EPISODES

It has been over three years since the Covid-19 pandemic began and today we are chatting about how our school systems have seen continued impact on students, teachers, and parents. Who better to chat with than Larkin O’Leary and Emily King, representatives of the Common Ground Society?! Larkin runs the nonprofit @common.ground.society, what started as “Just Two Moms” doing a presentation on Down syndrome in a preschool classroom has led to advocacy at over 90 different schools in 5 counties and a few trips to California’s capitol! Today she’s joined by Emily King, a presenter, Common Ground Society’s board treasurer, and a mother to a child with Down syndrome. We chat about the positive impact of inclusive teaching on students of all abilities, how we can work together to create meaningful change, and so much more. Friends, we’re so excited to have them on today chatting all about the incredible work they’re doing in our schools!

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Today we’re talking about our personal experiences using disability access services at theme parks! We know how fun (and stressful) day trips can be we’re sharing all our favorite tips and tricks for planning your next theme park adventure. From getting the most out of your access passes, to finding what restaurants offer food allergy-friendly options, our must-have items to pack for the day, and so much more! We’re sharing our personal experiences with using these services at Disney, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, Sesame Place, and Legoland! Friends, this episode is a must-listen before making your next theme park plans!

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Friends, what better conversation to have on an episode released on a holiday that celebrates America than to talk about the differences between Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Supported Decision-making? We have attorney and Executive Director of Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Anna Krieger here to help explain the differences and similarities between these options. Anna is a nationally recognized expert on Supported Decision-Making and has trained, advocated, and written widely on the topic alongside decision-makers and their supporters. We’re also joined by self-advocate Craig Kinney and his mom Sandy, who have chosen Supported Decision-Making and are sharing their experience with us today! We hope this episode helps you think about what next steps you may consider when deciding what is best for your family.

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Today we’re talking about our personal experiences with adaptive and inclusive programs. We know both can be successful, we also know what's worked and what hasn’t worked for our kiddos. From basketball, baseball, dance, surfing, theater, gymnastics, ski lessons, soccer, and swim team, we’ve tried what seems like every activity imaginable! We’ve seen our kids thrive in both inclusive and adaptive programs, and we’ve also seen our kids face challenges with both. Let’s pause and realize that these spaces can be so beautiful but equally hard for our kiddos. We chat about how and when we step in and say something, and when we’ve learned to simply step away. No matter what kind of program works best for your child, there’s nothing better than seeing our kids thrive and develop relationships with friends of all abilities. No matter what season of finding the best activity or program for your child you’re in, we hope you know you’re not alone in the trial and error of finding just the right spaces for your incredible kids.

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Friends, we’re so excited to have National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) Executive Director, Jordan Kough on the show today! He’s here to tell us what to expect at the 51st NDSC Convention, discuss the impact of the Down syndrome community working together, and so much more! We chat about the disability rights movement and how advocacy has created meaningful changes that have impacted policy changes at State and Federal levels. How coming together at NDSC Convention and participating in the advocacy boot camps, self-advocate sessions, educator’s conferences, and other workshops can give us the tools we need to be change-makers in our own communities. We know what amazing friendships we’ve made at past Convention’s and we hope to see you in Florida for this year’s NDSC Convention!!

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Dads, father figures, this one’s for you! Today The Lucky Few Dads are taking over to chat about nurturing the connections with their kiddos with Down syndrome and what this journey of fatherhood has taught them so far. Josh, Andy, and Chris share what they’d tell their younger selves and how they’ve grown as fathers so far. Some of the changes they’ve made in their careers and family dynamics that have benefited their families. How important it is to normalize asking for support from friends and family. Looking for opportunities to get involved with their kiddos, being flexible while finding what works best for their family, and so much more. They take a moment to brag about their wives and share the superpowers of our three favorite ladies! Friends, you won’t expect their answers!! Happy Father’s Day to all the father figures out there advocating and learning from your kiddos every day! We see you and celebrate you!

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Today on the show we have two talented self-advocates and the stars of the movie Champions! Madison Tevlin and Matthew Von Der Ahe join us to chat about the audition process, working with Woody Harrelson, some behind the scenes secrets, and so much more! They tell us about their characters' sassy and hilarious attitudes and warning an explicit word or two may be used…ear muffs!! From voiceover acting, modeling, speaking at conferences, working at a restaurant, dancing and crafting these dynamic friends are keeping busy! We hear all about their plans for the future and can’t wait to see what’s next for these two. Friends, you don’t want to miss this fun and delightful episode!

