RECENT POSTS
Does This Church Welcome Families With Disabilities? 4 Things to Look For
When our family was looking for a church, we saw a statement on a church’s website about a commitment to families with disabilities and seeing
How to Face an Uncertain Future with Hope When Parenting a Child with a Disability
I received an email yesterday that left a pit in my stomach. I won’t go into all the details here yet, because I’m still hoping
How to Find a Church That Welcomes Disability • Nakoa Dantzler Merritt
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E33 — Will your child with a disability truly belong at church—or simply be accommodated? How can you recognize genuine
How Chronic Stress Affects Marriage: 5 Ways to Stay Connected Through Caregiving
What happens when a hard season doesn’t last twelve weeks or even twelve months, but twelve years? I think about friends who have middle schoolers
I Don’t Want to Take Away Down Syndrome
Okay, so tell me what comes to mind when you read the words, “Children with Down syndrome may no longer be born.” Here’s what those
Is Your Marriage Just Surviving? Disability, Chronic Stress, and Caregiving • Monica DiCristina, LPC
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E32 — Are you exhausted from caregiving? Anxious? Burned out? Do you find yourself resenting your spouse or keeping score
5 Ways to Help Kids With Disabilities Through Grief
I’ve talked with many parents of children and adults with intellectual disabilities who’ve experienced significant loss, and one of the things they’ve told me is
White Picket Fences Turns 8
White Picket Fences turns 8 today! So here’s a little back story I’m not sure I’ve told here before. I started working on a book
Special: A Middle-Grade Book Featuring a Girl With Down Syndrome as a Fully Realized Character
I’ve been on the search for a middle-grade book that portrays a young girl with Down syndrome as a fully realized character for many years.
When Grief Has No Words: Helping Kids With Disabilities Process Loss • Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSP
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E31 —How can we help a child grieve when they may not have the words to tell us they’re hurting?
How to Create Spiritual Rhythms When Life Is Unpredictable
I have a planner that asks me to write down my “ideal week,” and every week I write down that I want all of my
Is Parenting a Child With a Disability Harder?
I recently had a chance to talk with the new mother of a baby girl with Down syndrome. This mom’s emotions were raw and beautiful,
Finding Spiritual Rhythms in the Chaos of Caregiving • Jen Pollock Michel
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E30 — What happens when the rhythms of caregiving make it difficult to establish any rhythms at all? That’s the
5 Practical Tips for a Less Stressful IEP Meeting
A few years ago, Peter and I both cried at our daughter’s annual meeting to discuss her IEP (Individualized Education Plan) goals. We cried because
The Pace of Love: How to Say No and Make Space for What Matters
I set out for a run on Saturday and decided to listen to a podcast with social scientist Adam Grant about how to say no. Saying
How to Navigate IEP Meetings and Disability Services with Meghan Burke, PhD
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E29 — Do you have to fight everyone around the table to advocate well for your child? Many parents feel
What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To: September 2026
Books, essays, podcast episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to in the month
You Don’t Have to Be the Expert: Parenting a Child with a Disability
I read a book last year by Greg McKeown. My favorite part came at the end, when McKeown offered a personal story of his daughter
