The last thing Wendy Lacey thought she would do is open a general store in the middle of downtown Montclair, New Jersey. But after raising her daughter with Down syndrome and realizing that “once you finish high school, there’s a cliff to fall off” for students with disabilities, she knew she needed to create an inclusive space for employment. And that’s how Cornerstone General Store came to be. It’s not a non-profit and it’s not a pity-project. Wendy’s goal is to reflect the diversity of the re...
Aug 03, 2021•52 min
If you’re like us, you may have felt the need to take control and schedule ALL the therapies once you received your child’s DS diagnosis. Suddenly, you’re spending most of your time driving to different appointments and constantly wondering how you can give your child all the opportunities they need. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s another way to parent your kiddos with Down syndrome.. the third way. Because we believe in interventions and giving your child opportunities and we also...
Jul 27, 2021•44 min
Friends! We are so excited to introduce you to Johanne Meyer! She’s an adult woman with Down syndrome, mentor at a community college, and (maybe most importantly) a dog mom! When she’s not spending time educating and encouraging college students with disabilities, she’s volunteering at a dog rescue, or recording episodes for her own podcast: Inclusive Views! We’re so grateful she joined us today to chat all about what it’s like to be a self-advocate and what to keep in mind when supporting your ...
Jul 20, 2021•39 min
Have you ever gone to a birthday party, a summer BBQ, or a coffee shop and just felt your shoulders up the entire time? Maybe you even noticed that your child has their shoulders up too.. But have you ever been to a meet-up with other families who have kids with Down syndrome? Have you felt the sense of peace come over when you realize everyone will understand if your child takes off one too many layers of clothing..or if they need their diaper changed.. You can let your shoulders down in these ...
Jul 13, 2021•44 min
When Jeremy’s family realized that he needed a place to live at age 22, they visited a few local group homes, and soon realized, this model just wasn’t the right fit. Jeremy’s older brother Nathaniel had a vision of his younger brother with DS living like he always had.. included, supported, and autonomous. After being mainstreamed in school his whole life, the thought of Jeremy being secluded in a traditional state-funded living situation (no matter how well-intentioned), just didn’t feel right...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 3 min
“Scoot closer in and sit next to me while I tell you the story of my friend Macy..” Friends! “Different— A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis is out right NOW, and we’re celebrating with a very special interview featuring none other than the entire Avis crew! That’s right, Heather is joined by her husband Josh and their three kiddos, including Macy— the star of the book (who also happens to be turning 13 on it’s release day). And if you’ve been listening for a while, you know about the goal for ...
Jun 29, 2021•26 min
Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there shouting the worth of your kiddos! We’re here today with a very special episode from a couple of our favorite fathers (but we might be biased) - Josh and Chris! That’s right, Micha and Heather’s husbands are taking over to chat about all things fatherhood. And they’re not holding back! They’re here to share advice for new dads, how they support their wives, and the practical ways they advocate for their kiddos (at work and off-line!). And if you’ve ev...
Jun 20, 2021•37 min
You might have seen the popular social media trend where people describe a relatable situation and others know exactly what they’re talking about - or at least that’s what we think it means.. So we’re here with a fun game of “tell me you’re raising a child with Down syndrome without telling me you’re raising a child with Down syndrome.” If you are parenting a kiddo w/DS, you might relate to the endless amounts of abbreviations you have to learn (OT, PT, ABA, the list goes on), the feeling you ge...
Jun 15, 2021•34 min
Elana Meyers Taylor is a three time Olympic medalist and a two time women’s world champion (woah!) in bobsledding. She also happens to have the cutest little training buddy.. her son Nico, who has Down syndrome! Elana gave birth as the pandemic began and between receiving Nico’s diagnosis and raising a baby in the middle of quarantine (all while continuing to train for the Olympics) her journey has been anything but typical! In the midst of her family’s busy schedule, Elana advocates across the ...
Jun 08, 2021•53 min
We love our friends with Down syndrome (many of whom have been on this show) who are doing BIG things in the world! Representation is important and we are cheering them on! But what about the people with DS who aren’t running marathons or starring in movies? Does society see them as important too? Or does our world only see people with DS as valuable when they accomplish something big? There is a lot to explore here. That’s why we sat down and chatted with Justin Hawkins, a PHD candidate at Yale...
