Episode 196: How To Support The Development Of Children With Down Syndrome So They Can Thrive

<span style="font-weight: 400;">My guest this week is Sandy Bodeau</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, Sandy and I discuss raising children diagnosed with developmental delays or impairments, and specifically Down Syndrome. In reality, when does the diagnosis explain the cause of the problem? Does it give us hope or does it impair us as parents? If we change our mindset first, we have the ability to change the trajectory of what otherwise may have been a grim outlook for our child because of a dead-end diagnosis. When we know how to advocate for our children and continue to seek solutions rather than just an ‘answer’, we have the power to transform our children’s lives into a beautiful and healthy, thriving life.  Sandy is living proof that with the perseverance that all parents innately have, you can raise a child diagnosed with special needs, reach far beyond; to their fullest potential!    </span> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sandy Bodeau is an author, advocate, immigrant, TV personality and blogger. She's the creative director of the parenting blog,</span> <a href= "http://marathewondergirl.com/en/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Mara the Wonder Girl</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. Sandy is a contributing writer for Today Parents and appears on Univision. Her work has been recognized by Vanity Fair, Lucky Magazine and The Today Show, as an influencer on Instagram and Facebook, Sandy posts daily in both English and Spanish. When Sandy learned that her daughter Mara would be born with Down Syndrome, she knew that together, she and Mara would show the world how special and powerful each individual can be. Mara quickly showed her individual strength and perseverance, as well as her magnetic personality. It was on her first birthday that Sandy launched her website,</span> <a href= "http://marathewondergirl.com/en/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">marathewondergirl.com</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. The website provides resources for all parents, particularly