These were posts that I wrote with a million things weighing on me.
They were born of fear or frustration. Or anger. Posts that question the where, how and why of things we do.
Many of these echo things you have also felt, which is why we became friends. Or, if you haven’t read them yet, why we will become friends.
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Tell Me Why
About fear, accountability and love
“Why Bother?” She Asked
“Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter,” said Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a personal essay on how this can apply in life
Why I’m Glad the Doctor Told Me to Abort My Baby with Down Syndrome
Coming to terms with internalized ableism, as a parent with a disability, having a child with a disability
Why Frida Kahlo Remains Relevant
About disability pride, overexposure, and the brilliance of Frida Kahlo, as seen in a visit to her home in Mexico City
Sponsor Moxie to go to Camp!
Moxie, she of the fierce courage, love of pink and all things Barbie, bright sparks and glittering smiles, she of towering neon flip flops (who knew they made them that high?!) and commitment to Alexa. Moxie’s all this and then some. She’s also one of the very few teens with Down syndrome on the Big…
The Influence of Disability Within My World
Although I’ve had a disability since I was 4 years old (that we know of anyway), I was mainstreamed at all times. In my family, “disability” was something reserved for people who used wheelchairs. The answer to any disability-related issue I may have had growing up was invariably: try a little harder God only gives…
I Never Knew I Wanted a Child with Down syndrome Until I Had One
What feels like a million years ago, I was on the Baby Center Down syndrome Board. I was immersing myself in the questions, the comments, the endless threads. The talk, the chatter, the crying, the heartache. The “brag”s. One signature struck me in particular, “I never knew I wanted a child with Down syndrome until…
Choosing Moxie
This was originally published on March 6, 2013 It is an account of the time that I was pregnant with Moxie. Please be aware this post discusses violence, sexual abuse and abortion. You can listen to me read this post by clicking the player below, or on my podcast on Spotify or iTunes. I. The…
Disability: Connections, Comforts & Judy Heumann
On my own journey in growing disability pride and overcoming ableism
Let Down Syndrome Define You: A Letter to My Daughter
A Letter to My Daughter in which I hope that she will allow Down syndrome to define her, and be proud of all that she is
Learning to Run
Learning to parent a child with a disability is a lot like learning to run – you learn to breathe, pace yourself, push on. And it’s not a race, it’s a relay
The Impact of Disability on Siblings : The Story of Dana and Meriah
A personal story about the impact of disability on siblings