RECENT POSTS
Announcing Missing Out on Beautiful, Part Two
Download FREE E-Book Our daughter Penny was born on December 30, 2005. She was diagnosed with Down syndrome a few hours later. It’s almost hard
S3 E16 | Normie: What is Normal Through the Lens of Down Syndrome with Annemarie Carrigan and Kurt Neale
What is normal? Normie is a coming-of-age film about a young woman with Down syndrome. Today, Annemarie Carrigan, the lead cast member of Normie, and
International Accessibility Symbol: When What You See Changes How You See
William and I walked to our local library a few days ago. I pointed to the painted symbol on the pavement in front of us
S3 E15 | Who Belongs? Disability and the Built World with Sara Hendren
How does “the built world”—the chairs, rooms, and streets that guide our bodies every day— implicitly ascribe worth to human beings? How does the built
Bloom Where You’re Planted
I used to think that the only way for me to participate in social healing was to move. I live in a predominantly white, affluent,
Dreaming and Planning With Our Teenager With Down Syndrome
We had a planning meeting last February for our teenage daughter, Penny, who has Down syndrome. Penny invited friends, family, and teachers to join her
Human Suffering Is Not the Only Point of Connection
I am so much more interested in human connection than human division. But where does that connection come from? How does it happen? I spoke
S3 E14 | The Astonishing Hope of a Mortal Life with J. Todd Billings
Mortality is often connected to fear, so how does embracing a mortal life provide hope to individuals and communities? Professor Todd Billings, author of “The
Big Feelings and Growing Up with Marilee
What do you do with a child with big feelings? Especially if you are a parent who has never had similarly big feelings? Yes, I
AJB Recommends: Three Podcast Episodes About Addressing Racism
This week, I’ll recommend three podcast episodes about racism that challenged me, brought hope, and brought clarity this week: CHALLENGE The challenge: A podcast about
White Picket Fences Turns Two {And a Giveaway!}
White Picket Fences turns two today! Yes, this book that almost-never-was—not only did it get published, but it has stayed “alive” for two years because
My Daughter With Down Syndrome Helped Me Understand Racism
How did disability help me understand racism? I am white, married, educated, and affluent. Our daughter Penny was born into many of these same categories,
Three Harms of Privilege
The harm of privilege is exclusion, injustice, and isolation. When I say the word privilege, I’m talking about a set of unearned social advantages given
S3 Bonus | What Is Privilege?
What is privilege? What is it not? How does privilege cause harm? In this bonus episode, Amy Julia describes her working definition of privilege, the
God Is Always Doing a New Thing
“There is nothing new under the sun.” It’s such a depressing line from Ecclesiastes, and it reads as depressingly true right now. Futility of Life
AJB Recommends: Resource to Learn More About Prison Reform
What do you know about the prisons and prison reform in your local community? After I interviewed Dominique Gilliard for the podcast, I was struck
Blessed Are Those Who Thirst for Justice
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice.” I’ve always heard this verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount translated as “Blessed are those
Faith Is Trusting in the End of the Story
How do we have faith that a good ending is coming? I know lots of people in pain right now. Some are in physical pain—my
