Back when I was a freshman at UC San Diego years ago, anytime I met someone knew we would always swap stories and share a bit more about our families and where we’re from.

Of course, I always told them about Michael.

And you’d be shocked to know how many people would ask me:

“What’s Down syndrome?”

Surprised, I couldn’t believe how many students at one of the top universities in the world still couldn’t identify one of the most common genetic conditions in the world.

Those encounters didn’t frustrate me - they were a reminder of the lack of advocacy for Down Syndrome.

And with that, I created Beyond the Waves back in 2015.

And if you’re still wondering, “what is Down syndrome?” then this episode is for you!