The Lucky Few

In this episode of The Lucky Few Podcast, we continue our “What I Wish I Knew” series with a real and honest conversation about AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) - Supporting Communication Without Limiting It
Micha shares her journey with her son Ace and how her understanding of AAC has evolved over time—from treating it like a therapy tool to recognizing it as a language and a way of life. Along the way, we talk through common misconceptions, frustrations, and the mindset shifts that can make all the difference.
If you’ve ever wondered whether AAC is “right” for your child—or felt unsure where to start—this episode is a grounded place to begin.

What We Cover
What AAC actually is—and why it’s for more kids than people think
The shift from testing communication → modeling communication
How to get started (IEP, evaluations, and real-world barriers)
Key Mindset Shift + Takeaways
AAC isn’t a tool you bring out for practice—it’s a language you live in.
That means modeling instead of requiring, assuming competence even when it’s hard to see, and remembering that communication is about connection—not just requests. For many kids, the challenge isn’t understanding—it’s motor planning. And like any language, AAC only works when it’s used consistently in everyday life, not just during therapy or structured time.

Links:
AbleNet https://www.ablenetinc.com/ Torganization mentioned in the episode for helping families get AAC devices (including working with insurance).

Mercedes’ “third class Titanic” photo reference (watch here):
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVMSIy0EsI5/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Are you using AAC with your child? Thinking about it? Struggling with it?
We’d love to hear what’s working—and what’s not.
Find us on Instagram: @theluckyfewpod

In this episode, we’re talking about travel and accessibility—what’s actually available, what we’ve learned the hard way (and the helpful way), and the questions that come with it.
Fresh off an international trip, Heather shares real-life stories of navigating airports, museums, and public spaces with accessibility services—and realizing oh… this changes everything.
Also, turns out you might not need to stand in that two-hour line. Just saying.

We also wrestle with the bigger question: Should we use these services if our kids can do it without them?

We talk about:
Using accessibility services in airports (like TSA Cares and pre-boarding)
Skipping long lines at museums and major attractions
Free and discounted access for people with disabilities and their companions
The tension between presuming competence and accepting support
Letting go of pressure and adjusting expectations while traveling
Why flexibility matters more than having the “perfect” trip
We share stories from New York, London, and Paris—and how these supports made travel not just possible, but enjoyable.
At the end of the day, this is about knowing your child, trusting your instincts, and using what’s available to make space for your family.
Your family belongs in these places.

Related Episodes
Can a Person with Down Syndrome Travel the World? (Ep. 278) – Exploring what’s possible with global travel.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/278-can-a-person-with-down-syndrome-travel-the-world/id1349646917?i=1000672187141
Planes, Trains & Presuming Competence (Ep. 296) – Travel, transitions, and supporting our kids well.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/296-planes-trains-presuming-competence/id1349646917?i=1000704406975
Traveling with the Lara Family (Ep. 35) – A real family’s experience traveling with Down syndrome.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/35-traveling-with-the-lara-family/id1349646917?i=1000446155118
How to Keep Your Kids with Down Syndrome Healthy While Traveling (Ep. 129) – Simple ways to stay healthy on the road.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/129-how-to-keep-your-kids-with-ds-healthy-while/id1349646917?i=1000532940758

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DISCOUNT CODE
Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on ⁠⁠The Lucky Few Merch Shop⁠⁠ and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE
Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ for more information!

LET’S CHAT
Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ with your questions and Good News or Shout Outs for future episodes.

Friends, we’re bringing back one of our favorite conversations — our interview with Noah Matthews Matofsky, who starred as Slightly in Disney’s Peter Pan & Wendy.
When this film premiered, Noah became the first actor with Down syndrome to have a speaking role in a live-action Disney feature film. And we had the joy of sitting down with him not long after the movie was released.
In this episode, Noah joins us from the UK to share:
How he went from school plays to being cast in a Disney film

What it was like auditioning during lockdown

Learning lines and filming stunts (yes, he had a stunt double!)

Six months on set in Canada

Red carpets, press tours, and being recognized in public

Why representation matters

His dreams for what’s next (Harry Potter? Toy Story? We’re planting seeds.)

We also hear from Noah’s dad about what it was like supporting him through filming, balancing family life, and watching his dream unfold.
This conversation is joyful, funny, and hopeful. It’s a reminder that our kids belong on every stage — including the biggest ones.
Noah is also an ambassador for Down Syndrome UK and continues to use his platform to encourage others:
“Don’t take it as a disadvantage. Add that to your life and do more in your life.”
We’re so proud of him. And we’re so grateful for the way representation continues to grow.

Follow Noah⁠ on Instagram for more behind the scenes and see what’s next!
Noah has been invited to be a keynote speaker at the International Down Syndrome Congress in Florida this summer and is ⁠raising funds⁠ for his travel expenses.

CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST
⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠

⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠

⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH HEATHER AVIS
WEBSITE: ⁠⁠THE LUCKY FEW OFFICIAL⁠⁠

IG: ⁠⁠THELUCKYFEWOFFICAL⁠⁠

⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠

⁠⁠I LIKE YOU SO MUCH⁠⁠

⁠⁠THIS IS DOWN SYNDROME⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH MERCEDES LARA
IG: ⁠⁠HOORAY4THELARAS⁠⁠

IG: ⁠⁠HUMANLY.TV⁠⁠

⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH MICHA BOYETT
⁠⁠MICHABOYETT.COM⁠⁠

IG: ⁠⁠ACEFACEISMYFRIEND⁠⁠

IG: ⁠⁠MICHABOYETT⁠⁠

LISTEN TO ⁠⁠THE SLOW WAY⁠⁠

DISCOUNT CODE
Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on ⁠⁠The Lucky Few Merch Shop⁠⁠ and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE
Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ for more information!

LET’S CHAT
Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ with your questions and Good News or Shout Outs for future episodes.

This week we’re revisiting Episode 3 of The Lucky Few Podcast—originally recorded in April 2018.
In one of our very first conversations, Heather, Mercedes, and Micah sit down with Liz Plachta, founder of Ruby’s Rainbow, to talk about what’s possible for individuals with Down syndrome after high school.
At the time, this conversation felt hopeful. Now, it also feels proven.
What started as one mom’s idea—to help one person with Down syndrome go to college—has grown into something much bigger:
1,015 scholarships awarded

$3,776,000 in scholarship funds

26+ awareness campaigns changing the narrative

And that momentum hasn’t slowed. Ruby’s Rainbow is currently in the middle of its 2026 “3/21 Pledge” campaign, with a goal to raise $600,000 by World Down Syndrome Day (March 21) to fund at least 120 scholarships. As of early March 2026, they’ve already surpassed that $600,000 goal—another signal of how much belief and support continues to grow around this work.
This episode captures the early heart behind that movement—and why raising expectations still matters

Give the gift of a dream. Change a life. Help someone with Down syndrome go for their college dreams! Take the 3/21 Pledge TODAY

321pledge.org/

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IG: ⁠ACEFACEISMYFRIEND⁠

IG: ⁠MICHABOYETT⁠

LISTEN TO ⁠THE SLOW WAY⁠

DISCOUNT CODE
Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on ⁠The Lucky Few Merch Shop⁠ and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE
Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ for more information!

LET’S CHAT
Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ with your questions and Good News or Shout Outs for future episodes.

In this episode, we continue our What I Wish I’d Known series in honor of World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) and this year’s theme: Together Against Loneliness.
When we first became parents of children with Down syndrome, no one talked to us about loneliness.
Not the loneliness that can come in high school.
Not when siblings leave.
Not when friends start driving.
Not when graduation comes — and the path forward feels unclear.
Not when your child is included, but still isolated.
We talk about the loneliness our kids experience — and the loneliness we feel as parents. We unpack the difference between inclusion and belonging, and why belonging is what truly combats loneliness.
World Down Syndrome Day isn’t just about celebration.
It’s about awareness.It’s about connection.
Wear the socks.Have the conversations.
Extend the invitation.
Let’s be together against loneliness.

Show Notes
🌍 World Down Syndrome Day
Official site (theme, resources, global events):
https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/
College scholarships for students with Down syndrome:
https://www.rubysrainbow.org/
Creators of the annual World Down Syndrome Day campaign videos:
https://www.coordown.it/
This year’s campaign video (featuring Noah, focused on ending use of the R-word):
https://www.youtube.com/@CoorDown
Their classic video “Dear Future Mom”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju-q4OnBtNU
Free programming and community for individuals with Down syndrome:
https://gigisplayhouse.org/
🎓 Ruby’s Rainbow🇮🇹 CoorDown (Italy)💙 GiGi’s Playhouse

🎉 Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day With Us
We’ve been celebrating World Down Syndrome Day since the very beginning of this podcast. Revisit past conversations here:
Episode 1 – World Down Syndrome Day 2018
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/1
Episode 53 – World Down Syndrome Day 2019
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/53
Episode 104 – World Down Syndrome Day 2020
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/104
Episode 156 – World Down Syndrome Day 2021
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/156
Episode 207 – World Down Syndrome Day 2022
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/207
Episode 259 – World Down Syndrome Day 2023
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/259
Episode 310 – World Down Syndrome Day 2024
https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/310

CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST
⁠WEBSITE⁠

⁠INSTAGRAM⁠

⁠FACEBOOK⁠

CONNECT WITH HEATHER AVIS
WEBSITE: ⁠THE LUCKY FEW OFFICIAL⁠

IG: ⁠THELUCKYFEWOFFICAL⁠

⁠FACEBOOK⁠

⁠I LIKE YOU SO MUCH⁠

⁠THIS IS DOWN SYNDROME⁠

CONNECT WITH MERCEDES LARA
IG: ⁠HOORAY4THELARAS⁠

IG: ⁠HUMANLY.TV⁠

⁠FACEBOOK⁠

CONNECT WITH MICHA BOYETT
⁠MICHABOYETT.COM⁠

IG: ⁠ACEFACEISMYFRIEND⁠

IG: ⁠MICHABOYETT⁠

LISTEN TO ⁠THE SLOW WAY⁠

DISCOUNT CODE
Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on ⁠The Lucky Few Merch Shop⁠ and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE
Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ for more information!

LET’S CHAT
Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ with your questions and Good News or Shout Outs for future episodes.