If We Knew Then - Down Syndrome Podcast

194. That’s Not How It Happened: A Novel By Craig Thomas

In this episode, we sit down with How I Met Your Mother co-creator Craig Thomas to talk about his new novel, That’s Not How It Happened. The novel is about a family whose lives are thrown into turmoil when a Hollywood producer turns their story into a movie, forcing them to confront their differing perspectives on their past and the challenges of raising their son, Emmett, who has Down syndrome. It was inspired by Craig’s son, Elliott, who lives with a rare condition called Jacobsen Syndrome and is on sale starting November 4, 2025. We were introduced to Craig through our dear friends Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the hosts of the Office Ladies podcast. Jenna and Angela have been such loyal supporters of If We Knew Then and we’re so grateful to them for connecting us with Craig. That introduction led to a heartfelt and honest conversation that we are excited to share with you. You can order Craig Thomas's new book from major booksellers like Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thats-not-how-it-happened-craig-thomas/1146932212], Amazon.com [https://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-How-Happened-Novel-ebook/dp/B0DVWJKHM2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PEWFSRG334MN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jj39x45rnOFJmdcr7_YqjD0lxmLpRqDugafu1nVKrnJFvshGMYmj5NwJjsHNlQ9YRP_nJbTSToCi4UMFZfDt-2yNTzaiel6GtRYBG-Iz4Uo.1AEmw8qo-2uXNlGLValfEV0CAUj1iLI-5qpY7C0nvAE&dib_tag=se&keywords=that%27s+not+how+it+happened&qid=1762135808&s=digital-text&sprefix=that%27s+not+how+it+happened%2Cdigital-text%2C179&sr=1-1], HarperCollins Publishers [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/thats-not-how-it-happened-craig-thomas], and other retailers. Also, check out Craig’s How I Met Your Mother rewatch podcast called How We Made Your Mother, which he co-hosts with Josh Radnor. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/194-thats-not-how-it-happened-a-novel-by-craig-thomas/2/ [https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/194-thats-not-how-it-happened-a-novel-by-craig-thomas/2/] Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com [https://www.ifweknewthen.com/] to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

193. Accommodations In An IEP Are A Right Not A Favor

When schools treat accommodations like a gift instead of a legal right, students with disabilities are the ones who pay the price. In this episode, we share our firsthand experiences navigating our son's high school IEP. From unimplemented accommodations to misplaced assessments and the constant reminder that equity isn’t optional. We unpack what it really means to “access the curriculum,” how IDEA protects that access and why families must sometimes become both teachers and advocates. This conversation is a call to action for educators and parents alike to stop seeing accommodations as extra work and start recognizing them as keys to inclusion and an equal education. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/193-accommodations-in-an-iep-are-a-right-not-a-favor/2/ [https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/193-accommodations-in-an-iep-are-a-right-not-a-favor/2/] Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com [https://www.ifweknewthen.com/] to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

192. Choosing A Pediatrician with Dr. Ilona Kleiner

In this episode we revisit a conversation with our longtime pediatrician, Dr. Ilona Kleiner, who has been with our family since the day Sophia was born and has guided us through Liam’s journey with wisdom, honesty and compassion. Dr. Kleiner shares her perspective on treating children as whole individuals far beyond a diagnoses or statistics and the profound impact that kind of care can have on both medical outcomes and family life. Together, we talk about navigating the fears that often surround a Down syndrome diagnosis, the importance of preventative medicine and what it means to advocate for our children day by day. Dr. Kleiner also offers practical insights on vaccines, inclusion and supporting children’s mental health by reminding us that every child deserves to be seen, respected and treated with dignity. This heartfelt conversation is a reminder of the power of compassionate care and our hope that every family finds a physician who sees their child for exactly who they are. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/192-choosing-a-pediatrician-with-dr-ilona-kleiner/2/ [https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/192-choosing-a-pediatrician-with-dr-ilona-kleiner/2/] Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com [https://www.ifweknewthen.com/] to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

191. Play Dumb and Sabotage - Speech Pathologist Jeaneen Tang

Today we  sit down with speech-language pathologist and author Janine Tang to talk about her new book "Play Dumb and Sabotage: Mindfully Under-Anticipating the Child’s Needs and Creating Opportunities to Practice Language". Drawing from more than two decades as a therapist and her personal journey as a parent of a child with a brain injury, Jeaneen shares practical strategies parents can use every day to support speech development. We discuss the challenges families face in accessing quality speech therapy, how to advocate for services and why creating small opportunities for communication can have lasting impact. Jeaneen also opens up about her son’s diagnosis, how it shifted her perspective as both a mother and a professional and the importance of empowering parents to see that they are doing a good job. Jeaneen fills this conversation with hope, compassion and actionable tools for parents navigating speech development and early intervention. She reminds us that our children can achieve more when we give them space, support and belief in their potential. Website: https://www.playdumbandsabotage.com [https://www.playdumbandsabotage.com] IG: @playdumbandsabotage Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/191-play-dumb-and-sabotage-with-jeaneen-yang/2/ [https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/191-play-dumb-and-sabotage-with-jeaneen-yang/2/] Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com [https://www.ifweknewthen.com/] to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

190. Advocating Through The Challenges Of A New School Year

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of a new school year and how we advocate to create a foundation of support for Liam, with the intentions of creating a narrative of inclusion. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/08/30/190-advocating-through-the-challenges-of-a-new-school-year/2/ [https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/08/30/190-advocating-through-the-challenges-of-a-new-school-year/2/] Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com [https://www.ifweknewthen.com/] to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.