Search

Hi my name is Brynn. At the age of 7, I was in a severe car accident that crushed 3 vertebrae from the L1 down. My grandma was driving and had passed out. We hit a tree head on and I was not wearing my shoulder strap. Being so little, the lap belt ripped through my stomach damaging everything except for my pancreas. Throughout the years leading up to now (almost being 16), the things that have helped me most through the years is faith, family and friends! I have been able to overcome all the hard times, all the rough school days all the sleepless nights because I'm not the same. And that couldn't be more correct. I’m much more a women today pursuing my dreams to become a Paralympics athlete. Through great family and friends I am able to be on the US SkiTeam and the USA Women’s National Sled Hockey team. To know that I am not defined by my wheelchair or abilities but my accomplishments!

Changing perceptions We plan, God laughs!! Our vision is limited because of our perception. @vivekmittal23 and I had big dreams of our perfect baby. Excited like any new parents, we were thrilled to see Norah when she was born. She was perfect. That changed very quickly and our perfect child suddenly was taken away from us and we were handed this baby who had a label-Down syndrome. Everything was a blur post that for a month- NICU, specialist visits- ECG, Sonographies, blood tests, hearing tests, neurological tests, trying to think of what to do next, how to change our situation, why and a million how did this happen? We planned, God laughed!! Our vision was limited. He had bigger plans for Vivek and I. He did give us the perfect child, our baby was perfect but we had just perceived perfection differently. We learned and saw Norah's beauty and perfection as soon as we got over our “Perception of Perfection”. The label didn’t bother us anymore. It is something she is born with but it certainly doesn’t define her life. Norah has been a surprise package since the day she was born and she never fails to surprise us every now and then. She is a Star!! She is the child I never dreamt of and I’m glad that God had a bigger dream for us. Our dream was limited. She has opened up our little world to include a whole new world that we were missing. A whole new world of unconditional love that existed and we were denying ourselves of it because of our limited perception. And now we share our journey with the world learning along the way how to live, love, laugh, struggle, overcome, move forward and change perceptions around us for a world of equality and inclusion!! A child that can teach us so much in such a short period of time clearly has more to offer in her life than we ever did our entire lives before her!!

The fact that our men are in wheelchairs comes up in conversation almost daily. And soon after follows, “bless your heart,” or “you're such a good person.” CHELSEA SAYS... Of course I'm a good person. When I met James I felt sorry for him. I instantly pushed my dreams and aspirations aside and made the decision to date him. I mean, if I didn't, who would?... The poor soul. So now I have dedicated my life to taking care of him and loving him because of my charitable (get it...chair-itable...) personality. Wait, WHAT?! Let's be real here. This is one of my biggest struggles dating someone in a chair, hence why this is our first blog post. I am not an awesome person for being in love with my boyfriend. I'm a lucky person for finding love. You can bless my heart all you want, however he is not lucky to have me, I am lucky to have him. You may think I am saying all this just because I am a “nice person” but this is simply not the case. James has dragged my ass all around the world when I had never travelled before. He continues to kick my ass in tennis, bike riding, bungee jumping, yoga,waterskiing... pretty much everything really. He gets my ass home when I've had a few too many and slaps my ass when he thinks I'm pretty. And sometimes, emphasis on sometimes he can be an ass himself. Shocking, I know, calling my disabled boyfriend an ass. Still think I'm a nice person?? Here it is, plain a simple. I love my man disability or not. We have a real relationship that requires some minor adjustments, but his wheelchair does not make ME awesome. It makes him awesome. SAM SAYS... There is a stigma around disability, a stereotype that someone in a wheelchair is not as capable as an able bodied person. They are seen as victims who are incapable of participating in every day life. They are either weak and sad, or bitter and angry. They are seen as a burden, someone who needs to be taken care of. These stereotypes get perpetuated mostly due to the fact that society in general just doesn't know any better. Who helps him get dressed, or transfer in and out of his chair? Who cooks and cleans? Who drives him around? Wait, you're his wife, not his care aide? “You have such a big heart,” or “you're such a great person!” It's time that we change this. Sure there are some things my husband can't do...like walk for example. But I can't do a chin up and nobody tells Shawn that he must have such a big heart because he's with me. I'm not his care aid. I don't help him in and out of his chair, I don't help him bathe, or get dressed, or use the washroom. Why is he suddenly deemed incapable because he sits instead of stands? Want to know what he can do? Pretty much anything he wants. He has a job building houses, he plays sports, he drives a lifted F-350 truck. He has friends, and goes out with them. He hates getting up early and enjoys a cold beer after a long day. He loves to camp and ATV and has a passion for working with tools. He's a big family guy and loves to travel. Sounds like 3/4's of guys out there right? So what is it about Shawn's wheelchair that makes people think I'm so great? That I have “such a big heart”? Am I a better person because of him? Definitely. But that's not because of his chair. It's because of who he is as a person. It's because of his passion for learning new things and then attempting to teach me. It's because of his patience with me when I'm being a blonde. It's because of his sense of humour and how hard he works to make me smile when I'm grumpy. It's because he can do or make anything he wants and can fix anything. He's artistic and he's a dreamer and above all else, he loves me. Because of him I have been introduced to a whole new world of amazing people and amazing adventures. He pushes me to be a better person (get it...pushes...), not his wheelchair. I'm just a regular girl (albeit moody) who fell in love with someone. This doesn't make me a great person with a big heart. If you were to ask me which one of us is the better person, my answer will always be him. WE SAY... So next time you tell me I'm a nice person, I'll smile, and I'll say thanks because in all honestly, I still don't know what to say... Pushing on... Sam & Chelsea

