ABLE : Adults Beyond Limitations Enabled

10/12/2025

I hate this picture, and honestly never thought I'd share it with anyone, but here I am, sharing myself at my worst.

This picture was taken New Years Eve, 2023. I was completely depleted here.

I had spent over 18 years in survival mode while doing all the things. I buried a husband, blended a family, had a baby, moved 7 times, created a nonprofit, wrote 4 books, helped create Unseen: Caregiver Documentary , built a house, and renovated a group home for Lucas. You can definitely see the "worn and weary" look in my eyes, and you can definitely see the lack of peace etched across my face. The day after we moved Lucas into his group home on February 1, 2024, I hit the wall - the grief and burnout wall - and I didn't emerge for the next couple of months.

I wiped my schedule clean and did the bare minimum to keep my household functioning. I laid in bed and watched a lot of Netflix.

The moral of the story? The body does keep the score. I was doing many things right when this picture was taken: walking, doing yoga, taking 20+ supplements a day, eating healthy - everything except managing my stress which I now know should be at the top of my list or all the other "right" things don't matter.

I'm happy to say, I no longer look like this tired, haggard version of myself. The light has returned to my eyes through lots of intentional practices, but most of all, through allowing myself to experience an extended period of rest.

Are you also worn and weary? Do you look in the mirror and see a version of what I see here? Comment REST, and I'll send you my top 7 tools for regulating the nervous system and finally experiencing peace again.

10/02/2025

Mark your calendars! 📆The 2026 ReelAbilities Houston Film and Arts Festival is set to return January 18-February 26, 2026! We’re thrilled to bring you another inspiring lineup of films, concerts, conversations, and events that champion inclusion and highlight the talents of people with disabilities.

Check out the full schedule here: https://bit.ly/3Xz8TDz

09/30/2025

Awesome Halloween basket up for grabs! Last day to get your tickets. Check the story out below!

A treat for you, a gift for our clients. 💜

This Halloween basket is full of treats—but the biggest treat is what your ticket can do. Each raffle ticket helps Tri-County clients access essentials like meals, utilities, hygiene items, and other support they rely on to get through each day.

Raffle tickets are:
$10 each | 3 for $25 | 7 for $50

Don’t miss your chance to win this spooky, cozy basket while making a real difference!

Grab your ticket online: https://buff.ly/tRAEMY0 or scan the QR code to enter.

09/30/2025

Bella Vita Community's Monthly Newsletter!!!

05/09/2025

Amanda McKinney Walker

02/08/2025

Sharing!

Looking to bring a group to our Caregiver ReTreat? We have BIG savings for you! Get a table together for 6 caregivers for just $500 and join us in April! Info in the comments ⬇️

02/08/2025

This makes me mad and sad. Unfortunately this happens more than I care to say. We have come a long way since the day of state hospitals but not far enough. hugs to all those who see this all too often. A Journey For Avery so sorry for the ignorance

" At some point you need to stop bringing this child out in public because obviously in public he can not behave & act appropriately. Stop blaming society in your posts for how your child is treated in public & take accountability for that your child does not belong in society & you are forcing society to include him. "

That was the comment.

Worse has been said to us unfortunately.

Worse has been left as a comment on our page.

This isn't the worst and yet I read this comment over and over again.

Each time I read the comment I felt a little more sad and angry that an older man named " Trenton " according to Facebook has time to attack us online.

At some point on this journey when sharing our life openly online I definitely realized the risk.

The risk of sharing our life unapologetically, opens our family up to public discussions, a gross amount of hate comments & a fair amount of weirdos watching our every move online.

There is a risk that comes with sharing online for thousands to see what you are sharing each day.

I understand the risk & not everything we do online comes with someone attacking us.

Truthfully we have had a fairly good experience with sharing our life openly online.

We have a wonderful community here that has grown with our family & has been with us for birthdays & back to school season along with many advocating adventures.

At some point while reading this horrible comment left on our page, I had to remind myself that not everyone is kind.

There will always be someone having something to say.

And for our family rising above is part of this journey, as much as sometimes I don't want to.

In case there is ever confusion on this page I would like to clear some things up for everyone.

Our child belongs wherever we see fit.
Our child does not need to be kept hidden away.

& there is still misinformed uneducated a**hats like yourself Trenton in this world.

Sadly Trenton you apparently have enough time to attack families like ours online to boost your ego & unfortunately you still need to be reminded that we don't live in the 1960's anymore.

& maybe in the 1960's everyone would have applauded what you needed to say & have an opinion about.

But times have changed.

Dear Trenton, you are the problem in our society.

Sorry if someone told you that you weren't.

They lied.



Wrote on - August , 2023 by A Journey For Avery

12/06/2024

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845A8AD22A1FDC07-53616153-dec6th

As Mariah Carey would say, It's TIIIMMMMMEEEEE! This is our FAVORITE time of the year and we are starting it off, Grinch style. Click on the link to save your spot.

12/06/2024

12/06/2024

There are some battles in life that we face alone. 💕😇

— feature post, Dr. Maria Chiaranardone

12/06/2024

Purpose and Community

Every order is a gift of purpose, meaning and connection for Trevor. He would not be who he is without YOU! In this season of gratitude, we want you to know we are thankful for YOU, our customers.

Trevor has such joy in making soaps, receiving orders, packaging soaps, shipping them and providing a quality product to you, our community of support.

As a person with disabilities, Trevor doesn't always have a lot of opportunities to show his skills and what he CAN do. The focus is often on what he can't do. But not at Trev's Trades. He is a successful entrepreneur who has great joy in connecting with YOU!

Thank you!!

12/06/2024

I don't know how many times I have been on the edge and prayed and prayed whatever it was to go away as right now it just can't happen. We can't get sick, we can't stay in bed when it is just too much. And it is always too much.

If I have a heart attack.

Don't be surprised.

I'm a caregiver.

If I have a stroke.

Don't be surprised.

I'm a caregiver.

The caregiver who never sleeps.

That's me.

The caregiver who's life is in a constant state of stress.

That's the unfortunate truth.

I'm a caregiver.

Raising a child who needs forever care.

The type of care that lasts a lifetime.

My child won't grow out of needing me to be a caregiver.

Sometimes people are surprised to learn that my child will need a caregiver forever.

Here's the one thing I don't want you to be surprised about so believe me when I say this.

Every single day I stress, worry and have pure panic about when I will have a heart attack, a stroke or something else that leaves me unable to care for my child.

& here's the truth. It has never been “ if I will , it has always been when will I?”

I'm a caregiver.

One day I won't be surprised if I am sharing with you that something happened to me.

& unless you live this life you may not understand.

If I have a heart attack.

Don't be surprised.

If I have a stroke.

Don't be surprised.

I'm a caregiver, who is in a constant state of survival. Living this life is one gigantic balancing act while experiencing the most intense caregiver burnout.

& I'm a caregiver that has shown you exactly why I'm not okay.

Don't ever be surprised.

I'm the one that gets to be surprised that another day goes by where no one cares enough to help me, the caregiver.



Photo: Another 3 AM morning & there is not enough coffee to survive today.