Universal Design Matters to All of Us
The cool thing about universal design is that you don’t even notice it. I’ve been attending Hope Heals Camp at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama for four summers now.1 I’ve heard people say that it…
Supporting Penny’s Goals
I used to be afraid to set goals for our daughter Penny, who has Down syndrome. It felt like if we didn't meet those goals, we would be passing judgment…
Happy 16th Birthday, William
William turned 16 last week. We ordered Indian food and ate ice cream cake and sang a song in his honor. The chorus (set to Taylor Swift’s Getaway Car) might…
Image courtesy of Canva Pro
How Politicians Talk About Disability Matters
As we head into another election cycle, I’m paying attention to the language politicians use to talk about people with disabilities. This is not a partisan issue. I’ve heard politicians…
The Wonder of Kindness and Joy on Planet Earth
Last year, after we returned from a week at Hope Heals Camp, I wrote that camp “is not a place where we lay out a message of salvation, but rather…
Summer’s opportunities to watch, listen, and read with abandon
We asked our kids last week what metaphorical season they are in right now. All of them seemed confused. Literal summer also pretty much always feels like emotional summer to…
LeBron James: “Being a Winner Is a Curse”
I couldn’t help but feel sad when LeBron James said in an ad for the Olympics that “being a winner is a curse.” He says it doesn’t matter whether you’ve…
What advice would you give someone who is trying to make a plan for their future?
Penny and I did a presentation together at Hope Heals Camp about taking steps to plan for the future. If you want great advice and info from an 18-year-old who…
2023 Photo by Ashley Monogue
Penny in Her Own Words: Why Go to Hope Heals Camp?
After spending eight hours in the Philadelphia airport (a long, boring story), we landed in Birmingham and are now at one of our favorite places—Hope Heals Camp. Before we left…
Online Course Now Available
After our daughter Penny was born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, I felt as though I could no longer imagine our future as a family. The messages I had heard…
