Well friends, we’re 300 episodes into the podcast and we finally figured out a way to keep track of just how long we’ve been doing this.. and no its not our neck wrinkles! Lets go behind the scenes today as we reflect on the last 7 years. We’re chatting about:

• What has changed in our lives (and the world) since starting the podcast?

You’ve all been on quite the journey with us. We’ve experienced everything from childbirth, cross-country moving, moments of grief, new diagnoses, global pandemics, and so much more. A lot has changed for each of us but one thing will always be true.. Micha really is a great singer. And whether you’ve been here since the beginning, or you’re just joining us now, we are SO grateful for you. We hope our vulnerability has encouraged you and reminded you that you are not alone on this journey.

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SHOW NOTES

SHOUT OUT

Learn more about the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network

SPONSORS

If you’re a parent, you’ve likely wondered.. Should I let my child use this public restroom on their own? Is my child able to handle these kitchen tools? Can I let my child attend this sleepover? And if you’re a parent to a child with a disability, you might have even more fears around these risky activities. It’s time for a conversation about reasonable risks for our kids with Down syndrome. Here’s what we’re chatting about today:

• What does “dignity of risk” mean?

• Is the risky activity an opportunity for growth or an opportunity for trauma?

• What makes our kids with disabilities more vulnerable even in “safe risk” situations?

• How we do know when to let them take the risk? And when to step in?

We know its dignifying to have the right to make a risky decision, but its also super scary when it comes to our children. Lets unpack this and problem-solve (or try to) together today.

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SHOW NOTES

Read ‘The Dignity of Risk’ by Amy Julia Becker

SHOUT OUT

Overwhelmed by all the news lately? Us too. That’s why Ashley Barlow (@thecollaborativeiep) is back on the show today to breakdown all of the changes to the Department of Education and the impact on students with disabilities. Here’s what we’re discussing today:

• ​Budget cuts and the impact on early learning for students with disabilities (no more Head Start program in 2026?!)
• ​Pros and cons of school choice and vouchers (What does “welfare for the rich” mean?)
• ​Action steps to make sure your child’s educational needs are met

We know that many of these changes have not happened yet, but the current political attitude towards disability has us a little worried. If you’re feeling the same way, stay informed and know that we’re all in this together.

SHOW NOTES

• ​Follow Ashley at @thecollaborativeiep and find her website here.

SHOUT OUT

• ​Learn more about The College of Adaptive Arts here and follow them on instagram!

SPONSORS

• ​Learn more about Jack’s Basket.
• Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.

Picture this: your child with Down syndrome tells you they want to play a sport. You sign them up for the local team, drop them off at practice, and pick them up without any difficulties. Everything goes smoothly… But that’s not always reality is it? Lets break down the complexities of extracurricular activities today:

• How to ask for accommodations that promote safety, respect, and inclusion

• Separate programs designed for people with disabilities.. and what to do when they’re not as inclusive as they seem

• How to manage our own expectations of our children and their activities

Here’s what we’ve learned: the attitude of the people in charge really matters. And if we can find programs with inclusive-minded leaders who understand our kids with DS, then that’s where we need to be. Join us today as we dive into our personal experiences (both positive and negative) with musical theater, gymnastics, and swim. And don’t forget that any program is lucky to have your child!

SPONSORS

• Learn more about Jack’s Basket.

• Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.

JOIN THE LUCKY CREW

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Pre-order Heather’s newest children’s book: I Like You So Much!

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

The Avises are back from an 18-day European vacation with tips, tricks, and travel stories for all of us. So Heather and Josh are here today to answer all the questions:

• How do you “lean in” to surprising (and sometimes frustrating!) moments with your kids?

• What to do when your family vacation doesn’t look like other families?

• What are your major tips for traveling with kids/teens who have Down syndrome?

There are so many travel resources out there.. disability discounts, wheelchairs, free transportation, + more! We’re excited to share with you just how we used them. So take some notes then start planning your next trip!

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SHOW NOTES

• SHOUT OUT: Check out Cafe Joyeux on instagram and their website

• Watch 47, a short film produced by Cafe Joyeux

SPONSORS

• Learn more about Jack’s Basket.

• Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.

JOIN THE LUCKY CREW

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

How many nights per week would you say your child (with or without a diagnosis) sleeps well? We asked our audience and discovered that sleep is a struggle for a LOT of us! So if you’re feeling like you’ve already tried all the online hacks but your child still wakes you up at the same time each night, this episode might have a new tip for you! Here’s what we’re covering today:

• What’s the biggest sleep challenge for our kids with Down syndrome? And our kids with a dual diagnosis of DS and autism?

