Camp PALS and Belonging
Penny sent me a text on her first night of Camp PALS: “With my favorite girl at my favorite place.” The next day, the text read, “Best year ever.” Penny…
Inclusion vs the Real World
I’ve had to learn not to sacrifice our daughter on the altar of my ideology. When Penny was a toddler, I read an article about a teenager with Down syndrome…
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Becoming a Culture of Belonging
How do you know if your community is a place of belonging? Professor Erik Carter has articulated ten “dimensions of belonging.” He created this model for churches to assess whether…
Down Syndrome’s “Exclusive Club”
I remember a day 17 years ago when Peter and I had spent hours with Penny at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. We were exhausted. But he needed to attend…
You Can Be the Person Who Makes a Difference
I walked into the gym a few minutes late. Penny was perched on the sidelines along with the other cheerleaders. The boys’ basketball team had taken a slight lead. I…
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Overcoming My Skepticism About Night to Shine
I felt pretty skeptical about Night to Shine. If you aren’t familiar with this event, it’s an annual gathering for teenagers (and adults) with disabilities, hosted by churches, and sponsored…
Some Thoughts on Down Syndrome and Cheerleading
One of my shining moments as a mother was forcing Penny to try out for cheerleading last year. I told her she didn’t have to participate if she made it,…
Skiing, Disability, and Love
So here’s a sentence I didn’t think I would ever type: we went skiing as a family. I have not been skiing in over twenty years. And then there’s Penny.…
Is John 5 Ableist?
I'm grateful for questions from readers, and here's a question asking how to teach John 5 in a way that isn't ableist: Question: Is John 5 ableist? How do I…
Finding Places Where Everyone Belongs
Where everyone belongs. That’s the dream. That’s the hope. That’s the space and the community and the future we long for. Sometimes we catch glimpses of it. Penny and I…
