It’s a new year and we have a new recording platform! Which means we now have access to sound effects.. so you’re welcome for that! We’re back with new episodes all year long, starting with a conversation about what we’ve been up to these last couple of months and what we’re doing (or better yet, NOT doing) in 2023! We’re rejecting hustle culture and prioritizing connections over accomplishments this year! Who’s with us!?

Join us for a chat about all the things on our minds as we head into this new year.. therapy schedules, goal setting, medical vs holistic interventions, attending to our children's individual needs, and so much MORE. Thanks for joining us!

SHOW NOTES

Read the article: “What The Longest Study on Human Happiness Found Is The Key To A Good Life”

Check out the podcast Micha mentioned here.

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

You know how much we love celebrating people with Down syndrome all year long! We’re so excited for all the amazing self-advocates doing big things. But if you’re a parent of a child with DS who felt a little lost, sad, and maybe even lied to when you see certain posts on the internet.. then this episode is for you. We’re chatting about what happens when your child with Down syndrome doesn’t achieve all the things our society celebrates. Are they still worthy? Where does our value come from if not accomplishments? Our kids have been the greatest invitation to see the worth in others (and ourselves) apart from achievements.. and today we’re talking about why. We’re also chatting about how to share content about our children in honorable ways and how to receive content about other people’s children without comparing. Plus we’re exploring the “dark side to positive representation” that causes us to only celebrate people with DS who act the most like people without DS. WOW! So much to unpack here, friends. It’s a good one.

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SHOW NOTES

Read Heather’s blog: What If My Child With Down Syndrome Can’t?

Read “DOWNism: When You’re not Even Good Enough for Your Own Community, or…The Dark Side of Positive Representation”

Read “My Mistake, My Bad”

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Dr. Priya Lalvani began working with previously institutionalized adults with disabilities in her early twenties.. she later gave birth to her now 20 year old daughter with Down syndrome. She’s been thinking pretty deeply about disability rights for many years and today she’s invited us to do the same. We’re questioning some common practices that might actually be rooted in ableism.. Why do we use the term “fully included?” Why don’t we teach about disability in the classroom? What does it mean to be an advocate vs an ally?

There is SO much to dive into here, friends. We hope you join us for this important conversation about ableism, disability rights,  body normativity, dehumanization, a brief note on ABA.. and so much more.

SHOW NOTES

Read Constructing the (M)other by Dr. Priya Lalvani

Follow Dr. Lalvani on Twitter at priya_lalvani

Listen to #88. (Un)learning the Advocacy Language

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Did you know that individuals with Down syndrome are frequently denied organ transplants? Just because they have a disability. We can’t believe this is a thing that’s still happening, but we are SO glad that there are people pushing back on this discrimination. Today in this episode, we are sharing two very important interviews with some extraordinary activists: Charlotte Woodward (NDSS employee + self-advocate w/DS), Bart Devon (senior director of public policy at NDSS), & Christy Sellers (lucky mama of 4 with DS + advocate). We’re talking about the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, Glory’s Law, the fear and ignorance that has caused this discrimination, and the recent tragedies in the DS community that have added momentum to this movement. It’s time to call your senators and sign up for the NDSS action alerts! Listen to this episode to learn more and get involved.

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SHOW NOTES

Visit ndss.org to learn more about all the wonderful things the National Down Syndrome Society is doing and follow them on Instagram.

Take action on the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act HERE!

Keep up with Christy and her family on Facebook - Sellers Magnificent Seven

Listen to our previous episodes about organ transplant discrimination prevention + politics in the DS community.

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Hey friends! We want to (re)share a VERY important episode with all of you.. A few months ago we had the chance to attend the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network Rockin’ Mom’s Retreat and meet SO many wonderful women! And our girl Mercedes grabbed a microphone and sat down with a few lucky mamas from the DSDN Black Families group to chat all about diversity within the Down syndrome community! These mamas shared about what it’s like to google “Down syndrome” and not see a picture of a child that looks like yours, how the recent events in the country have continued to shape them, and why they sought out a group for fellow Black families. The DSDN Black Families group has grown to 1,000 members and we encourage you to join them if you are part of this community. We’re so grateful for these mamas sharing more about their experiences in the DS community!

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Learn more about the DSDN Black Families group + other DSDN groups you can join!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

EPISODE PARTNER: Oxygen Fitness Coaching

Check out fellow lucky mama Megan Libassi’s health and wellness business, Oxygen Fitness Coaching. Mention “the lucky few” and you get A FREE MONTH of coaching!

Instagram: @oxygenfitcoach

Facebook: @oxygenfitcoach

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information! 