Jun 01, 2021•1 hr 10 min
When Oliver and Hilda Bernier began filming what they thought would be a documentary about inclusive education, they couldn’t have predicted the end result. Now, their film “Forget Me Not” just premiered as the headliner of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York, and for good reason. “Forget Me Not” is the incredible story about the rights of disabled students in New York's public schools, told through the personal journey of one family: Hilda, Olivier and their son Emilio, who has Dow...
May 25, 2021•45 min
If you’re anything like us, then the thought of your child’s financial future might be a little (okay a LOT) scary. But it doesn’t have to be, thanks to Catherine Beck and the MANY parents who advocated for The ABLE Act for over 10 years before it was finally passed into Congress. The ABLE Act ensures that people with disabilities can save money in a tax advantage account for necessary supports such as transportation, education, therapy, assistive technology, and more. Did you know that prior to...
May 18, 2021•43 min
If you have a loved one with Down syndrome, you’ve probably heard about low muscle tone, gross motor skills, physical therapy, and more.. but what does it all mean!? Do all children with DS need physical therapy? When do we start? When do we stop? So many questions! That’s why we are so grateful to be joined by Dr. Emily Heisey, a pediatric physical therapist, and the owner of kinesiokids.com ! She has over 10 years of experience and is dedicated to helping little ones reach their full potential...
May 11, 2021•47 min
Hello and happy (early) mother’s day to you all! We are celebrating with a very special treat.. our OWN mamas have joined us for this episode to chat all about being grandparents to children with Down syndrome. They’re sharing their initial reactions to learning of the DS diagnosis/adoptions, what they wish they knew in the beginning, and what they’ve learned so many years later. We’re sending love to all the mamas and grandmas in this space today. And we just want to say that we know this day i...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 6 min
“There’s not a right way to have worth.. you just have worth.” - Heather Avis. We’re honored to chat once again with Gail Williamson who has been showing the media the worth of actors with Down syndrome for many years! It all started when her son Blair auditioned for a running commercial.. he’s built quite the acting career since and so has Gail - but in a much different way! She developed the children’s division in the Media Access Office and then went on to work for KMR Talent in the Diversity...
Apr 27, 2021•50 min
Friends! It’s April and you know what that means.. Autism Acceptance Month! So we sat down with our very own Micha Boyett to discuss the last 18 months after receiving her son Ace’s ASD diagnosis. We’re also asking tons of questions about ABA therapy.. Should we do it? What will the impact be? And most importantly, WHY do we put our children in therapies at all? Plus, we’re sharing some recommendations for autistic self-advocates to follow! Don’t miss this one. __ Follow @the.autisticats and @la...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr 1 min
What do you do when your oldest child realizes her little sister will begin driving soon and wonders why they can’t do the same? Or when they ask for a not so “age-appropriate” toy as a gift? How do you navigate parenting a teenager with Down syndrome and all of the complexities that come with it? We asked Jen Jones, (wife, mother, & lifestyle coach) these tough questions and she’s sharing her 16 years of experience raising her oldest daughter Addie, who has Down syndrome. We’re chatting abo...
Apr 13, 2021•59 min
With so much talk about the Covid-19 vaccine, it’s hard to know what to believe! And when we’re trying our best to protect our loved ones with Down syndrome, it gets even more complicated. That’s why we are so glad to have Dr. Spinazzi back on the podcast to break down all the science behind the vaccine - in terms that even we can understand! Dr. Spinazzi is an accomplished pediatrician, the medical director of a Down syndrome specific clinic, and our (unofficial) podcast doctor! Today, we’re ch...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 13 min
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...
Apr 01, 2021•43 min
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 ...
Mar 23, 2021•44 min
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. Oh and happy 3-year-podave...
Mar 21, 2021•42 min
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.” From open water swims nearly 9 miles long (sometimes with no wetsuit!), to academic and ...
Mar 16, 2021•45 min
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 st...
Mar 09, 2021•41 min
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 ha...
Mar 02, 2021•49 min
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 s...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr 4 min
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 behin...
Feb 16, 2021•55 min
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. She is a Black feminist, artist, and intellectual. She has a 5 year old son with Down syndrome...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 15 min
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 celebrating with some friends from our early interviews, leaders in the DS space, and even some of our favorite self-advocates! We’re so...
Feb 02, 2021•58 min
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 ...
Jan 26, 2021•59 min
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 ...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 2 min
