You know those “Questions Kids Ask” lists I post here after visiting third-grade classrooms with Luna? Those visits are arranged by a disability awareness program called “Educating Outside the Lines,” and every one of the schools they have me visit is located in…Highland Park, Illinois. ”Is your dog blind, too?” they ask. “Is it scary […]

When the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) selected Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound as the winner of its Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award back in 2008, my sisters accompanied my second Seeing Eye dog Hanni and me to the American Library Association convention in Anaheim to receive the award. […]

We’re back! This past week my Seeing Eye dog Luna and I visited three different schools in person to talk with third graders about guide dogs and what it’s like to be blind. Pretty wonderful to be back with the kids in person, but I gotta be honest: two years without any in-person visits to […]

After two years of teaching memoir-writing classes via Zoom, visiting third-grade classrooms via Zoom, sitting on panel discussions via Zoom, participating in my book club via Zoom, visiting family members via Zoom, I’ve been looking forward to life in person again. Be careful what you wish for. The calendar Gods have conspired. Starting January 26, […]

During our disability awareness presentations, one thing I like to get across to the school kids is that people with disabilities enjoy — and engage in — a lot of the same things they do. We just develop different skills (and sometimes use different “helping tools”) to achieve our goals. Two days ago Luna and […]