On today's episode of the podcast, Katie interviews Rylee Neal who decided to become a Child Life Specialist from her past experiences being hospitalized with a heart condition called tetralogy of fallot. An experience with a Child Life Specialist during one of her...
Episode 168 | Olivier’s Story – A Film Inspired by A son with Down Syndrome
Podcast Show Notes
Today we have another Dad on the podcast. Katie interviews Oliver Bernier, father of Emilio and filmmaker, about his son’s unexpected diagnosis of down syndrome. You will learn what inspired Oliver to create a film to educate and empower parents of children with Down syndrome how to navigate the school system and be the best advocate for their child. Oliver’s passion to educate parents about the importance of inclusivity will shine through as he shares an inspiring message.
[3:45] Introductions
[5:10] Forever connection to New York
[6:22] Filming the moments
[7:12] Misconceptions about Down syndrome
[9:28] Giving Emilio the world
[10:22] Building the bridge to understanding living with disabilities
[12:17] An atmosphere of acceptance
[15:01] Putting a dent the world to raise awareness
[17:20] Sharing other families stories on the film, giving him hope
[19:28] Living in the moment
[21:34] Universal design for learning
[23:18] Empathy taught by practice
[24:53] All parents advocating to be in classes with differently abled child
[26:45] NICU is a mirror of an inclusive classroom
Connect with Oliver
Whether you are a parent or professional, we want you to join our community. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Parents, download our free parent starter kit.
When you download our starter kit, you’ll learn how to:
- Give medicine to your child without it becoming a wrestling match
- Prepare your child (and yourself) for a shot so they can feel less anxious
- Create and use a coping plan for any medical appointment or procedure
The first sign of sniffles, or worse, shouldn’t send you into a tailspin. Feel confident in your role as a parent and advocate, no matter what medical situation you’re facing.
Child life specialists, get affordable PDUs on-demand here.
Shop for your CLOC gear here.
You Might Also Like…
Episode 171 | Dr. Kate Lund – Growing up with Hydrocephalus
Katie along with co-host Mijha from Jambo books interview Dr. Kate Lund, TedEx speaker, clinical psychologist and hydrocephalus warrior. She brings an incredibly important perspective as provider, patient and parent. Dr. Lund shares with us how the support she...
[Child Life 101] How to Support Kids in Pain
As a child life specialist, I know that pain can significantly impact children. It can affect them physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Research has shown that uncontrolled pain can lead to long-term effects such as stress, anxiety, and depression, as...