Opening minds to acceptance need not be negative. My journey with Wil’s diagnosis is likened to a flower blossoming through a crack in the concrete, unfolding, stretching, growing, reaching, and opening fully to the sun. At first unbelievable, then freeing, and now a natural part of life. Disability is a natural part of the human … Continue reading Blooming Naturally
Change Doesn’t Happen Until We Have Reason to Care
He’s a 16-year-old kid. He wants to be a 16-year-old kid the way he is, just like any 16-year-old kid wants to do things the way they do. Why should a kid with prosthetic legs be an inspiration when he plays baseball? He just wants to play baseball, and that’s the way he does it. … Continue reading Change Doesn’t Happen Until We Have Reason to Care
Wild Cards & Wild Hairs
Picture day was today. Last night Wil took a shower in preparation, and spent extra time choosing a shampoo. I heard him talking to himself as he smelled each one. “Ewww! Too strong. Hmmm, this is old. Mmmm, smells good.” With his sisters gone to college, Wil can safely use what they’ve left behind without … Continue reading Wild Cards & Wild Hairs
To Be or Not To Be
Individuals with disabilities are not more or less special — they are not put on this planet to teach us. All of us are born of the same place; all of us are born of our own ways. All of us are here just as we all are—meant to live and breathe and express our … Continue reading To Be or Not To Be
High Rider
I walked into the parking lot area where Wil was to take his PEAC bike camp. I was overcome with a positive, uplifting feeling — thankfully this type of feeling is not unfamiliar. I’ve grown accustomed to this shift from breathing dense air into a higher atmosphere in only one step. This atmosphere is one … Continue reading High Rider
Take Another Think
We may believe our thinking is correct; or it is good—that we are good people. Even those of us that call ourselves open-minded may find we have unwittingly closed off our minds when spending time with individuals with disabilities. Why is this? Because we have to see it their way first to understand. And many … Continue reading Take Another Think
A Right Turn
47 chromosomes…did something go wrong, or did something go right? There are still tire marks on the ground when I changed direction of thought and peeled off toward something going right. We are now so deep into this right-pathed scenic route that I wonder at how the question is even asked at all.
The Perspective of Time
Wil has grown so much in his 10th grade year, and I can’t thank Kristi Campbell, Hope Schook and Heidi Drake enough for that! For this fact, it gives me space to snicker when I read about a day like this: 10:05 Refused to work10:08 Turned it around10:25 Refused to work10:30 Turned it around1:50 Refused … Continue reading The Perspective of Time
Something New
Wil and I were at the orthodontist’s office. He has a top set of braces; this appointment was about a bottom set to correct his underbite. “As many kids with Down syndrome have a smaller upper jaw, the underbite is common,” the orthodontist said. The commonality of an underbite in people with Down syndrome, I … Continue reading Something New
Inclusion Slam Dunk!
Wil’s paraprofessional, Kristi, told me how Wil — of his own will — went to the closet in gym class, pulled out two baskets and two balls. He proceeded to toss the balls in the baskets. His peers joined in his created game by cheering him on. Today I picked up Elizabeth, Wil and their … Continue reading Inclusion Slam Dunk!