Down Syndrome Awareness Month With Special Guest Kassie Mundhenk
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Season 2: Episode 23 Description
Ten News Gets Extra: Join us to learn about Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Host Bethany Van Delft speaks with Dr. Nicole Baumer about Down Syndrome and misconceptions about it. 💖 Special guest, actress and model Kassie Mundhenk shares what it is like to be an actress and her favorite thing to do when not working. 🎢 Any roller coaster fans out there? And test your knowledge in today's Trivia on the Ten. ✅
Sources for the episode:
People With Down Syndrome Who Are Breaking Barriers (insider.com)
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TRANSCRIPT:
Bethany Van Delft 0:03
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which means it's time to raise awareness about Down syndrome and amplify the abilities, talents, and accomplishments of an amazing community. In today's special episode, we'll learn more about Down syndrome, and hear from one young person who is shining her light for the world to see. I'm Bethany Van Delft, it's Saturday, October 23rd. And this is The Ten News Gets Extra.
Various Voices 0:31
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Bethany Van Delft 0:38
Down syndrome is a natural occurrence where a person is born with one extra chromosome. Chromosomes are tiny little structures inside every part of us that carry the instructions that make every living creature unique. They usually come in pairs numbered 1 through 23, a person who has three copies of their 21st chromosome instead of two, or someone with Down Syndrome may have pretty almond-shaped eyes and might be super good at reading how other people are feeling. Who doesn't want that superpower? They also might need a little more time to think about things or might learn a little differently. But everyone has their differences, right? The truth is, we're more alike than different. And I got to sit and talk all about it with Dr. Nicole Baumer from the Down Syndrome program at Children's Hospital. Yay, I'm so excited that you're here with us. Could you say your name and what you do for our listeners?
Nicole Baumer 1:43
Sure, my name is Nicole Baumer and I am a doctor who takes care of children who have Down syndrome and autism, and various other learning needs. And I work at Boston Children's Hospital and direct the Down syndrome program there.
Bethany Van Delft 2:03
So, how did you become interested in this field?
Dr. Nicole Baumer 2:09
Well, my older sister Heather has Down syndrome and she has inspired so much of who I am in general, but certainly has inspired my career and has driven my desire to be a doctor and to help people that are like her.
Bethany Van Delft 2:29
That is so cool. That's definitely sisterly love right there. So, having a sister with Down syndrome must play a part in your work today, like the work you do every day now, does it? How is it? How does it come into play?
Dr. Nicole Baumer 2:43
You know, it really does. I've been so inspired by my sister throughout my whole life and so much that she has accomplished and really the positive impact that she has on probably every single person who has ever met her. And, you know, I want to spend my time around people who have positive impacts like that. So I always knew that I really wanted to spend time in my life with people who have Down syndrome. And, you know, every single day when I'm at work and trying to learn more things about how to help people with Down syndrome. I feel so inspired by the community that I'm part of and the people that I take care of.
Bethany Van Delft 3:24
So, October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Why is it important to have an awareness month about Down syndrome?
Dr. Nicole Baumer 3:31
I love October and I love Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It is just one of my favorite months because it gives us an opportunity to really celebrate the successes of people with Down syndrome, and is an opportunity to help us as a community share with others who might not know as much or might not know somebody that they love with Down syndrome, to show them and teach them all of the reasons why people with Down syndrome can be just absolutely amazing and have so many skills and interests and unique personalities that they can share with the world. So when we can put out there that it's Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and invite other people in to learn about what that means. I think that's the opportunity where we can really share with other people that people with Down syndrome are more alike than different. They may sound different or look different, or take different school classes or learn at a slower rate or do things just in a different way. But at the core, they like the same things. They love ice cream, they want to do the same activities, they want to play soccer, they want to learn in school, they want to be with their friends. And I think that when we can show that to the world, and I think that when we can really highlight and show how people with Down syndrome are more alike than different, that really invites people in to get to know people with Down's syndrome and to learn from them.
