E6 — What if one powerful way to advocate for your child is simply to delight in who they are? Author and advocate Heather Avis talks with Amy Julia about learning to find joy in family life, even when the world isn’t built for disability. They explore:

• Why delight can rewrite the disability narrative
• What it takes to move from deficit to delight
• The ripple effect of delight in our relationships and communities
• How to lean into love and delight instead of anxiety and fear

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UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/

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Reimagining the Good Life episode with John Swinton: amyjuliabecker.com/swinton-disability/

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01:44 Advocacy and Family Dynamics

04:51 Delight and the Disability Narrative

09:54 How to Move from Deficit to Delight

13:12 Finding Delight in Family Life

19:39 The Ripple Effect of Delight in Relationships

23:31 Leaning into Delight and Love Instead of Anxiety and Fear

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Lucky Few
• Heather's new Book, I Like You So Much

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WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube

SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com

JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker

LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Heather Avis is a New York Times bestselling author, public speaker, podcaster, and a Down syndrome advocate. She is the founder of and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, an advocacy organization dedicated to shouting worth, shifting narratives, and reimagining what it looks like when we create spaces of belonging. She lives in Southern California with her husband Josh and three kids, Macyn, Truly, and August and two Goldendoodles, Maeby and George Michael.

Website: https://www.heatheravis.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluckyfewofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLuckyFewOfficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99_OFh29y9lVqZyHY2Xztw

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lucky-few/id1349646917

New Book, I Like You So Much: https://www.amazon.com/Like-You-So-Much-Celebrating/dp/0310166594/

Photo Credit: © Camilynne Photography

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Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.

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