Texas Down Syndrome Chat

Sloane Martelli, a 32 year old self advocate shares how she became involved in DSASTX programs and how she will celebrate World Down syndrome day on 3/21/2026.

Join us in welcoming our new Development Coordinator, Jessica Pastrano. In this episode we can get to know her and learn what the DSASTX team has been up to in  the fall as well as what we have planned for 2026. 

Acompáñenos para conocer más sobre la Partners Resource Network con Verónica Álvarez, Coordinadora de la Región Central de Texas. Ella nos explica los servicios que ofrecen a los padres que se encuentran en el sistema de educación especial en Texas.

Join us for an informative episode with Becky West and Power to Marc. In this episode we learn about Becky's family and how her journey led her to work at Power to Marc, where she spreads the news about techniques from Practice without Pressure. We discuss the dangers of restraint of individuals with Down syndrome for medical procedures.

Season 3, Episode 4 is a Family Spotlight! We talked with Juan Valenzuela and Lizzeth Saldana, who have a 8 year-old son, Dante, who has Down syndrome. They gave us an insight on their pregnancy diagnosis story, their journey with Dante, advice on the importance of advocacy for children, and their time here with the DSASTX. We hope you enjoy this month's episode, and thank our guest family, J...

In Season 3, Episode 3, we hop on a call with the team from Disability Rights Texas and discuss transition services including employment for individuals with disabilities, SSI, and even touch on guardianship. Take a listen to resource and information packed episode to hear about more about Disability Rights Texas and all the services and support they provide for families in our community. We thank...

In Season 3, Episode 2 we sit down with Heather Long, Director of Family Support Services (FSS) of The Arc of San Antonio and discuss The Arc & everything you need to know about waiver lists. The Arc of San Antonio serves as a social service home in Bexar and surrounding counties to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and assists their families through th...

Season 3 is finally here! Episode 1 of Season 3 is all about CAMP (Children's Association for Maximum Potential)! We sat down with Chief Administrative Officer, Sarah Coulombe and discuss the services and support CAMP offers to  individuals with disabilities - and those who care for them. Sarah shares her journey with CAMP, and gives our listeners all the information and details on how your c...

Season 2, Episode 11 is our last episode of Season 2! Thank you all for coming on this journey with us for YEAR 2 of the Texas Down Syndrome Chat and for listening to every episode this past year! We decided to take this episode to chat about all of the incredible and unforgettable moments and events that happened in 2024. We were joined by DSASTX Executive Director, Brian Lopez for this final epi...

In Season 2, Episode 10 we sit down with one of the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas' newest Board Members, Oralia Lara-Vargas, and discuss her time with DSASTX, and all her work within Special Education. During the episode, we introduce and discuss more details and information regarding our 2025 DSASTX Education Conference. If you want to know more about our upcoming conference, take...

Season 2, Episode 9 is a Down Syndrome Awareness Month Special! The DSASTX is celebrating the Down syndrome community all month long and we were so excited to sit down with DSASTX Board Member, and self-advocate, Cristina Kazmierczak. She gave us an insight about who she is, her experiences from grade school till now, and what she has accomplished and hopes to accomplish in the future! We hope you...

En el episodio 8 de la temporada 2, Magaly Diaz, la Directora de Educación de DSASTX habla con una madre sobre cómo cambia la vida cuando tienes un hijo con síndrome de Down. Se sienta con Nayeli Llamas quien nos cuenta su experiencia con su hija Mariana y cómo su familia recibió su diagnóstico. Esperamos que disfrutes el episodio de este mes y agradezcamos a nuestra invitada, Nayeli, por venir a...

Season 2, Episode 7 is a Family Spotlight! We talked with DSASTX Mom, Bonnie Silva Montoya, who has a 9 year-old daughter, Ella, with Down syndrome. She shared her story on her pregnancy diagnosis, her journey with Ella, joining and becoming a Parent Mentor for the DSASTX, and her & Ella's experience with coping with grief and loss. We hope you take a listen to this month's episode,...

