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AJB Insta Links

Amy Julia Becker

AJB Insta Links

Click on pictures below

Becker family stands outside in front of a parking lot and low stone wall. They smile at the camera

graphic with screenshot of a man's silhouette and scratches across the surface

gradient blue graphic with quote from post caption

arial view of Buffalo, NY at sunrise

a copy of To Be Made Well stands on a glass table. White and yellow-tipped flowers are on the table in front of the book

Penny smiles at the camera and stands in front of a wall with a framed list of school values

screenshot of essay graphic

blue graphic with white text box and text from post caption with circle picture of Vivian Mabuni

new plant growing in soil

Crack Running Through Concrete Walls And Floor

William and Amy Julia sit in a vehicle and pose for a selfie

gradient blue graphic with To Be Made Well book quote from post caption

white spring flower with dark wooded background

gradient blue graphic with cut out pictures of Andy Crouch and Amy Julia Becker, the cover of The Life We're Looking For, and text from post caption

Bird's Eye View of Cliff over Cove

dirt road in the midst of a dark forest

gradient blue graphic with cover of To Be Made Well and sound waves to indicate podcasts

gradient blue graphic with quote from post caption

looking down at a vase of purple, white, and pale pink flowers in greenery

Amy Julia sits on a tall stool and reads from To Be Made Well. People sit in chairs in front of her and there are paintings on the wall behind her.

Cosmos Flower Background and Blue Sky

Amy Julis looks across the room while she sits in a chair and holds her gray kitty on her chest

Amy Julia looks at her laptop as she sits at a desk and writes

gradient blue graphic with endorsement from Liuan Huska for To Be Made Well

blue graphic with pictures of the items recommended in post

blue eggs on a white counter

gradient blue graphic with picture of Dr Matthew Loftus and text from podcast post

bare tree branches dripping with raindrops

screenshot of picture from Amy Julia's TIME essay about disability and Easter

green plan coming up through barren, cracked ground

gradient blue graphic with quote about justice from post caption

dramatic dark sky over mountains

yellow Forsythia on white background

box of books of To Be Made Well

Amy Julia and Peter take a selfie in front of a waterfall

blue graphic with the cover photo of the movie CODA

Brown and Gray Rock Formation

gradient blue graphic with the cut out pictures of Niro Feliciano and Amy Julia and the cover of This Book Won't Make You Happy

person wearing a yellow raincoat looking out at sea at an approaching storm, waiting

Amy Julia takes a selfie in a padded sound room. She is wearing large headphones

crayon drawing of friends with disability

gradient blue graphic with book endorsement from David Swanson

flower at sunrise

red wine pouring into a glass

Amy Julia takes a picture of herself in the mirror and smiles wryly at the camera

Marilee, William, and Penny smile happily at the camera while they stand on a wood bridge with a forest hill in the background

gradient blue graphic with a picture a discussion guide pile of papers, a coffee mug, a pen, and a phone

US Supreme Court building

rising sun with purple hues

white graphic with gray background and the book covers of the books in the giveaway plus pictures of the authors

gradient blue graphic with cutout pictures of Katherine Wolf, Amy Julia, and David Bailey with the book cover of To Be Made Well

Penny sits on a blue couch and looks down at her baby cousin whom she is holding

gradient blue graphic with pictures of Amy Julia and family at Disney

colorful gradient background with the cover of the book Cured

phone rests on white bricks; on the screen is the To Be Made Well YouVersion plan

Evening colored view of blue horizons

gradient blue graphic with cover to To Be Made Well

gradient blue Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast graphic and cut out picture of Amy Julia and cover of To Be Made Well

pictures of Amy Julia and family holding copies of To Be Made Well and wearing party hats

Made Well leaning against the stack

tree branches covered in snow

gradient blue graphic with text from endorsement in blog post

gradient white graphic with book covers and headshots of authors participating in the giveaway

gradient blue graphic with a cut out picture of Cole Arthur Riley, book cover of This Here Flesh, and cut out picture of Amy Julia

A weathered church steeple in a small American town.

