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.
Voices Shining Beautiful Mikelle’s Beam+ Mini-Documentary and Its Premiere at The People’s Theater
A Story of Advocacy In a new short documentary from BEAM+STORIES Season 2, Mikelle steps into the spotlight—not just as a storyteller, but as a
From the Runway to the Real Fight: June’s Whiplash Reality Check
The June roller coaster continues. Just days ago, we were basking in celebration. Mikelle modeled with flair and confidence at Denver Fashion Week—wearing a red
Shining on the Runway: Disability, Fashion, and the Power of Presence
Denver Fashion Week There’s something magical about being seen—not just looked at, but truly seen. This June, Mikelle lit up the runway at Denver Fashion
Living Life Like Improv: Saying “Yes” to Change in Uncertain Times
It’s one of the foundational rules of improv comedy. You don’t deny the situation; you accept it and then build on it. It feels like
Summer, Uninterrupted: Finding Joy Amid Uncertainty
New Normal Let’s face it—uncertainty is the new normal, especially for families navigating disability services and supports. Between policy shifts, staffing shortages, and the ongoing
Flexibility, Creativity, and Hope: Our Everyday Power Tools
Change – the pace of change is real! None of us could have planned for COVID, protests, economic challenges, job loss, and alterations in
From Baby Swings to Business Cards: Raising Resilient, Capable Adults.
Now that Mikelle and I are both older—she is approaching forty-two, and I am well into my next chapter—I often look back on the winding
March Medicaid Madness: Bracket-Busting Cuts and the Fight for Survival
Basketball fans know the thrill and chaos of March Madness every March — an unpredictable tournament where anything can happen. For those of us relying
Love in the Crossfire: Navigating Valentine’s Day in a Divided World
The Lingering Scent of Conflict Conflict smells vague and bitter—like day-old coffee, sulfur before a match ignites, or uncollected trash lingering too long on a
Showing Up Matters: Why We Took Our Advocacy to the State Capitol
A few weeks ago, I stood in the halls of the Colorado State Capitol, surrounded by families, advocates, and individuals with disabilities. It wasn’t just
Embracing the Storm: Rise, Transform and Carry on.
The Arrival of Winter’s Chill It is dawn on a cold winter morning, a sharp contrast to the days prior when temperatures soared to
New Year, New Reality: Navigating 2025 with Strength and Grace
As the last holiday feasts are enjoyed, the parties quiet down, and the resolutions begin to take shape, we enter a new year filled with