Tag Archives: Disability
Amanda Portrait, Day 15 – Down Syndrome and Bungee Jumping
When Amanda told me she wanted to put bungee jumping on her bucket list, I was all, “Yeah, okay. You have fun with that.” She added this to other things I would not partake in, like skydiving and riding in … Continue reading
Amanda Portrait Day 12 – Little Beluga
Those of us fortunate enough to know Amanda as she really is, without the Down Syndrome label, without talking over her or putting her in another room to watch cartoons with the kids (an ex-boyfriend’s sister actually did that once), … Continue reading
Amanda Portrait Day 10 – Watercolor
Amanda would appreciate this image, as it is probably her favorite stage that her hair was in — long and flowing. This is the longest her hair ever got. She was about seven years old here. We always thought it … Continue reading
Nevertheless, She Persisted
I received a Valentine’s Day card today from my sister Amanda. Amanda has Down syndrome. She is 46 years old and, following the death of our Dad in 2013, she went to live with our older brother in Arizona. … Continue reading
Inauguration and Feathers of Down Syndrome
As Inauguration Day circles above us, riding the air currents like a predator, many have been dreading the last hours of our dear President Obama’s administration. His eloquence, grace and humor will certainly leave a tremendous void. But this inauguration … Continue reading
Dr. Phil Wants Amanda and Me On His Show
Dr. Phil called. Okay, it was actually Dr. Phil’s employee. On December 7th, I received an email from Kristi Hall, a producer for Dr. Phil. She was trying to call me to potentially arrange for Amanda and me to appear … Continue reading
Bullying
This blog post is worth a revisit: From January 21, 2015 Prior Lake Priorities – On Bullying I know everyone likes to see nice and sunny, funny stories about my sister Amanda, who despite (or maybe partially due to) having … Continue reading
Free State of (Disability) Jones
It’s Independence Day, so I guess it is the ideal time to point out that all Americans are not free. The film Free State of Jones is a triumphant and tragic commentary on how far independence has come. Matthew … Continue reading
How My Sister Went from Illiterate at 21, to a Published Author
Amanda has long been a writer at heart. Beginning from when she was about two, she used to climb the stairs and sit with me in my bedroom while I wrote page after page on spiral-bound note paper. I wrote … Continue reading
The Red Carpet
I have to admit I am smitten with the whole giddy hubbub of Oscar night. The glitz, the glam, the jewelry, the shoes. Bradley Cooper escorting his mother as his date. The self-effacing humor of Jennifer Lawrence after she tripped … Continue reading