Where The Ramp Ends

About Where The Ramp Ends

Where the Ramp Ends is a podcast about disability, inclusion, and what happens when good intentions meet real life. Hosted by Summer Parrish and Bryce Wooten, the show centers lived experience, honest conversation, and the voices of people with disabilities, family members, and advocates working to change systems—not just optics. From policy and history to parenting, culture, and everyday barriers, we talk about what inclusion actually looks like when the ramp ends and real access begins.

Publisher

Where The Ramp Ends

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jan 2026

Latest episode

22 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Storytime: Jenny Armour’s Story | More Than a Diagnosis

   What does it look like to live a full life with Down syndrome? Meet Jenny Armour, a 24-year-old athlete, swimmer, gymnast, musician, and lover of costumes, gardening, and adventure! In this episode of Storytime with Where the Ramp Ends, Jenny and her mom, Rachel, share Jenny’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Through family memories, photographs, and stories of school, swimming, gymnastics, and community activities, Rachel shares how Jenny has grown, discovered her interests, and found opportunities to participate in the world around her. Rachel also opens up about the realities of raising a child with Down syndrome, navigating early intervention, advocating for inclusion, and learning to embrace Jenny’s individual path. She challenges the pressure to meet developmental milestones on a prescribed timeline and reminds us that growth is a lifelong journey, not a race to be like everyone else. We also explore communication, sensory needs, independence, and the importance of recognizing that every person has their own strengths, needs, and way of experiencing the world. Rachel’s message to families is powerful: believe in your child, keep advocating, and don't let other people's assumptions define what is possible. At Where the Ramp Ends, we believe accessibility is about more than getting through a door. It's about belonging once you get there. Jenny’s story reminds us that inclusion means creating opportunities, building connections, and recognizing the value every person brings to their family and community. In this episode, we discuss: Growing up with Down syndrome and embracing individual interests Family life, education, and community participation The importance of advocacy and inclusive opportunities Rethinking developmental milestones and expectations Communication through signs, pictures, visual cues, and technology Adulthood, independence, and lifelong growth The impact one person can have on the lives of others Join us for Jenny and Rachel’s heartfelt story, and remember: a diagnosis is only one part of a person’s story. There is so much more to discover. 🎧 Listen, share, and help us build a world where everyone belongs. Where the Ramp Ends: Where accessibility meets belonging, and where your journey begins.

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Spina Bifida, Prenatal Surgery & Finding Hope: Erica Nault’s Story | Where the Ramp Ends

   What happens when a routine pregnancy ultrasound changes everything? In honor of Spina Bifida Awareness Month, Summer and Bryce welcome Erica Nault, an Oklahoma mom, special education professional, and advocate, who shares the story of her daughter Emery’s diagnosis of spina bifida and hydrocephalus during pregnancy. After receiving the unexpected news at her 20-week anatomy scan, Erica and her husband, Landon, faced difficult decisions, uncertainty, and a race against time to determine whether Emery was a candidate for prenatal surgery. Erica takes us through their journey to Houston for fetal surgery, the challenges of recovery and bed rest, Emery’s NICU stay, and the ongoing monitoring of fluid on her brain. But this conversation is about so much more than medical procedures. Erica opens up about the importance of a supportive partner, finding community with other families, allowing yourself to process difficult emotions, and learning to take life one day at a time. She also shares valuable insights about spina bifida, the different types of the condition, prenatal surgery, and resources for families navigating complex medical journeys—including Project Joy and Hope, which provided vital support while her family was in Houston. In this episode, we discuss: Receiving a spina bifida diagnosis during pregnancy Emery’s prenatal surgery and what the journey involved Navigating hydrocephalus and the possibility of a shunt The importance of family support and connecting with other parents Resources for families facing a child’s medical diagnosis Giving parents permission to feel their emotions without judgment Why a diagnosis does not define a child or determine the beauty of their life Erica’s message to families is simple but powerful: Take it day by day, find your community, and don’t walk this journey alone. And when it comes to Emery’s legacy? It’s a reminder that when life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade—and live a beautiful life, no matter what. Join us for this heartfelt conversation about resilience, family, disability, and the power of hope. 🎙️ Where the Ramp Ends — disability education, stories, and resources to help build a more inclusive world. If this episode encourages you, please share it with another family who might need to hear this message.

