Mccarrel Photography

1 in 10 children have a disability. Fact: you know or love someone with a disability. Disabilities are diverse--not all are visible or shared with others.

When we laugh or make jokes about people with disabilities, we are potentially laughing at a baby's complicated/traumatic experience at birth, a mother and father's tears as they learn and grow to accept a new way of life for their baby. We are laughing at a person's lifetime of challenging therapies, insurance battles, potentially deadly emergencies, or long hospital stays without the comfort of home. We are laughing at someone's challenges in the education system, hundreds if not thousands of dollars spent on lawyers and advocates for IEP adherence, hours and hours spent trying to find clothing and shoes that work with leg braces, emotional exhaustion from advocating for basic parts of life we all take for grated. When we laugh at someone with a disability, we are laughing at someone's feelings of inadequacy when unable to keep up with peers physically or cognitively. We are laughing at their strength that it takes to get up and keep going. We are laughing at the 7 year old boy who begins to not believe in himself because he can't play basketball like his friends. We are laughing at an 8 year old who just started 3rd grade and because he can't feel his bladder, has accidents--completely out of his control. Or a 10 year old girl who feels broken because she can't hear without an implant. We are laughing at someone's journey, someone's life, someone's whole world. This is not okay.

Part of the month of July is to raise awareness about disability, celebrate all those with disabilities and what they overcome every day, & to re-evaluate how we make the world around us fit for every body, every person. I hope you can join me in paying closer attention to what and how we make the world more accessible, more supportive, & more of-quality for those with disabilities.

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Been photographing this family for 9 years 🥹 it means so much to me that they still choose me after all this time! Love them dearly!

Come join us this Sunday!

🌈 **Get your colors ready, Crystal Lake!** 🏳️‍🌈
We are so excited to have you join us for the **3rd Annual Crystal Lake Pride Walk & Social**! It’s time to come together, celebrate love, and show our vibrant community spirit.
Here is everything you need to know to join the fun:
# # # 📍 Where & When
* **Meet-Up Spot:** Crystal Lake Ave & Williams Street
* **Time:** Sunday, June 7th by **11:00 AM**
# # # ✨ What to Bring & Wear
* **Dress Code:** Your absolute most colorful apparel! 🎨
* **Gear:** Pride flags are highly welcome and encouraged! 🏳️‍⚧️
* **The Crew:** Bring your friends, your family, and your neighbors!
After the walk, stick around to **eat, shop, and connect** with our incredible local community. Let's make this year's walk the biggest and brightest one yet!
See you there! 🩵💛❤️🧡💚💙💜