RECENT POSTS
We Are Beloved: The Mindset Shift That Transformed Our Family
I remember being at a retreat where there were a lot of children present who were around the same age as Penny, our daughter who
Gus Walz and the Significance of Belonging
Tim Walz took center stage at the Democratic National Convention and so did his son Gus, who has a nonverbal learning disorder as well as
5 Things I Love Right Now {August 2024}
Here in Connecticut, it is still summer. I know there are parts of the country where kids have been back in school for weeks, but
I Want to Celebrate Aging
I want to celebrate aging. I’m 47 years old, and I want to embrace the signs of age—freedom to be in this face and this
My Daughter Does Not Exist to Teach Me a Lesson
Many people, when Penny was first born, talked to me about why it would be good for me to have a child with Down syndrome.
Universal Design Matters to All of Us
The cool thing about universal design is that you don’t even notice it. I’ve been attending Hope Heals Camp at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama for four summers now.1 I’ve
Supporting Penny’s Goals
I used to be afraid to set goals for our daughter Penny, who has Down syndrome. It felt like if we didn’t meet those goals,
Happy 16th Birthday, William
William turned 16 last week. We ordered Indian food and ate ice cream cake and sang a song in his honor. The chorus (set to
How Politicians Talk About Disability Matters
As we head into another election cycle, I’m paying attention to the language politicians use to talk about people with disabilities. This is not a
The Wonder of Kindness and Joy on Planet Earth
Last year, after we returned from a week at Hope Heals Camp, I wrote that camp “is not a place where we lay out a
Summer’s opportunities to watch, listen, and read with abandon
We asked our kids last week what metaphorical season they are in right now. All of them seemed confused. Literal summer also pretty much always
LeBron James: “Being a Winner Is a Curse”
I couldn’t help but feel sad when LeBron James said in an ad for the Olympics that “being a winner is a curse.” He says
What advice would you give someone who is trying to make a plan for their future?
Penny and I did a presentation together at Hope Heals Camp about taking steps to plan for the future. If you want great advice and
Penny in Her Own Words: Why Go to Hope Heals Camp?
After spending eight hours in the Philadelphia airport (a long, boring story), we landed in Birmingham and are now at one of our favorite places—Hope
Online Course Now Available
After our daughter Penny was born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, I felt as though I could no longer imagine our future as a family.
The Good Life Belongs to the Ones who are Unimportant and Overlooked
A few years ago, I was seated next to a businessman from New York City at a fundraising dinner. I asked him about his summer
Penny in Her Own Words: Camp PALS 2024
Penny, can you explain Camp PALS to people who don’t know anything about it? Who is it for? Yes. Camp PALS is for young adults
Creating Belonging Within Families
I wrote a few weeks ago about the difference between exclusion, tolerance, inclusion, and belonging. Generally, when I think about belonging, I’m thinking about institutional spaces. I’m wondering
