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AJB Insta Links

Amy Julia Becker

AJB Insta Links

Click on pictures below

a crowd of excited people waving streamers who line a road and welcome a vehicle to Hope Heals Camp

Misty Coy Snyder poses for a portrait outside. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

2009 photo of Peter and Penny sitting on a porch and look into each other's eyes. Green grass and a wooden fence are in the background

a too full suitcase overflowing

collage of recs mentioned in post

Penny and a friend wear backpacks and walk hand in hand across the street to a waiting yellow school bus

David Thomas in a blue plaid shirt sits on a chair indoors with a white-and-tan dog sitting on the floor; a living room with windows, chairs, and bookshelves is in the background. Near the middle bottom is a smaller image of the podcast cover where Penny and Amy Julia walk hand in hand, with Amy Julia looking toward Penny.

Penny's hand holding open a copy of A Good and Perfect Gift

collage of photos of the banquet at Hope Heals Camp

toddler Penny blows out candles on her birthday cake while Amy Julia leans in close

A collage of recommended books, a podcast episode featuring Walter Brueggemann, the TV series The Bear, and a podcast by Tim Mackie, arranged in vertical panels.

Chris Cipriano poses for a portrait. Near the bottom is a smaller image of the podcast cover where Penny and Amy Julia walk hand in hand, with Amy Julia looking toward Penny.

A podcast cover image with the title "Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker" in bold navy text on a light blue background. Beside the text, Penny and Amy Julia walk hand in hand, with Amy Julia looking toward Penny.

a 2010 photo of Penny wearing glasses and a pink backpack. She is smiling at the camera, dressed in a colorful patterned top

Penny and I on stage at the Hope Heals Camp talent show

A collage of five book and media covers displayed side by side. From left to right: The House on the Prairie promotional artwork featuring a family seated together outdoors; Whistler by Ann Patchett, showing a saddled horse standing in a moonlit landscape; The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, with a blue cover and a glowing white figure reflected in water; The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle, featuring a black cover with a gold circular design; and The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, with a colorful illustrated cover of a young Indigenous girl surrounded by vibrant geometric patterns.

’m holding Penny, who has Down syndrome. In the photo, she is a toddler wearing a sleeveless orange-and-yellow floral dress. She looks at the camera with a playful expression. I’m smiling at her.

Marilee and I sit on steps, look at each other, and laugh together.

Penny who has Down syndrome gets ready to leave the house through the open front door, pushing her suitcase in front of her

photo of Brian Trapp pushing his brother's wheelchair when they were kids

Penny, who has Down syndrome, reads a note that accompanied a surprise gift box from Delta Air Lines for her first solo flight.

Penny, our daughter who has Down syndrome, walks out of a jet bridge after getting off a plane while a uniformed airline staff member stands nearby.

A composite graphic featuring a vintage illustrated aerial view of the German town of Bethel as the background. In the foreground, a black-and-white cutout photograph of Dietrich Bonhoeffer faces right. To his left, an inset historical photograph shows a large Nazi rally with crowds giving the Hitler salute and swastika banners displayed in a town square.

collage of photos of family events mentioned in post

Amy Julia sits at a table typing on her laptop

A delta airplane flying in the sky with a blue sky

2015 photo of Amy Julia wearing sunglasses and standing on a grassy lawn in front of the Jefferson Memorial. She is smiling and hugging three Penny, William, and Marilee, who are standing close together and facing the camera on a sunny day with a clear blue sky

concept of Juneteenth freedom day march showing by close up protesting hands sign board - concept of activism, justice and demonstration

collage of photos from 2024 of Penny going through airport security on her own

A friend and Penny standing together in a hallway, smiling and holding a handmade sign that reads “I ❤️ PALS New York.”

A printed article titled “How We Tell the Story of Down Syndrome” by Amy Julia Becker lies on a wooden table beside a white mug of black coffee. The article features a silhouette of an adult holding a child against a blue and yellow background and includes the subtitle, “The words, statistics, and stories we share matter.”

Woman looking at horizon.

A white mug of black coffee sits on a wooden table beside a printed New York Times article. The article features a black-and-white portrait and the headline, “Want to ‘Optimize’ Your Happiness? This Happiness Expert Says: Don’t.”

Penny showing up and getting her medal at the Special Olympics

Peter crouches at the edge of the ocean, smiling and reaching out to toddler Penny standing on a beach. Waves wash around the his feet while Penny, wearing a pink patterned swimsuit and white sun hat, faces him near the shoreline.

William receives his diploma on stage. Hills and a lake are behind him, and seated graduates are in the foreground

tree in an arid desert

Taj Mahal framed by trees with a dark sky behind

Screenshot of a social media post attributed to Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), in which he criticizes several media figures by name, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, using derogatory language and describing them in contrasting categories of “bad” and “very good” supporters.

dark, empty hospital hallway

my desk overflowing with papers and stacks of books

Mike Erre poses for a portrait outside. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Penny and her aunt work together outdoors, shoveling soil out of the back of a truck on a sunny day.

