Today we have Carissa Carroll who is the Founder of Jack’s Basket, a nonprofit organization with a mission to celebrate babies with Down syndrome that strives to ensure that every new and expectant parent is provided resources and avenues of support within the community. Carissa talks about how after her son was born and diagnosed with Down Syndrome, she was surprised to learn that families were not given any information about what Down Syndrome was. She was also heartbroken to hear how families weren’t treated as if this was any other baby. So the purpose and heart behind Jack’s Basket is that every baby deserves to be celebrated and that every person is worthy of respect.

About Jack’s Basket 1:28
Changing the tone when delivering the news 6:02
Being exposed to Down Syndrome 10:05
Skills to develop for Jack’s Basket 17:18
More meaning with Down Syndrome 23:34
There is deep value in this group 29:51

“The world, or how may be giving this news in kind of a sad, kind of assumptive, but negative tone, why is that not the case from people that are actually living their lives with Down Syndrome? Or families that have a family member with Down Syndrome? That also was a reality to me that I was like, that’s not OK. We shouldn’t be talking about Down Syndrome as if it is the most devastating news because we can hear from those that has that reality that life is good.” 6:30

www.jacksbasket.org