My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
Love Is Stronger Than Fear
When our daughter Penny was born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, fear felt incredibly powerful. The questions, the doubts, the potential medical complications, the prejudice
5 Bible Passages for Parents of Children with Down Syndrome
I’ve written several posts (like this one) on themes related to disability recently in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. In this post I want
In Her Own Words: Penny on Church and Faith
Penny has grown up going to church with our family. She’s also grown up with parents who pray, read the Bible, and offer sporadic attempts
“Built for Me”: Belonging within Institutions
I’ve written two previous posts about the difference between communities of exclusion, tolerance, inclusion, and belonging for people with disabilities. This same paradigm has also
Changing the Game: Explaining Exclusion, Tolerance, Inclusion and Belonging to Fourth Graders (and the rest of us!)
How do communities move from simply including people with disabilities to giving people with disabilities a sense of belonging alongside their typical peers? Many communities
Finding Myself in Amber Guyger
Botham Jean was an unarmed black man sitting in his home when Amber Guyger, a white former police officer, shot him. In her trial, Guyger
Podcast: Do Not Be Afraid with John and Kathy
Listen to my interview on the John and Kathy Show here I had the chance to talk with John and Kathy of the John and
In Her Own Words: Penny on Healthy Eating and Exercise
In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I’ve asked our daughter Penny (who is 13 and has Down syndrome) to share some reflections on her
Talking with Brian Allain about the Business of Being a Writer
I had a great conversation with Brian Allain about writing and business and agents and editors on his webinar yesterday. If you’re curious about what
AJB Recommends: Podcasts on the Problem of Pain
Like many Americans, I think a lot about the problem of pain. There’s my own lower back pain that has mostly disappeared but showed up
Why I Disagree with The National Review about the 1619 Project
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
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
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
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
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
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
The 1619 Project and True History
Perhaps, like me, you’ve read the New York Times 1619 Project or listened to the podcast. I’ve appreciated the thoughts and conversations they have sparked
William Becker Reviews “This is What Democracy Looks Like”
My son William is a curious and inquisitive eleven year old. He loves to learn and to discuss big ideas. I wrote a book called
AJB Recommends: Nomad Podcast with Gregory Boyle
“I go to the margins because that’s where the joy is.” –Father Gregory Boyle, in an interview on Nomad Podcast I have loved reading and
Guest Podcast: Amy Julia Becker on Susie Larson
Earlier this week, I spoke on the Midday with Susie Larson Radio Show on Faith Radio. Here I share some thoughts on that interview and
Responding to the Immigration Crisis with Your Head, Heart, and Hands
This post, one in a series about my time in El Paso (check out the other posts here and here), offers ways that you can
The Kids are Not Okay – Reflections from the Southern Border
The kids are not okay is the quickest way to say it. Despite changes, when it comes to the impact of US policy on immigrant
How the Spiritual Imagination Moves Us Towards Hope
There’s a lot of goodness in learning how to be present, how to sink deeply into this moment, how to let go of the regrets
Good Samaritan – Welcome the Stranger
The United States’ immigration crisis is on the forefront of my mind after a recent visit to El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. In this
Back to School for the Becker Family – Fall 2019
We celebrated going back to school last week with a dinner out at our local tavern. I used to ask the kids pretty regularly how
In The News: Refugee Admissions May Be Drastically Reduced or Eliminated
I learned this morning that the Trump Administration is considering drastically reducing and restricting the refugee admissions program, a program that has established our country
Backstage Thoughts on Privilege: Q Ideas
I had a chance to share “backstage thoughts” at the Q conference. After I shared with the crowd, I spoke more about living life behind
Inclusive Blessing – How to Express Gratitude and Lament
How do we acknowledge, confess, and lament the sorrows and crimes of our heritage while also honoring and expressing our gratitude our forebears? I heard
Q Ideas 2019: The Harm of Privilege
My Talk at Q Ideas 2019: The Harm of Privilege It was a tremendous honor to speak about privilege in front of the audience at
First Day of School: Penny Starts Eighth Grade – In Her Own Words
I always thought middle school would be the time when life for a child with Down syndrome got hard. The infant and toddler years held
