We’re all hoping for great friends for our kiddos, right? And as parents of kids with Down Syndrome, we might be hoping for those great friends even more than most. That’s why we are so excited to talk to you all about Best Buddies , an international non-profit organization that focuses on creating meaningful, one on one, friendships between students with and without different abilities. Here today to tell us all about the program and share their amazing friendship story is (our co-producer) Val...
Sep 30, 2019•55 min•Ep. 43
The National Down Syndrome Society ( NDSS ) gave his family hope when his sister was born, and now he’s giving it right back. Friends, meet Shivam Punjya, the founder of Behno and the brother of Nini, his younger sister with Down Syndrome. Although his beautiful NYC brand of ethically designed handbags started out with goals to increase sustainability and support workers in India, Shivam’s most recent outreach efforts include a cause that’s pretty close to our own hearts.. The Nini Collection ! ...
Sep 23, 2019•43 min•Ep. 42
Another week back to school and we feel all kinds of grateful for the amazing teachers in our lives who literally make learning happen for our kiddos every single day. Teachers, we’re here to say that we see you, we love you, and we appreciate you! That’s why today we’re answering questions from you dear listeners about how teachers can modify their classrooms, advocate for all of their students, and become lifelong learners in the process! Because let’s face it, we ALL have some learning to do,...
Sep 16, 2019•39 min•Ep. 41
Anyone else feel overwhelmed and under-qualified when the back to school season begins?! We know we do! But here’s the thing: when it comes to your child’s education, YOU DO YOU. If you doing you means homeschooling, great! If it means a fully inclusive general education setting, great! If it means a special education class setting, great! This week we’re here to say that we are cheering for you and your child with Down Syndrome at school, at home, and in every space you occupy. Because when it ...
Sep 09, 2019•46 min•Ep. 40
It’s official friends, we are back to school.. and we are taking you all with us! First things first, let’s talk IEPs with the founders of The Inclusive Education Project : Amanda Selogie and Vickie Brett. These two bright and beautiful lawyers use their extensive knowledge of education law and their passion for people with different abilities to educate families on special education rights and connect them with pro bono legal aid. And fortunately for us, they’re sharing their top IEP tips and s...
Sep 02, 2019•1 hr 4 min
This week on The Lucky Few Podcast, we are remembering James Eugene Lanto, better known as Jimbo, and even better known as Jimbo_Is_The_Man on Instagram. Oh friends, where do we begin? How do we honor such a valued life and such an important part of this community? You see, for many of us in the online Down Syndrome world, Jimbo’s Instagram account was the first glimpse of what an adult life could look like for our little ones with extra chromosomes. Jimbo’s spirit seen through those little squa...
Aug 26, 2019•1 hr 2 min
Do you want to help us shift the Down Syndrome narrative in a super practical and very simple way? Then this is the episode for you! We talk a lot about how doctors deliver a Down Syndrome diagnosis on this podcast, but we've never discussed doctors and diagnoses and DS with actual medical researchers! Meg Wilkes and Stephanie Meredith are literally shifting the diagnosis narrative through their research. Meg is pursuing a masters degree in genetic counseling at the University of South Carolina ...
Aug 19, 2019•53 min•Ep. 37
“This is a complicated issue, but I truly believe that the Down Syndrome community is powerful enough to tackle this,” Lindsey Strickland on sexual abuse against children with Down Syndrome. We are so grateful to have our wise friend, Lindsey here to engage in this important conversation and empower us all to make a change. We know sexual abuse is tough to talk about, but our kids are #WorthTheConversation. Thankfully, today’s guest is well-versed in this conversation. Lindsey has spent many yea...
Aug 12, 2019•1 hr 20 min
Hi friends- Mercedes & Andy Lara ( @hooray4sunny ) here! We’ve been traveling with our three kiddos all summer long and you wouldn’t believe the stories we have for you! Between all of our crazy fun adventures, we’ve picked up on quite a few #TravelHacks along the way, especially for children with different abilities! Snacks, sunscreen, and no screen time are just a few of our keys to a fun vacation. But we get it, traveling with kids isn’t always easy, especially if you’re traveling with pe...
Aug 05, 2019•38 min
With all the chatter surrounding the recent videos from Shawn and Andrew East and their negative Down Syndrome diagnosis, we thought it best to chime in (with grace and compassion, we might add!). The East’s have been extremely (and admirably!) open about their pregnancy journey thus far, but controversy arose when they shared what the media deemed “disappointing news” that their baby had markers for Down Syndrome, in their video, “pregnancy complications | the east family.” Their next video tit...
