With Buttigieg in the national spotlight, conservative Christians will ramp up their efforts to marginalize the LGBTQ community. The rest of us need to counter with more support. Many liberals are excited about Pete Buttigieg’s early impact on the presidential primary. In the wake of the elections of LGBTQ like Jared Polis and Kyrsten Sinema […]
This experience made me think about how I use my own privilege. Do I eliminate obstacles for others or do I take the easier route of deferring to the status quo? In the last decade I have increasingly sought to educate myself about the biased power structures in our society. I’d like to consider myself […]
Down syndrome is definitely part of our life, but it’s not the axis on which our family turns. Ten years ago my wife and I found out that the child she was carrying had Down syndrome. I immediately assumed this child would suck all of the “me” out of my world and that I was […]
Inspiration porn does not promote inclusion; it propagates objectification. Inclusion is the brass ring of the disability community. As the mother to a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome, I constantly search for and even engineer environments where my son is welcome, places where the social constructs expand enough to accommodate a boy who doesn’t talk […]
Our society’s resistance to diversity is literally killing our children. Stacey Bailey, an elementary school art teacher from Texas, is currently suspended from her job due to allegations that she discussed her sexual orientation with her students. The media coverage of the situation is focused on the rights of the adults in the case. Should a […]
Our children’s interactions with animals are one of the only dynamics in their lives where they clearly have status and a degree of power. In the face of the #MeToo movement many parents are taking a stronger stance against the mandatory physical affection that often comes with holiday visits. We are becoming conscious that forcing […]
Those who consider this a culture shift and not a temporary purging are assuming that what happens in the public eye will automatically spill over into private lives. The reality is that trickle down justice is every bit as much of a myth as trickle down economics. The recent avalanche of sexual harassment and assault […]
Some people make the annual pilgrimage back home even though they know their feelings will be ignored, their identities questioned, their experiences minimized. For those of you in this group, I offer an option: Don’t go. As the holidays approach, many people are making plans to visit family. Most everyone can expect some stress and […]
When you say #NotMe and attribute it to your lack of attractiveness to men, you inadvertently lend credence to the idea that women secretly like being assaulted or harassed because it proves that we’re beautiful. Dear sisters, I see your tweets and posts on social media, your proclamation of #NotMe to indicate that you have […]
Rather than assigning him a role to play, you have to give him space and watch how he fills it. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. As a mom to a 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome I struggle a bit knowing what I should make people aware of. In the past I’ve tried to show […]
We must accept that before we can heal, and sadly white Americans have real trouble in holding the good and bad of our heritage. In the last few days, news of Hurricane Harvey’s destruction and the subsequent rescue efforts have replaced political scandals and social unrest at the top of the news cycle. First responders […]
The oppressive dragon feminists need to slay is not just that a woman’s value lies solely in reproduction. We must also topple the idea that non-disabled, opposite sex, cisgendered married couples with children are the foundation of society. Role Reboot recently published an essay by Amy Monticello where the author argues for a woman’s right […]
