Where The Ramp Ends

Where The Ramp Ends
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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.

  1. 3d ago

    Who Gets a Voice in Our Democracy? Building the Power of the Disability Vote | Featuring Alexia Kemerling of AAPD & REV UP

    What does it mean to build the power of the disability vote, and why does it matter? In this episode of Where the Ramp Ends, Bryce and Summer sit down with Alexia Kemerling, Director of Accessible Democracy at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), to talk about REV UP (Register, Educate, Vote, Use Your Power) and the growing movement to make democracy more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. With approximately 40 million eligible voters with disabilities in the United States—roughly 1 in 6 voters—the disability community has an enormous collective voice. But that voice is too often overlooked, underestimated, or left out of the political conversation. Alexia explains how REV UP began as a grassroots movement in Texas and has grown into a national initiative, now supporting disability vote coalitions across the country. We discuss what makes these coalitions successful, why relationships and community matter, and how people with disabilities can move beyond voting to become advocates, organizers, community leaders, and policymakers. We also dig into some important questions: What barriers prevent people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from exercising their right to vote? How can we reach people living in group homes, developmental centers, and other congregate settings? How do we support people who communicate differently or need significant assistance without speaking for them? How can families teach children about civic engagement and advocacy before they are old enough to vote? What can we do to make sure disability issues are part of every level of government? We're especially excited to discuss the growing REV UP Oklahoma coalition and the opportunity to bring people together to strengthen the disability community's voice in our state. This conversation is about more than voter registration. It's about representation, self-determination, belonging, and recognizing that people with disabilities deserve a seat at the table when decisions affecting their lives are being made. Learn more and get involved: REV UP: AAPD's national movement to build the political power of people with disabilities through civic engagement and accessible elections. AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities): A national organization working to advance the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities. Find AAPD and REV UP online to learn about voter resources, disability advocacy, and opportunities to get involved in your state. Join the conversation! If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to hit SUBSCRIBE on Spotify, leave us a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Follow Where the Ramp Ends on social media for more conversations about disability advocacy, accessibility, inclusion, policy, and the people working to make our communities better. Have a question, a story to share, or an idea for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! 📧 Email us: where.the.ramp.ends@gmail.com Because democracy works better when every voice has a place. This is Where the Ramp Ends.

  2. Oct 22

    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.

  3. Oct 14

    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.

  4. Oct 7

    **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 Planet Puberty: 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 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   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

  5. Oct 1

    Meske Owens - REVUPOK, Sprout N Shine and More

    Disabled voters, overwhelmed parents, and anyone tired of systems built without real-life experience - this conversation will make you rethink what access, advocacy, and inclusion actually look like. Mesky Owens returns with the kind of perspective that turns frustration into action, and the result is one of the most important episodes yet.Bryce and Summer welcome back fan favorite Misky Owens for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about disability rights, voting access, education, and the everyday barriers that still shape life for millions of people. From the launch of RevUp Oklahoma to the realities of mail-in voting, transportation gaps, and the way rural and urban communities face entirely different access challenges, this episode makes the case that accessibility is not a side issue - it's the issue.You'll hear Mesky break down: Why one in six registered voters has a disability, and why the real number reaches even further when you include family members and caregiversHow election rules, postal challenges, and lack of reliable information can quietly block people from participatingWhy “agree to disagree” and real conversation matter more than blocking people and walking awayHow parenting changes when disability, age gaps, and changing family needs reshape your entire lens on the worldSummer also brings the education fight into focus, pushing into the messy reality of private school vouchers, understaffed public schools, and why kids often lose access to therapy, speech support, and physical therapy when they need it most. Bryce adds a powerful lived-experience perspective on transportation, spontaneity, and what it means to plan life around access instead of assuming it will be there.Mesky also shares the work behind Sprout and Shine, Common Sense Americans, and the Weekly Wiggle, showing how advocacy can stretch from voting rights to early childhood transitions to low-cost sensory supports families can actually use. Across every topic, the same message keeps surfacing - the best systems are built with people, not for them.If you care about disability rights, special education, civic participation, or simply want a more honest conversation about what inclusion requires, this episode belongs in your queue. It is thoughtful, practical, and a reminder that when lived experience leads, everyone benefits. https://oklahomafamilynetwork.org/about-us/programs/sprout-and-shine/ https://www.aapd.com/about-rev-up/ https://www.commonsenseamerican.org/

