For medical parents, the contrast between advice and support—two very distinct means of communication—can be stark. We often receive...

Like many life altering events or experiences, parenting a child with disabilities and medical complexities can profoundly impact one’s spiritual beliefs. I recently listened to an episode of the Rare Life podcast during which host Madeline Cheney dove into this topic by asking three mothers of children with rare diseases to explain how their parenting journeys have changed their religious and spiritual beliefs. As you might imagine, responses varied greatly. While one mother

Average engagement time. Engaged sessions per user. New users. Returning users. Tears blurred my vision as I looked at the Google...

Over time, our society has made great strides when it comes to diversity and inclusion. There are now groups of marginalized and...

In the world of disabilities, the word inspiring can be quite controversial because many people with disabilities have negative...

Something went wrong in the middle of spring. With little provocation, I began snapping at my loved ones. My body started dragging and my...

Advise you to be careful about this portrayal of disability. Would not necessarily pass sensitivity checks. Could fall into the...

When it comes to special needs families, the topic of sympathy can involve a surprisingly diverse range of emotions and elicit a wide...

December is a time for reflection. And as I look back over the past twelve months, I feel like celebrating a time unlike any other in the...

I am a writer whose subject matter sometimes horrifies people. Yet, there are no guts, weapons, or gore in my essays and stories. My...

The world of disabilities is often held up as an example of diversity, but sometimes I wonder how often the people citing this example...

Note: This is the winning essay from the Spring 2023 Johnson County Writing Contest My daughter, JJ, has a rare progressive genetic...

I don’t believe in making my blog a political site. I want all people with all views to feel welcome here. However, government...

“No one’s problem is more or less important than anyone else’s.” “Everyone is dealing with something.” “We all have our own struggles,...

One day, when I was feeling particularly sad and alone, I googled “special needs parents” and “mental health.” I wasn’t surprised to find...

My family lives in a quiet cul-de-sac—a peaceful little tree-lined oasis—with ten young children in the nearby homes. It’s really the...

It’s not exactly breaking news that social media and the internet are both a blessing and a curse. But when it comes to special needs...

These days, words and phrases referring to certain groups of people can be a complex and controversial topic. Though many of us have...

I came up with the idea for a post about coping strategies during a particularly difficult period in my family’s life. It was the middle...

“We are so blessed to have her in our lives.” “It’s a privilege to care for her.” “I wouldn’t trade her for the world.” “I wouldn’t...