I have a sweet memory of driving with Ralph from our home in the city to his brother’s place, the family farm. It was a late summer evening, with the sun about an hour from setting. I remember it being the kind of warm temperature that begs for windows to be rolled down. We could smell…
I have a confession to make: I am a bitter disabled person. The media’s portrayal of people with disabilities had me believing that I’d forever be classified as either inspirational simply for existing, or pitied for being a helpless, worst-case scenario come to life. Add social media to the mix as a young adult, and…
After a decade of caring for their traumatically brain-injured daughter, Harold and Janette Schuringa of Oakville think they know the answer. And an epic adventure on the Camino de Santiago last year with then 33-year-old Jen confirmed their hunch. To flourish, Jen needs challenge, community, and faith. This was not a question that Harold and…
The other day, a friend excitedly shared her latest method for falling asleep. We were gathered in a coffee shop one Saturday morning, discussing the aches and pains of being middle-aged. We’ve morphed over the years from beers in the evening to coffees in the early morning because, well, we’re too tired to stay up…
Sunshine, good coffee and incredible scenery. For seven days in December, I was able to enjoy the beautiful country of New Zealand’s North Island. Our second-born child currently lives in Wellington on a holiday work visa, and it had been 566 days since I had hugged my kid. Cue our team of nurses, a willing…
A curb, door and stairs are all barriers. The Americans with Disabilities Act sought to make us barrier free, but people complained about the ADA regulations. The real barriers are in hearts and minds. The walls A man came to worship, but he could not go all the way into the Temple because of his…
I received my first Bible when I was seven years old. It arrived book by book as each volume was produced in Braille. The first were the Gospel of Matthew and Acts of the Apostles, and I read them voraciously until the next ones arrived. When they did, I stood back and gazed admiringly at…
With October long behind us, the bright colours from the trees around our home have faded, and their leaves gather on the ground. In the next few weeks, the snow will come and create both beauty for the eyes and barriers for the wheelchairs. So for now, I bundle Rachel and Janneke in their warm…
When a close friend began to follow the teachings of a faith healing ministry in Texas, I was guarded and suspicious. I had a vague idea of what they would say – that disability was the result of sin and if you prayed hard enough, you could be healed – but I was shocked by…
When I start getting Rachel and Janneke ready for their day, one of the first things I do is ask, “What do you want to wear today?” Often, I am simply answered with a smile. Sometimes they can give me an indication with eye gaze if I present two options. Their eyes might rest longer…
Robert Bruinsma remembers the day his friend, Sam, told him he was going to die. It was a few days before Christmas 2017, and Bruinsma was visiting Sam (not his real name) in the hospital. Sam told Bruinsma that his request for medical assistance in dying (MAID) had been approved and would be carried out…
Hacked. Though the term seems somewhat harsh, even aggressive with little attention to detail, much of the care with our family has involved several life hacks that have made life easier for our girls. Living with a disability or a specific physical challenge in a world created for the able-bodied requires resourceful solutions. Henry Claypool, a consultant…
|
Uploaded
Failed
|
 |
