Raising Godly Girls Podcast
Episode 199

Empathy and Understanding: Guiding Girls to Honor and Support Differently Abled Peers with Shauna Amick (Joni & Friends)

Raising a daughter with a heart of compassion and Christ-like love means helping her see the dignity, value, and worth of every person—including those who are differently abled. But as parents, how do we guide our girls in developing genuine empathy and understanding? How can we equip them to navigate friendships with peers who have disabilities with confidence, kindness, and a Biblical Worldview? 

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, host Patti Garibay, Founder & Executive Director of American Heritage Girls, welcomes Shauna Amick, disability rights advocate, mother of a child with Down syndrome, and a key member of Joni & Friends, the global ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada. Together, they explore how families can instill in their daughters the heart of Christ when it comes to inclusion, friendship, and honoring those with disabilities. 

We’ll dive into Shauna’s powerful personal story—how her daughter’s diagnosis transformed her faith and deepened her understanding of God’s purpose in suffering. She shares insights on how parents can model and teach empathy, drawing from both scripture and her work with Joni & Friends. We’ll also discuss practical ways to help young girls befriend and uplift peers with disabilities, address common fears or misconceptions, and reinforce the truth that every life is created in God’s image. 

Patti and Shauna also highlight the long-standing partnership between American Heritage Girls and Joni & Friends, including the development of the All God’s Children Badge Program, AHG’s Serving Persons Impacted by Disabilities National Day of Service Initiative, and the new children’s book A Paintbrush for Joni. 

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or mentor looking for Christ-centered wisdom on raising a compassionate, service-minded daughter who sees all people through God’s eyes, this episode is a must-listen. 

To learn more about disability ministry resources that can transform your family’s approach to inclusion and service, visit joniandfriends.org. 

Find an American Heritage Girls Troop near you, visit americanheritagegirls.org     

Add even more Biblical wisdom to your parenting quiver, visit raisinggodlygirls.com 

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