In the last episode of Season 1 Mary and Ron talk about how it all started. From our favourite episodes, where the show might go in Season 2, what we’re doing on the hiatus, and some possible forays into other media streams it’s a broad ranging discussion.
There is wine, beer, and Miss A’s Cookies to help us along.

T21Mom.com Web Site Design by Doug at Doug Murray Productions

Theme Music by Nam Kyo Kim at Skylark Therapy

For more resources:

Down Syndrome Resource Foundation

Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network

Variety, The Children’s Charity

Mary and Ron talk about Mary’s recent trip to Nashville for the Rockin Mom Retreat. Mary talks to a number of the Retreat guests about where they’re from and what they do for self-care.

Head on over to the T21Mom Facebook page for some pics and videos. A word of caution – wine may have been involved.

For more on musician Luke Bryan

For more on musician Mark Wills

Mary talks with Dr. Karen Bopp about a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism, something previously thought impossible. They also talk about therapies, diagnosis methods, and support networks.

Links mentioned in the show:

BRITISH COLUMBIA LOCAL INFANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

AUTISM SOCIETY OF BC

AUTISM INFORMATION SERVICES OF BC

DOWN SYNDROME RESOURCE FOUNDATION

Mary and Ron discuss the need to build a group of friends and family for emotional support.

Mary talks about her experiences with creating an Individualized Education Plan for Ainsley and the struggle of getting the school to play a positive role in the process.

Link to the One Pager

Mary talks with Katie Rinald of Blackbird Special Education about her approach to intensive potty training.

Blackbird Special Education   http://blackbirdse.com Katie@blackbirdse.com

Chummie Alarms     https://chummiebedwettingalarm.com/

Mary talks with Jen Ghioda, an Early Intervention Support Worker, about her role in finding and securing resources for families of children with DS.

DOWN SYNDROME RESOURCE FOUNDATION https://www.dsrf.org/

10 POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT STRATEGIES

1.  Down syndrome-specific setting event strategies

  2.  Environment-specific setting event strategies

  3.  Effective requests

  4.  Offering choices

  5.  Visual supports for behavioural expectations and predictability

  6.  Incorporating preferences

  7.  Safety signals

  8.  Functional communication training

  9.  Positive reinforcement of desired behaviour via praise and other rewards

  10. Actively ignore and positively redirect minor problem behaviour

Here is the article Susan talked about:

Patel, L., Wolter-Warmerdam, K., Leifer, N., & Hickey, F. (2018). Behavioral characteristics of individuals with Down syndrome. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(3), 221-246.

Google scholar link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19315864.2018.1481473

Actor, Producer, Director, DS Advocate, and Motivational Speaker Brian Donovan has an in depth conversation with Mary and Ron about his sister Kelly. The conversation roams from Brian & Kelly’s inseparable relationship that he documents in the film “Kelly’s Hollywood”, to his advocacy work, motivational speaking, and growing up in a very special neighbourhood in the ‘60s and ‘70s

Brian Donovan Web  http://www.briandonovan.org/

Kelly’s Hollywood  http://kellyshollywood.com/Welcome.html

Brian Donovan – You Can Change The World   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj9TkAwc6-0

Mary talks with Jen Jacob, Founder of the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network, about their work with health care professionals so they better understand Down syndrome, and issues such as the impact of delivering the diagnosis. They also talk about the increasing success of the Rockin’ Mom’s Retreat.

https://www.dsdiagnosisnetwork.org/