This week we chat with Kalani Brown, mother of a son with Down syndrome and chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, among many other roles. She shares with us the importance of inclusion and raising expectations for people with developmental disabilities.

We talk about:

• Receiving a down syndrome diagnosis and discovering support
• Navigating public school to find the balance of support and inclusion
• Shifting the idea that children are "suffering" from Down syndrome
• Launching into advocacy by serving in the community
• How Montessori concepts are designed for children with learning differences
• Changing the narrative about people with developmental disabilities
• Setting high expectations and following the child's lead

Links

Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

State Developmental Disabilities Council

Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network

National Down Syndrome Society

National Down Syndrome Congress

Local and National Down Syndrome Support Networks

Down Syndrome publications

Sting Sings Uplifting, Original Tune for World Down Syndrome Day

Books

• Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives – Kathryn Lynard
• Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World- - Kathryn Lynard
• Whole Child Reading: A quick-Start Guide to Teaching Students with Down Syndrome and Other Developmental Delays - Nathalie Hale
• Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The Respond but Don't React Method – David Stein