  6. Sep 23

    Kevin Nuñez - Turning Lived Experience Into Effective Advocacy

    What if the biggest barrier facing disabled people is not ability, but the systems, assumptions, and segregation built around them? Disability advocate Kevin Nuñez joins Bryce and Summer for a candid conversation about advocacy, inclusion, and what it really takes to help people with disabilities live free, dream bigger, and be seen for who they are. Kevin shares how growing up with cerebral palsy shaped his voice, why his early experience as the outspoken kid in school pushed him toward policy, and how programs like Partners in Policymaking opened his eyes to the power of community, leadership, and national advocacy. Bryce and Summer add their own lived experience and perspective as they unpack the difference between being “included” and being truly valued. You'll hear practical guidance for parents of children with disabilities, including how to support independence, why “dignity of risk” matters, and why letting kids make mistakes is part of helping them grow. Kevin also breaks down the dangers of disability-only spaces, the reality of medical deserts, and how waiver programs and home-based supports can help families avoid unnecessary institutional-style care. We also get into one of the most overlooked parts of advocacy: relationships. Kevin explains how to approach legislators, why staff members matter just as much as elected officials, and how making disability personal can change policy conversations for good. From fantasy football small talk to Capitol Hill strategy, he shows how advocacy actually happens in the real world. This episode is especially valuable for parents, self-advocates, caregivers, and anyone who wants to understand why disability policy is never just policy. It is about freedom, access, representation, and whether people with disabilities are truly allowed to chase the life they want. If you care about disability rights, family support, or building a more inclusive future, this conversation is essential listening. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to support the podcast: leave us a review, follow or subscribe wherever you listen, and share this episode with someone who could benefit from the conversation. Every review, follow, subscription, and share helps Where the Ramp Ends reach more families, advocates, and people with disabilities—and helps us keep bringing important conversations like this to a wider audience.

  7. Sep 16

    Erin Prangley - NACDD Director of Public Policy, Becoming a Subject Matter Expert and Connecting With Legislators

    Please rate and review to help us reach others. The disability rights conversation has a blind spot, and Erin Prangley is calling it out. Too many advocates are treated like inspirational storytellers instead of the subject matter experts they actually are—and that mistake is costing the movement real change.Bryce and Summer sit down with Erin, policy director at the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, for a sharp, personal, and practical conversation about disability advocacy, institutionalization, and what it really takes to move policy forward. Erin shares how her own journey into disability work began with what she calls sincere ignorance, and how learning her family’s hidden history connected her to the fight in a powerful way.You’ll discover why telling your story is not enough if you want to influence legislators, how to build credibility with data and systems knowledge, and why the phrase “subject matter expert” matters so much in disability advocacy. Erin breaks down the difference between being visible and being effective, why conscientious stupidity is even more dangerous than ignorance, and how advocates can use election season to demand accountability from candidates.We also explore the power of local and state systems, from DD Councils and Partners in Policymaking to the practical ways people with disabilities can become leaders inside the rooms where decisions are made. Erin shares unforgettable examples of lived experience changing outcomes, including a voting rights conversation that shifted legislation because someone in the room actually knew what was missing.This episode is essential listening for new advocates, parents, self-advocates, policymakers, and anyone who wants to turn personal experience into meaningful change. If you’ve ever wondered whether your voice can change the system, Erin’s answer is clear: yes—but only if you learn the system, understand the data, and refuse to stay silent.

  8. Sep 2

    The Power of Storytelling in Disability Advocacy with Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson

    Episode Description Disability advocacy becomes unstoppable when your story is clear, specific, and impossible to ignore. Brittanie Hernandez Wilson shows how personal storytelling can change policy, shift minds, and give disabled people and families the tools to fight back - without getting lost in jargon or fear. Bryce and Summer sit down with Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson, a public speaker, self-advocate, and organizer with Hand in Hand, the Domestic Employers Network, to unpack how she went from avoiding her disability to becoming someone who helps protect Medi-Cal and shape legislation in California. Brittany shares the early moment that changed everything - getting her first electric wheelchair at age three - and the long road from internalized ableism to self-acceptance, advocacy, and leadership. You’ll discover: Why storytelling is one of the most effective tools in disability advocacy How Brittanie used her own experience to help change a task force law around subminimum wage What a one-pager is, why legislators rely on it, and how to make yours work How parents can support their children’s advocacy without speaking over disabled adults Why plain language, lived experience, and a clear ask matter more than polished political talk Summer also brings a parent’s perspective to the conversation, including what it means to advocate for a daughter with Down syndrome and why connecting with disabled adults is essential for making the right choices. Together, they explore the tension between parents and self-advocates, the importance of disability history, and why the best advocacy centers the people most affected. Brittanie also breaks down where real change starts: relationship-building with legislators, centering love, and teaching the next generation how to speak up for themselves. From Olmstead to IDEA, from grassroots organizing to avoiding burnout, this episode makes the case that disability rights are not abstract - they shape whether people can live at home, go to school, work, and make their own choices. Essential listening if you want to become a better advocate, tell a more powerful story, or support disability justice in a way that actually helps.

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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.

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  • Creator
    Where The Ramp Ends
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Where The Ramp Ends
  • Show Website
    Where The Ramp Ends