RECENT POSTS
Intergenerational and Interability Friendships
I feel like I should be too old to have camp friends, but I guess that’s one more gift of getting involved in Hope Heals.
RFK Jr., Autism, and the Story We Need Instead
Apple YouTube Spotify More! Is disability a tragedy? Is it a gift? What place is there for grief and for joy in this story
The Next Step Matters
I used to hate setting goals for Penny. It felt like I was measuring her worth based on how quickly she achieved something I arbitrarily
April 2025 Favorites
Favorite books, essays, podcasts episodes, and more that I enjoyed in the month of April, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to… Books
Formation in the Wilderness
One of the things Cara and I talk about in this podcast episode is an oversimplified version of Christianity. I’ve been reading through Exodus lately, and I’ve realized
Church Camp: Belonging, Betrayal, and New Beginnings
Roasted marshmallows, campfire stories, shaving cream battles—for some of us, Christian summer camp is where we felt most at home. But for campers at white
Why I Haven’t Sent My Kids to Church Camp
Apple YouTube Spotify More! For some of us, Christian summer camp is where we felt most at home. But for campers at white Evangelical church
When Survival Mode Feels Endless
I didn’t give a great answer to a question I received at an event a few weeks ago. During the question and answer time at
A Response to RFK Jr’s Statements About Autism
The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., recently made a series of false statements about autism. He said that autism
On Eagle’s Wings
I’ve been reading through the biblical book of Exodus this Lent, and nearly every day I learn something that helps deepen my understanding of God’s
Disrupting the Status Quo
My friend Patricia and I spent two nights in NYC this past weekend. We walked a gazillion steps, ate a gazillion calories, spoke even more
Honoring the Good, the Hard, and the In Between
There’s something special about connecting with a person who not only lives in the small town where you grew up, but also shares a similar
Reimagining Family Life with Autism
Apple YouTube Spotify More! How do we redefine success, community, and family when parenting a child with disabilities? In this conversation, Amy Julia Becker and
What would I say now to a doctor who responded negatively to a prenatal (or postnatal) diagnosis of Down syndrome?
What would I say now to a doctor who responded negatively to a prenatal (or postnatal) diagnosis of Down syndrome? I was asked this question
3 Ways to Reimagine the Good Life
Last year, we came up with a new way to capture the work I’m trying to do. We used the words “Reimagining the Good Life.”
What do I think about ads, TV shows, and movies that include people with disabilities?
At a recent event, one woman asked me what I think of advertisements that include people with Down syndrome and other visible disabilities. Another man
Spring Break With Our Teenagers
I am perhaps one of the rare parents who LOVES parenting teenagers, and being with all three of them for a few uninterrupted days in
Show Up With Care
I’ve been concerned by the resurgence of the r-word in our culture. I’ve felt anxiety over political policies and news stories, and I’ve dug into data about our culture’s epidemic of
March 2025 Favorites
Favorite books, essays, podcasts episodes, and more that I enjoyed in the month of March, plus recent political news that I’m paying attention to… Books:
When Talking About Feelings Is Hard, Try Writing
Penny has always loved reading and writing. She realized years ago that sometimes she can’t use words to talk about her feelings or thoughts, but
Want to Change Culture? Show Up With Care
Apple YouTube Spotify More! How does language, both careless and careful, shape our world? What’s the connection between social status and the words we choose?