1. Penny talks on the phone while holding a pill bottle. 2. She smiles as she sorts medication into a blue weekly pill organizer at a wooden table

A horizontal collage of book and movie covers displayed side by side. Visible covers include Sinners on the far left with a fiery orange-red design, On the Basis of Sex featuring a woman in a blue suit standing before courthouse columns, All the Light We Cannot See with a blue sky over a cityscape, an abstract black-and-white cover with small glowing light icons arranged in a grid, and a partially visible white cover on the far right with bold black letters beginning “BEI.”

Sheli Reynolds poses for a portrait outside. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

I smile at the camera while standing outdoors among tall green grasses, wearing a light green cardigan and a white top, with a soft, blurred marsh behind me

Katherine Wolf poses for a portrait outside in a garden. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

brother sitting in a wheelchair gives his sister a kiss on her cheek

Marilee, William, Penny, and Peter posing outside for a photo in France on our 2026 spring break trip

Meghan Burke poses for a portrait inside a library. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

2 people sitting on a bench near a pond

photo of a blue closed door with shadows across it

Dr. Curt Thompson poses for a portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

2024 photo by Cloe Poisson of our family sitting around a large white table playing a card game

dark shot of red berries in a garden

our family posing on a bluff with the ocean in the background in France

Renee Dollenmayer poses for a portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Young girl and boy indoors at home, looking at glowing candles

A collage featuring several panels: a close-up of a person using a wheelchair; the book cover On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg; the book cover Flourish by Daniel Coyle; an image of two hands connected with bright green string in a web-like pattern; and a smiling Sammy Basso wearing glasses and a jacket while seated in a wheelchair.

polaroid collage of Penny and her friend Grace at the Down Syndrome Gala

Pam Harmon poses for a portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Amy Julia sits close to Penny with her arm around her on a bench in front of a ClemsonLIFE sign at Clemson University. The pair are framed by a large brick archway, with purple and orange balloons in the background.

Emily Longino poses for a portrait outside. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Printed page of a Washington Post article on a wooden table next to a cup of black coffee. The headline reads, “An autistic man called police for a wellness check. He was fatally shot.” The article is dated March 7, 2026.

Rebecca Wall poses for a portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

worn ballet slipper

Juli Henderson poses for a portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

David Bailey speaking at Laity Lodge

Amy Julia laughing with friends at Laity Lodge

A muted blue sky with a flock of birds flying in formation across the frame.

Matthew Mooney poses for a portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Winter road lined with snow-covered trees

Angela O'Brien poses for an indoor portrait. In the lower left is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Peter and I at the front of a church during our wedding ceremony, standing before an officiant at the altar, with attendants beside us and guests seated in pews decorated with white bows and flowers.

photo of a laptop and on the screen is The Dispatch | Finding the Good Life in an Age of Designer Babies and High Achievers

flower sticker on a pink flower shadow background

Todd and Kristin Evans poses for an indoor portrait. In the lower left corner is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

photo of laptop with The Pitt on screen

photo of hands pulling pizza slices

Adrian Wood poses for an indoor portrait. In the lower left corner is the cover of the “Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker” podcast with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

A horizontal collage of five book and media covers. From left to right: a close-up photo of hands assembling a jigsaw puzzle on a brown rug; the bright yellow and red cover of From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us by Julie Causton and Kate MacLeod; the illustrated white cover of The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi; a dark concert-style image of a person walking through a glowing doorway labeled Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – The End of an Era; and the cover of the film Deliver Me From Nowhere

empty church pews in a dark church

Makoto Fujimura poses for an indoor portrait. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Medical diagnosis form on a clipboard with a stethoscope on top

Hand Writing in Journal With Candlelight

Amy Julia, Rachel, Penny, and Rachel's mom in front of the sign for Mamma Mia on Broadway

tire tracks through snow on a road lined by trees

Justin Giboney poses for an indoor portrait. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Penny stands in the kitchen wearing a birthday sash. Behind her are two candles affixed to the makings for ice cream sundaes. The candles are a two and a zero.

Joyful calm mature woman meditating with deep breathing, hands rest on chest. Breathing for relax

lights strung between poles on a dark night

A horizontal banner with five book covers side by side. The titles shown are: This Is Happiness by Niall Williams, The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, Think Again by Adam Grant, and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. The covers include a landscape with a tree, bold colorful text, a lit match with water where the flame should be, and a blue background with white cloud shapes. On the far left are black-and-white photos of a person holding a phone that partially covers their face.

Kevan Chandler poses for an outdoor portrait. He is sitting in a wheelchair. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Penny gives her friend a high give at the bowling alley

Amy Julia sits on a porch resting her arms on her knees

blurred Christmas lights on a Christmas tree against a dark background

A smiling Leah Libresco Sargeant poses for a portrait. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Making Gingerbread Cookies. Christmas Cookie Cutters.

photo of the ocean at sunset

table covered with gifts and wrapping paper

Niro Feliciano poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

A collage featuring five panels. From left to right: abstract artwork with floating platforms and red dots; a photo of three smiling women from The Lucky Few Podcast wearing light-colored outfits against a beige background; the book cover of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley showing a globe surrounded by famous landmarks; an illustration of two overlapping hands, one pink and one beige, on a blue background; and a close-up of an open red book under striped shadows.

teens walking down a road

a woman looks into a small mirror

Sho Baraka poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

photo of a laptop screen with the homepage of Cognoscenti showing Amy Julia Becker's essay: What prenatal testing can't tell you

A smiling Sharon Hodde Miller sits on a couch. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Penny sits at a desk tracing

child playing with mother outdoors. The child is using a wheelchair, and they both are using their hands to see the others face.

