SeriesFest Season 9 Conversations: Michelle Sie Whitten from The Global Down Syndrome Foundation

Photo by Bear Gutierrez for SeriesFest.

I recently sat down with Michelle Sie Whitten at SeriesFest Season 9. Michelle is the President and CEO, and Co-Founder of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Michelle was not only a dream to talk to, but very insightful in her drive for a better, more accepting, and more accommodating world. Her work with the Foundation and SeriesFest is paramount to the future success of both. Her passion for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is only second to her drive for its undoubted success. Thank you, Michelle, for speaking with me.
 
Shae: This was probably my most favorite panel you guys have ever done. I personally am legally blind, and I'm trying not to choke up. But this was one of the most amazing things I've ever gotten to see. What was the main inspiration for putting it together?
 
Michelle: Well, I think on the one hand, I'm a cable baby, I grew up in the industry, very close to Denver film. And actually, Mike Fries is the one who introduced me to Randi at SeriesFest. So, I’m a big fan. Then also I started the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and my oldest child, Sophia, who's going to be 20, oh, my God, in June, she happens to have Down Syndrome. So, I created the global Down Syndrome Foundation to really advocate in DC for equity, in research and medical care. It was just shocking to me what was being done in that regard. And our whole goal at Global is to elongate life and improve health outcomes. But we're doing that so that people can live long and wonderful lives, which can’t happen if we don't have inclusion in school and employment. And yeah, employment in Hollywood as well.
 
Shae: That’s very true. There's not a lot of opportunities. You don't see a lot of people on the big screen or even the small screens or behind the screen with different abilities. Yeah. That is absolutely wonderful that you're doing that.
 
Michelle: Well, I liked how the panel started and had the audience started to use the word, varied-ability.
 
Shae: I was too, because as someone with a varied-ability it is very discouraging to hear the word disability all the time.
 
Michelle: Oh, sure. I know that disability advocates in DC are like disability this, disability that. But we like, for especially new families, like “differently abled” just seems like such a more inclusive way. Talking about people with disabilities, whether that be intellectual or physical. We're very excited. You're the third person now, as I walked out, to kind of get teary-eyed about this panel. And it just speaks to this moment in time where it is common, where it is expected. And a lot of people are taking it seriously. You know, my fear, of course, is that, we don't ride the wave, we don't ride the momentum, and we don't stick it at higher levels, and maintain it. I do think we need to be aware that we're in a renaissance. And we're riding this wave. But if we're not strategic, and intentional about it, and we don't advocate right now, for more, it may come and go.
 
Shae: I completely agree with that. You see things in Hollywood, changing drastically. And it happens overnight. But if you're not right there in that moment, you do lose the potential for it. Moving forward, how do you plan to continue riding that wave of change? What are your future plans?
 
Michelle: Well, you know, there’s the Anna and John Sie Foundation, which is my beautiful parents’ foundation that they started.
 
Shae: It is an amazing foundation.
 
Michelle: Yeah, I mean, my dad is just so brilliant, and really was a maverick in the cable and film industry. And my mom was a partner in that journey. And now they're older and have health issues. So that's really difficult. But there's so much I want to do in their honor, but also in honor of my daughter. For the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, it's really sticking the landing on elongating life and improving health and the like, and then whatever they want to do will be so much more accessible.
 
There are so many others I mean, think about Special Olympics, all these other organizations paying it forward in other areas, and now I know about SAG AFTRA, which I didn't know about until this panel and so many people are carrying forward in so many areas and fields of disciplines. My hope is that we're just a small piece of that when it comes to people with Down Syndrome and their health. On the other hand, as the Anna and John Sie Foundation, I do feel like creating this modest beginning, funds that will help provide funding for people with varied-abilities. So, if we could just in a modest way, do that, and attract others who are interested in joining us and doing that then I think it's a game changer. It's an expensive industry. It's a difficult industry, it's a very competitive industry.
 
Shae: That's very true, funding is important, especially if you don’t have the resources and are differently abled.
 
Michelle: I mean, it's hard for anybody but giving more opportunity, putting money for that opportunity, and letting brilliant people behind and in front of the camera shine, will help pay it forward tremendously. Because there's so many great actors and producers and directors who have disabilities.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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