Bethany Van Delft 5:02
It's so true. I think if you for people who don't know and don't have someone very close to them, who has Down syndrome, they don't know things like people with Down syndrome, graduate from high school, they graduate from college, they run businesses, the model they act, they do the same things everybody does. And like you say, more, we're all more alike than different. As you know, I have my own little sweet pea daughter who has Down syndrome and she blows my mind on a regular basis. She skis, I have never skied in my whole life. She just does anything she sees that she wants to do, She goes for it, she gives it a try. She just gets past any kind of fear. She picks herself up and she does it again. So if there was one thing that you hope that people would learn this month and keep with them after this month, what would that be?
Dr. Nicole Baumer 6:03
I want people to understand that people with Down syndrome, but really all people have something important to offer. And that every person that you meet, whether they're, they look different, or they sound different, or they have Down syndrome, they have something that you can learn from, and something about them that you can learn to appreciate. And I also want people to know that putting people in boxes or putting limits on people doesn't help. And that having high expectations and believing in people's ability to succeed is really what helps so many people and especially people with Down syndrome, to do the best that they can and to be accepted in our communities.
Bethany Van Delft 6:48
The most important thing, thank you so much for being here with us. This is something we really love to do with our guests is ask them. What is your favorite fun fact?
Dr. Nicole Baumer 6:59
Fun fact? Well, something I really really love is the moon and the stars and looking up into the sky. So a fun fact about stars is that there are like 10 times more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on Earth. Wow. Isn't that really cool?
Bethany Van Delft 7:24
That is so, so cool. And what I like to think of when you're looking up in the sky is really incredible. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time. We love having you anytime you want to come back and share anything with us. We would love to have you.
Dr. Nicole Baumer 7:43
Absolutely thank you so much for having me and for doing this special report on Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Bethany Van Delft 7:53
One shining star who is upping awareness and representation of people with Down syndrome is actress and model Kassie Mundhenk. Most recently seen in the HBO Max TV show Mare of East town, not a show for the kids, but for the grown-ups by the way. Kassie joins us to talk about her life and show business. Thank you very, very much for joining us. We're big fans here at The Ten, how long have you been acting, and have you always been a big acting fan? Like were you in the drama club? And did you do plays in school?
Kassie 8:35
Uhm, I did some plays in school? And I have been acting for four and a half years.
Bethany Van Delft 8:44
Oh, and how did you discover that you love acting?
Kassie 8:49
Well, I started with pro bono for a project called Eighth Grade. It was a lot of fun doing it and I always wanted to act when I was little.
Bethany Van Delft 9:03
So, this is something you had in your heart for a long time and then you got to live your dream and do it. That is such an inspiring thing.
Kassie 9:11
Yeah.
Bethany Van Delft 9:12
I read that Mare of East town, which is your show on HBO that was your first speaking role, you have done roles before that but this one was your first speaking role. What was that like?
Kassie 9:25
Oh, it was really fun having this really cool speaking role because I met Kate Winslet and Julianne Nicolson on Mare of East Town and they were really so great.
Bethany Van Delft 9:47
Oh my gosh. And now these people there now you're all friends are you?
Kassie 9:53
Yeah, we're friends.
Bethany Van Delft 9:56
What is life like? I've heard from Some people that it can be like really, really, really long days. And I've heard from other people that it's super exciting and it goes by so quickly.
Kassie 10:08
It's awesome because it's a lot of fun and it's exciting.
Bethany Van Delft 10:13
So exciting. What are some of the roles that you've played besides this role in Mare of East Town? What are some other roles that you've played?
Kassie 10:23
I was a patient on New Amsterdam?
Bethany Van Delft 10:26
Oh, wow.
Kassie 10:27
And on Law and Order SVU.
Bethany Van Delft 10:33
So cool.
Kassie 10:34
Also a churchgoer on there too. And a student for Bo Burnham.