Boxed inclusion & freed diversity The fashion industry has evolved & matured immensely through the years. Many rules were broken & replaced with realistic factors making fashion convenient for all. However, this diversity they speak of is still boxed in when it comes to people living with disabilities. Mainstream fashion does not cater to people with disabilities. Issues from the poor infrastructure in retail fashion outlet shops that limits their movements to the physical making of the clothes which does not consist of adaptive apparel prove its lack of inclusivity. Shopping for clothes as a person living with disabilities is still a challenge especially in underdeveloped countries. They blame it on lack of resources or platforms and ability to share a global message of inclusion. When it comes to serving people living with disabilities. They have been at the terrific speed of service to the LGBQTI community from creating androgynous & gender inclusive fashion to hosting fashion shows exclusively for non binary & gender fluid communities. These companies do have the resources. The fashion industry is reluctant to work with models living with disabilities, from the wardrobe department down to the creative director. The energy & creativity they give to a project consisting a disabled model is highly different when compared to when they work with able-bodied models. This raises an eyebrow in a questionable mode to whether we still have a problem of ableism or the industry still lacks knowledge. Expecting inclusion & representation in the fashion industry for people living with disabilities is a bit implausible. There’s still little to no awareness about the disabled community. However, aisles in clothing retail shops consisting of adaptive apparel should be compulsory.

My name is Hannah and I have a low profile feeding tube. These tips are what have worked for me in my fitness journey, but please be wise and careful of your own needs and abilities! Tip #1: Start At Home If working out is totally new to you, congratulations for starting!!! I’d recommend starting your work out practice at home. This may be totally new for your body and your feeding tube and it may get a little messy or hard, which is better to deal with at home than in a new gym environment. There are so many different types of work outs online or you could even sign up for my at home no equipment needed work out plan!! You can try them all out in the comfort of your own home where you have all the supplies you need in any situation! As you learn what works for you and what you enjoy you can move outside or to a gym and know better how your body may respond and what you need to do. This leads us right into our next tip! Tip #2: Be Prepared Believe me, I know fully well that our bodies can be very temperamental. One day I can have no pain, no leakage from my stomach tube, and feel on top of the world. The next day I could do the exact same exercise and go through 20 gauze pads because my feeding tube leaked so much and hurt badly. I never know what to expect so it’s always best to be prepared. Before going out on a run or even doing a workout at home I get prepared. I have a stack of gauze pads ready to go, I put my favorite barrier cream, Bedrock Skin, around my feeding tube to create a protective barrier around it to prevent leaks, and I have tissues close by in case I need one. My pockets look silly when I’m running with all this gauze and tissue but I’d MUCH rather be prepared than not! Tip #3: Know Yourself While it is crucial to be prepared physically with supplies, it is just as important to be prepared mentally. You know your body better than anyone else does. Maybe before starting a new work out routine start tracking things like energy, times of day you’re in pain, ability to workout in relation to when you eat for a few weeks to gain better insight. This can easily be done in a notebook or on your phone. You can set up different categories like pain, hunger, energy levels, etc. and then mark what time of day you experience those over a few weeks and try to identify any trends. You may be surprised! Tip #4: Try New Things I’ll be totally honest. I was the girl who thought cardio was the only form of exercise for a VERY long time. In 2018 I intentionally moved my body every day and that looked a lot of different ways. Some of them worked great for my feeding tube and medical needs, some were terrible. High intensity interval training is a great work out, but not great for my body. It often resulted in too much pressure on my feeding tube, and too many jarring movements. Yoga has been an awesome discovery, but there are definitely moves I have to modify to not put so much pressure on my feeding tube. This year I discovered weight lifting and it has been life changing. Weight lifting is often slow and deliberate movements in the arms, back, hips, and legs and not often much pressure put on my feeding tube. Again, this is just my body and my experience but it has worked very well for me and it’s been really fun to gain muscle! Tip #5: Have Fun!! Let’s be completely honest. Chances are you have been told many times in your life there are things you can’t do for whatever reason. As we’ve talked about though, we know our bodies better than anyone else and I always want to try new things and see what happens. It’s all a process and you should have fun with it! Working out has so many emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical benefits and can be very empowering. It’s also a great source of community and connection with others and is a great addition to any life! Sign up for the 30 Days of Fitness plan: https://mailchi.mp/4a7498673f68/feedingtubefitness Instagram: @feedingtube.fitness Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingtubefitness

