Welcome to Jen's Pond

  Photo by Gabor Szucs on Unsplash I love social media for its ability to keep me connected to people I met years ago at camp and now using it to keep connected to others I meet in my work and day to day life. Connection is what I think a lot of people want, and yet, with angry sharing on social media, we seem to just make people angry and hateful. The digital porch feels less like a place to gather and starting to feel like a stadium where everyone is booing. Our communities are turning into opposing teams. Instead of cheering for the athletes, for a good game, and having a good time supporting teams, we just wait for the other side to seemingly make a mistake.   What breaks my heart the most when I look at comment sections is that the people tearing each other apart don't even know one another. They aren't arguing with a neighbor; they are screaming in writing at someone they most likely don’t know or have ever met.   Our manners, our empathy, and our humanity are gone...

I used to think my future involved  sunglasses & a too cool for school expression, but life is funny. If you had told my elementary self that I’d still be in school decades later, I would have cried. But here I am!  Today, on Teacher Appreciation Day, I have a few very specific thank-yous.  To my past & present teachers: I’m fairly sure you all made it out okay but thank you for the infinite patience, guidance, knowledge, and care.  To my family and friends in the trenches: Your job is a thankless job. Thank you for showing up every day for the students and their families in your charge and for giving it your all. You inspire me. Thank you for showing me that a teacher voice is a legitimate superpower. 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️ To my past students: You are still in my heart. I think of you often and hope you’re out there making some 'good trouble.' 🥹 To the young people finding their footing to the adults sharing their stories to change policies that will help ...

I'm writing about something that’s been on my mind lately, because it’s showing up again. Recently, there have been comments questioning whether people with disabilities can or should serve in the highest levels of leadership. And when someone questions the capability of any person with a disability, it lands on the entire disability community. The message tells millions of people, “Leadership isn’t for you.” It’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and I can’t be silent. In honor of those I serve, those I care deeply for, those I work with, those I don’t   know, those that have come before me to fight for true equality and belonging… I want to say clearly: this is simply not true. I’ve spent more than thirty years working alongside people with disabilities and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: disability does not diminish intelligence, leadership, or the ability to make decisions. People with disabilities learn, communicate, and navigate the world in many di...

How many of you have watched the movie from 1976 The Network?  I haven't, though I keep thinking I should because of the famous scene that is typically called the "Mad as hell" scene. I'll insert it here for you, if you're interested. Be warned, there's a few curse words, including 'hell'.  This scene seems to resonate with me every time I watch it. I can't get away from this one line in particular, "I'm a human being, my life has value."  So many people are fighting to be recognized, to be understood, to be cared about. So many people are fighting so many systems... they're waiting in line for services... services that usually refer to people as a number. Are we taking time to really see and hear them? To show that yes, they are  valued and that the service system is here to help them be bolder, not to take away.  It takes courage to come to the system for help. People want to feel valued and the system can make people feel the o...

  Can we talk about “special needs proms?” The photos I have seen from a recent event are beautiful. I am genuinely glad the people who attended had a great time. Joy matters . But joy in a separate space does not equal inclusion. A separate prom is still segregation, even when it is wrapped in kindness. If a community can come together to create a big, joyful event, it is worth asking why we cannot create that same joy with everyone, more often, in the actual community. Why is separation still the default instead of inclusion. I also understand the value of disability‑specific spaces. Programs like the Youth Leadership Forum are important because they build identity, leadership, and community among people who share lived experience. These spaces exist to empower people, not to replace access to the broader community. A prom is different. A prom is a community milestone that everyone should have access to. Creating a separate version does not build belonging. It replaces it. I...