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.
Parenting through the middle school years is a wild ride—and even more so when you’re raising a child with special needs.
In this open and deeply honest episode, Vickie Vila shares her family’s journey as her son Nino navigated middle school during COVID, while managing speech delays, behavior challenges, and the impact of
puberty.
From general ed classrooms to behavior intervention plans, Vickie gives a real-world look at what worked, what surprised her, and what she wishes she had known going in.
You’ll hear about:
The power of visual supports and scaffolding
How puberty + social inexperience can throw you for a loop
The importance of routines, independence, and respectful communication
The role of community inclusion, peer support, and positive school relationships
Why typical and special needs parents need each other
Whether you’re a parent of a child with disabilities, a parent of a typical child, or an educator, this conversation brings both practical advice and heartfelt wisdom.
Vickie reminds us that every child benefits from strong routines, community inclusion, and confidence-building experiences—and that
we’re all doing our best.
“United we stand.” Tune in for real talk, shared laughs, and an invitation to grow the village—together.
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