A new show Hi, everyone! We are Daniel and Ken Trush, co-founders of Daniel’s Music Foundation. We are an unlikely duo, who represent two stereotypes: Disability (Daniel) and Aging (his father, Ken). We wanted to bring a little sunshine into the world and created a monthly online video series called “Smile-o-meter Friday” where we talk about thoughtful and engaging topics related to music and disabilities. We also share some of our own personal experiences in a light-hearted manner and highlight diverse musicians and individuals from around the world. In every episode, we include the following segments: (1) Did you know? - Interesting, historical, and fun facts about disabilities and music; (2) Adventures with Daniel & Ken - A spotlight on diverse musicians and individuals from around the world; and (3) Food for Thought - A thought-provoking quote or sentiment to consider for the week. The goal of the “Smile-o-meter Friday show is to create the opportunity for people to understand differences—by showcasing the talents of individuals of all abilities and backgrounds—and of course, smile! For more information about our programs or to participate, visit us at DMF Virtual Community(https://www.danielsmusic.org/virtualcommunity – an online platform where individuals with disabilities can explore, learn, and celebrate the joy of music together. New content is posted every week, so be sure to stop by regularly. About Daniel and Ken Trush: Daniel, the inspiration for Daniel’s Music Foundation (DMF), is a talented songwriter and performer who is responsible for naming the foundation’s key performance indicator, the “smile-o-meter,” which focuses on the changes in attitude and positive outlook reported by the musicians who participate in DMF programs – it’s a measure taken very seriously here. Most importantly, Daniel is the life force that drives DMF and he serves as the ambassador for their mission. He is a living example of acceptance, kindness, and joy. Ken is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the foundation and works closely with the DMF Management team and staff, in the strategic development of the music programs and in the marketing, development, and operational areas of DMF. He is also the creative visionary behind The Danny Awards (an annual celebration of musical talent from around the world) and the driving force behind the DMF Virtual Community.

למה אני לא נכנע שמי הוא גאריסון רד. נולדתי ב-22 ביוני 1988 באזור ברונסוויל / קראון הייטס בברוקלין. שני הוריי עבדו עבור העירייה ומגיל צעיר החדירו בי משמעת ומוסר עבודה. אחד מהשיעורים הגדולים ביותר שהם לימדו אותי היה לעולם לא להיכנע. Why I Never Quit My name is Garrison Redd. I was born on June 22,1988 in the Brownsville/Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. My parents were both hard working municipal employees in which at an early age they instilled in me discipline and work ethic. One of the greatest life lessons they ever thought me was to never "quit". התמודדות עם המצוקה בילדותי הצטיינתי בלימודים ובספורט. התקבלתי לתוכנית למחוננים בגיל 8 לאחר שמוקמתי גבוה בציונים בבחינות שונות. הייתי פעיל בענפי ספורט שונים כמו איגרוף, כדורסל, בייסבול ופוטבול. בפוטבול הייתי בולט מגיל צעיר ועד לתיכון, שבו זכיתי בפרסים ושבחים שונים. בשנת הלימודים האחרונה שלי בתיכון ג'יימס מדיסון הייתי בחוץ בליל קיץ רגיל, אז נוריתי באקראי בגבי. נשרפו לי העצבים סביב חוליה T12 של עמוד השדרה שלי ונותרתי ללא יכולת ללכת. במקום להצטער על עצמי או להיות מדוכא, החלטתי לנצח את ההתמודדות עם המצוקה. רוב האנשים היו מרגישים שהחיים שלהם הגיעו לסיומם, אבל אני הרגשתי כאילו החיים שלי רק התחילו. בגיל 17 לאחר שקרתה לי הפציעה הקטסטרופלית הזו, זה גרם לי לחשוב על התמונה הגדולה שאולי זה קרה לי כדי שאעורר השראה בכולם - מצעיר ועד קשיש. במסע הזה אני נמצא כעת. כיום אני בעל תואר ראשון במימון ממכללת יורק. אני נואם מוטיבציוני, מודל, מעצב אופנה, יזם, אתלט, ותומך בשוויון זכויות. אנא הכירו את הארגון שייסדתי: thegarrisonreddproject.org. Facing Adversity Growing up I excelled scholastically and athletically. I was placed in the gifted program at the age of 8 after scoring in the top 3 percentile in various standardized exams. I played various sports growing up such as boxing, basketball, baseball, and football. In football I was a standout running back from youth football up until High School, in which I received various awards and accolades. Going into my senior year at James Madison High School I was outside on an ordinary summer night where I was randomly shot in my back, which burned the nerves surrounding the t12 section of my spine, which left me unable to walk. Instead of feeling sorry for myself or depressed, I decided to triumph through the face of adversity. Most people would've felt that their life was coming to an end however I felt like my life was just beginning. At 17 years old after this catastrophic injury had occurred to me I still wasn't phased because it made me different. It made me think about the bigger picture that maybe I was put here to inspire everyone from the youth to elderly. In which I am on a Journey to achieve. Fast forward to the present time. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Finance from York College. I am a motivational speaker, model, fashion designer, entrepreneur, athelte, and an advocate for equal rights. Please take a look at the organization I founded: thegarrisonreddproject.org.

