If We Knew Then - Down Syndrome Podcast

140. Keeping Up with Bertie - An Update with Melissa Kynoch

In this episode we reconnect with Melissa Kynoch as her son Bertie begins primary school in Birmingham, England. You may remember that Melissa and Bertie were featured on the popular BBC Documentary Series ‘Life and Birth’. Among many things, we discuss the impact inclusion has made in Bertie’s life and the family's journey.
Wouldn’t Change A Thing - https://www.wouldntchangeathing.org
Bookworms Day Care: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086453783217
Up and Downs Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/upanddownswm
BBC 'Life and Birth’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000j6v0/life-and-birth-series-1-episode-4 
12 Step Fellowship: https://www.na.org 
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/05/06/140-keeping-up-with-bertie/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

139. Looking Back and Seeing the Effects of a Non Inclusive Environment - Indira Cruz

In this week's episode we have a wonderful conversation with Indira Cruz discussing the impact a non-inclusive environment had on her brother, now 50. By looking back at our past we learn from the injustices and see the consequences they had on generations of people with disabilities. Some of those lessons can be hard. This is one of them. 
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/04/23/139-indira-cruz/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

138. ’Yes. No. Maybe.’ - Our Entry In The 2023 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge

This episode marks the beginning of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge’s Awareness Campaign. It’s our 9th film and it’s taken nine years to realize the Awareness Campaign strives to tell our stories to as many people as possible and by doing that, changing the path and narrative of individuals with disabilities. Our film, 'Yes. No. Maybe.' is a teenage love story. We hope you will watch and it makes you smile.
www.YesNoMaybeFilm.com
EDFC Website: https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/04/10/138-yes-no-maybe/2/
 

137. Citizens of the Wold Charter Schools: Christina Aries and Maureen Lamorena-Tatsui

In this episode we celebrate Citizens of the World Charter Schools whose approach to inclusion was a life changing discovery for our family.  We sit down with  Dr. Maureen and Mrs. Aries, Co-principals of CWC, and discuss the importance of inclusion, its impact and why we as parents, if it is what is best for our student, should insist on our child’s right to an inclusive classroom.
CWC Website: www.CWCsilverlake.org
CWC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citizensoftheworldla/
CWC Los Angeles FB: https://www.facebook.com/citizensoftheworldLA
CWC Kansas City FB: https://www.facebook.com/cwckansascity
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/137-cwc/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

136. World Down Syndrome Day with Dr. Eric Rubenstein and his Co-Researcher Team

Happy World Down Syndrome Day 2023! In celebration of our community, we are sharing a discussion we had this month with Dr. Eric Rubenstein and his co-researcher team. Dr. Eric is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University and his research team is comprised of six adults with Down syndrome who engage the research process to create their own project. The team is curious about the mental health of people with Down syndrome and designed a research project to explore people’s experiences with mental health issues and how they find support.
Take the survey: https://bostonu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxyp6tWSkJcoU86
The group is also hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 21 from 12pm-1:30pm EST
Register for the World Down syndrome Day webinar: https://bostonu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BkU7e9D8TO6HPXSRU2gfpg
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/03/19/136-world-down-syndrome-day-with-dr-eric-rubenstein-and-his-co-researcher-team/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

135. Revisiting with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Pediatrician Dr. Mona Patel Gera

Dr. Mona is an attending physician in the Department of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She sat down with us to challenge the many medical myths and stereotypes surrounding children with Down syndrome.
Health Supervision Guidelines: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/developmental-disabilities/Documents/Health_Care_Information_for_Families_of_Children_with_Down_Syndrome.pdf
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/03/12/135-revisiting-with-childrens-hospital-los-angeles-pediatrician-dr-mona-patel-gera/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

134. Your Dentistry Questions Answered - Dr. Jill Lasky

Dr. Jill Lasky discusses the importance of Pediatric Dentistry, how to introduce dental care and specifics pertaining to the Down Syndrome community. We also discuss methods and tools for parents who want to support their children in making good dental health habits.
Lasky Pediatric Dental Group: https://www.laskypediatricdental.com
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/03/05/134-your-dentistry-questions-answered-dr-jill-lasky/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

133. Liam Turns 13: Let The Teenage Years Begin

This week Liam turns 13. We recorded this episode on Valentine's Day with is fitting because love is the driving force of this family. Becoming a teenager is a milestone we have been looking forward to and we are thankful for all the ups and downs that have gotten us here.
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/02/18/133-liam-turns-13-let-the-teenage-years-begin/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

132. Black History Month: Revisiting Our Interview with Willie Dawkins

For Black History Month we revisit a phenomenal episode we had with Willie Dawkins. We honor his story and his parents who gave him the foundation of love and support he needed to find his way through an unjust world and the advocates who came before us who fought for equality and laid the groundwork for our fight for inclusion.
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/02/10/132-black-history-month-revisiting-our-interview-with-willie-dawkins/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

131. The Things We Learn: The Evolution of An Advocate

We talk today about how we learn to do things differently, the way we learn from our past, and how the seemingly smallest memories can hold so much in them, like the little lessons along the way. We also explore the need to accept when it’s easy, and how that can be a challenge in itself.
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/02/03/131-the-things-we-learn/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

130. Michael Sanford: An Advocate for Diverse Casting in Hollywood - Part 2

This is the second half of a two part interview with casting director Michael Sanford about the work being done to make media more inclusive and diverse. We first met Michael when he cast our son, Liam, in the Lena Dunham movie SHARP STICK. Michael had seen Liam in a film made for the Disability Film Challenge where people with disabilities have a space to tell their own stories in the hopes that more spaces like that will be made in Hollywood.
Disability Film Challenge: https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com
Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/01/29/michael-sanford-an-advocate-for-diverse-casting-in-hollywood-part-2/2/
Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.
 

129. Michael Sanford: An Advocate for Diverse Casting in Hollywood - Part 1

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-hollywood/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.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.