Jul 29, 2019•53 min
Heather and Josh Avis ( @theluckyfewofficial ) here! This week, we’re answering a question that we get asked a whole lot! “How has having two kids with Down Syndrome created our family norm?” We should probably start by saying that we’ve never really been a family with “norms.” The two of us moved to Hawaii just weeks after getting married at the ages of 20 and 23. A few years later, we came back to California and adopted three kids (not all at once, thank goodness!). Macyn is 11 with Down Syndr...
Jul 22, 2019•40 min
We believe that one of the most powerful ways to shift the Down Syndrome narrative is by creating meaningful friendships with people who have DS. But we’re not just talking about those forced, obligatory, hero-complex infused friendships. We’re talking about people without DS who might have no previous interaction with the DS world intentionally creating meaningful friendships with their peers who have extra chromosomes. But let’s be real, those friendships aren’t easy, especially at the grade s...
Jul 15, 2019•53 min
Buckle up, friends. Today we’re diving into an important yet tricky topic: abortion and Down Syndrome. You may have seen in recent news that many states are suggesting laws that allow for abortion of a fetus with Down Syndrome at any point in the pregnancy. You may have also seen that a few states have begun to enact legislation that would protect babies with DS against such laws. Regardless of which side you support, we invite you to engage in this conversation with us. Know that we acknowledge...
Jul 08, 2019•51 min
Hi friends, we’ve missed you! Summer is here and so are we! What better way to kick off your vacay season than with an episode full of tips, tricks, and travel strategies to keep you and your family going all summer long? Because let’s face it, these supposedly kick back and carefree months can be a little (or maybe a lot) hard. Asking our kiddos (especially those with Down Syndrome) to break out of their routine and embrace the unexpected might feel impossible. But friends, we promise you that ...
Jul 01, 2019•45 min
Hey friends! Welcome to the last episode of season three, and it’s a treat. We’re finishing up with a special BONUS interview with one of our favorite people (though we may be a little biased), Heather Avis. Not only does she co-host this podcast, she is mother to her three adopted children, two with Down Syndrome, and creator of the hit Instagram account: @theluckyfewofficial . In case you haven’t heard (and we sure hope you have), Heather’s newest book, Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating ...
May 20, 2019•1 hr 4 min
“Moral of the story: Potty training is the worst.” - Heather. That’s right friends. We’re tackling this fun topic today, but most importantly, chatting all about the many memorable moments from this season! We even have Tesney Davis back on to tell us what just might be every parent’s favorite piece of good news- her 13 year old son Kirill is now officially potty trained! Tesney says her hope that her son can accomplish anything has been restored. What a gift it is to celebrate this milestone wi...
May 15, 2019•1 hr
Michelle Sullivan has found her voice, and she’s using it to host a podcast, run a clothing company, and most importantly— advocate like a mother. She credits all of this to her 5 year old son, Eli, who has Down Syndrome. Eli helped his mama own her creative influence to launch Littlest Warrior , a clothing company that starts conversations about different abilities while contributing back to this community by supporting adoptions, non-profits, and more! Michelle’s advocacy has evolved into her ...
May 06, 2019•54 min
When Amy Julia Becker received her daughter Penny’s Down Syndrome diagnosis, she mourned the loss of a hypothetical child, the one she had always expected. However, Amy Julia and her husband quickly found joy, love, hope, and perspective in their now 13 year old daughter. So much so that Amy Julia wrote, “A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny.” She chose to share Penny’s story when she noticed the consistent lack of hopeful information that comes with a Down...
Apr 29, 2019•59 min
Tesney Davis always knew she wanted to adopt a child with different abilities, but she never checked the box for Autism. When she discovered her adopted son with Down Syndrome had an additional diagnosis, her world changed, yet so did her mindset. Now, Tesney is a mother of two children, Kirill (12), who has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism, and Clayton (12), her biological son, who has inherited his mom's sarcasm gene and sweet tooth. Kirill was adopted from Russia at the age of fiv...
Apr 22, 2019•1 hr 6 min
Mica May believes every day life can be magical and lovely. She strives to delight her family, friends and community by creating spaces to connect and products to inspire creativity and productivity. She is a mama to three kids, Jackson (who has Down syndrome), Madelyn and Harper. She is obsessed with getting her kids to laugh, Thursday date nights with her husband, and lives for the next fun thing. Through her multimillion dollar company, May Designs , Mica teaches the world to see beauty in de...