3. 

   7 Oct 2026

   **Puberty, Boundaries & Inclusion: Supporting People with Down Syndrome with Cat Cunningham, LCSW**

   Content Note: This episode includes discussion of puberty, sex education, sexuality, consent, relationships, body boundaries, and private/public behaviors. The conversation is educational and focuses on supporting people with Down syndrome with safety, dignity, informed decision-making, and independence. The advice most parents get about puberty, boundaries, and sexuality is often too late, too vague, and too shaming. In this episode of Where the Ramp Ends, Cat Cunningham, LCSW, from the Mass General Hospital Down Syndrome Program, breaks down the conversations families need to start early, keep going, and adapt as their child grows. What makes this episode so valuable is how practical it gets. Cat explains why a child’s developmental age and biological age can be wildly different—and why that matters when we talk about relationships, sexuality, privacy, and independence. She also shares how to teach body safety without creating fear or shame and offers practical tools that can make these conversations easier, including anatomical language, visual teaching strategies, and the “circles” framework. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why puberty education should be “early and often” instead of one awkward talk How to talk about private vs. public behavior without shame The “circles” framework for teaching boundaries, consent, and safe relationships How to help a child who is naturally affectionate learn social limits Why modeling respectful greetings can be more effective than correcting in the moment How to approach relationships and sexuality in ways that support safety, dignity, and independence Cat also recommends trusted resources for parents and professionals, including Teaching Children with Down syndrome about their bodies, boundaries, and sexuality, along with companion guides for girls, boys, and dating. These resources can help turn overwhelming conversations into practical, teachable moments. If you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or clinician supporting someone with Down syndrome, this episode offers a clearer, kinder roadmap for navigating puberty, privacy, relationships, sexuality, and independence. It’s especially valuable for families who want to prepare their child for adulthood while supporting both safety and self-determination. This is a thoughtful, practical conversation for anyone who wants to do this well—with less fear, more confidence, and better outcomes for the people they love. If this episode helps you, please subscribe to Where the Ramp Ends, share it with another parent, caregiver, educator, or professional who could benefit, and leave us a review. Sharing these conversations helps us reach more families and make sure people have access to information that supports inclusion, dignity, and independence. Music: “Fields of Light” via Soundstripe.Resouces mentioned in this podcast are: "Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality"  by Terri Couwenhoven The Boys' Guide to Growing Up by Terri Couwenhoven The Girls' Guide to Growing Up by Terri Couwenhoven Boyfriends + Girlfriends by Terri Couwenhoven The Facts of Life-- and More: Sexuality and Intimacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities edited by Leslie Walker-Hirsch (https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESXAHrOzAVUMsF9F7xIqL0pTAyHfaq3hzhW3p2TfxXm-HIY_4jYz_LIdypiZ5HE3J1wM9BClE2gMJGHZibCm7YLfllz6NVmpI9AQm9nO3EFwxwwOL71PUhtn3tLgpu) Planet Puberty: https://www.planetpuberty.org.au/ (https://www.planetpuberty.org.au/) Puberty Relationships, and Sexuality for Teenagers with Down Syndrome (a blog post) written by the Down Syndrome Resource Federation in Canada Circles Curriculum: https://stanfield.com/circles?srsltid=AU7gw4UhhcO0CaBG5D1Obc6OnK06xtcTXkf1Q3vDYsWMTGd1qUqpDiSq (https://stanfield.com/circles?srsltid=AU7gw4UhhcO0CaBG5D1Obc6OnK06xtcTXkf1Q3vDYsWMTGd1qUqpDiSq) Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome by Dr. David Stein Behavior and Down Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Parents (companion guide also written by Dr. David Stein): https://dsagsl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Behavior-Guide-for-Down-Syndrome.pdf (https://dsagsl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Behavior-Guide-for-Down-Syndrome.pdf) Off to a Good Start: A Behaviorally Based Model for Teaching Children with Down Syndrome (a two-book set), by Dr. Kathleen Feeley and Emily A. Jones

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Where The Ramp Ends

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.