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.
Conversations Over Coffee: Navigating a Chaotic World
The kitchen table in Mikelle’s cozy condo hosts countless conversations. It’s where the Shining Beautiful team gathers, supporting each other through the chaos and adventures
Autism and Family Resilience: Lessons from Ezra.
.Free Tickets The tickets were free. The invitation to the movie screening arrived in my crowded inbox at just the right moment. I was searching
To AI or Not to AI: We Navigate this Important New Technology for People with Disabilities.Navigating the Decision Individuals with Disabilities
To AI or Not to AI: that is the question. As with any technology, there are risks and values of technology for all of us.
Embracing the Beauty of Home Ownership Through Section 8
It Starts By Listening to the Dream Mikelle Learned’s story is a testament to the transformative power of home ownership, particularly for individuals navigating life
Nuturing a Loving Relationship with Time
Most of us experience a conflicting relationship with time. Time continues to be both the adversary and the giver of great gifts. As the world
The No New Year’s Resolution Revolution: Embracing Personal Growth Without Pressure
When the New Year bell rang, I decided it was time for the Christmas tree to come down. For Mikelle, it was a bittersweet moment.
It’s Not Perfect. But, we are grateful for it.
Thanksgiving is approaching, and families gather around the dinner table, sharing stories and side dishes. It’s also a time to remember those no longer with
NDEAM-October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
The Employment First Advisory Partnership, which I have been fortunate to be CO-Chair since its legislative inception continues to make progress in raising awareness regarding
Mikelle’s Bronco Magic
Last Year’s Disappointments Don’t Matter this Year. We all hoped it would be a better year for the Denver Broncos, but it wasn’t. Oh well,
Part Two. Checklist for the Pioneer Generation.
Let’s start there. Who needs to be at the table? We have but a few short years to figure this out. Solutions for Consideration:
Will the Pioneer Generation become the Generation in Crisis?
Is the aging caregiver crisis just around the corner? Her passing set in motion a cascade of decisions that triggered deep thought about my passing
Shining Beautiful at 40!
A Beautiful Gift Arrives In the fall of 1983, I lived in a nice-sized three-bedroom home in a southwestern suburb of Denver. My father,