifts, weddings, corporate events, and more!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, AdvocacyComment
BONUS: 21 Things We Love About Down Syndrome!
BONUS: 21 Things We Love About Down Syndrome!

Happy World Down Syndrome Day, friends! It’s 3/21 and that means today the 3 of us are sharing 21 things we LOVE about Down syndrome! From the good news, the dance moves, the button noses, and all the smiles and snuggles in between, there is SO much to celebrate today. We’re especially grateful that our loved ones with Down syndrome have set the pace for our families, taught us how to dance like no one is watching (literally), and have connected us with this community. We truly are #TheLuckyFew.

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106. "A Life Meant to be Lived," w/Karen Gaffney (Self-Advocate & Open-Water Swimmer)
106. "A Life Meant to be Lived," w/Karen Gaffney (Self-Advocate & Open-Water Swimmer)

She’s the first person with Down syndrome to swim across the English Channel, she’s spoken to crowds across the nation, she’s started a non-profit foundation, she’s earned an honorary doctorate degree, she’s been a hard working employee for several years and she hasn’t let this pandemic stop her. She’s Karen Gaffney. And today she’s telling us all about her motto: “Down syndrome is a life meant to be lived.” We are SO thankful she’s here with us to chat about a lifetime of self-advocacy, her non-profit foundation, and all the daily routines (including 2 mile swims before work) that keep her going! You don’t want to miss this one, friends!

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105. The Grace Effect w/Grace & Linda Strobel
105. The Grace Effect w/Grace & Linda Strobel

When it comes to inclusion in the modeling industry, we don’t always see people with disabilities on the front page. But Grace Strobel, a 24 year old self advocate with Down syndrome, is on a mission to shift this narrative both on and off camera. Not only is Grace a professional model, she is an extraordinary public speaker who inspires her audience with what she calls, “The Grace Effect,” (AKA kindness and respect!). Tune in for our chat with Grace and her mother Linda as we discuss why she started public speaking and who she hopes to inspire. Enjoy!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, AdvocacyComment
104. Becoming an Ironman w/Chris Nikic & Coach Dan Grieb
104. Becoming an Ironman w/Chris Nikic & Coach Dan Grieb

Imagine swimming 2.4 miles, riding a bike 112 miles, running 26.2 miles, and then finishing the race and making history. That’s Chris Nikic, he became the first person with Down syndrome to ever complete an Ironman back in November of 2020. Today we are thrilled to chat with Chris and his coach, Dan Grieb, all about their journey to the Ironman. We’re covering everything from how they met, how they trained, and how Dan’s life has changed since meeting Chris. And they’re detailing exactly what happened behind the scenes during the Ironman, let’s just say that not even fire ants or a bike crash could stop Chris!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, RaceComment
103. An Important Conversation About The Black Disabled Lives Matter Movement w/Elena Fong
103. An Important Conversation About The Black Disabled Lives Matter Movement w/Elena Fong

We’ve talked a lot about the Black Lives Matter movement this past year, and today we’re learning more about the Black Disabled Lives Matter movement from Elena Fong. She is a wife, mother of two children (one with Down syndrome), and an advocate navigating this space as a mixed race woman. Elena is not afraid to stand up for justice and has made it her mission to educate her community on the intersection of race and disability, particularly when it comes to police brutality. We’re so thankful she’s here to walk us through some startling statistics, what defunding the police actually means, and how to turn your anger into action.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, RaceComment
102. "More Than A Moment," w/Kelli Caughman
102. "More Than A Moment," w/Kelli Caughman

Kelli Caughman is a mother, wife, and a leading Black advocate in the Down syndrome community. Not only is she the Black Families Director for the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network, she created the Black Family Village in Indiana and serves on the board of Gigi’s Playhouse in Indiana. We’re so thankful for everything Kelli brings to our DS community and we’re especially grateful she’s joining us for another important conversation during Black History Month. Today, we’re exploring the reasons behind the lack of diversity on social media, the mental strain on Black advocates over the past year, and tangible steps to take towards becoming anti-racist.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, RaceComment
101. Jalondra Davis on Race, Disability, & Advocacy
101. Jalondra Davis on Race, Disability, & Advocacy

Have you ever thought about what enables you to ignore certain injustices in the world but not others? Do you feel safer advocating in certain spaces as opposed to others? Is privilege allowing you to pick and choose what and who you advocate for? There’s a lot to unpack here, friends.. that’s why we are so grateful that Jalondra Davis has joined us once again to discuss all things race and disability. Today, we’re covering everything from the aftermath of last year’s Black Lives Matters protests, to racial inequity in the disability community, and what Jalondra is realizing about her son’s identity as he grows up. We hope you join us for this important conversation, friends! Enjoy.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, RaceComment
100. How did we get here?
100. How did we get here?

It all started when Micha tried to find a Down syndrome podcast that could help her get her son Ace to brush his teeth. When she couldn’t find one, she called Heather, who called Mercedes, and you know the rest of the story. Here we are 100 episodes later sharing our most memorable moments from the last 3 years and some special updates from former guests! We’re so glad that what started with us running around in shiny skirts with bright lipstick has turned into such a special community with you all. Thanks for sticking around for the last 100 episodes. Here’s to many, many more.

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99. Our Response to "The Last Children of Down Syndrome" by Sarah Zhang
99. Our Response to "The Last Children of Down Syndrome" by Sarah Zhang

Only 18 children with Down syndrome were born in Denmark in the year of 2019. The article “The Last Children of Down Syndrome” by Sarah Zhang is exploring all the reasons why.. starting with prenatal testing. Zhang says, “Prenatal testing is changing who gets born and who doesn’t. This is only the beginning.” Today, we’re taking time to respond to this article and sharing our own thoughts on prenatal testing, eugenics, the idea of “risk aversion,” the hopes we have for our children, and so much more. This is a heavy one, friends. But we hope you stick with us for this important conversation.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, AdvocacyComment
98. Looking Back on 2020 & Moving Forward in 2021
98. Looking Back on 2020 & Moving Forward in 2021

Happy New Year, friends! We mustered up the courage to look back on our 2020 resolutions from last January.. and let’s just say, we didn’t quite meet all our goals for the year. But that’s okay. We’re moving forward with opportunities for growth in 2021 and we invite you to come alongside us! But first, join us for a chat about what we did over the holidays, health updates, 2021 goals (including T-swift and Beyonce aspirations) and so much more. We’ve missed you and we are so excited to release new episodes this year!

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Throwback: (Un)learning the Advocacy Language
Throwback: (Un)learning the Advocacy Language

We’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes all about advocacy and language. This conversation never gets old! Enjoy.. 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
Throwback: Is Inclusion Always The Best Option?
Throwback: Is Inclusion Always The Best Option?

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?

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, EducationComment
Throwback: Unpacking Privilege & Understanding Intersectionality w/Jalondra Davis
Throwback: Unpacking Privilege & Understanding Intersectionality w/Jalondra Davis

As 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.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Advocacy, Inclusion, RaceComment