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 explores her identity and grapples…
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 belonging. I’ve learned about these…
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 syndrome, fear felt incredibly powerful.…
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. WORKSHOP I'd also love for you to check out my…
“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 helped me to consider the…
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 have already moved away from…
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 Kathy Show last week. I’ve…
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 helped me break down…
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 woman whose story is followed…
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 white picket fences and the…
