I love being able to meet up, sit down and talk with people who bring so much to our community. The best part about what I do is getting to share those stories.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to catch back up with Nina Fuller, Founder and Executive Director of S.M.I.L.E. on Down syndrome. From the moment we sat down, our conversation felt like we were stepping right back into a story that was already in motion, one where we were just picking it back up mid-sentence.
What stood out most was the same steady passion behind her purpose and the lasting impact she continues to make in the lives of others. It was a reminder that great stories don’t need a dramatic start, they just need space to be seen for what they are: real, meaningful, and quietly changing lives every single day.
Long before S.M.I.L.E. on Down syndrome was an organization, Nina and her husband, Roger, had already begun the journey that would one day inspire it. The year was 1993. Nina was expecting her fourth child, her first daughter. Her pregnancy was difficult. After an ultrasound, she learned her baby would be born with Down syndrome. At the time, there were more questions than answers.
Tess arrived at just 30 weeks, weighing 2 pounds, 7 ounces, bringing fear of the unknown and uncertainty about the future. Nina understood that raising a child with Down syndrome would come with challenges, but being a woman of deep faith, she fully trusted that God would guide her through this chapter; and He did.
From those early days of learning and grace, a deeper understanding began to take shape; one she would later share with others in her book Special Strength for Special Parents, written to offer encouragement, hope, and support to families walking a similar path.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Yes, it comes with certain medical challenges, but thanks to advancements in research and healthcare, individuals with Down Syndrome are living longer, FULLER lives than ever before.
--Nina Fuller
Tess opened Nina’s eyes to a love unlike anything she had ever known, a love that replaced fear with purpose. Nina was determined to educate her community and dispel the myths surrounding children born with Down syndrome, including beliefs that they cannot learn, communicate, live independently, hold jobs, or make their own decisions.
That vision led her to found S.M.I.L.E. on Down syndrome in 2001, created to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families by offering a space rooted in understanding, encouragement, and meaningful connection. It exists to walk alongside families through moments that feel overwhelming, unfamiliar, or just plain hard.
As Nina poured herself into S.M.I.L.E.'s mission, life was quietly preparing her for something that would deepen its meaning once again. In 2004, Nina and her husband, Andy, welcomed their second daughter, Hope, who was also diagnosed with Down Syndrome, bringing even greater purpose to a mission first inspired by their daughter Tess.
S.M.I.L.E. is usually the first call either after birth or after diagnosis.
The SMILE Center is a place where individuals with Down syndrome can play, learn, and just be themselves in a safe, welcoming environment. No pressure. No expectations. Just a space where joy and growth can happen naturally. That same sense of caring and community carries through everything S.M.I.L.E. offers including:
- Parents & Playtime helps parents, caretakers and siblings connect, play, and socialize in a relaxed setting. They share stories, swap advice, and yes, sometimes laugh at the chaos that parenting brings no matter who your kids are.
- Cooking with Class is a program in partnership with USI’s nutrition class, designed to teach middle school aged and up individuals with Down Syndrome how to prepare healthy snacks and meals.
- Art Smart Program is for aged 10 and up individuals with Down Syndrome and is designed to help with fine motor skills while promoting creativity.
- Lending Library offers practical, real-life resources covering everything from potty training to puberty and beyond (because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it’s nice when someone at least hands you a guidebook).
Here at S.M.I.L.E. we speak life and hope for the future. Our goal is that everyone diagnosed with Down Syndrome grows, thrives and feels loved and cared for.
For many families, the journey begins the moment they receive and process the initial shock of a Down syndrome diagnosis. Through its New Parents/Medical Outreach program, S.M.I.L.E. partners with local hospitals and pediatricians to offer support and serve as a resource for the most up-to-date information on healthcare for individuals with Down syndrome. From the S.M.I.L.E. Center and Parent Network Meetings to a Lending Library, Awareness Campaigns, and Financial Assistance, S.M.I.L.E. creates a network of support that meets families where they are and walks alongside them every step of the way.
S.M.I.L.E. is helping shift perspectives, challenge outdated beliefs, and serve as a reminder that individuals with Down syndrome are not defined by a diagnosis, but by their personalities, their abilities, and the roles they play within their families and communities.
25TH ANNUAL SMILE MILE
BUT WAIT--THERE'S MORE!
S.M.I.L.E. Mile will celebrate 25 years on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
This milestone event brings our community together for a day of celebration, connection, and joy, including:
- A 1-mile walk through the grounds of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center
- Live DJ and talent show
- Fun activities for children and self-advocates
- Vendor tables from community partners and sponsors
- Food trucks
- Craft vendors
For more information, visit
S.M.I.L.E. Mile is about stories. Sharing them, celebrating them, and honoring them. This year, S.M.I.L.E. is calling on YOU to share your journey and be part of a special commemorative magazine filled entirely with your voices, experiences, photos, and stories about how S.M.I.L.E. or Down syndrome has impacted your life over the past 25 years. Please send submissions to dennie@smileondownsyndrome.org by July 15.
Magazines will be available for purchase for $10 each at the 25th Annual S.M.I.L.E. Mile, and you can pre-order now to save 25% here: https://www.zeffy.com/.../25th-annual-smile-mile-magazine
For more information, visit
In a world that moves fast and forgets even faster, organizations like S.M.I.L.E. on Down Syndrome make sure no one gets left behind. Please reach out if you know a family who could benefit from S.M.I.L.E., or if you would like to learn more about how you can help. Making a difference doesn’t require a grand gesture, it just starts with showing up!
Until Next Time
Sip~Laugh~Repeat
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