Posts in General
84. Michelle Sie Whitten on Creating the Global DS Foundation, Media Representation, + More
84. Michelle Sie Whitten on Creating the Global DS Foundation, Media Representation, + More

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 Be Yourself” fashion show, DS in the media, and so much more!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Non ProfitsComment
83. So Everything's Going Wrong, Now What?
83. So Everything's Going Wrong, Now What?

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 much weight on our shoulders — let’s help each other carry it.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown SyndromeComment
82. All things Speech & Feeding w/Shandy Laskey (CCC-SLP)
82. All things Speech & Feeding w/Shandy Laskey (CCC-SLP)

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 information as well as plenty of recommendations! Take notes, friends!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, SpeechComment
81. Pregnant In A Pandemic w/Abby Green
81. Pregnant In A Pandemic w/Abby Green

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 also touching on the shock and confusion that comes with a Down Syndrome diagnosis, who to tell and when to tell them, and how to navigate it all in the middle of Covid-19. Thinking of all you mamas who are pregnant during this wild year! We see you and we are cheering you on!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Pregnancy, DiagnosisComment
80. Assuming Intelligence in Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy
80. Assuming Intelligence in Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy

“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!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, IntelligenceComment
79. Understanding Functional Nutrition for Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy
79. Understanding Functional Nutrition for Our Kids w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Sarathy

When it comes to feeding our kids with DS, 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 fellow podcast host! So friends, join us for a chat about all things nutrition, whole foods, “picky eaters,” and the small changes that make a huge difference!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, NutritionComment
78. Building Trust (Not Barriers) w/Your Child's IEP Team
78. Building Trust (Not Barriers) w/Your Child's IEP Team

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 about our tips for going into those (sometimes daunting) meetings.. what to say, what not to say, when to speak up, and when to remove someone from your IEP team.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, SchoolComment
77. Back to School or Back to the Screen? (Covid-19 & the Upcoming School Year ft. Dr. Spinazzi)
77. Back to School or Back to the Screen? (Covid-19 & the Upcoming School Year ft. Dr. Spinazzi)

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. Join us for a chat about classroom safety, school precautions, the risks and benefits of distance learning, + so much more. And whatever the school year looks like for you and your family, we are cheering you on.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, HealthComment
76. Making the Shift w/Kenny Clutch, "The Dancing Dad"
76. Making the Shift w/Kenny Clutch, "The Dancing Dad"

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. So friends, join us for a chat about advocacy, adversity, pain, positivity, and of course— dancing.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, ChildhoodComment
75. What makes a family? (Adoption + Motherhood w/Kayla Craig)
75. What makes a family? (Adoption + Motherhood w/Kayla Craig)

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 infantile spasms, and how to have hard conversations about faith. We’re also touching on ethical and safe adoption, white savior complex, and the reasons people actually pursue international adoption.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, AdoptionComment
74. Building Brain Power in People w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Brian Skotko
74. Building Brain Power in People w/Down Syndrome, ft. Dr. Brian Skotko

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 Brain Train: a program for individuals with DS designed to boost brain function and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, CognitionComment
73. What to do when things feel out of control (IEPs, summer, social distancing, + more)
73. What to do when things feel out of control (IEPs, summer, social distancing, + more)

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 are not alone. We are cheering you on and (virtually) holding you close.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, InclusionComment
72. What do we stand for? - A Conversation About #BLM, Protests, Resources, + More
72. What do we stand for? - A Conversation About #BLM, Protests, Resources, + More

As our country has wrestled with the realities of racism over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been reflecting quite a bit over here and we’re guessing that many of you have too. So let’s talk about it. In this episode, we’re sharing our recent experience at protests, our own journeys/encounters with racism, and what we’re doing now to diversify our networks and stand with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Plus, we’re diving deep into how being a mother of a child with Down Syndrome affects the way we see racism and oppressive systems. Thanks for being here, friends.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, RaceComment
71. Down Syndrome, Autism, & Motherhood w/Teresa Unnerstall
71. Down Syndrome, Autism, & Motherhood w/Teresa Unnerstall

Teresa Unnerstall is an author, speaker, consultant, and mother to Nick - her 26 year old son with Down Syndrome and Autism. She has nearly 3 decades of experience on dual diagnosis.. which means this episode is full of wisdom, and so is Teresa! She shares three tips to keep in mind for your kiddo with DS/ASD, including behavior specialists, speech therapists, and sensory diets (and we’re not just talking about food here). We’re also chatting all about her book, “A New Course, A Mother’s Journey Navigating Down Syndrome And Autism” and what to ask for in an IEP meeting.

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, Motherhood, AutismComment
70. The Power of "Just Two Moms" w/Jessica Hunter & Larkin O'Leary
70. The Power of "Just Two Moms" w/Jessica Hunter & Larkin O'Leary

Jessica Hunter and Larkin O’Leary are on Instagram as @JustTwoMomssr but we all know there’s no such thing as “just a mom!” And these ladies prove it. What started as a presentation on Down Syndrome in a preschool classroom has lead to advocacy at over 30 different schools in their county, and even a trip to California’s capitol! We are so happy to have chatted with Jessica and Larkin all about their friendship, changed perceptions, school presentations, and the many beautiful stories that have emerged. So grab a tissue and text your favorite lucky mama and tell them to join you for a listen to this episode!

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GeneralValerie SchliederDown Syndrome, Inclusion, MotherhoodComment