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Rachel’s School Spirit & Inclusion
Back at the beginning of the school year Rachel ran for Student Council. We worked on posters for several weeks. She did her little speech. She handed out candy. Election day came and mom and dad...
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On a Day Like Today
On a day like today most 15-year-old girls get up and go to school. Rachel, she got up early and rode with mom to Topeka. Today would be the next to last step in the process of the passage of the ABLE...
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A Few Tips for Successful IEP Meetings
At the end of the school year, I call it IEP Season. I notice an upsurge in social media requests and pleas for information. I also seem to get more blog readers, emails and inquiries. So I’m cheating...
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Family Movies & Down Syndrome
In my circles we talk a lot about the need for family friendly, wholesome entertainment. That’s not just my church circle either. In my Down syndrome circles, we talk about wanting to see more positive...
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Two Keys to a Successful Freshman Year
Rachel has been in “sophomore” mode for a few weeks now. Right now, she has about two classes standing between her and her sophomore year but she has been reminding us that she will no longer be a...
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Sibling Rocks with Valedictory Speech
I wasn’t going to blog today, but I can’t help myself. Our friend Olivia graduated from high school last week, and everyone needs to see her valedictorian speech! I first met Olivia at Special Kids...
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Lifelong Friends in Different Packages
Happy Birthday Ben and Oksana! Ben is Rachel’s first friend. I shared his sister Olivia’s valedictorian speech last week. She talked about Ben. As I have mentioned once or twice, Rachel and Ben met at...
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Rachel’s Grade A Freshman Year
Rachel’s grades came a few days ago. I already knew her grades because I follow online. However, there is something powerful and more real about feeling and touching the actual grade report. Rachel...
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Baby Rachel’s Sweet 16; 16 Things I Love
Rachel is celebrating her Sweet 16 in NYC. “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” and much more on the schedule. It really does seem like just yesterday we were anticipating her birth.We had a prenatal diagnosis...
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Rachel’s New York City Sweet 16 Adventure
My last blog was 16 things I love about Rachel because we were off to NYC to celebrate her Sweet 16 and celebrate we did. We joke that Rachel leads a Forrest Gump type life. One of our friends says...
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Changing Perceptions One Church Camp at a Time
We are headed off to Centrifuge Church Camp this morning. We love church camp and I have lots to tell you about when we get back – church camp and a job, too! Today, I am just going to re-post the...
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5 Reflections from Church Camp Inclusion
Rachel & her buddy Alli. Alli just graduated. We will miss her at Olathe South during lunch & in student activities at church. As promised and as I most usually do, I want to share reflections...
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Rachel’s Patriotic Cookie Pizza
Rachel loves birthdays. Last night when she was praying she thanked God for celebrating America’s birthday. We kind of have a tradition of making some different patriotic looking things. Last year we...
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Two Suggestions for Church Inclusion
In my blogging, speaking and networking a hot topic is always “The Church” and inclusion. Almost every time I do a speech or a workshop, questions arise. I am a person of deep faith. While I try not...
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Advocacy: Tonsils, Inclusion, Life!
Rachel is getting her tonsils out tomorrow. They called Monday to go over the intake list. About five minutes into the interview, the nurse says “Did you say she has Down syndrome or she has been...
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Not Just Like You?
I am cheating again today. Last week I let you know that Rachel was getting her tonsils out. She did and she is recuperating according to plan. She is an amazing patient and a trooper. We girls aren’t...
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From a Galaxy Far, Far Away to Advocacy
In case you haven’t heard, I’ve got a new gig. Beginning August 17, I will be the new Manager of Grassroots Advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Society. I follow in the footsteps of the very...
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Promises
We just returned from a few days in Memphis. We had our first stop at my mom’s to celebrate her 75th birthday. Rachel and her MawMaw love each other, and Rachel LOVES birthdays. Fun was had by all. The...
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My Corporate Champion
A few months ago my husband Jonathan got a call inviting Rachel to speak at an event in Memphis. The call was from Mr. Bob one of Sedgwick’s Senior Vice Presidents who had served on the board of...
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Sophomore Rachel, Same Challenges as the Rest
Rachel headed off to school this morning as a sophomore. Sophomore year – 1st day She is one of the smallest kids at the school but she is full of life. Over the past week she has been going to Student...
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