Making a Home, Meditation & More

One of the reasons I started Another Normal was to deepen the conversations we all have in support of young people with disabilities.  As the saying goes, “Little kids, little problems.  Big kids…”  Well, you get it.

Learning how to talk about our concerns with each other, our families, and our young adult children is no small undertaking.  The issues we face can be sensitive and emotional, and everyone processes things differently.  This newsletter is designed to provide resources, information and encouragement to help make the learning, processing and emotions we all experience less challenging.  

Please leave a comment to spark conversation with other readers and like-minded individuals.  And please share with others who may be interested in joining our community.

Thanks for making Another Normal part of your day.

I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom.

 —Les Brown

Free webinar next Monday.

Please join us from 7-8:15pm EST on Monday, December 7th for a free Zoom webinar on Building Relationships, Passions & Potential to Create Community Connection. I’m so excited to host this energizing and informative evening with representatives from Starfire, a visionary organization working to remove barriers to opportunities in the community where people can be known for their gifts, not their disability. 

Helpful housing.

I love reading about how communities across the U.S. are developing creative options for people who want to live on their own, regardless of disability. I hope that by spotlighting them here, in places like Indiana, Tennessee and Minnesota, I might inspire interested families and community leaders to apply what works elsewhere to the towns in which you live. Parents shouldn’t have to fear for our grown children’s safety, happiness and belonging once we can no longer care for them. Many young adults with disabilities can achieve a life of independence if communities can create safe, affordable places for them to call home.

Speaking of safety.

Check out what this California town has organized to help law enforcement improve how it serves and protects people with intellectual disabilities. This panel discussion with police officers and local advocates could easily be replicated in other communities. Consider reaching out to your local human or social services department and see if partnering with law enforcement like this can help reduce discrimination and tragedy where you live. Remember, it takes a village.

Try it, you’ll like it.

I first tried meditating way back in college — mostly because a very cute boy was teaching it. Alas, I did not succeed and went decades before working up the nerve to try it again. As the whole world has slowed down this year, however, I’ve discovered the benefits of starting most days with a brief morning meditation. In my experience, it’s worth every second. After all, research shows that practicing meditation offers important benefits to our health and well-being. The same is true for gratitude. A guided gratitude meditation might be just what you need to start your day more focused and intentional — especially now that the hectic holidays have arrived. Let me know!