Carrie Hahn poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

Empty small town high school football ground lighted at night

Jordan Arogeti poses for a portrait outside. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

doctor consulting with patient; only hands are present

A smiling Kelly Kapic sits outdoors. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Matt Mooney poses for a black and white portrait against a brick wall. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

Penny, William, and Marilee are dressed in Halloween costumes and sit on a front porch next to carved pumpkins. Penny wears a pink princess dress, William is dressed as a pirate, and Marilee wears a lavender princess gown.

hands reach out to touch the hands of an older person

Grinning Little Girl with Down Syndrome with Painted Hands

Disability advocate Heather Avis and her kids, two of whom have Down syndrome, pose for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

A smiling John Swinton stands outdoors wearing a brown jacket, with red autumn leaves and a stone wall in the background. In the lower right corner is the cover of the “Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker” podcast, along with a white audio waveform graphic.

Peter and Penny sit on bleachers together

Erik Carter poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

a lonely child sitting on a bench by a tree

graphic that shows the 10 dimensions of belonging created by Erik Carter after talking with many families experiencing disability

Jillian Benfield poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

a friend and I face each other in deep conversation at Hope Heals Camp. The background shows a blurred group of people in a large indoor dining hall

painting of two people holding downs moving down a path. One person is walking and one is using a wheelchair

photos of diverse humans

Kevan Chandler poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

dark blue graphic with cutout photo of Amy Julia, intertwined blue and yellow partial circles, and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker

parents walking away from the camera holding the hands of their young child who toddles between them

photo of a dad smiling at his disabled son

Sissy Goff poses for a portrait. Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

Tablet on a desk displays a video of former President Donald Trump speaking at a podium with the presidential seal. Another person stands behind him. A red news ticker partially visible at the bottom reads '…ges link between Tylenol an…'. Notebooks and folders are arranged on the desk next to the tablet.

2023 photo of Peter sitting next to Penny. They are at a table covered with papers, pens, and a coffee cup. He’s pointing to a document as she is focused on reading it

A collage of five images side by side. From left to right: (1) A painting-style image of figures with outstretched arms in earthy reds, blues, and browns. (2) A cartoon drawing of a roller coaster with red flags at the top. (3) A cartoon rocket with a round window pointed toward a yellow moon in a starry purple sky. (4) The cover of the book Orbital: A Novel by Samantha Harvey, featuring colorful planets and cosmic imagery. (5) The cover of the book The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri, showing two figures carrying large backpacks walking toward an orange sky with airplanes overhead. (6) A poster for the Apple TV+ show Still starring Owen Wilson, showing Wilson in a blue cap and shirt standing outdoors with a camper in the background.

a party table set up outside with balloons. there are storm clouds in the background

Tug of War, on Bright Background

Katherine Wolf poses for a formal portrait while sitting on her walker; Bold text in yellow text boxes near the middle of the photo says Take the Next Step.

A promotional graphic titled “Take the Next Step” featuring headshots of ten speakers arranged in two rows. Top row: Katherine Wolf, Sissy Goff, Erik Carter, Jillian Benfield, Kevan Chandler. Bottom row: Heather Avis, Matt Mooney, Jordan Arogeti, Carrie Hahn, Sho Baraka. Each person’s name is displayed in a blue label below their photo.

A tablet on a white desk displays a Washington Post article titled “Newsom won’t stop mocking Trump — and Trump keeps taking the bait.” Next to the tablet are a cup of black coffee, a pencil, a white computer mouse, part of a keyboard, and a small potted succulent.

Marilee, William, and Penny sit on a bed in the dorm room at boarding school.

screenshot of Trump's televised cabinet meeting where he calls autism a "horror show"

Amy Julia sits in a hospital bed wearing a hospital gown and holding a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket and wearing a blue hat. Toddler Penny leans in to kiss the newborn on the lips while the Amy Julia looks on with a gentle smile.

Peter walking with our niece down a road

person rock climbing

Stack of light blue denim jeans overlaid with a transparent image of DNA double helix strands.

A tablet on a light wood desk displays a Washington Post article titled “Inside the Silicon Valley push to breed super-babies.” The subheading reads, “Investors say genetic prediction services for embryos, used by Elon Musk and others, are a trust fund for future children. Many scientists are skeptical.” The article is dated July 16, 2025, with an estimated 22-minute read time. The desk also features a pen, a white notebook, white earbuds, and a bunch of white and pink daisies in the corner.

