{"id":142449,"date":"2026-06-24T18:44:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T22:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/?p=142449"},"modified":"2026-06-24T18:44:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T22:44:35","slug":"the-program-i-wish-existed-20-years-ago-when-my-son-was-born-with-down-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/the-program-i-wish-existed-20-years-ago-when-my-son-was-born-with-down-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"THE PROGRAM I WISH EXISTED 20 YEARS AGO WHEN MY SON WAS BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One of the most powerful ways we can support the future health, confidence, independence, and quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome is by partnering with families, caregivers, and organizations to implement simple, meaningful habits with nourishing foods.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutrition is one of the most direct links between our genes, our environment, and our health. It is information that helps shape how our bodies function,\u00a0adapt\u00a0and\u00a0thrive!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the core of this program is hope for those we love to boost their skills and have the opportunities needed to live to their fullest potential! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Health <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Confidence <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Self Love <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Independence <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Quality of Life <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Meaningful Relationships <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Purpose <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc9c\"Future Opportunities <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Functional Medicine Health Coach, Functional Nutritional Therapist, and the mother of a son with Down syndrome, I’ve spent the last 20 years seeing firsthand how much families need practical, positive health education designed specifically for this community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heart of this program comes from lived experience. Parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome and other neurodivergent conditions are often balancing extraordinary responsibilities while navigating therapies, medical appointments, behavioral challenges, educational needs, future planning, and the countless details of everyday life. Families care deeply and work incredibly hard, yet many are still searching for practical ways to support health, independence, and quality of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Kanaan was born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, I was immediately introduced to a long list of potential challenges, limitations, diagnoses, therapies, and health concerns that individuals with Down syndrome may face throughout their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While maybe much of that information was important to understand, I found myself asking a different question: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What can we do to help support health, resilience, independence, and quality of life?” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That question changed everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was already passionate about nutrition and fitness, but becoming Kanaan’s mother led me on a relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Since then, I have dedicated myself to studying nutrition, lifestyle habits, environmental influences, behavior change, and the many factors that influence how we feel, function, learn, grow, and thrive throughout life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, I began to wonder: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if nutrition, movement, hydration, sunlight, self care, and healthy daily habits became life skills too? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gradually inserting some of the foundational steps that help individuals build a positive relationship with real, whole foods while developing skills that support their total well-being in an easy to understand way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if we taught simple, delicious meals and snacks that help support energy, confidence, self care, and optimal health right alongside the many other important skills individuals are learning? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, those questions have now become the foundation of the Strong Body Nutrition & Optimal Health Program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This program was created to help make healthy choices approachable, enjoyable, and realistic. It is not about perfection or restriction. It is about building confidence, independence, and excitement around learning practical skills that also support health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, I had the opportunity to pilot the program with an incredible group of young adults through @Tutoringwitht <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together we explored healthy food choices, practiced positive affirmations, learned simple nutrition concepts, went grocery shopping, and prepared a delicious yogurt bowl using whole food ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, we had fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The smiles, participation, excitement, and willingness to try new things reminded me that healthy habits can be taught in a way that is positive, practical, empowering, and inspired by love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, we can focus on small changes, simple swaps and using whole foods that everyone already loves. Through repetition and the motivation of yummy healthy food, we want to help build confidence, independence, self love, and lifelong healthy habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special thank you to @Tutoring with T for partnering with us on this pilot program and helping create such a meaningful experience. I have been inspired by organizations like @GiGi’s PlayHouse Raleigh and the incredible work being done throughout the Down Syndrome community with @North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll be offering a sneak peek of the program during Achievers on August 26 before launching the full experience this fall. Be sure to check the calendar and grab your spot when registration opens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written\u00a0by Kim Shackleford\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most powerful ways we can support the future health, confidence, independence, and quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome is by partnering with families, caregivers, and organizations to implement simple, meaningful habits with nourishing foods.   Nutrition is one of the most direct links between our genes, our environment, and our health.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27461,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[508,519,520,518],"class_list":["post-142449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-generationg","tag-downsyndromeawareness","tag-healthyhabits","tag-nutritioneducation","tag-nutritionmatters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27461"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142449\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}