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Let's give ourselves all a round of applause, high fives, and cheers. We've made it through another school year! We know each year comes with its challenges and triumphs, today we’re reflecting on the good, bad, and in between of the 2022-2023 school year. We catch you up on what grades our kiddos are finishing up and what next year has in store. We’re chatting about homeschooling, charter schools, our frustrations with IEP’s, placement testing, and more. Looking ahead to next year we give advice on what we could do differently and what we wouldn’t change. Join us as we talk through what has us feeling tired, frustrated, but hopeful. Remember friends, we’re cheering you on!

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Friends, we recognize and appreciate that so many of you come to us for our open, honest, and candid conversations week after week. After seeing the response Heather was receiving over on @theluckyfewoffical under a post that she wouldn’t be celebrating an abled person asking a disabled person to prom, we knew this topic deserved another conversation. We also knew the conversation deserved to include a person with disabilities. Our producer and self-advocate Ashley Fraccalossi joins us for this candid conversation on honoring people with disabilities and when that line can get blurred or crossed. She helps break down with us what inspiration p*rn means in the disabled community, unconscious bias, and how her own experiences with disability have shaped her views on this topic. We’re grateful to not only hear from her today, but to continue this important conversation with all of you. May we all continue to learn, listen, and grow from conversations like this together.

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Friends, we’re SO excited to have the star of the newest Disney reimagining of Peter Pan on the show today! Noah Matthews Matofsky joins us all the way from London to chat about his leading role as Slightly, one of the Lost Boys, in ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ now streaming on Disney+. Before being scouted for the film by American casting agent Debra Zane, Noah had only ever been in school plays! We chat about what it’s like to be recognized, learning stunts, and he even gives us a performance of a favorite Disney song! He’s not only a trailblazer for actors with Down syndrome, but an ambassador for Down Syndrome UK, member of The Phoenix Theater Group, and hopes to go on to drama college. This is an episode you’re not going to want to miss!

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Happy Mother’s Day, friends!! On this week’s episode we’re celebrating with a candid conversation about connecting with your child with Down syndrome! We know how important making meaningful connections with our kids is, today we’re talking all about nurturing those connections. What we’re doing to develop the relationships with our kiddos, learning new ways to give and receive love, and so much more!  And we might even have a surprise performance by none other than our very own Micha Boyett performing her original score of a still untitled Mother’s Day song. We hope all you lucky mama’s out there know we love you, and as always, we’re cheering you on!

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Friends, we’re so excited to have the brilliant Dr. Brian Skotko and Dr. Noemi Spinazzi back on the show today! They’re here to tell us about a big research project they worked on involving patients with Down syndrome who identify as Black as well as parents of patients who primarily speak Spanish. This work included conducting surveys of parents and primary care physicians from across the country over the last two years. Its primary goal was to identify the barriers for families looking to access adequate care that shouldn’t only be found at specialty Down syndrome clinics in large cities. We chat about structural racism in medical care, striving for cultural humility, some of the surprises they found in their research, and so much more. They share some valuable resources for those without access to a Down syndrome clinic and how we can all strive to be champions for the Down syndrome community. Thank you to Dr. Skotko and Dr. Spinazzi for their continued work in making sure everyone in the Down syndrome community has access to quality health care.

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Today we’re catching up with three self-advocates from previous episodes! Advocating for the Down syndrome community from the steps of Capitol Hill we catch up with self-advocates Kayla McKeon, Matthew Schwab, and Charlotte Woodward! We were so excited to chat with them during the National Down Syndrome Society’s Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference in Washington DC! From advocating equal rights in employment, healthcare, and education for people with Down syndrome these self-advocates are putting faces and names lobbying for these legislative priorities! They share the bills they’re passionate about and we catch up on the fun and interesting things they’ve been up to. From bocce ball, to ballroom dancing, to graduating college these incredible self-advocates have been busy since we last talked to them! Friends, you’re going to love this episode!

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Friends, some harmful statements were made recently by an online commentator about a recent SKIMS campaign and it got us thinking about all things inclusivity in the media. She who will not be named asked, “how far are we going to take this inclusivity thing? Girl, we’re taking this inclusivity thing ALL the way! Today we ask all the questions that harmful narratives like this leave us with. What’s worthy of being seen as beautiful? Are companies being genuine or just checking an inclusion box? How we define ableism and so much more! So, listeners, we might be left with more questions than answers on this one, let’s keep this conversation going! 

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