Lavra's bell tower at night. Kyiv, Ukraine

gradient blue graphic with quote from blog post

Amy Julia holds a potato chip to her mouth while standing in the kitchen

sketch of plants on a taupe background

To Be Made Well book sits on a counter next to a mug of coffee

Supreme Court of the United States building

movie cover of Encanto

gradient blue graphic with endorsement from Sharon Hodde Miller

A plate of fish tacos topped with lime crema

gradient blue graphic with cut out pictures of Becca Stevens and Amy Julia and the book cover of Practically Divine

The softness of the breeze on ocean grasses

graphic with pictures of Amy Julia's duct taped Bible, her wearing a white winter hat, and her desk set up for a podcast interview

podcast logos for podcast episodes about time

screen shots of Amy Julia's favorites from this past month mentioned in post caption

stark winter trees silhouetted by rising sun

flourishing pink flowers against a blue sky

mountains in the background with people walking on a path in the distance across salt flats

picture of Lenten devotional cover

William and Amy Julia stand in a forest and are wearing winter coats and hats.

US 100 dollar bills

looking up at a plane flying through the sky with white clouds around it

gradient blue podcast graphic with cutout pictures of Amy Julia and Lisa Sharon Harper and book cover of Fortune

Seagulls in winter resting on ice edge

Marilee blows out candles on a birthday cake. Her young cousin stands next to her.

gradient blue graphic with text from post caption

print edition of Amy Julia's essay in the New York Times

screenshot of image that accompanies Amy Julia's prenatal testing article in the New York Times

Penny in her cheerleading uniform cheering at a basketball game

teens and children in the snow gathered around a firepit

blue winter ice floes

snowflakes on the ground

winter branches covered in snow

Selective Focus Photography of White Petaled Flower Plant

gradient blue graphic with cut out pictures of Anne Snyder and Amy Julia and text that says Love is Stronger Than Fear

gradient blue background with a picture of the table of contents for To Be Made Well

pictures of kids enjoying a snow day

blue graphic with white square, text that says Friday Favorite, and a screenshot of the Time article mentioned in post

gradient blue graphic with text that says "Join Amy Julia's Launch Team"

Penny and Amy Julia stand together in a snowy woods.

stars in the sky

statue of Martin Luther King Jr

Amy Julia stands in her bedroom

blue graphic with a picture of the movie Don't Look Up

A Bible sits on a wooden table next to a blue mug filled with coffee.

snowy scene in the background with a picture of Penny sitting on a sled in the snow

blue graphic with cut out pictures of Amy Julia Becker and Dr Jemar Tisby

Closeup of blue and white paint strokes

blurred picture of winter trees with picture overlay of Peter and Amy Julia in front of a water fall

Frozen Bubble in the Winter

three pictures, one of Penny smiling at the camera outside with her head tipped to one side and pictures of the PATH meeting at school

books for kids and adults on a wooden table

books on a table

sketched picture of a beach sunsunrise

Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the manger silhouetted against a dark wall

gradient blue graphic with a picture of Amy Julia standing in front of a pharmacy where she got her covid booster

Christmas sparkles graphic

blue graphic with faint sketch of Mary and baby Jesus

gradient blue graphic with a blue-framed picture of Marilee resting on the couch with her gray kitty

dark nativity scene

sketch of mountains and conifer trees

wooden plank graphic with Christmas decor and a picture of Amy Julia

three books written by Amy Julia on a wooden table with a glowing lantern in the background

gradient blue graphic with pictures of Amy Julia, Penny, and Marilee in front of a Christmas tree and a picture of a cluttered hallway

blue graphic with music notes faintly visible and pictures of Christmas music Amy Julia likes

misty trees on a mountain

background picture of sketched pine trees clustered together and a lone tree and a lone child outside the group

sketched cedar trees on snowy hills

gradient blue graphic with pictures of Penny, Marilee, and Amy Julia sitting on a jet ski

blue graphic with pictures of novels, a memoir, and podcast episodes that are on the Friday Favorites list

graphic with three pictures that include one of Penny standing in a green field, a screenshot of an article in Plough, and a picture of Penny climbing over rock formations

dark night with Christmas lights shining on trees

grass silhouetted against a setting sun

dark autumn grasses

a picture of the scales of justice and a gavel with a picture of shattered glass as an overlay

