My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
Real Privilege and Love: Quote from White Picket Fences
The real privilege of my life has come in learning what it means to love others, that love involves suffering and sacrifice and sleepless nights
Rev. Dan Heischman Reflects on Privilege in Episcopal Schools
A friend mentioned years ago that memoirs go through three stages. First, we live them. Then we write them. And then, once they are out
Geraldine Brooks’ Endorsement of White Picket Fences
“I am grateful that Amy Julia Becker had the courage to create White Picket Fences. It’s such an essential discussion, so relevant and yet somehow
Celebrating 1 Year Anniversary of White Picket Fences!
Today I am celebrating the one year anniversary of the publication of White Picket Fences. It’s hard to believe it only came out a year
Dear Doctor Video from NothingDown.org
As Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2019 comes to a close, I wanted to share this touching video from NothingDown.org that highlights the experience of parents
5 Things I Wish I Had Known when Our Daughter Was Diagnosed with Down Syndrome
On December 30th, 2005, our firstborn daughter came into the world. It was an easy delivery—a little early, but not premature, no signs of distress
Sara Groves Endorses A Good and Perfect Gift
As I read this book, I realized what a gift it is to walk through this story with such an incredibly candid guide! Amy
Three Reasons Why I Don’t Use the Term Ableism
I’m a fan of the concepts behind political correctness. I think it’s important to use language with intention and care. I think language reflects reality,
In Her Own Words: Penny on Independence and Self-Advocacy
When Penny was first born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, Peter and I went through a hard season in which we felt like our expectations
A New Meaning of Perfection & Book Giveaway
I feel really honored and grateful whenever new mothers, fathers, and extended family members of kids with Down syndrome tell me that they have read
Porter’s Gate Worship Album – Neighbor Songs
I had the great privilege of participating in the Porter’s Gate songwriting project last January in Nashville, Tennessee. Wait, you didn’t know I’m a songwriter?
Amy Julia Recommends: 6 Books About Down Syndrome
As we near the end of Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2019, I want to offer 6 recommendations of memoirs and (accessible) theological books about people
Clips from the Film Normie & Grappling with “Normal”
“What is normal?” is a question that runs throughout the documentary film Normie. The film traces Annemarie, a young woman with Down syndrome, as she
Why I Don’t Get Mad Anymore When People Don’t Use Person-First Language
Early on in Penny’s life, I learned the concept of ” person-first ” language. At that point, I was calling Penny a “Down syndrome baby,”
A Full Life – Quote from A Good and Perfect Gift & Giveaway Info
“Can she have a full life without solving a quadratic equation? Without reading Dostoyevsky? I’m pretty sure she can. Can I live a full life
In Their Own Words: William and Marilee on Having a Sister with Down Syndrome
I’ve written a LOT about our family over the course of the past decade, and I’m glad our kids are old enough to do a
AJB Recommends: Resources on Inclusion and Belonging
I’ve written about the posture institutions (and individuals) can hold towards people with disabilities (or anyone outside the normative social group): exclusion, tolerance, inclusion, and
Love Is Stronger Than Fear
[If you are looking for my Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast, please go here.] When our daughter Penny was born and diagnosed with Down
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