Apr 15, 2019•1 hr 8 min
Hey, friends! Thanks for joining us for Episode 4 of this season. You picked the right day to tune in. We’re chatting with Lisa Gungor, a wife, musician, and mama to two girls, one who has Down Syndrome. Lisa is one of the curators of the two-time Grammy nominated musical duo "Gungor,” the author of the book "The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen," and a contributor to The Liturgists Podcast. She’s a creative soul who owns her influence to shift the Down Syndrome narrative through her music. Lisa a...
Apr 08, 2019•1 hr 10 min
“Congratulations! You’re going to have a baby with Down Syndrome..” the words Heather dreams a doctor would say when delivering a Down Syndrome diagnosis. Thankfully, fierce advocates like Jen Jacob are here to make that vision a reality. Jen is the co-author of "The Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome: Advice, Information, Inspiration, and Support for Raising Your Child from Diagnosis through Adulthood" and the author and a contributor for "Unexpected, Stories of a Down Syndrome Diagnosis." Jen is ...
Apr 01, 2019•59 min
Hi friends! Welcome back to Season Three, Episode Two of The Lucky Few Podcast. Today, we’re chatting with Amanda Booth, an actress, model, and mama based in Los Angeles. She has appeared on network television shows such as Hot In Cleveland, Maron, and Community. Her campaign work includes advertisements for Lancome, Fiat, Hersheys, Target, and Old Navy. Her focus has broadened since becoming a mother in 2014 to her son Micah, who has Down Syndrome. Amanda is now an ambassador for Changing The F...
Mar 25, 2019•1 hr 5 min
Hi friends! Welcome to Season 3 of The Lucky Few Podcast . We are SO glad you found your way here, and on World Down Syndrome Day of all days! There is no better time to talk about owning your influence than right now. So let’s talk about it, with all the moms at Dear Mom, Conference! We’re asking, “What does it mean to be a shouter of worth?” For some mamas it means planning an awareness event in your city, and to others it means blogging, or even adopting! All of these narrative shifting ladie...
Mar 21, 2019•1 hr 10 min
Hey, friends! We are so glad you’re here for the final episode of Season Two of The Lucky Few Podcast! Listen along as we relive the best of this season and answer questions from you lovely listeners! From the conversations about inclusion with Kristen, self-advocacy with Kayla, and Down Syndrome in the church with Jamie, to the lessons learned from Terry Brown and parents of children with Down Syndrome, this season has been powerful! The world change doesn’t stop here though! This week, we are ...
Dec 03, 2018•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to The Lucky Few Podcast, friends! Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is ahead! Struggling with gift ideas for your friends and family? We’ve got you covered. Listen along for the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide, your inside look into this season’s most meaningful gifts for everyone on your list! From personalized children's books to planners, tote bags, and sponsorships, each gift in our guide supports a company that makes the world a better place. This season, give gifts that...
Nov 26, 2018•1 hr 4 min
This week on the Lucky Few Podcast, we have the honor of sitting down with Kayla McKeon, the first registered lobbyist with Down Syndrome! Not only is Kayla active in her church and Special Olympics, she is a Ruby’s Rainbow college scholarship recipient and takes classes each semester! Kayla is living proof that people with Down Syndrome can lead full and productive lives and that’s why she’s one of the best self advocates in DC. After discovering her passion for public speaking at a Special Oly...
Nov 19, 2018•35 min
Coming at you LIVE from Orem, Utah - the ladies of The Lucky Few podcast take the stage at Dear Mom Conference! Heather, Micah, and Mercedes are reading their “Dear Mom” letters to their former selves and revealing all the things they wish they knew when they received their child’s Down Syndrome diagnosis. From the vulnerable lens of these powerful mamas, we’re working through answers to all the tough questions. What are you most scared of for your child’s future? How can I help my child relate ...
Nov 12, 2018•1 hr 12 min
This week on The Lucky Few Podcast, we’re talking about all things discipline and behavior with Dr. David Stein, a psychologist and former Co-Director of the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. His “respond but don’t react” approach to parenting children with Down Syndrome guides his new book: Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome. As it turns out, the secret to discipline isn’t found in visual schedules and behavior charts, it’s in a parent’s emo...
Nov 08, 2018•52 min
What happens when five married couples get together to talk about raising kids who have Down Syndrome? Join us around the campfire for this episode to find out! We’re talking all about growing stronger through tough seasons, splitting therapy responsibilities, and still making time to enjoy date night! Our list of special guests includes Amy & Chris who have three children, including Rocco, a five year old with Down Syndrome, Michelle & Eric who have four children, including Eli, a four ...
Oct 29, 2018•1 hr 13 min