Collage of photos from Hope Heals Camp by Bryan Johnson

sketch pad with sketches of animated characters from movies

A digital tablet rests on a white desk next to a laptop, coffee with latte art, a yellow pencil, and two notebooks. On the tablet screen is an article from The Atlantic titled “The Work of Caring for My Daughter Will Never Be ‘Efficient’” by Julie Kim. The subtitle reads: “A constellation of people are essential to my disabled child’s life. Trump’s cuts to education and Medicaid threaten to steal them away.” Below the text is an illustration of a person and child sitting on a bench, watching ducks in a pond.

Penny, William, and Marilee outside on a sunny day walking away from the camera with their arms around each other.

A row of five covers displayed side by side. From left to right: A stylized illustration of abstract human figures interacting with oversized, open books against colorful backgrounds. How to Read a Book by Monica Wood, featuring a cozy bookshop storefront with a cat, table, and chairs outside. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, showing a close-up, colorful painted portrait of a woman’s face. Life, Animated by Ron Suskind, with a serene blue background and silhouettes of two people swinging above the title. How to Slow Down and be a Peaceful Presence When Tensions are High, a Christian leadership guide, with minimalist design featuring circular cutouts of nature imagery.

photo from 2013 of Peter and the kids piled together and laughing on the couch

family posing in Italy

A stethoscope, glasses, and notebooks lie on a desk next to a folder labeled "Medicaid."

2015 photo of young Penny reading a book in a classroom to a group of children sitting in front of her

a painting of an eye with a landscape in the background

Penny and I are preparing food together in a kitchen. I'm showing Penny how to slice zucchini on a cutting board placed on a blue table. A glass baking dish and a bowl of chopped zucchini are nearby

a group of people giving each other a high five; only their hands are visible

The supreme court building in washington, dc

A delicate, ornate gold carriage shaped like a pumpkin sits in the center of a sparkling, snowy blue background. The carriage has intricate scrollwork wheels and a shimmering, fairytale-like appearance, evoking imagery from Cinderella. Soft white lights and bokeh effects surround it, adding a magical, wintery atmosphere.

our family gathered around a wooden table playing a card game

collage of flowers and nature

black and white graphic of many hands raised in the air

selfies of AJ and Peter at an amusement park

the united states capitol building in washington, dc with a flag flying

A laptop screen displays a WBUR article titled "For people with disabilities: Kindness is nice. Legal protections are necessary." The article includes a photo of former President Donald Trump and two other individuals. The article discusses how the Trump administration's policies impact people with disabilities and highlights the importance of legal protections over mere kindness.

evening sun shining on pink flowers

Abstract illustration of a colorful neighborhood with overlapping geometric shapes representing houses, trees, and rooftops. The color palette includes shades of green, red, blue, and beige, with some elements featuring stripes or textured patterns. The overall style is flat and collage-like, giving a whimsical and artistic impression of a community.

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Penny sits on a wooden bench in a wooded park. She is smiling. Her boyfriend is sitting next to her, partially out of frame.

family silhouette against a sunset

A collage featuring six vertical panels. From left to right: 1) An abstract illustration of a hand with glowing string lights against a soft orange and purple background. 2) A black-and-white photo of a man in sunglasses and a suit looking down. 3) The book cover of Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout, with a bird on a branch and yellow dots; labeled as part of Oprah's Book Club. 4) An abstract design with textured geometric patterns and a white soundwave icon. 5) A smiling woman with short blonde hair in a blue top. 6) A small inset of the Everything Happens podcast cover featuring host Kate Bowler.

A dark, earthy-toned image of a cracked clay pot with gold-filled seams (in the style of kintsugi) sits against a textured background.

collage of photos of AJ speaking at Bethel Walnut Hill

collage of photos of Amy Julia, Marilee, and Penny with Hope Heals friends

photo of AJ holding young Penny on her lap outside with the ocean in the background

A desolate desert landscape with cracked, dry earth extending into the distance under a dramatic, cloudy sky. A single, gnarled, leafless tree stands on the right side

A stylized painting featuring scenes of a camping trip. In the center, there is a close-up of a s'more with graham crackers, melted chocolate, and toasted marshmallow. Surrounding it are illustrations of a person playing guitar, a campfire, a rolled-up sleeping bag, a log cabin, and a white chapel

A brightly lit marquee for The Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City is shown at night. The sign features colorful, ornate lights framing a poster for the Broadway musical Hadestown. The poster depicts a hand holding a red flower against a dark, smoky background. The title “HADESTOWN” is prominently displayed

RFK Jr. stands at a podium with a microphone in front of flags from the U.S. Department of Health and Public Health Service.

photo of a blurred eagle in flight with tree branches in focus

photo of Jon Batiste playing a grand piano on a dark stage

Stylized illustration of diverse, abstract human figures in warm and cool tones sitting closely together, symbolizing unity and connection.

I'm holding newborn Penny in a hospital bed

A woodblock print depicting a serene Japanese landscape with a body of water, trees, and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

A digital collage featuring a video cut out of me speaking with a background behind me of a retail store and an advertisement for children's clothing. The ad features a young girl with Down syndrome wearing a pink shirt and smiling. A large speech bubble overlays the image with the text: "WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT... people with disabilities being in ads, TV shows, etc/?”

Our family with three teenagers together for spring break on a sandy beach with ocean waves in the background.

