RECENT POSTS
Denied Treatment and Education?!?
“People with developmental disabilities were granted the legal right to treatment in 1974…” –Exhibit Traces ‘Unfinished Journey’ Of Those With IDD Okay, wait. I know
Prioritize Relationships
I gave our daughter Penny two choices for her senior year spring break—the Bahamas (where she has always wanted to go) or Atlanta. She chose
Connecting With People in Real Life | Festival of Faith & Writing
I don’t know how to capture the experience of the Festival of Faith and Writing last week. Of course, I listened to compelling speakers. And
S7 E14 | How to Honor Limits in a World That Doesn’t with Micha Boyett
Apple YouTube Spotify More! What’s the difference between limitations and brokenness? What does it mean to be blessed? How can a dual diagnosis of Down
Provide Opportunities, Assume Possibility
Penny fell behind in ballet earlier this year. During cheer season, she missed a lot of classes and rehearsals. She also (unbeknownst to me) started
Let’s Drop “Low/High Functioning”
I was totally taken aback the first time someone asked me if our daughter Penny was low functioning. I didn’t want to talk about any
Penny Goes to College
Most people say that kids with intellectual disabilities fall off a cliff when they turn 18 and complete their time in high school. Even though
What Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert and the Eclipse Have (and Don’t Have) in Common
On Saturday night, I took Marilee and two friends to see Olivia Rodrigo at Madison Square Garden. On Monday, I lay on a dock on
Employment in Churches for People With Disabilities
Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges faced by disabled adults. And while there are all sorts of things we as a society can (and
Training in Love
What if the hardships we face could be seen as training in love? I’ve been reading John Mark Comer’s latest book, Practicing the Way. He
Turning 47
47 is not a milestone birthday. We didn’t have a party. I didn’t receive any extraordinary gifts. I did, however, receive a pair of the
Honoring Women’s Hard Choices
When it comes to prenatal testing and disability, there are two extremes. One is the thought that a prenatal diagnosis of a disability like Down
S7 E 13 | When Your Church and Political Group Turn on You with Nancy French
Apple YouTube Spotify More! {Please note that we discuss abuse in this episode.}How do we love people across our political and social divides? What are
God Loves You
God loves you. It’s the most basic message. It is central to the entire Bible. It is central to Jesus’ teachings. It is central— foundational—to
Don’t You Care If We Drown?
“Don’t you care?” I’ve prayed that prayer more than once. In the middle of a conflict with Peter that seemed irreconcilable. In the moments when
What Happens with Three Days Away with Your Teenager
I’ve never taken a mother-daughter trip with Marilee before. But this year over spring break, Marilee and I spent four nights together in Jamaica. I
Why Disability, Faith, Culture?
It was relatively easy to land on “Reimagining the Good Life” as my new tagline and the new title of my podcast. Those words helped
Assume That I Can, Maybe I Will
“Assume I can, and maybe I will.” It’s a new ad campaign designed to raise awareness about the assumptions people have about people with Down
World Down Syndrome Day 2024
Happy World Down Syndrome Day! Our daughter Penny is 18, and we join thousands of other people around the globe who want to raise awareness
S7 E 12 | Reimagining Church Leadership and Disability with Andrew Draper
Apple YouTube Spotify More! Why does it matter that most churches don’t welcome people with disabilities in leadership? If a church excludes people with disabilities,
Two-Year Anniversary of To Be Made Well
Do you want to be made well? It’s a question that Jesus asks, but it’s also a question we can ask ourselves. Whether we are