Season 2 /Episode 6  is all about discussing speech and feeding  therapy, with Speech Language Pathologist, Lizbeth Monterrosa, who has over 13 years of experience in working with pediatrics and adults with Down syndrome and other disabilities. We discuss what speech and feeding therapy is and what it can do for children and adults with Down syndrome. We talk about what SLP's work on and all...

In Season 2, Episode 5 we catch you all up with all that yet to come for the DSASTX this year! Our Education Director, Magaly Diaz, and I breakdown everything that is coming up this summer and fall, from upcoming special events to Summer Camp, and we even introduce a new and special guest. We chatted with DSASTX's new Program and Outreach Coordinator, Michelle Toudouze, on how she became part...

Season 2, Episode 4 is a 30th Anniversary Special! The DSASTX is celebrating 30 years of serving the Down syndrome community this year. We were so excited to sit down with the first and former Executive Director of the DSASTX, Terri Mauldin.  She gave us an insight on her journey from the very beginning from being a mom to her daughter Stephanie, who has Down syndrome, and how she became a part an...

Season 2, Episode 3 is a Family Spotlight! We talked with Katie and Luke Ryan, who have a 5 year-old son, Levi, who has Down syndrome. They gave us an insight on their pregnancy diagnosis story, their journey with Levi, advice for new parents, and their time here with the DSASTX. We hope you enjoy this month's episode, and thank our guest family, the Ryan's, for coming out to talk with u...

On Season 2, Episode 2 of the Texas Down Syndrome Chat we chat about the ARD/IEP meetings! In this episode, we sat down with a very special guest and friend of ours, Juan Hernandez, who is a Special Education Services Manager at Brighton Center, and discussed all about ARD/IEP meetings. He shared his expertise as a parent and an advocate working within special education. He shared his advice and t...

We are officially in Season 2!  On Season 2, Episode 1 of the Texas Down Syndrome Chat we chat about the upcoming Rise School that is opening THIS AUGUST in San Antonio! In this episode, we sat down with two very special guests, Vanessa Hurd and Taylor English, who is the Rise School of San Antonio co-founder, and discuss details on what the Rise School will entail, the benefits of it, and all the...

In Episode 12 we sit down with special guest, Sarah Savoia, who is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Research Investigator for the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, to educate us on Alzheimer's Disease, brain health, and the ongoing research and study conducted by the B...

El episodio 11 es otro foco de atención familiar, ¡pero en español! Este episodio es presentado por la Directora de Educación de DSASTX, Magaly Diaz con la invitada especial y una de nuestras mamás de DSASTX, Jessica Zimbron. Hablan de las experiencias de tener una hija con síndrome de Down. Ella nos da una idea de su viaje con su hija Rebeca, el mantenimiento de un hogar bilingüe y el tema de la...

Episode 10 is a Supporter Spotlight! It is our very first one, and it’s where we sit down with one of our supporters/donors for the DSASTX , and for our first one, we brought out a special friend, supporter, and overall amazing human being, Yolanda Valenzuela. We talked with Yolanda, who represents the Kym's Angels Foundation as she gave us an insight into her journey in the non profit world,...

Episode 9 is learning about nutrition, gluten, and building healthier habits! We sat down with one of our dietetic intern, Duyen Ho, who discusses the strengths and challenges of health conditions with individuals with Down syndrome. We hope you enjoy this month's episode, and thank our guest, Duyen, for coming out to talk with us! We also hope the Texas Down Syndrome Chat supports, educates,...

Episode 8 is a Family Spotlight! It is our very first one, and it’s where we sit down with one of our DSASTX families and chat about their journey. We talked with Laura and Joseph López, who have a beautiful 8 year-old daughter, Liliana, who has Down syndrome. They gave us an insight on their birth diagnosis story, their journey with Liliana, some parenting advice, and their time here with the DSA...

On today's episode, we talk to a fan favorite here at the DSASTX: Coach Dan! Coach Dan tailors fitness for people of all special needs. His program, F.I.T.T.I.D helps support, and educate individuals with disabilities through functional fitness training and nutrition where anyone, regardless of their disability, can become stronger and more independent. You can find more information on his pr...