Bethany Van Delft 10:41
You were in something with Bo Burnham? Yeah. Oh my gosh. Now. Now I'm fangirling because I'm also a comedian and I love Bo Burnham. That's so cool. Do you have all these cool roles that you've played? Do you have a favorite?
Kassie 10:58
My favorite? Yeah, my favorite is being Moira Ross in Mare of East Town.
Bethany Van Delft 11:09
That's your favorite role, why is Moira your favorite.
Kassie 11:12
Oh, showing myself as Moira Ross because she is all about wearing dresses and inclusion and having fun.
Bethany Van Delft 11:31
I love that. That is so cool. I mean, I think everything should be about inclusion. That is so cool. You're teaching the world how to be, I love it. I also heard that you have modeled we have that in common, I love it was that how was that for you? Is that so much fun?
Kassie 11:51
It was a lot of fun modeling for Justice and smiling and being beautiful with some of their clothing.
Bethany Van Delft 12:02
Tell me if this is a question people ask you when they find out that you model, do people say, "do you get to keep the clothing?"
Kassie 12:09
Yeah. Well, I just did a photoshoot for Justice for their winter clothing line. It was four years ago when I did the first shoot for justice for their winter clothing line. I wore mermaid jammies for their winter clothing line. And I actually have the mermaid jammies.
Bethany Van Delft 12:53
So cool. I mean, it's already such a fun job but that makes it even more worth it getting to keep awesome stuff like mermaid jammies. Yeah, I heard another thing about you that you are the self-professed roller coaster queen. Yeah. What? What do you love about roller coasters?
Kassie 13:17
I like going on them and going upside down and going on the turns and going fast.
Bethany Van Delft 13:26
You're definitely braver than me. I get a little bit scared, especially about the upside-down ones. Is there a roller coaster somewhere? Somewhere in our beautiful earth, that is your very favorite roller coaster?
Kassie 13:40
Yeah. My favorite is going to be Mako in Orlando, Florida at Seaworld.
Bethany Van Delft 13:48
And that one has lots of twists and turns and upside downs. Yeah. Alright, so that's the one we should all try here at the time field trip. Well, thank you so much for your time, Kassie, we really really appreciate you being here. This is really exciting to get to talk to you. And please come back. Anytime you have another project you want to chat with us about. We would love to have you.
Kassie 14:14
Thank you.
Bethany Van Delft 14:20
Up next, it's time for...
Various Voices 14:23
What, what, what’s the big idea?
Bethany Van Delft 14:26
Trivia on The Ten. Last year, 21-year-old Chris Nikic made history by becoming the first person with Down syndrome to achieve this remarkable accomplishment. Was it a) having his own clothing line showcase that London's Fashion Week? b) completing an Ironman Triathlon or c) performing at Carnegie Hall?
Bethany Van Delft 14:54
Did you guess it? The answer is B. In November 2020, Special Olympics athlete Chris Nikic became the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman, one of the toughest endurance races there is. He completed the 2.4-mile open water swim, the 112-mile bike ride, and the 26.2-mile marathon run in just under the racist 17-hour limit. Ah, mazing. And guess what? We actually do have shout-outs for A & C. Bonus! Big shout out to Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, who was the first fashion designer with Down syndrome to ever work shown at London Fashion Week. And Sujeet Desai was the first musician with Down syndrome to perform at the illustrious Carnegie Hall. Oh, one more thing. And I know you know this Ten'ers. Celebrate and include people with Down Syndrome and all people with all different abilities, not just on an awareness month, but every single day. Do you know why? Because we are all so much better together. Time's up. But before we go, here's a quick note for the grownups. Thanks for listening to The Ten News. Look out for our new episodes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and extras on Saturdays. The Ten News is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts and is distributed by iHeartRadio. The Ten News creative team is riding roller coasters with Kassie and includes Tracey Crooks, Pete Musto, and Nathalie Alonso. Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracy Leeds Kaplan. I'm Bethany Van Delft, and thanks for listening to The Ten News.
