We Need Better Employment Training for Our Kids With Disabilities
Most students who receive special education qualify for a “transition” program that allows them to stay in school until age 21. These programs are meant to provide job training and life skills, preparing our kids to become as independent as possible. But...
To Anyone Who Thinks Parenting My Disabled Child Must Be ‘So Hard’
I parent two children with disabilities, which means I’ve lost count of the number of people who have said to me that parenting my kids must be “so hard.” That my life must be “so hard.” Image: Little boy squatting and feeding two pigeons that appear to be...
Navigating Back-to-School Choices for Kids With Disabilities During the Pandemic
Online learning, hybrid models, or full-time school. These are the options and choices to navigate as this new school year begins in the midst of a global pandemic. What are we — parents of kids with disabilities — to do? [Image: a empty classroom in the...
My Child With Down Syndrome Is Not ‘More Alike Than Different’ and That’s OK
If you have a loved one with Down syndrome, chances are you have heard the phrase, “More alike than different.” I first heard this slogan when my daughter with Down syndrome was young — I wanted to shout it out, loud and clear. When I started giving school...
Ellen Stumbo writes and speaks about finding beauty in brokenness with gritty honesty and openness. She's passionate about sharing the real – sometimes beautiful and sometimes ugly – aspects of faith, parenting, special needs, and adoption. Ellen’s writing has appeared on Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia and the Huffington Post.