I have recently gotten back in the pool (after a year đ ) thanks to our friend, Dawn, taking great care of Wil after school and honing in on his life skills learning. While I swam Monday, Dawnâs husband came over to have a guitar jam session with Wil đ¸ When you have a dependent child, … Continue reading Independence Takes a Village with Dependent Children
The Bright Side
Elizabeth sent me this picture of her and her sorority sister, Isabelle. They were visiting a cider mill and enjoying the day with their sisters. I love to see her big heart and smile, and loving life on her own. She has more than earned this time. She and her twin sister, Katherine, are great … Continue reading The Bright Side
Inclusion: Reason to Care
Iâm no born-natural. Iâm not made to raise a child with Down syndrome. But here I am. And working as a paraprofessional, no less. I have a lot to offer, we all do. But I have a lot to learn; thatâs exactly why am I where I am. Not because I was born with a … Continue reading Inclusion: Reason to Care
Disability Invisibility Goggles
We historically do not like people who think differently than we do. We want things to work out the way we want them to and we surround ourselves the best way we can so things work out the way we want them to. When things donât work out the way we want them to we … Continue reading Disability Invisibility Goggles
Inclusion
I am enmeshed in the world of people helping people; of making inclusion work. Personally and professionally. I am on a high learning curve, always, with both Wil and the children I work with. Down syndrome looks much different than other disabilities, and of course, no matter the disability, each individual is their very own … Continue reading Inclusion
Blooming Naturally
Opening minds to acceptance need not be negative. My journey with Wilâs 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
Take Another Think
We may believe our thinking is correct; or it is goodâthat 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
Let Us Embrace Our Vulnerable Population
In embracing our vulnerable population we embrace our own vulnerabilities. We crave Love. Love is the base of all things. Love is survival. We crave, live and breathe for Love. In embracing individuals that we previously misconceived as having lesser value, we find in fact their value is greater than ours as theirs is the … Continue reading Let Us Embrace Our Vulnerable Population
Unsuspected Connections
Yesterday, checking out at the grocery store, the grocery clerk commented on the cupcakes I bought. I said the cupcakes were for my sonâs classroom for his birthday. The grocery clerk asked how old my son was. I replied that he was my baby, and it was hard to believe he was already 16 years … Continue reading Unsuspected Connections
We All Have Hard Stuff
Yesterday, I just didnât have it in me. Yesterday, I did not have the patience that on somedays I find miles of. Some days I wish Wil would just get up and get in the car when I ask him to. Some days I wish I could say, âWe are leaving in 20 minutes,â and … Continue reading We All Have Hard Stuff