Episode 12 - The Journey to Adoption and Advocacy

In this episode of Down Syndrome: 21st Perspectives, we talk with Carly Durham—nurse practitioner, client care manager, and mom of three, including two children with Down syndrome. Carly shares her family’s adoption journey from Ukraine, their experiences navigating complex medical needs, and her work as an advocate helping families understand IEPs and push for inclusion. We also dive into the realities of special education in Texas—from STAAR testing to deciding whether a GenEd classroom is right for your child. This heartfelt and practical conversation highlights the challenges, victories, and everyday pursuit of belonging for every child.Resources that Carly Spoke about:SPEDTX - https://www.spedtex.org/TEA - https://tea.texas.gov/Disability Scoop - https://www.disabilityscoop.com/Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities - https://tcdd.texas.gov/ Disability Rights of TX – https://disabilityrightstx.org/en/home/Federal ARC – ARC.org