EPISODES

17. Self Advocacy - Down Syndrome in DC with Kayla McKeon!

17. Self Advocacy - Down Syndrome in DC with Kayla McKeon!

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. Join us this week to hear all about the extraordinary life of Kayla McKeon, a college student, a licensed driver, a podcast host, a public speaker, a reader, and an exceptional lobbyist.

GeneralValerie SchliederNovember 19, 2018Advocacy, Lobbyist, National Down Syndrome SocietyComment

16. Live From the Dear Mom Conference!

16. Live From the Dear Mom Conference!

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 to their peers? How can I shift the Down Syndrome narrative in my daily life?

GeneralValerie SchliederNovember 12, 2018Advocacy, MotherhoodComment

15. Discipline and Down Syndrome with Dr. David Stein

15. Discipline and Down Syndrome with Dr. David Stein

This week on The Lucky Few Podcast, we’re talking about all things discipline and behavior with Dr. David Stein, a psychologist and 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. Join us this week to learn more about the brain development of children with Down Syndrome, the best approach to disciplining children with Down Syndrome, and the importance of self-care for parents of children with Down Syndrome.

GeneralValerie SchliederNovember 9, 2018Behavior, ParentingComment

14. Marriage & Relationships: Parents Raising Children with Down Syndrome

14. Marriage & Relationships: Parents Raising Children with Down Syndrome

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! Marriage and raising kids with Down Syndrome can be tricky, but these couples prove that it is definitely possible, and always worth it. Listen along for the ultimate insider’s perspective.

GeneralValerie SchliederOctober 29, 2018Family, Marriage Comment

13. Inclusion In The Church with Jamie Lim Lee

13. Inclusion In The Church with Jamie Lim Lee

This week on The Lucky Few Podcast, we’re breaking through cultural and religious stereotypes that discriminate against people with Down Syndrome, with the help of none other than Jamie Lee! Her educational background includes a MA in Secondary Education with emphasis, English (USC), post graduate work in Paralegal studies (NYU), and a BA in Psychology with a Minor in English (UCSB).

Heather AvisOctober 22, 2018Family, Advocacy, EducationComment

12. Education - So Happy to Learn with Mrs. Terry Brown

12. Education - So Happy to Learn with Mrs. Terry Brown

This week on The Lucky Few Podcast we’re talking all about education! And we’re learning from none other than Mrs. Terry Brown, the creator of the “So Happy to Learn” program. She is passionate and gifted at teaching individuals with Down syndrome for over 20 years, and has developed an innovative program called “So Happy to Learn” that teaches reading, writing and math to children and adults with with Down Syndrome.

Heather AvisOctober 15, 2018Family, Advocacy, Education Comment

11. Inclusion - A Parents Perspective with Kristin Enriquez Pt. 2

11. Inclusion - A Parents Perspective with Kristin Enriquez Pt. 2

For our first two episodes of this second season, we’re chatting with Kristin Enriquez, an inclusion expert and educational consultant, who has the unique perspective of both an educator and mom, with a long career in the field of special education, and a ten year old son with Down syndrome.

GeneralHeather AvisOctober 8, 2018Family, Inclusion, AdvocacyComment

10. Inclusion - An Educator’s Perspective with Kristin Enriquez Pt. 1

10. Inclusion - An Educator’s Perspective with Kristin Enriquez Pt. 1

For our first two episodes of this second season, we’re chatting with Kristin Enriquez, an inclusion expert and educational consultant, who has the unique perspective of both an educator and mom, with a long career in the field of special education, and a ten year old son with Down syndrome.

GeneralHeather AvisOctober 1, 2018Family, Inclusion, Advocacy Comment

9. Q & A!

9. Q & A!

It’s our Season One finale! And we’re celebrating by taking your questions! From adoption to social media to navigating extracurricular activities, Heather, Mercedes and Micha are here to answer your deepest questions (or maybe just the first questions that came to your mind).

GeneralHeather AvisJuly 10, 2018FamilyComment

8. Therapy and All the Feelings

8. Therapy and All the Feelings

It is finally here! Welcome to the episode where we talk about all things therapy, and trust us… you won’t want to miss this one. What do you do when it feels like therapies are taking over? How much therapy should your child be receiving? How do you balance therapies with everything else of life? We cover it all…

GeneralHeather AvisJune 27, 2018FamilyComment

7. The Dads Episode

7. The Dads Episode

Welcome to the Dad episode. In honor of Father’s Day coming up the dads take over this episode and talk all about being a dad and what it specifically looks like when parenting kids with Down syndrome.

GeneralHeather AvisJune 13, 2018FamilyComment

6. Friendship Pt. 2 with Guest, Melynn Henry

6. Friendship Pt. 2 with Guest, Melynn Henry

We continue our conversation about friendship, this time focusing on one particular relationship between two little girls in Amarillo, Texas in the 80’s. Micha sits down with her lifelong friend Melynn Henry to talk about Carey, their childhood friend with Down syndrome, who was included in their classrooms and sports teams and Brownies.

GeneralHeather AvisMay 30, 2018Family, Friendship, Non Profits Comment

5. Friendship with GiGi's Playhouse and Just Like Me Foundation

5. Friendship with GiGi's Playhouse and Just Like Me Foundation

Welcome to the latest episode of The Lucky Few Podcast. On this episode we talk all about friendship. We get to hear from another awesome Heather who works for the awesome Gigi’s Playhouse and her friend Bill (who we are super jealous of by the way) and then Lyndcee who started the Just Like Me Foundation.

GeneralHeather AvisMay 15, 2018Family, Friendship, Non ProfitsComment

4. Adoption with Special Guest Lisa Eicher

4. Adoption with Special Guest Lisa Eicher

We share our personal adoption stories and are so lucky to get to chat with the amazing Lisa Eicher from @eicherumba who has four awesome kids and two of whom she adopted and happen to have Down syndrome. We laugh and cry and hear some great advice from Lisa.

GeneralHeather AvisMay 1, 2018Family, Adoption Comments

3. College - Liz Plachta of Ruby's Rainbow

3. College - Liz Plachta of Ruby's Rainbow

Here at The Lucky Few Podcast we are all about raising the bar for individuals with Down syndrome. One great way that we have seen that is through Ruby’s Rainbow and we are so excited to have the Liz Plachta, the founder, with us today. Ruby’s Rainbow provides college scholarships to individuals with Down syndrome.

GeneralHeather AvisApril 18, 2018Family, CollegeComment