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.
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 another day—it was a day to advocate for Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and ensure the voices of those who rely on these essential services were heard loud
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 nearly sixty degrees. Now, water droplets—frozen mid-flight—fall from the darkened heavens above. Each one is unique and intricate, with a center surrounded by six crystalline
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 uncertainty and possible cuts to our beloved long-term services and supports. While often stressful, the holiday season brings exceptional warmth and joy to those who
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 containing an image of a worn nub of a yellow #2 pencil. Its point was carved roughly with a pen knife, its pink eraser worn,
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 favorite people, share laughter, and celebrate all the moments that make life meaningful. But this year, like so many others, we’ve had to adjust and
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 the support systems that millions of people rely on today. It feels like déjà vu—just like in 2017, there are concerns that the programs we
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 with disabilities. The first part of this series focused on frustration and the desire for improved job development outcomes. In this segment, we zero in
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. Abby has left us to pursue an exciting new position at a local museum, and Elise is moving on to new opportunities. While we will
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. While some states lead the way with higher job placements, more hours, and better financial rewards for supported employees, others struggle with what was once
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 a simpler time–a more innocent time. Mikelle, Liz, and I decided in May to get these tickets at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion for a beach-like concert
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 think Mikelle embodies the true spirit of community, resilience, and the American desire and opportunities to achieve your dreams. For many years, our family has
A Tale of Two Celebrations: Mikelle’s Memorable Birthday Bash
Celebrating Mikelle’s Birthday in the Shadows of Her Grandma’s Home This summer, Mikelle celebrated her birthday at the home of her brother Kasey and his wife Allison, once her beloved Grandma’s house for sixty-two years. Although it marked the second birthday without her Grandma, gathering friends in the revitalized backyard breathed