Tis the season to be jolly.. and maybe also a little stressed?! Because let’s face it, the holidays are filled with fun and joy and magic but they can also get a little complicated. What are some of the challenges you’re anticipating? Maybe your family members have unrealistic expectations of your children with disabilities? Maybe your kiddos get a little overstimulated at times? Maybe you feel like there’s an extra pressure on your child with Down syndrome? No matter where you find yourself this holiday season, we’re here to walk you through it (or at least try to). So grab your hot coco, pause the hallmark movie, and join us for a chat about how to prepare your family members (and yourself) for fun (and inclusive) celebrations! Happy Holiday, listeners! We love you and we’ll be back with new episodes in 2023!

SHOW NOTES

Listen to last year’s holiday episode.. 144. How to Keep the Holidays Happy

Limited time offer for Podcast listeners only! The Lucky Few Co has new shirt designs just in time for the holidays! New Narrative Shifter designs for the whole family. Use code “podcast” to get 20% your entire purchase. Tap HERE to shop!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

When it comes to thinking about the future for your child with Down syndrome, we know that even hearing the words “special needs trust” can be stressful! How do you even begin to save enough money? What will happen to your son or daughter if something happens to you? What is expected of their siblings? So much to unpack here. That’s why we’re thankful to have Phillip Clark on the show once again to walk us through his planning strategies that actually work! For your WHOLE family! As a brother to his sister with Down syndrome, Phillip remembers the stress of these tough conversations from a young age, and now he’s determined to give families access to an abundant life for their loved one with Down syndrome. And today he’s giving us the first steps and all his best tips! Plus we’re chatting about the difference between an ABLE account and Special Needs Trust, the best time to start planning, and how Phillip has helped our own families plan for the future of our kiddos. Don’t miss this one! And be sure to check out Enable Special Needs Planning to get started. You won’t regret it!

SHOW NOTES

Listen to our first interview with Phillip Clark: 47. Planning for the Future w/Phillip Clark from Enable SNP

Connect with Phillip and Enable SNP:

Learn more about ABLE Accounts

Limited time offer for Podcast listeners only! The Lucky Few Co has new shirt designs just in time for the holidays! New Narrative Shifter designs for the whole family. Use code “podcast” to get 20% your entire purchase. Tap HERE to shop!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

You asked for it, friends! We’re back with another important conversation about disability in the church! We really appreciate all the feedback you gave us and we’re diving into it today. We’re asking.. Are disability ministries actually creating more separation in the church? Do pastors receive training on inclusion in seminary? And who’s responsibility is it to get inclusive practices started? Plus, we’re sharing some examples from you all about what to do (or not to do) when welcoming in a child with a disability. And stay tuned until the end for some resources you can share with your church leadership. Thanks for thinking about these tough topics alongside us!

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Listen to episode 179. Disability & The Church

Resources:

Limited time offer for Podcast listeners only! The Lucky Few Co has new shirt designs just in time for the holidays! New Narrative Shifter designs for the whole family. Use code “podcast” to get 20% your entire purchase. Tap HERE to shop!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Holly Simon is a mama on an advocacy mission.. all because of her son Nate, who was born with Down syndrome almost 20 years ago! Now, he’s the CEO of 21 Pineapples, a t-shirt company that’s changing the world, one Hawaiian shirt at a time. And though Nate is the face of 21 Pineapples, Holly’s goal is to use this opportunity to support the WHOLE disabilities community.. with creative employment opportunities and fierce advocacy for everyone. We love Holly’s energy and we’re so excited to chat with her all about what it takes to sell 2 million t-shirts, how to prepare your loved one with DS for life after high school, and why you shouldn’t believe everything you see on social media. We’re also taking a moment to appreciate the magic our loved ones with Down syndrome bring to our everyday lives. We truly are #theluckyfew. Enjoy the episode, friends!

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SHOW NOTES

Tap HERE to shop 21 Pineapples!

Follow @21pineapplesshirtco on Instagram and Tik Tok

Follow @natethegreatandlindsey on Instagram

Watch Holly and Nate on the Chicago News

Support 21 Pineapples Foundation

Read “I Am Who I Am” by Holly Simon

Limited time offer for Podcast listeners only! The Lucky Few Co has new shirt designs just in time for the holidays! New Narrative Shifter designs for the whole family. Use code “podcast” to get 20% your entire purchase. https://www.theluckyfew.co/

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information! 

Tis’ the season to support small business that are shifting the narrative in BIG ways! Check out our 2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE for our personal recommendations on gifts for everyone (and we mean EVERYONE) in your life. We’re shouting out diverse companies that support our community and sell wonderful products! Shop for books and bikes, art pieces and experiences, silk toys and sensory bins, + so much more using our links! It’s time to open your laptop and get ready to make some loved ones very happy.. Bonus points if you shop while watching a holiday movie!

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2022 GIFT GUIDE LINKS

Gifts for Kiddos:

Faith-Based Gifts:

Gifts for Everyone:

New Merchandise from The Lucky Few!

Listen to previous gift guide episodes!