249. One Million Reasons To Celebrate….The Lucky Few Podcast LIVE!

·1 hr 5 min·5 clips

Micah Boyett reads a raw passage where her son August asks her to pray that Ace's Down syndrome won't hurt him.

["The episode is a live recording from Haven by Communal in downtown San Diego, celebrating the podcast's one million downloads milestone.", "Hosts Heather Avis, Micah Boyett, and Mercedes Lara open with banter about their matching outfits and a karaoke night at the Red Wig.", "Each host introduces themselves and their connection to Down syndrome: Heather has two children with Down syndrome, Mercedes has an adopted daughter with Down syndrome, and Micah has a son with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism.", "Micah Boyett, an author, reads a poignant excerpt from her upcoming book 'Blessed Are the Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole', focusing on her son Ace's early diagnosis.", "The reading details a moment where her older son August asks her to pray that Ace's Down syndrome won't hurt him, blending medical fears with familial love.", "The hosts announce the one million download achievement and engage the audience with trivia questions about figures in the Down syndrome community like Kayla McKeown and Zach Gottsagen.", "They discuss key themes from past episodes, starting with the evolution of language, noting how terms like 'special needs' and person-first language have been re-evaluated.", "Heather shares her own shift from insisting on person-first language to listening to disabled voices who prefer identity-first language.", "The conversation moves to Down syndrome diagnosis delivery, highlighting the emotional weight for parents and efforts to improve medical communication.", "Mercedes mentions the positive impact of social media in showing everyday life with Down syndrome, while Micah recounts her impersonal prenatal diagnosis phone call.", "Advocacy is explored, with Heather referencing an episode with Justin Hawkins and his article 'Dignity Beyond Accomplishment'.", "Micah connects advocacy to her son's autism diagnosis and the need to separate human worth from accomplishments in an ableist culture.", "Mercedes advises advocates to prioritize their child over the cause, sharing her personal journey to avoid being overshadowed by larger advocacy efforts.", "The hosts celebrate the Down syndrome community's uniqueness and the podcast's role in amplifying diverse voices, including non-speaking guests.", "Heather mentions an impactful interview with Charlotte Woodward, a lobbyist with Down syndrome working on organ transplant discrimination legislation.", "The episode includes a 'Good News' segment where audience members like Addie and Anika share personal achievements related to Down syndrome.", "Addie, a 20-year-old with Down syndrome, talks about college interviews and using public transit independently.", "Sponsors like ARCC Center Respite are thanked for supporting caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities.", "The hosts encourage listener donations via Spotify to help fund podcast production and express gratitude for the community's support.", "The live event concludes with acknowledgments to volunteers and partners, emphasizing the podcast's mission to shift narratives around Down syndrome."]

As heard by us

A live San Diego conversation rethinks the language around Down syndrome.

The Lucky Few leans into its live San Diego setting to think aloud about how disability language is used, challenged, and revised in public. Josh opens with ARCC in San Diego, a Southern California respite agency that offers free respite services and gives caregivers a chance to…

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A live San Diego episode about respite, disability language, and a room that stays loud.

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