George Inness, Landscape, 1888, oil on canvas, 22 1/8 x 27 9/16 in. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the Estate of Charles F. Brush 1929.464

This image is a collage featuring five different media recommendations. From left to right: 1. The Russell Moore Show – A podcast with a blue background and black-and-white text. 2. The Lucky Few Podcast – A podcast featuring an image of three women smiling and engaged in conversation. 3. Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks – A memoir displayed as a book cover, with a hand holding the book. The cover features a desert-like landscape. 4. The Good Hard Story Podcast with Katherine Wolf – A podcast with a soft, neutral-toned design featuring Katherine Wolf 5. Ezra – A film starring Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Penny sits at a wooden table in a softly lit room. She is writing in a notebook. A small table lamp with a white shade provides light. A red pencil case sits on the desk near the lamp.

A diverse group of people with disabilities, including individuals using wheelchairs, a person with Down syndrome, and a little person in scrubs, are depicted in a vibrant setting with a yellow background. They are outlined in white and engaged in various actions such as speaking, gesturing, and holding objects like a clothing hanger.

The image shows the cover of a book titled "Aflame: Learning from Silence" by Pico Iyer. The cover has an orange and red color scheme with a radiating circular design in the center. The background behind the book cover is a scenic landscape featuring rolling hills, a body of water, a burning forest, and a monastery or church building, all enveloped in warm orange tones, symbolizing the theme of fire or intensity suggested by the title.

A close-up photograph of a laptop screen displaying an online news article. The article's headline reads, "The Trump administration's rhetoric about disability diminishes us all." The page features an image of former U.S. President Donald Trump speaking at a podium, with other smaller images below.

a cartoonized photo of Penny, with her glasses and light brown hair visible behind a book, is reading a colorful children's book.

This image is a digital painting with a cubist-inspired abstract design. It features fragmented architectural elements such as arches, towers, and domes in warm earth tones of brown, beige, and ochre, contrasted with cool blues. Some circular and reflective elements add depth and dimension, giving the composition a surreal quality. The style resembles a fusion of modern abstraction with historical architecture, creating a dreamlike cityscape.

a collage of five book covers. From left to right: A book cover featuring a blonde woman in a light-colored blazer sitting on a couch. The title and author are partially obscured. "One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus. The cover has a red title with a handwritten style over images of four students with their faces obscured. "The Long Call" by Ann Cleeves. A blue-toned cover with an image of a coastal landscape, featuring a house and birds flying overhead. A black-and-white historical photograph of people with disabilities protesting, one holding a sign that says, "We shall overcome." A bright orange cover with large white and red text reading "Good Faith," accompanied by the authors’ names, Curtis and another partially hidden name.

A vast refugee camp stretches across a valley, filled with countless makeshift tents in shades of orange, blue, and brown. The tents are densely packed and blend into the dusty, earth-toned landscape. In the background, mountains rise under a golden-hued sky, with a distant body of water reflecting the light

A digital painting depicts two people walking along a curved road lined with utility poles and trees. The scene is infused with an abstract and expressive style, featuring bold brushstrokes and a blend of warm and cool tones—vibrant oranges and yellows contrast with deep blues and purples. The figures cast long shadows on the reflective surface of the road, suggesting early morning or late afternoon light. The sky and background elements are loosely defined, with intersecting lines adding movement and energy to the composition.

Amy Julia sits at a wooden table and looks off into the distance.

I stand at a wooden podium, speaking to an audience in a cozy room. A screen behind me displays the presentation title: "Belonging & Mattering: Creating a Meaningful and Manageable Plan for a Good Future."

lined paper in a notebook with hard-to-read writing and a wooden cross resting on top

Abstract painting with human figures in blue, set against a geometric background of yellow and white. The figures appear engaged in movement or interaction, with elongated forms and flowing garments. The composition blends cubist and modernist styles, creating a sense of depth and fluidity.

collage of covers of books, podcasts and shows mentioned in post

A cropped image of President Trump standing behind a podium with the seal of the President of the United States. He is wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a red tie, holding a piece of paper. The background features the American flag and the presidential flag.

Penny singing karoke with friends at Hope Heals Camp.

Woman using a Wheelchair Holding Hands with a Girl

Amy Julia peaking at the front of the church sanctuary, which has traditional architecture, featuring wooden pews, high ceilings with exposed beams, and large hanging lanterns.

a 2012 photo of Penny crouching in the grass in a garden, covering her face with both hands. Behind her, there is a backdrop of yellow flowers and dark green foliage

Amy Julia sits against a white pillar on a porch, gazing into the distance with a contemplative expression. The background features glass doors with a dark interior visible through them.

a person writing on a piece of paper, with a pen in one hand and the other hand resting nearby. The scene has a textured, overlay effect with shades of blue and green, giving it an artistic and contemplative atmosphere

Penny pushes a shopping cart full of Target bags toward the parking lot

An art exhibit created by Rachel Handlin featuring a large vintage camera on a tripod, a wireframe outline of a human figure, and a photo displayed on the wall with descriptive text.

Rachel and Penny are wearing matching blue pajamas with white polka dots are giving each other a hug.

