Exciting Announcements & Extra Lucky Updates!

Hi everyone!

I am beyond thrilled to share a milestone moment in our journey with you all. As many of you know, Taryn (Debold) Lagonigro and I founded the ELM brand back in May 2021 with a simple yet powerful mission: to create an inclusive space within the disability community. As moms to children with Down syndrome, we wanted ELM to be a place that celebrates, advocates for and nurtures all disabilities.

From its humble beginnings as a blog, ELM has evolved into the largest inclusive platform in the disability community. Together, with your incredible support, we've forged partnerships with major brands and non-profits and have even been featured on national networks like NBC and CBS.

Last year, we took a big step forward with the publication of "Dear Mama: Stories of an Extra Lucky Life," a collection of letters written by moms in the disability community that we sourced directly from our community. The response was overwhelming, with our book being featured on CBS News and other prominent platforms.

Expanding our reach, we've been honored to offer speaking engagements for corporations, hospitals, and large organizations, spreading awareness and advocating for inclusivity. Our new Corporate site is LIVE!

And I am thrilled to share that we'll be presenting at the 2024 National Down Syndrome Congress convention in Phoenix, Arizona, where we'll also be accepting the 2024 NDSC National Social Media Award. Previous winners have included YOUTUBE and the LA TIMES to name a few! You can see the entire list of winners here.

Just recently, we launched "The Extra Lucky Podcast," another avenue for advocacy, and we are delighted to share that it debuted in the top 10% of new podcasts within its first week. It is currently in the top 5% as of today!

As we continue on this journey, I am so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with amazing brands like Graco Children's Products (A Newell Rubbermaid Company). We are taking over their Instagram account today so make sure to follow them for a little behind the scenes!

We have also partnered with Care.com, and Nicole Miller to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day and will be sharing even more partnerships tomorrow.

We are also thrilled to announce that we've been named disability advocates on Little Spoon's parenting expert panel through March 2025. In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, we've shared an article on Is This Normal, offering valuable information about the diagnosis of Down syndrome. Check it out here!

We are also thrilled to share this FREE resource download to learn more about Down syndrome. This guide was created with kiddos in mind and we hope you consider sharing it with your littles! You can check it out here.

I am incredibly humbled by the impact we've been able to make together with our incredible team at ELM. This is not something I have done, or Taryn has done alone. We have the MOST amazing team and I'm so grateful for every one of you who has been a part of this journey. We also wouldn't be able to do this work without the community lifting us and you all deserve a shout-out. Let's keep advocating for inclusivity and celebrating the beauty of diversity together!

xoxo-Jess