We are honored to feature Grace Strobel as one of our inspiring stories. Grace is an advocate who speaks at schools to educate students about what it is like to live with a disability. She is also a model who represents an international skincare line, Obagi, and a clothing line, Alivia. Her lists of achievements are remarkable, but Grace has been exceeding expectations all her life.
Soon after having the idea of interviewing Grace, we realized that it would be tremendously valuable to also speak to her biggest cheerleader, her mother Linda Strobel. Her insight here on tips for parents raising a child with Down syndrome is excellent. But Linda’s view of setting high expectations, working hard, and being proactive rather than waiting to see issues is great advice for all parents.
Grace Strobel
At just 24, you have had 3 cover stories in magazines, have been interviewed on The Today Show, and recently became the 1st American model with Down syndrome to represent a skincare brand. Yet, it looks like you are only getting started. What do you think has been your biggest accomplishment to date and what is coming next for Grace?
I think becoming the first American with Down syndrome to represent an international skincare line like Obagi has been one of my biggest accomplishments. It’s been pretty exciting!
You and your mom have presented to around 3,000 students at over 100 schools about what it’s like to live with a disability with your presentation “The Grace Effect”. What do you hope to accomplish with these presentations?
I think my modeling and speaking show what is possible, and helps others to believe in themselves. My presentations are important to me because I want to show that kindness, respect and opportunity all deeply matter and can change someone’s life.
On our path to create impact, we all face adversity. What are the obstacles that you have faced while working to achieve your goals and how have you overcome them?
One of my biggest obstacles growing up was the low expectations people put on me. My mom and I had to work all the time to show how capable I was at achieving goals and developing. I was home-schooled full and part time for most of my life because of that. Language expression is a challenge for me, as I have a stutter but I work very hard at ‘easy speech’ , a form of speech to reduce or stop it. Learning and memorizing my 45 min #TheGraceEffect speech was a very large challenge, but by doing it little by little- I achieved that.
Your mother seems to have been a key partner in your advocacy and in working together with you to achieve many of your goals. Can you talk about how she has supported you in achieving your goals?
My mom has always believed I had potential, and worked hard to bring that out. I remember working hard with her every single day, whether I was attending public school or not. She always did extra things with me to prepare me for school so I was not behind and that I could be mainstreamed as much as possible. She wanted to bring out every gift and talent I had and knew it was going to be work, but it was so worth it. She started immediately after birth and is still working with me to this day. My goal is to get married and live with my husband and we are working on all aspects of my independent skills now to do that.
Linda Strobel
You have been the mom of an individual with Down syndrome for 24 years, what would you tell a new mother whose child has just been diagnosed with Down syndrome?
So many things, it is hard to include them all. But here are the big ones:
Believe your child has potential in everything and work toward improving every single day. For us, we did not see these huge jumps – but with consistency and forward progress Grace keeps achieving and defying what Down syndrome is.
We did not look at her like an accumulation of things wrong or as a “syndrome” – we separated everything out and worked on individual aspects. Nutrition, exercise, gross motor, fine motor, academics, language, sleep quality, gut and cognitive health.
I was always on the lookout for examples to follow – people with DS who were breaking barriers and I would see what they were doing as well. Early thyroid treatment, sleep quality and a nutritious diet and daily exercise are key for us.
Do not look for the delays, look for ways to help your child reach their goals and development. Sometimes all someone needs is someone to believe in them, give them a hand up or change the methodology in teaching them how to get it.
Your daughter is now a public figure, a model, and an advocate. Did you always think about making an impact by sharing Grace’s journey or is there a particular episode/event that led you to wanting to create change?
I always knew Grace had so much to give to the world. I could see it, but it was frustrating that the world could not see it. We had worked so hard her whole life to bring about her potential but fighting against entrenched stereotypes and out-dated perceptions is difficult. God opened a door when Grace was badly bullied during a job experience by young school-aged children.
Together, we wanted to make a difference – make change, to bring down fears and break down barriers for people with disabilities. Grace turned pain into purpose with #TheGraceEffect, a presentation she gives to schools about overcoming obstacles, treating people with kindness and respect, and living with a disability. Grace has spoken to well over 3,000 students and is raising awareness and shifting attitudes and perceptions about what is possible for someone with a disability.
Grace has been featured in Forbes, on The Today Show and is now the first American with Down syndrome to represent a major skincare line – Obagi. She has been in 15 different magazine publications, with three cover stories. She has been interviewed on TV and radio, walked the runway for Runway Of Dreams New York Fashion Week 2020 and Atlantic City Fashion Week 2019. Grace is signed to represent the Obagi skincare line as well as the clothing line Alivia, and is represented by Gamut Management, Moxie Artists, and NaturallyFitAgencyLA. It is all pretty exciting !
There are likely many people reading this who would like to be an advocate for a cause they believe in, what would you say to those that would like to make a difference but wonder if just one person can be able to create real impact?
Grace uses this quote from Mother Teresa at the end of her presentation which pretty much sums it up:
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Mother Teresa
It means that one person can make a difference. It is an action you take that changes things and then it keeps spreading. Do One Kind Thing, Make Ripples, Pass It On.
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