Mikelle and I feel compelled to write about life with a disability, not just the challenges but the opportunities, the friendships, the innovations, and the brilliance of our communities in action as we share our everyday life living with a disability. With a little more information, motivation, we hope to share how our life is shining beautiful and maybe help you to shine beautiful, too.
October is National Disability Employment Month!
The leaves are turning, the colors are rich this year with oranges and reds. In Denver, we have had our first brush with winter. October marks the seasonal advent of fall and it is also National Disability Employment Month. This month, let’s celebrate Colorado’s Employment First efforts and the passage
How is Employment First Down Under?
Here at Shining Beautiful, we advocate for employment for people with disabilities. Mikelle has been working in some form or fashion since she was sixteen years old. In the very near future, Mikelle and I are starting a podcast featuring interviews and discussions with advocates, employment specialists, thought leaders and
Having Morning Meltdowns and Homework Headaches?
A little prevention and preparation will improve your child’s school performance this year. By the time you read this blog post, school will have started in your community. Fresh school supplies are beginning to show some wear, and once clean backpacks are starting to collect small items portending a favorite
Cool Ideas for Getting TechFit.
The dog days of summer have arrived. Hot, humid days cling to the ground where fireworks fizzled just a few short weeks ago. The barbeque has cooled, and there just isn’t is ever enough ice tea—sweet or unsweet. The family dog is either under the air conditioner or panting from
Can You Speak Mikelle?
Get TechFit and TechStrong. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Areas in life, once strong become weak. It was a gradual weakening, one we didn’t notice until it was obvious. Mikelle’s voice was growing quieter. The digital voice we had become so accustomed to was increasing silent as
Momma Mikelle….the Circle of Support Goes Both Ways
“When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it be’ And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it be’.” -The Beatles When you are at your weakest, be
How Do Parents Teach Self-Determination?
As a young mom, I recall Mikelle’s sweet stretched out yawns, her gentle infant coos and the terrible fear of the dreaded baby swing that threw her into a startle so severe she thought she would fall to the ground. I remember the many attempts to help her learn to
Ninja Warrior Parenting…Can we go overboard?
As families with special needs, we develop almost ninja-like warrior skills in fighting for our kids. We are strong, even when we feel weak. We speak out, even when we are shy. We believe in our kids, even when others don’t. We are courageous, even when our hearts ache. Our
Sometimes Love is Letting Go
DisAbility sends a family racing towards a destiny no one is ever prepared to have. Our lives cross over the line of “normal” into the land of special. The terrain is beautiful, mountainous and rarely peaceful. As a result, we grow protective and try to shield our family member from
Love is Like a Box of Chocolates, Right?
“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”- Forrest Gump Valentine’s Day and chocolates go hand and hand, like peas and carrots. Do you remember Valentine’s Day was a big deal when you were a child? Boxes of chocolate
New Year Brings Big Changes and Sweet Memories
Brilliant oranges and golds break the gray morning sky, I settle down onto the well worn beige couch. I am waiting, like most mornings, for Mikelle to call out for me. For her to signal she is awake and ready to start the day. Many days she lays awake waiting
What will this New Year Bring?
Mikelle, Taylor and I boxed up the last of the holiday decorations and sighed. Another year has passed, a somewhat challenging year at that. What will this year bring? A stutter or a stop? Shall we resolve or maybe we are just simply full of irresolution. What about you? Has