Gradient blue graphic with pictures of three books: American Dreams Lost & Found, The Corrections, and The 6 Needs of Every Child

background graphic of a mirror in shadows and a picture of Amy Julia sitting at her desk, smiling wryly at the camera, as she prepares to edit

gradient blue graphic highlighting articles on pain from the New York Times

pier shrouded in mist

gradient gray graphic with pictures of Penny and Amy Julia attending a ballet performance by the Dance Theatre of Harlem

Marilee smiling at the camera after getting her first covid vaccine shot

Advent devotional and materials on a wooden table with Christmas lights

a stack of books that includes: When the Body Says No, Life of the Beloved, God's Hotel, No Cure for Being Human, Becoming Friends of Time, The Very Good Gospel, Disability and the Way of Jesus, Reconciling All Things, Hurting Yet Whole

A couple on a walk through autumn leaves. One person is in a wheelchair. They are both throwing leaves.

Marilee wearing a Thing 1 costume and, with a scared face, sticking her head inside of a dinosaur mouth that is part of William's costume. He is wearing a cowboy outfit and sitting on top of a dinosaur.

dark blue waves of water

dived rock formation curving towards and away from each other

William and Amy Julia standing under a rock formation with their arms around each other's shoulders

Gradient blue graphic with podcast logos for On Being and Everything Happens and film cover art for The Best of Enemies

Amy Julia and her children sitting on a rock wall. Amy Julia has her arms around her children, and they are all smiling. This photo is from several year ago. There is a picture of the book cover of Small Talk in the bottom right corner.

stained glass Black Jesus

Three girls kneeling beside a campfire. They are roasting marshmallows. There is a lake, boat, and autumn forest in the background.

gradient blue graphic with pictures of Amy Julia speaking at Palms Pres Church

child's hands on computer keyboard

Amy Julia reclining in bed reading Dimming the Day

Penny leaning on Peter's shoulder and laughing. She is dressed in her blue, homecoming dress.

the advent devotional book Prepare Him Room resting on top of white mums

drift wood and scraggly brush on a sandy beach

background graphic of a podcast mic and podcast logos for The Ezra Klein Show, On Being, and The Bible Project podcast

Penny and friend laughing and smiling at the camera

Person with a disability in a wheelchair with colored balloons at the beach

a silver watch on wooden slats and surrounded by autumn leaves

a yellow leaf and dead vines wrapped around a chainlink fence

a grown up and two children walking away from the camera along the beach with water rippling around rocks to their left

dark blue graphic with circle picture of Amy Julia and text that says So Many Good Books

Amy Julia and Penny leaning towards into each other smiling at the camera. They are dressed up for a wedding rehearsal dinner.

Amy Julia sitting in an airport, traveling to a speaking event. She is looking at the camera and smiling behind a mask.

Amy Julia's hand holding the book White Picket Fences in front of a white picket fence in celebration of the book birthday for White Picket Fences

Maddie and Penny smiling at the camera, an example of belonging during Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Penny, Marilee, and William sitting on a ledge with their backs to the camera and looking out over mountains

collaborative space where diverse students are painting a mural on a wall

mist rising off of a lake with grasses in the foreground and autumn trees in the background

blue graphic with white text that says I used to act as though personal healing and social healing were opposed to each other

in order tallest to youngest, William, Amy Julia, and Penny standing side by side and smiling at the camera

white graphic with circle picture of Amy Julia and text that says, "A few of my favorite things: words of hope"

Blue graphic with text that says Giveaway 10 Books, with books covers of Color of Life, Dear White Peacemakers, Jesus and John Wayne, Reading While Black, Rediscipling the White Church, Reparations, A Sojourner’s Truth, Subversive Witness, The Way Up Is Down, White Picket Fences

blue graphic with white text that says I just learned that trees die without stress

liquified effect over picture of dark sky and ocean with birds flying up

the miscellaneous life of a parent - watching your son ride a horse

blue graphic with a circle picture of Amy Julia and white text that says a Few of My Favorite Things Curling Up With the Culture Wars

Penny, who has Down syndrome, and Katherine Wolf, who is sitting in a wheelchair, giving each other a hug at Hope Heals Camp

selfie where Amy Julia is smiling at the camera with a wry smile

« Previous Next »

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.

baby in a crib

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.

school hallway

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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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.

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