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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…
False Message: Disability is a joke to be laughed at.
Images, words, and attitudes all shape our implicit impressions of people with disabilities, and many of those words and images create false understandings. We’ve looked at two of these false…
Disability and Respect: Look Her in the Eye
I’m so grateful for the technician at the eye doctor appointment who assumes that Penny can speak for herself. I’m also aware of how surprised I feel that this young…
