Building the Village
Building the Village
Podcast Description
Join Betsy Boone, a passionate advocate for families with special needs and co-founder of the KennedyStrong Foundation. You’ll hear her share her views on inclusion and raising a child with special needs. Betsy is a happily married, working mother of four kids including a set of twins in which one of them, Kennedy, was born with the gift of an extra chromosome commonly referred to as Down Syndrome. Her mission is to educate and empower others to raise awareness about the unique challenges parents face in finding inclusive communities that support their loved ones with special needs. She discusses the importance of fostering environments that embrace inclusion, not just in schools, but in employment opportunities and independent living. Tune in to hear how Betsy and the KennedyStrong Foundation are working tirelessly to create a world where inclusion is the standard, not the exception.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Centers around special needs advocacy, inclusion in communities, and parental challenges, with episodes covering topics such as the impacts of Down syndrome on family dynamics and the role of schools in fostering inclusive environments.
Join Betsy Boone, a passionate advocate for families with special needs and co-founder of the KennedyStrong Foundation. You’ll hear her share her views on inclusion and raising a child with special needs. Betsy is a happily married, working mother of four kids including a set of twins in which one of them, Kennedy, was born with the gift of an extra chromosome commonly referred to as Down Syndrome. Her mission is to educate and empower others to raise awareness about the unique challenges parents face in finding inclusive communities that support their loved ones with special needs. She discusses the importance of fostering environments that embrace inclusion, not just in schools, but in employment opportunities and independent living. Tune in to hear how Betsy and the KennedyStrong Foundation are working tirelessly to create a world where inclusion is the standard, not the exception.
Five years ago, FitKids Sports and the KennedyStrong Foundation teamed up with one goal: to make summer camp a place where every child belongs.
In this episode, Coach D (Doug Deffenbaugh) sits down with five amazing coaches — Andrew Brissie, Cooper Bookhart, David Boone, Sidney Deffenbaugh, and Jordan White— from the FitKids Sports Inclusive Camp to talk about what happens when inclusion moves from intention to action.
They share what they’ve learned about leadership, empathy, and teamwork as they create a space that’s safe, constructive, and full of fun for all campers — those with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
For parents of typical kids:
Discover how an inclusive camp environment helps your child build confidence, compassion, and friendships that last well beyond summer.
For parents of kids with disabilities:
Hear what makes FitKids Sports a trusted partner with the KennedyStrong Foundation — and how coaches are trained to support and celebrate your child’s strengths while ensuring a positive camp experience.
For teens and parents of high schoolers:
Looking for a meaningful way to spend your summer? Learn what it’s like to coach or volunteer in a program that’s making a real difference in the lives of kids and families.
Listen now to Building a Village and hear how inclusion changes lives — one camp, one coach, and one camper at a time.
Get involved today! Visit KennedyStrongFoundation.org to:
Register for upcoming inclusive events and camps
Learn how to volunteer or apply to coach
Join the movement to build a more inclusive community
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