Elvis and the 21st Chromosome
by Erin Doyle Toburen Elvis arrived in blue suede shoes, aviators, and a jumpsuit shortly before the end of my freshman year of college. Already the parents of four children – ages 10 through 18 – the thought of an infant was a decade removed from my parents’ mind when they found themselves unexpectedly expecting. […]
Living His Dream
by Liam Doyle Elvis may have left the building, but Liam is keeping the King’s legend alive with heart and style. At just 16 years old, Liam has already traveled the country performing as a bona fide Elvis Tribute Artist, or ETA. He may have a big pair of blue suede shoes to fill, but […]
A Letter from the President
by Brad Rivard I’ve become fond of the phrase “Frustration and anxiety live in the space between reality and expectation”. For Rachael and I, we really started to feel that when we got Amelia’s diagnosis of Mosaic Down syndrome when she was 15 months old. We were, and still are, the typical parents who, to […]
Summer Camp Fun
by Maria Leestma Artists Creating Together Camp People from ACT got ready for summer at art camp at Meijer Gardens. They brought yarn, wire, watercolor paint, paint brushes, rocks, crayons, glue, and balloons. The students were signed up and came Monday through Wednesday to learn about cultures and structures. Monday, we rode on the tram […]
Celebrating an Extra Chromosome
by Ruth Lee Dear Fellow Travelers My road to Independence is currently under construction. The work can be messy, noisy, irritating, and inconvenient. Ride with me. Expect speed bumps, pot holes, abrupt lane changes, unexpected curves, sudden stops. Ride with me. Construction could take days…years… a lifetime…The work may never end… Ride with me. I’m […]
