My son and I have been on the receiving end of ableist remarks throughout his lifetime. Most of it is well-intentioned and meant to be encouraging. These seemingly-benign comments are a result of internalized ableism which is why it's hard to identify...
If we're ever going to change this world, we have to consider who we're excluding. It's exhausting to have to put in extra time, energy, and money to adapt nearly everything we interact with.⠀ Whether it be curricula, articles of clothing, toys and games, the...
Inclusion is not solely a disability matter. We cannot talk about representation while excluding other identities.⠀ ⠀ Schools do this well when they boast STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programs for girls. While this is progress, members...
I often say home education is my personal rebellion against the systems that oppressed individuals like my son for centuries. Unschooling, in particular, is a resistance to all oppressive institutions, including those that oppress marginalized communities....
The often clichéd "my child is my teacher" phrase gets applauded but doesn't always get the recognition it truly deserves. My son hasn't only taught me about disabilities, and he hasn't merely opened my eyes to a community in which I once knew nothing. He has...
Sometimes, the things we request and are requested of our children don't make much sense. In one meeting with our DEM (Direction de l’enseignement à la maison) representative, she asked about our goals and some of my son's achievements. She was trying to get a grip on...
When my son was a newborn, his disability was only mildly noticeable. When he didn't have to meet milestones, it was easy to pretend he didn't have a diagnosis attached to him. As I nestled my baby in my arms, I also nestled cozily into ableism.⠀ ⠀ Moms will often...
I often walk a fine line between honoring who my son is and teaching him the skills required to live a meaningful life.⠀ I first became aware of this tug of war when dealing with my son's sensory aversions. He has a strong objection to the texture of playdough. The...
The often clichéd "my child is my teacher" phrase gets applauded but doesn't always get the recognition it truly deserves. My son hasn't only taught me about disabilities, and he hasn't merely opened my eyes to a community in which I once knew nothing. He has...
Sometimes, the things we request and are requested of our children don't make much sense. In one meeting with our DEM (Direction de l’enseignement à la maison) representative, she asked about our goals and some of my son's achievements. She was trying to get a grip on...
When my son was a newborn, his disability was only mildly noticeable. When he didn't have to meet milestones, it was easy to pretend he didn't have a diagnosis attached to him. As I nestled my baby in my arms, I also nestled cozily into ableism.⠀ ⠀ Moms will often...
I often walk a fine line between honoring who my son is and teaching him the skills required to live a meaningful life.⠀ I first became aware of this tug of war when dealing with my son's sensory aversions. He has a strong objection to the texture of playdough. The...