• Micha’s sleep journey with her son Ace... Does a gluten-free, dairy-free, additive-free diet actually work? What medications have or have not been effective? What is a sensory diet and does it really help? How has an ADHD diagnosis affected Ace and his sleep?

• Audience input! We’ve crowdsourced the best tips from all of you! Learn how other parents have changed their children's rooms and bedtime routines to promote better sleep.

But before we dive into sleep, we’re chatting briefly about the change from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month + the importance of centering Autistic voices in this conversation. For now, wherever you’re at in your sleep journey, we hope this episode helps! You’re not alone out there!

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SHOW NOTES

• SHOUT OUT: Follow Nicole Adler (@nicole_for_love), a speaker and advocate for the disability and LGBTQ communities.

  
  

SPONSORS

• Learn more about Jack’s Basket.

• Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.

  
  

JOIN THE LUCKY CREW

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

When we saw this headline, “CRISPR Snips Away Extra Chromosomes, Offering New Hope for Down Syndrome Treatment,” we knew we had to discuss this article together. So that’s what we’re doing today. Here’s what we’re covering in this episode:

• The ethics of gene editing - What about other conditions with serious life-threatening effects?

• Why do some people assume that we need to “cure” Down syndrome?

• What would we do to alleviate some of the medical challenges in the DS community?

• The problem with not including disabled people in this conversation

We are really digging deep today! And we invite you to read the article (linked here) and join us for this important conversation.

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SHOW NOTES

Raise your hand if the thought (or maybe even the memory) of potty training gives you anxiety! This parenting milestone sure brings up a lot of feelings, especially for those of us in the disability community. Here’s what we’re chatting about today:

• Micha’s potty training journey (including some behind-the-scenes voice notes and training tips!)

• The impact of a dual diagnosis (Down syndrome and autism) on potty training

• Dealing with internalized ableism

• PLUS: WHY do we actually want certain things for our child? Is it for their safety or for societal expectations?

And also, happy Autism Acceptance Month! Lets celebrate that and remember: learning new things can take a long time. And that’s okay.

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SHOW NOTES

• Visit successfulpottytraining.net to learn more about Ashley Hickey and her potty training methods

• Listen to ep 62. Micha & Ace’s Dual Diagnosis Journey

• SHOUT OUT: Follow @learnplaythrive on instagram for neurodiversity affirming therapy strategies!

  
  

SPONSORS

• • Learn more about Jack’s Basket.
  • Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.

  
  

• JOIN THE LUCKY CREW

  Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

If you’ve watched the news recently, you know that there are some HUGE changes happening in our government, especially with the Department of Education. We’re breaking it all down today with our guest host, Ashley Barlow! She’s a mother to a son with Down syndrome, special education attorney advocate, IEP expert, former teacher, current speaker and podcaster. We are so grateful she’s here to cover all these topics:

• Why did the administration take action so quickly?

• What exactly is the HR 899 bill and how will it affect students with disabilities?

• If the DOE gets dismantled and then redistributed, which other departments will be in control?

• What can parents do right now to protect their children in schools?

There’s a lot to unpack here, friends! Regardless of your political party, we hope you join us for this conversation so we can stand together in agreeance on what our kids deserve in their schools. Let’s dive in.

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SHOW NOTES

SPONSORS

• Learn more about Jack’s Basket.

• Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.

JOIN THE LUCKY CREW

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

Here we are with a NEW season of The Lucky Few Podcast! Join us for this first episode back for some big life updates!

• From Mercedes: mother-daughter bonding with Sunny, braces, medical things
• From Micha: potty training for Ace, communication device debates, new therapies
• From Heather: her mother’s health, extracurriculars.. dances, musical theater, basketball
• From the pod: BONUS episodes that you can access as a member of The Lucky Crew!

• Join THE LUCKY CREW for $4.99 a month for bonus episodes and MORE.
• Participate in the NDSS Racing for 3.21 challenge on World Down Syndrome Day. Sign up to participate from where ever you live, HERE.

Some things haven’t changed though.. you’ll see that we still don’t really know what year of the podcast this is and we still think there’s room to grow in the education system (shocker!). But get excited friends! Because this season will be full of important topics + a GUEST HOST.. Ashley Barlow, a fellow lucky mama, podcaster, and IEP expert.

SHOW NOTES

• Join THE LUCKY CREW for $4.99 a month for bonus episodes and MORE.
• Participate in the NDSS Racing for 3.21 challenge on World Down Syndrome Day. Sign up to participate from where ever you live, HERE.

JOIN THE LUCKY CREW
Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more!  Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!

HEATHER’S NEW BOOK
Pre-order Heather’s newest children’s book: I Like You So Much!