Using Our Strength to Lift Up
“The strength that we each have is to lift one another up, not to push people down.” Vice President Kamala Harris spoke these words to a young man with Down…
How Stories of Hope Empower Justice
Apple YouTube Spotify More! The way we tell the stories of our past plays a crucial role in shaping our imagination for the future. Author and historian Jemar Tisby, Ph.D.,…
Narrow Path, Spacious Life
Apple YouTube Spotify More! The ways we have envisioned success—whether it’s more wealth, social media followers, recognition, or power—might actually lead us away from an abundant, spacious life. Pastor Rich…
Introducing Season 8 of Reimagining the Good Life
Apple YouTube Spotify More! How do we envision the good life in a way that is hopeful and human and freeing and good?My name is Amy Julia Becker. I help…
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 whether our daughter Penny, who…
Humanity, Belonging, and “An Ordinary Future”
Penny’s school reached out months ago to make sure they could special order both a robe and a cap that would fit her well—an example of belonging. How do we…
Why Belonging Matters
I’ve been thinking about the difference between inclusion and belonging. These thoughts have mostly been prompted by all the end-of-high school events for our daughter Penny, who has Down syndrome.…
Penny in Her Own Words: Senior Project Presentation
Intellectual disability does not need to prevent young adults from learning. With support, encouragement, and room to make mistakes and grow from them, students like our daughter Penny, who has…
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How Language Shapes Our Imagination
I’m two weeks into my new workshop, Reimagining Family Life with Disability. We have nearly 40 parents of children with disabilities who are Zooming in from across the United States—Vermont, Georgia,…
Penny in Her Own Words: Senior Trip
Life for our 18-year-old with Down syndrome isn’t perfect, but it is good. Penny just spent three days with her class on their senior spring trip. I asked her to…
