Waukesha Mom Shares Ollie's Story: Life with Her Son Who Has Down Syndrome

Elise Niess-Uribe uses Instagram to document her 8-month-old son Ollie's journey, advocating for his worth and making disability a visible, celebrated part of social feeds.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:05am

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Waukesha mom Elise Niess-Uribe uses her Instagram account @olliesmomadvocates to share the daily life of her 8-month-old son Ollie, who has Down syndrome. Inspired by her own prenatal diagnosis, Niess-Uribe offers a resource for parents navigating similar medical and emotional journeys. By sharing Ollie's story, she aims to advocate for his worth and make disability a visible, celebrated part of social media.

Why it matters

Niess-Uribe's Instagram account provides a platform for parents of children with Down syndrome to find support and community. By making her son's life visible on social media, she hopes to normalize disability and challenge societal perceptions about the value of people with special needs.

The details

Niess-Uribe transforms Ollie's nursery into a studio to capture everyday moments, from trips to Target to doctor's appointments. While she has faced challenges, like Ollie needing heart surgery, she is overwhelmed by the joy he brings to her family. Niess-Uribe does not get paid for her posts, but the reward is hearing from other parents who find inspiration in Ollie's story.

  • Ollie is 8 months old.

The players

Elise Niess-Uribe

A Waukesha mom who uses her Instagram account @olliesmomadvocates to document life with her son Ollie, who has Down syndrome.

Ollie

Niess-Uribe's 8-month-old son who has Down syndrome.

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What they’re saying

“In the beginning, I found a few accounts and then soon I was like, 'Oh, there's another one, and another one.' So, there are a lot of us out there. And then it kind of snowballed from there where it was like, 'I'm going to start posting and sharing our journey too.'”

— Elise Niess-Uribe

“You're going to have the challenging times and just because something is challenging or hard doesn't mean it's bad, and then the other emotion is so much joy. I cannot even explain all the joy that Oliver brings to our lives.”

— Elise Niess-Uribe

“At least once a day there's someone in my DMs who tells me about their prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, and that's the whole reason I do this, to be there for them.”

— Elise Niess-Uribe

“I'm here to be his biggest advocate and scream it from the rooftops that he's worthy, and that whatever spaces he's in, he deserves to be in.”

— Elise Niess-Uribe

The takeaway

Niess-Uribe's Instagram account provides a powerful platform to normalize disability, challenge societal perceptions, and offer support to other parents navigating the joys and challenges of raising a child with Down syndrome. Her advocacy for Ollie's worth and visibility showcases the beauty and value of all lives, regardless of ability.