Penny getting muffins out of the oven

book and movie covers of favorites mentioned in the post

a 2016 photo of an assortment of Christmas cookies, decorated by our children, on a table with a white tablecloth

Penny dances with a partner on stage for The Nutcracker

Amy Julia's family working together in a kitchen: Peter and William unload the dishwasher, while Amy Julia and Penny are in the background.

an ipad on a desk next to a cup of coffee and a keyboard. An essay is on the ipad screen.

film cover of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

collage of photos of Penny going through airpot security by herself and Peter watching closely

snow-covered cedar tree with a pink sunrise and snowy field in the background

Promotional card for a podcast episode featuring Robin Wall Kimmerer titled 'The Antidote to Not-Enoughness,' dated November 20, 2024. The tagline reads: 'Radical strategies for the scarcity mindset.' The card includes a circular portrait of the speaker, set against a vibrant blue background with text announcing the 'Ten Percent Happier Podcast Episodes

dark puddle with autumn leaves and bare branches reflected

An image featuring a tablet placed on a white desk alongside a laptop, a cup of coffee with latte art, a pencil, and notebooks. The tablet displays a video call, showing two women engaging in a discussion. The top half of the screen shows Amy Julia speaking into a microphone, with the text overlay 'TO BE HUMAN,' while the bottom half features Rosemarie in a smaller window with a background of bookshelves.

an open Plough magazine featuring an article titled "The Body She Had" by Rosemarie Garland-Thomson.

Penny stands at the front of the church holding a mic and leading the congregation in reading the Lord's prayer

a dark, overcast sky with heavy clouds, casting a moody atmosphere over a field of tall grass

foggy winter forest

Washington DC capitol divided politics

Peter and Penny take a selfie outside by a Vote Today sign

collage of photos of Penny voting in her first presidential election

collage of the Becker family at Yankees games

2013 Peter sits in the center of the couch, laughing and embracing Penny, William, and Marilee

A photo from 2011 of Penny, who has Down syndrome, dressed as a doctor in a white lab coat, walking and waving during a parade. She is participating with other children, who are dressed in various colorful costumes

blue graphic with text that says; being an adult does not equal being independent

a photo in the middle is of Amy Julia smiles at baby Penny in her arms, who has Down syndrome and is wearing a white dress and looking back with a playful expression. They are outside on a sunny day, with greenery in the background. On either side of the photo are screenshots of a new study about developmental milestones for children with Down syndrome

s the shape of a cross on her hands. He is leaning in slightly. Both are wearing light blue Hope Heals T-shirts. In the background, other people can be seen in a room with tables, creating a warm, communal atmosphere. The mood of the scene is caring and supportive.

An ipad is on a desk. On the screen is a reel where Amy Julia is talking. At the top is text that says: using our strength to lift up. On the background is a photo of Kamala Harris in a beige coat speaking to a group in a factory. Below them, a quote reads “The strength that we each have is to lift one another up, not to push people down."

The image shows a surreal scene where an open book lies on a grassy hill, with its pages forming a winding path that stretches into the distance, disappearing into the horizon where the sun is setting over an ocean. The path, which consists of text from the book, connects the open book to a small house on one side and a large tree on the other. The landscape is lush, with green fields, trees, and a calm, deep-blue ocean. The overall atmosphere evokes a sense of journey, knowledge, and adventure, blending nature and literature.

desk with a laptop and cup of coffee and an ipad. On the ipad screen is an image. The image shows a combination of a news article and Amy Julia addressing the camera in a split-screen format. The upper part displays a New York Times headline titled "Today's Parents: 'Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind'" with a brief summary: "The surgeon general is warning about parents' stress, a sign that intensive parenting may have become too intense for parents.”

Penny and Amy Julia walking side by side on a dirt path, holding hands. One is wearing a pink top with dark blue jeans, and the other is wearing a blue top with white pants. Both are wearing sandals, and the image captures them mid-step.

an ipad with a screenshot of a cutout video of Amy Julia talking is over two news headlines: "Trump repeats insults about Harris' mental state as some GOP allies urge him to stick to issues" The second headline reads "Trump Calls Harris 'Mentally Impaired' After her Trip to the Border”

Penny and Amy Julia are walking hand in hand outdoors on a sunny day. Amy Julia is looking down at Penny and smiling warmly as they share a moment. They are walking along a dirt path with green grass and tall plants in the background, under a clear blue sky

laptop with the Plough essay Simple Ways to Combat Smartphone addiction on the screen

Amy Julia's family stands at the front of the church facing the congregation. The pastor stands next to them reading

Penny sits in a chair by a window. She is talking to Amy Julia about her first weeks of college.

photo taken at Target of large, Target-branded ads of children with Down syndrome wearing Target clothing

screenshot of Amy Julia recording a podcast. She is sitting in her office with a mic in front of her. She is smiling widely!

