If We Knew Then - Down Syndrome Podcast

This is a two part interview with Hollywood casting director Michael Sanford about the importance of inclusion in everyone's life and the responsibility the film and television industry has to uphold a fabric of diversity that is reflective of our global society. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/01/22/129-michael-sanford-an-advocate-for-diverse-casting-in-hollyw...

In this episode we discuss the hope we have for the future and the positive changes we see in the next generation of Down syndrome advocates. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/01/16/128-the-next-generation-of-advocacy/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www. IfWe...

We’ve talked about self-care on this podcast and the importance of parents and caregivers to find the time to take care of themselves. We are so grateful that Paul Denniston has once again gifted us, and our listeners, with a guided meditation. This time Paul will guide us through a wonderful Loving Kindness Meditation to help us with the many struggles we can face when we so often put others befo...

Happy New Year! We hope you are all having a wonderfully relaxing and safe holiday. Today in the spirit of the new year, we revisit an interview we had with Karen Maezen Miller about the practice of The Beginner’s Mind. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/12/31/126-happy-new-year-revisiting-the-practice-of-the-beginners-mind-with-maezen-miller/2/ Please follow us o...

In this episode we talk about hope. Losing hope when challenges become overwhelming and finding it again on the other side.   Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/12/19/125-a-season-of-hope-down-syndrome-advocacy/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www. IfWeKnewThen...

Because we get so many questions from new parents, we wanted to revisit a couple of our very early episodes. In this Part 2 we re-air Caroline’s second appearance on the podcast where she dives a little deeper into the aspects of Early Intervention, what tools parents can use at home and how therapies for children with Down syndrome have changed over the years. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknew...

Because we get so many questions from new parents, we wanted to revisit a couple of our very early episodes. In this Part 1 we re-air an extremely informative interview with Child Development Specialist, Caroline Bencze-Fernandez where she explains the importance of Early Intervention, how therapies have changed throughout her 30 year career and what parents should know. Episode Transcript: https:...

It’s our wedding anniversary and we take a minute to reflect on the past 18 years. Happy Anniversary! Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/11/07/122-our-anniversary-episode/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www. IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions an...

In this episode we discuss our journey with awareness. We explore how we are learning to cultivate what awareness means in our lives, the way in which awareness has changed over the years and its impact on our advocacy. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/121-down-syndrome-awareness-month-2022/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a...

Stephen recorded a solo episode this week, unbeknownst to the family, to express some things that have been on his mind and as a nice surprise to Lori and the kids whenever they come across it. It’s kind of a time capsule episode focused on this present moment and how there is nothing as important as right now. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/10/21/120-the-secr...

This week we talked to Dr. Eric Rubenstein and one of his co-researchers, Kaethe Sigelko to discuss self advocacy and the importance of including people with Down syndrome in shaping our community. For everything they ever told you your child would not or could not do - sometimes it takes an example of what is possible to remember who we are and that every child’s life is one of possibility. Eric’...

Documentarian, Ted Green visits with us to discuss his most recent film “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story”.  As a teammate and close friend of Jackie Robinson and then as the father of a person with Down syndrome, Carl played a pioneering role in two human-rights movements. Our guest, Ted Green switched to filmmaking in 2010 after 20 years as a newspaper journalist, and since then he has...

In this week's episode we are joined by Zen Buddhist Priest, Maezen Miller. We discuss having patience and letting go in order for it to all unfold. Believing and having patience can enable our children to be who they are, go where they go and do what they do, to become exactly who they are. Karen Maezen Miller: https://karenmaezenmiller.com Maezen’s Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Ma...

Mother Asana merges the focus of Ally’s art and expression with Gina’s yoga practice and meditation insights. Gina is a devotee to her Spiritual Practice for over 20 years influenced by many practitioners & styles. Her trainings landed her teaching Slow Flow Yoga, YOGA for Cancer & Mindfulness for the Special Parent. Creating Connection is the cornerstone to her parenting & personal st...

Vaish is a Functional Nutrition Practitioner and Science Educator. She is the founder of   Functional Nutrition for Kids , and  Plum Pudding Chemistry , both practices designed to optimize the learning potential of kids with Down Syndrome and/or Autism using both Functional Medicine and Non-Linear Education Principles. Website: https://functionalnutritionforkids.com Constipation Tool Kit: https://...

We have learned a lot, some harsh realities and beautiful truths. We now move forward with eyes wide open, ready to learn from where we have been, into the unknown of middle school. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/09/02/114-liam-starts-middle-school/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or v...

The discussion on Self Determination in episode 83,  developed into an examination of the term “Self Determination” and what it means in the scope of determining ones self and ones path.  In this episode with Ellen Coulston we discuss Self Determination as a tool to promote independence, confidence and participation by student led IEP planning, making that student a part of the dialogue instead of...

In this conversation we sit down with Dr. Beverly Celotta. Bev is a retired Licensed Child Psychologist who shares her knowledge about how to set all children up for success. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/08/11/112-dr-beverly-celotta/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our websi...

In this episode we sit down with Caden Cox and his parents, Mari and Kevin, to talk about their history making and game changing journey to inclusion. Caden is the first person with Down syndrome to play as well as score in a NCAA/NJCCA College football game. Caden’s JakeMax Collection: https://www.jakemax.com/collections/cadens-collection 'NEVER, is not in My Vocabulary' College Paper: https://ww...

This week we have a wonderful conversation with Dr. Eric Rubenstein, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University. We discuss equality and inclusion in research as it pertains to Down syndrome.  Eric’s Website: https://sites.bu.edu/rubenstein/ Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/07/29/110-the-future-of-research-and-the-hope-on-the-h...

Today we have an open and candid conversation with the author of ‘An Uncomplicated Life’ Paul Daugherty and his wife Kerry about their approach to early education, college, dating, sex, marriage and lots of other things we are told our kids won’t do. ‘An Uncomplicated Life’ is a book we wish we would have found earlier with the beautiful message of “expecting instead of accepting”. Whether you hav...

In this episode we find a way to inclusion through empathy. Our conversation with Micah Kessel was an empowering and insightful discussion offering ways to focus our advocacy and to come from a more nurturing and loving place. Micah is the creator of Empathable and Playground of Empathy. These organizations work nationally with world-renowned academics to bridge science, technology, and art to amp...

Liam graduated from elementary school, on curriculum, in an inclusive classroom with his peers. We reflect on the moments that led to his accomplishment and what we could have done better if we knew then. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/07/07/107-graduating-elementary-school-a-culmination-of-what-we-learned/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you ca...

It was so nice spending some time with founder Ila Halby to talk about the Zeno Mountain Farm Camps, their feature film “Best Summer Ever” and the power of representation in film. Whether used as a noun or a verb, Zeno stands for inclusion. Zeno’s Website: https://zenomountainfarm.org Zeno’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/zenomountainfarm/ Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress...

In this episode we are joined by Rob Snow, the founder of The Improvaneer Method. The Improvaneer Method uses improvisation to build skills that will greatly improve social, workplace and lifetime opportunities in those with developmental disabilities. With both in-person and online classes, it is widely assessable and has been a real game changer for many people in our community. We also talk bri...