I wrote recently about the 1619 Project by the New York Times. The name of the project comes from the year that the first African captives were sold as slaves in Virginia. As I described in that post, the project seeks to reframe the history of the United States to incorporate this event and articulate […]
The Spectrum of Welcome: Moving from Exclusion to Tolerance to Inclusion to Belonging
As we wrestle with ways to love and care for each other across differences, I want to share some helpful definitions of terms that have helped me break down the differences between exclusion, tolerance, inclusion and belonging. I’m writing here in terms of disability, but these concepts apply to changing any system that excludes individuals […]
It’s Down Syndrome Awareness Month!
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I join with many others to take this opportunity to celebrate people with Down syndrome. When our daughter Penny was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth thirteen years ago, our lives changed immediately. At first there was a lot of fear mixed in with the love and joy of […]
Letter from Penny to a New Mother of a Baby with Down Syndrome
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! Over the course of the next month, I’ll share my own thoughts about Down syndrome and the ways having a child with a disability has shaped my understanding of myself, of God, and of what it means to be human. But I am also thrilled to say that I’ve […]
AJB Recommends: Books and Podcasts on the Legacy of Slavery
I’ve focused on the content of the 1619 Project this week, and I want to recommend a few additional podcasts, articles, and books for anyone who wants to explore more about the way slavery and racism have affected American history: Articles on the Legacy of Slavery & the 1619 Project One reader of my post […]
For Down Syndrome Awareness Month – Schedule a Normie Screening in Your Area!
Our Family’s Involvement in Normie We feel lucky to be a part of this wonderful film, and to get to know Annemarie – the young woman whose story is followed in Normie! My family has a small cameo, so keep an eye out in the trailer for Penny ballet dancing in a pink tutu! We […]
