Skip to main content
Mostly Clear icon
65º

Volunteer with Jack’s Basket discusses Down syndrome awareness

Shannon Thomson talks on ‘Breakfast with Bridgett’

ORLANDO, Fla. – Bridgett talked to Shannon Thomson, a regional lead parent for Jack’s Basket, a nonprofit on a mission to celebrate every baby born with Down syndrome.

The organization sends new parents a basket filled with hope, vital resources and connections. Thomson signed up to receive a basket after her son, Chase, was diagnosed at birth.

She was so impressed, she joined as a volunteer. As a volunteer, Thomson is helping distribute baskets as well as spread awareness in the local medical community about the resources Jack’s Basket offers.

The organization was founded 10 years ago by Carissa Carroll after she found out in an insensitive way that her newborn son, Jack, had Down syndrome. To date, more than 8,000 of Jack’s Baskets have been delivered to families on the same journey.

To help foster more compassionate communication with Down syndrome diagnosis, Jack’s Basket developed a free online curriculum on Communicating Unexpected News for medical learners.

Watch the interview at the top of this story.


You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: