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...
Jan 12, 2021•45 min
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 kiddo...
Jan 05, 2021•37 min
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 ...
Dec 29, 2020•48 min
We’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...
Dec 22, 2020•27 min
Who remembers this awesome episode from earlier this year?! Listen (or listen again) for an amazing interview about an amazing self-advocate/celebrity! Enjoy.. You’ve seen Zack Gottsagen on the big screen during his hit movie, The Peanut Butter Falcon, and you’ve seen him onstage at the Oscars, but have you ever wondered about the woman who’s supported him since the beginning? In this VERY special interview, we’re talking to Zack’s mom, Shelley Gottsagen, who’s been shouting his worth boldly for...
Dec 15, 2020•49 min
Looking for the perfect gift (that’s actually meaningful) to give your friends and family this year? We’ve got you covered! Our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide is here and we are so excited to tell you about all these wonderful, narrative-shifting, and worth-shouting businesses! Shop for bow ties and books, soaps and sweatshirts, and even jams, art, and coffee too! We have something for everyone on your list, including your furry, four-legged, friends! But don’t pay full price, use our discount codes! A...
Dec 08, 2020•1 hr
Covid-19 may have wiped out our December calendars, but let’s talk about the magic of a quieter holiday season.. Kids waking up in their own beds, playing in the snow without a care in the world, and actually making the gingerbread cookies you always said you would! Sounds a little bit better than going to a zoom holiday party doesn’t it? This week we’re chatting all about the good and the hard of this holiday season. We’re also giving some advice (or trying to) about dealing with difficult fami...
Dec 01, 2020•43 min
As we head into the holidays and the end of 2020 (we made it!), we’re giving thanks for all the lessons learned this year. Let’s face it, 2020 hasn’t been easy and socially-distant holidays hold challenges of their own..But for now, we invite you to practice gratitude with us as we reflect on all the hard parts of this year that have opened our eyes to what we do have. We’re also chatting about why we’re thankful for Down syndrome, including the everyday moments with our kiddos that allow us (or...
Nov 24, 2020•43 min
“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. Let’s face it, there’s only so much learning that can be done through a sc...
Nov 17, 2020•59 min
You may have been one of the 5 million people (no big deal right?) to see Zach & Pat’s viral videos on tik tok. This brother duo has taken social media by storm with their Down syndrome advocacy, positivity, and of course - dancing! So naturally, we needed to meet them.. which is why we sat down to chat with Pat all about growing up with a younger brother who has Down syndrome, navigating social media, and watching Zach find his passion! If you’re anything like us and you’ve wondered about y...
Nov 10, 2020•46 min
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 ab...
Nov 03, 2020•45 min
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 distan...
Oct 27, 2020•40 min
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. __ Check out some ...
Oct 20, 2020•1 hr 7 min
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 ...
Oct 13, 2020•54 min
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! For now, we invite each of you to grow ...
Oct 06, 2020•45 min
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 (across the street, across t...
Sep 29, 2020•40 min
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 p...
Sep 22, 2020•34 min
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 choo...
Sep 15, 2020•45 min
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 B...
Sep 08, 2020•54 min
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 ...
Sep 01, 2020•57 min
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 in...
Aug 25, 2020•48 min
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 ...
Aug 18, 2020•39 min
“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! ___ SHOW NOTES Listen to Dr. Sarathy’s TedX Talk: “Who Decides How Smart You Are?” Follow Dr. Sarathy on Insta...
Aug 11, 2020•52 min
When it comes to feeding our kids with Down Syndrome, 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 fell...
Aug 04, 2020•49 min
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 abo...
Jul 28, 2020•33 min
Anyone 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....
Jul 21, 2020•54 min
In 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....
Jul 14, 2020•53 min
Kayla 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 in...
Jul 07, 2020•49 min
As 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...
Jun 30, 2020•33 min
Just 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 ...
Jun 23, 2020•44 min