Peter looks down at baby Penny in his arms soon after he found out she had Down syndrome. She is wearing a slightly askew, striped hat

2011 photo of Penny holding a copy of GPG. She is wearing pigtails and smiling as she looks over her glasses

Penny looks at the camera as we sit in the car and I record her initial thoughts about starting college. Over the photo is a white play-button graphic

photo of baby Penny sitting on a blanket

cropped cartoon drawing of Gus Walz giving his dad a hug

graphic from one of my august favorite things, the Plough essay The Hospitality of Need

screenshot of Amy Julia outside recording a video about aging

Amy Julia sits in a bed and looks down at baby Penny in her arms

a camp building designed with universal design; a ramp leads to the front door, which has an accessible entrance

Katherine Wolf and Penny give each other a hug. They are both wearing Hope Heals Camp t-shirts

collage of photos of family and friends celebrating William's 16th birthday

the capitol building with half of it highlighted in red and half in blue to represent politicians and their political parties

a group of children and young adults on stage with musicians

Photo of a bird sitting on an electrical wire silhouetted against a dark, cloudy sky

graphic with two photos, one of LeBron James playing basketball and one of Eric Liddell running

photo of Penny and other teens with disabilities standing in front of a lemonade stand and waving

Penny on stage at Hope Heals Camp several years ago.

collage of photos of Penny at Camp Pals with friends

Penny and Amy Julia stand in a kitchen holding platters of food and smiling at the camera.

A blurry photo taken from a car of Penny pedaling on a tandem bike behind Peter. William is on another bike behind them.

photo of Peter, Amy Julia, Marilee, Penny, and William posing for a selfie in front of a sunset over water with photo overlay of The Anxious Generation book

photo from 2008 of Peter holding two-year-old Penny on his shoulders with the ocean in the background]

blurred bookshelves in the background with three book photos featured of: A Measure of Intelligence, Generation Awakened, and The Human Condition

photo of Penny dancing on stage with other dancers. She is wearing a purple dance costume and holding flowers; inside the photo is a blue-framed photo of Penny as a toddler wearing a pink tutu

photo of peonies in a vase on a table with a window behind

photo of Penny when she was five years old. She is standing on a wooden railing, with her back to the camera, and looking at a blurred creek below

photo of Amy Julia holding toddler Penny. They are looking at each other and smiling

3 photos of Penny from graduation day

blue graphic with a quote bubble and text inside that says: There is something fundamentally human about disability.

Peter and Amy Julia stand outside in front of green trees and bushes. They smile at the camera with their arms around each other

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Meghan Sullivan. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia.

Penny dances on stage with other performers

dark blue graphic with text that says: What ideas and systems and stories have deformed our collective imagination

a piece of white paper on a wooden table with the words written in marker: Why Belonging Matters

collage of 3 photos from Penny's senior project. On the left, Amy Julia, Peter, and Penny pose together with Penny's presentation on a screen behind them. In the middle is a photo of Penny standing at a classroom podium and smiling widely at her audience. To the right is a photo of Penny posing with three girls who are in college and who came to watch Penny's senior project presentation

collage of three photos of Penny ready for senior prom and standing in front of a flowering bush: one is with Peter, one by herself, and one with Amy Julia

screenshot of Washington Post essay "A mystery illness stole their kids' personalities. These moms fought for answers" and photo of a mother and a daughter, who has Down syndrome, giving each other a hug

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Amy Lutz. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia.

collage of covers of some of the books, films, and podcasts mentioned in post

screenshot of The Disruptors documentary cover, which shows a young child staring and the title overlay in yellow/orange block letters

wadded up tissues on top of the Treasures in the Darkness book

creenshot of Flannery O'Connor reading a letter by a mailbox from the Wildcat movie trailer

collage of photos from the weekend

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Katherine Wolf. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia.

an old photo of two women and a child lying on a beach pad with water behind them

a doctor using a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat of a young girl who has Down syndrome

Katie Kishore and Amy Julia stand in Kindness Cafe with their arms around each other and smile at the camera

ark-tinted photo of a pink blossom on a tree branch

photo of a mama bear and cubs in woods

collage of photos of Penny on senior trip

photo of Amy Julia and Penny standing in front of a marsh with water, grass, and blue sky behind them

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Michael Wear. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia.

collage of photos of Hope heals and Mend Coffee

collage of photos of Penny and two friends from Hope Heals visiting the Aquarium in Atlanta and prom dress shopping

Screenshot of the cover of the article “Exhibit Traces ‘Unfinished Journey’ Of Those With IDD “. Lee Shervheim, left and his daughter Emie Shervheim 20, look over the exhibit "An Unfinished Journey" in the Federal Courts lobby of the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune/TNS)

photos of Penny traveling to Atlanta and posing with friends from Hope Heals Camp who are in Atlanta

photos of Amy Julia with people she connected with at the Festival of Faith and Writing

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Micha Boyett. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia.

Penny dances on stage with a scene from the Nutcracker behind her. She and two other dances wear tutu dresses and have their arms rounded and raised above their heads

gradient blue background with geometric shapes and a speech bubble in the middle that says, "Is your daughter low functioning?"

