Brittany’s Baskets of Hope

“We believe that all babies, no matter who they are or how they’re born, deserve to be celebrated and to know that they can achieve anything!”

These inspiring words appear on the website for “Brittany’s Baskets of Hope”. This small organization has an important message to share with families of babies who have Down syndrome. It’s a message that comes from the heart of founder and owner Brittany Schiavone.

Brittany, a native of Long Island, is one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs with Down Syndrome. She understands what these families are going through intimately, and she created Brittany’s Baskets of Hope as a result.

What is Brittany’s Baskets of Hope?

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope is a non-profit organization that provides information and support to families that have children with Down syndrome.

Baskets are given as a gift to parents who are raising or expect to have a child with Down Syndrome.

These baskets include headbands, swaddles, hats, toys, and baby books. They even include a onesie that says “downright perfect”, and handmade blankets, donated by volunteers across the United States.

How Did it All Start?

The inspiration for Brittany’s Baskets of Hope began when Brittany saw a video about parents who needed support after having a Down syndrome child.

“I went home and told my parents that I wanted to help mothers of babies with Down syndrome; I wanted to give them hope.”

Her parents and older brother, Justin, were all on board. All are active on the board of directors for Brittany’s Basket of Hope.

The initial plan was to give a basket as a gift to local parents of children with Down Syndrome. In 2016, Brittany delivered her first basket to someone in her area. Then, the media drew attention to what Brittany was doing. Soon, something amazing started happening. Requests for baskets started pouring in from all over the United States.

Of course, it was not possible for Brittany to personally visit all these places. So, Brittany’s Baskets of Hope adopted a mail-out model. Today, Brittany has sent over 1900 baskets to all 50 states. They’ve also begun expanding outside of the U.S and into Puerto Rico.

Who is Brittany Schiavone?

When a new baby is born, people usually extend congratulations and good wishes to the mother. When Brittany Schiavone was born in 1989, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. All her mother heard from family and friends was “I’m sorry.” This was followed by a list of things Brittany would never be able to do.

Today, Brittany has completely defied the doctors’ predictions. She is a high school graduate with plans to attend college courses. She was a pioneer student in her school district’s classrooms. She’s participated in gymnastics, horseback riding, and dancing. She’s even swum in the Special Olympics.

Among the most amazing accomplishments is that Brittany run’s her own non-profit organization. She is hard at work making sure that no newborn baby is ever again greeted with the words “I’m sorry”.

How do Brittany’s Baskets of Hope Help Parents?

The arrival of a newborn baby is an exciting and stressful time for any family. But for the parents of a child with special needs, it’s a unique challenge.

Parents of these children are often unsure what to expect for their newborn child. They’re full of questions and, often, worries.

Brittany’s baskets of Hope brings these parents answers and reassurance to these families.

One of the key items in the baskets is a book that Brittany’s parents started out with when she was a baby. It’s called Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents’ Guide edited by Susan Skallerup. It’s a comprehensive guide to the things parents of these special children need to know. It provides these new parents with direction and guidance.

This is a much-needed burst of hope for these parents. Brittany’s Baskets of Hope tells them the truth about one of the most misunderstood conditions in medical history.

The Truth About Down Syndrome

Historically, people with Down syndrome have often been looked down upon and mistreated. They’ve experienced discrimination and neglect in the classroom and the workforce.

A human being has 46 chromosomes. These are strings of genetic material stored in the nucleus of every one of our cells. Down syndrome is a condition that causes a child to be born with a partial or complete copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material leads to the condition known as Down Syndrome.

Today, much of the negativity toward people with this condition has faded. Nevertheless, generations of misunderstanding have left many lingering misconceptions.

What is the Biggest Misconception About Children with Down Syndrome?

The biggest misconception about children with down syndrome is the assumption that they are not likely to achieve much in life.

The truth is, that most patients with Down syndrome have mild to moderate mental delays. However, they are still capable of learning to read, write, and take care of themselves. Many graduate high school and college. Some work as chefs, actors, teachers, and entrepreneurs.

Sometimes it takes them a little longer. In some cases, they need a little help from family or teachers. For example, as a child, Brittany struggled with learning how to talk. So, she learned sign language to help her communicate while she worked on her verbal skills.

However, like most kids with Down Syndrome, she got there when she was ready.

Unfortunately, focus is often on the weaknesses and limitations of the child, not on their potential.

These kids are often very good at learning through graphics and images and have a natural adeptness at learning new technology. They’re very social and are sensitive to the feelings of others.

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope on the Today Show

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope celebrates the Down syndrome community, and it hasn’t gone unrecognized.

One of the defining moments of the business came when Brittany Schiavone was a guest on ‘George to the Rescue’. The home renovation show provided a free renovation for her home office. Brittany had been working out of the dim, dusty, unfinished basement of her home. George and his team turned it into an attractive, professional workspace.

She was later invited on the Today Show to discuss the impact Brittany’s Baskets of Hope has had on people. One of the hosts asked her what she says to the families she works with. She said she tells them that babies, kids, and adults with Down Syndrome are “downright perfect”.

That wasn’t the first honour she ever received. In 2019, she was the first person with Down Syndrome to be named the L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth National Honoree. After a high-profile gala in New York, she was flown to Los Angeles to film a promotional video with Viola Davis where she was awarded $10,000.

What are Brittany’s Plans for the Future?

Brittany has a lot of plans for the upcoming years. She wants to move out on her own into an apartment, keep working, and get married one day. She’s also enrolled in college courses designed to meet her special needs.

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope may one day go beyond the United States and to families all over the world.