In case you haven’t noticed, I blog a lot about inclusion. I am passionate about the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities. I am not just passionate about inclusion in the education setting. I believe in community […]
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Rachel’s Independence May Depend on Leaders Learning to Play in a Sandbox
Happy Independence Day! I love the Fourth of July and not because I love fireworks. I love it because I have always loved American History and I have a deep-seated belief that we live in the greatest country in the […]
Continue reading »Baby Rachel Celebrates her 18th Birthday Today, Really?
Rachel – Was it really 18 years ago today that I awoke at 4:30 am feeling uncomfortable? Yes, at 8:40 PM 18 years ago this day, a little bundle of pink joy was welcomed into the world by loving parents, […]
Continue reading »AHCA Jeopardizes Rachel’s Pink House
All of us know someone who works this system to receive government supports. Yes, we all know people on “welfare” who abuse the system. The battle cry is often “yes, cut funding because most of the people receiving the services […]
Continue reading »Shakespeare and that Inclusion Thing
Last weekend, Rachel was Strato in her high school’s production of Julius Caesar. If I counted correctly, she had seven lines. She was scarcely seen until the end when she appeared in a big way in one of the final […]
Continue reading »Stop Whining and Start Advocating
I get it. You are angry, disillusioned and disappointed with recent events in Washington DC that could have a devastating impact on people with disabilities. So am I. People need to vent. I get it. Now, it is time for […]
Continue reading »Will Rachel be a Teacher?
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week, at our school anyhow. I thought this would be an appropriate time to do a little catch-up on Rachel’s year. It was about a year ago this time that we found out she would be […]
Continue reading »Ordinary Advocates Matter & Inclusion Works
I’m a little late with my blog but a couple of weeks ago we did our annual NDSS Buddy Walk® on Washington. Over 350 people, including 95 self-advocates, from across our nation, most at their own personal expense, descended on […]
Continue reading »How You Can Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day 2017 #wdsd17
Tuesday is World Down Syndrome Day #wdsd17, but I’m posting this today because Rachel wants you to be ready to celebrate with us tomorrow. WDSD is recognized every year on March 21 (3-21) because Down syndrome is created when a […]
Continue reading »18 Years Ago – A College Road Trip?
This time 18 years ago, Jonathan was about halfway through his radiation and chemo treatments for colorectal cancer. I was pregnant with Rachel who was due to be born at the end of June. We had a prenatal diagnosis so […]
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