The Pursuit of the American Dream

Mom to Mom. The Importance of Having a Vision.

From the time our children are born, we worry about where they will live when they become adults. What will their lives be like? We have a few answers. Doing nothing only kicks the can down the road. It is time to start exploring your options. Let’s discover a vision and assist your son or

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Writing an Ad that Works.

Writing an ad that attracts the right people to work with your family member who experiences a disability. Choosing a title, using keywords can both differentiate your ad from all the others seeking help, it can also attract the right people who want to work for the right reasons. Here is the link to the

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The Spirit of Christmas Shines Beautiful at Our Home

The ornaments are up on the tree, the garland glitters, and the string of lights twinkle like stars in the night. A mound of wrapping paper is stacked next to gifts not yet wrapped. The sacred holiday nears. Packages arrive on doorsteps with the wish that not a single porch pirate dare steal the joy

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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 whoever we find interesting.  Colorado

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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 the heat under the old

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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 sit. Valiantly, we attempted to

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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 adeptness strips away our memory

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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 the dangers of life living

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