Penny poses inside wearing a Post University t-shirt and holding a Post University orange water bottle as she smiles at the camera

the eclipse framed by trees with a person looking up barely visible in the darkness

a graphic with two photos, one of hands holding a coffee cup and one of the interior of an empty church sanctuary

dark-tinted photo of a purple and a yellow tulip

candid photo of Amy Julia's family grouped together smiling for a selfie outside in front of a house

a screenshot of the NYT essay cover, which is a close-up view of Ashlee Wiseman, bending down to kiss her daughter, Lennie, who is lying on a red blanket. Below is text that says: “‘A Chance to Live’: How 2 Families Faced a Catastrophic Birth Defect. Cases of trisomy 18 may rise as many states restrict abortion. But some women choose to have the babies, love them tenderly and care for them devotedly.”

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Nancy French, a white woman against a neutral background. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia, a white woman who is wearing a blue shirt and smiling at the camera with her arms crossed in front of her.

photo of geese flying against a dark blue sky that lightens toward the bottom

photo of bare tree branches reflected in a dark puddle of water

Amy Julia and Marilee sit at a linen-covered table on the beach and look out at the sunset over the ocean

screenshot of "Assume that I can" ad which shows a young woman with Down syndrome surrounded by young men with Down syndrome and yellow text overlay that says, "Assume that I can so maybe I will."

an outdoor photo of William, a teenage boy, Penny, a teenage girl with Down syndrome, and their mom, Amy Julia, leaning in close together and smiling at the camera

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Andrew Draper, a white man wearing a suit jacket sitting in front of a dark gray door. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia, a white woman who is wearing a blue shirt and smiling at the camera with her arms crossed in front of her.

photo from 2022 of Amy Julia, who smiles at the camera and sits at a desk. On the desk, the book To Be Made Well is propped up in front of stacks of books next to a white mug

a photo of 3 teen siblings—Marilee wearing a pink dress, William in the middle wearing a blue shirt, and Penny on the right wearing a blue dress—giving each other a group hug in front of a faint sunset over the ocean

Penny, dressed in her blue and white cheerleading uniform and wearing a jean jacket over it and a pink bow in hair, walks down the school hallway away from the camera

Amy Julia shakes a woman’s hand in a church foyer

screenshot of the cover photo for the "The Blurring Is Part of the Beauty" Comment essay. The photo is of an older man grinning broadly and looking in to the face of a younger man who is touching his chin with his fingers

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Jessica Hooten Wilson, a white woman wearing a pink shirt. She is sitting at a desk in front of full book shelves. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia, a white woman who is wearing a blue shirt and smiling at the camera with her arms crossed in front of her

a photo looking down at a cluttered desk; in view is a nearly empty, white mug, a coaster that says "Life to the Full," a hair tie, napkins, and papers and envelopes

Amy Julia, a white woman, leans in close to her teenage daughter Penny, who has Down syndrome. They are outside wearing winter coats and hats and are surrounded by smiling women

covers of the books It. Goes. So. Fast. and Practicing the Way, and the cover of the movie Rustin

blurred purple background with a screenshot in the middle from the NYT Essay "Toxic Beauty Standards Can Be Passed Down"

dark blue waves in a storm

a graphic with a screenshot of a NYT essay titled “Scientists find genetic signature of Down syndrome in ancient bones.” The essay also includes a photo of human bones arranged on a blue background.

a photo of a young girl sitting in a church pew looking at the large glass windows at the front of the church

Amy Julia, Penny, and Peter stand at center court and smile towards the camera. Penny is wearing her cheerleading uniform and holding a bouquet of flowers for senior night

dark blue graphic with intertwined blue and yellow partial circles on the left and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker. In the middle of the graphic is a a photo Andrew Leland, who is a white man wearing a yellow shirt and sitting on a bench. On the far right is a photo of Amy Julia, a white woman who is wearing a blue shirt and smiling at the camera with her arms crossed in front of her

3 children sit on a blanket in the grass and smile at the camera with big grins.

Penny is sitting at a table with a laptop, focused on the screen

light blue graphic and in the center is a dark blue graphic with right-aligned, all-caps text that says: "Reimagining the Good Life." Underneath is a thin yellow line, followed by white text: "Disability. Faith. Culture."

gradient light blue and brown graphic with the covers of the books Practicing the Way an the Wood Between the Worlds

dark blue graphic with cutout photo of Amy Julia, intertwined blue and yellow partial circles, and text that says: Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker

the traditional blue and pink striped blanket that babies are wrapped in in the hospital

large piece of paper on a white board with writing from Penny's PATH meeting

snowboarders in the distance looking toward a mountain in front of them

gradient blue graphic with photo of Sarah Bessey in front of a lake with text that says Love Is Stronger Than Fear with Amy Julia Becker and the cover of Sarah’s book: Field Notes for the Wilderness

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The image is a book cover with the title "From Exclusion to Belonging" by Amy Julia Becker. The cover features a group of four smiling teenagers, including a young woman with Down syndrome in the center. They are dressed in casual clothing and appear to be in an outdoor setting with a blurred background of greenery. The design includes a torn paper effect separating the title text from the image. The title text is in a clean, modern font with "FROM EXCLUSION" at the top and "TO BELONGING" at the bottom, with the author's name displayed below.

From Exclusion to Belonging

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