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.
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
Protecting the Dream of Inclusion: Persistence, Passion, and the Courage to Begin Again
Many years ago, my teenage son, Kasey, gave me a Christmas gift that I’ve cherished ever since. It wasn’t expensive or elaborate—a simple black frame
A Shining Beautiful Christmas: Finding Joy in the Little Things
A time of good cheer. The holiday season is always a special time for the Shining Beautiful Team. It’s a chance to gather with our
Medicaid: How the 2024 Presidential Election Could Reshape Disability Services
As we gear up for the 2024 presidential election, it’s a good time to reflect on how previous battles over healthcare, particularly Medicaid, have shaped
How Do You Get from Here to There? Celebrating NDEAM with Creativity.
In recognition of *National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we continue exploring *creativity* in the workplace and how it can revolutionize job development for people
New Beginnings: How to Embrace Change and Strengthen Your Caregiving Team
Change is inevitable, but… Change is an inevitable part of any journey, and it’s with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to Abby and Elise.
Employment for All: Cultivating Opportunities for People with Disabilities
Jumpstarting Results For quite some time, I, like many of you, have been searching for ways to improve supported employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
Catching a Wave at Levitt Pavilion with the Ladies
Old Friends and New Memories It was one of those perfect summer evenings when the air was just perfect—warm with a gentle breeze reminiscent of
Independence Day with Mikelle: A Celebration of Freedom and Resilience
Independence Day is a time for celebration, reflection, and coming together as a community. It represents the freedom and independence that we all cherish. I