I'm 32 and I've never been one to "see" my disability. I was born with Arthrogryposis. It affects both arms and legs. I learned early to accept my limitations. But these limits don't stop me. I'm not afraid to invite others into my story because I know I need people. A fact that doesn't bother me. It's simply part of my normal. I write, blog, and tell my story to build awareness, encourage understanding, and show I am normal. I love the way God made me. Yes, there are things I wish I could do, but I still wouldn't erase my disability. Without it, my story wouldn't be my story. I'm excited to keep watching this one unfold. God has given me an amazing community of family and friends. I'm thankful for how they constantly help me and for the chance to do life together...one day, one story at a time.

This is Jacob our 6 year old son. He was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. He's been a fighter since day one. Jacob will be a Scientist/Astronaut... He has big plans and we make sure we encourage his dreams! He never stops amazing us. He is the most loving little guy and every day we are lucky to be his parents.

My Story The events of September 11th led to my decision to become a Marine Corps Officer. Unfortunately, a few weeks into Officer Candidate School, I sustained a significant injury. I fell while coming down a rope which resulted in tearing all of the cartilage in my left hip, dislocating my pelvis and crushing several discs in my spine. Despite my injury, I managed to complete all of the obstacles and tasks over the next two months and became a Commissioned Officer. I remained on active duty for several years. One of my responsibilities while stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps at the Pentagon was as a writer. I composed condolence letters on behalf of the entire Corps. Any time a Marine sacrificed their life, it was my job to compose the letter to the families of the fallen Marine. It took a heavy emotional toll. I can assure you that there are no words that can provide any level of comfort or solace to a grieving mother, father, spouse or child. Despite that fact, I wrote. At the time, I suppressed my emotions to complete my task. But I realized that if you suppress your emotions long enough, then you’ll end up depressed because that’s exactly what happened to me. As an officer, my job was simple, to make sure all of the Marines under my command come home safely. Due to my physical injury, I was unable to do so. And I started to blame myself for their deaths. After separating from the Corps, I sank deeper into depression. My physical limitations prevented me from living an active lifestyle, or so I thought. I recommitted myself to various holistic health means. I began an exercise routine which allowed me to lose the 70+ pounds I had gained. It also led to a career change helping others gain control of their mental and emotional health through their physical health. In the past year, I became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Wim Hof Method Instructor, Yoga Instructor, and personal trainer. Now my life’s mission is to help others become the happiest, healthiest and strongest versions of themselves by turning tragedy into triumph.

A Life Long Adventure My story began in El Salvador, where I was born; during my delivery into the world, I suffered a lack of oxygen to my brain, resulting in a near-death experience. My mom’s doctor was on vacation, so a doctor who had no idea what mom’s situation was like had to be in my birth, but he did not do a good job. Luckily for me, my only physical complications were my inability to walk & limited use of my arms. As I grew up, the time had come for me to go to kindergarten, and my parents wanted me to attend a regular one. Being in a typical kindergarten, I was the only kid in a stroller in the entire place with a nanny next to me all day, and the other kids would look at me like I was an alien. After a couple of days passed, they began to like hanging out with me. My next challenge started in first grade in a typical kid's school. However, like my kindergarten experience, it took a while for the other kids to accept me as one of their friends. I spent nine years at that school, where I became the school mascot and participated in many school sporting events that took place all around the world. This opportunity allowed me to travel to other countries such as Peru and Guatemala, where I had the opportunity to get to know the culture in each of them. Furthermore, I got to see all the important things and landmarks of the countries; in Peru, I went to the Machu Picchu Mountains. In Guatemala, I went to Antigua, Guatemala. I had a great time learning new cultural stuff. By the end of 2010, when I was in ninth grade, my parents decided to move to New York. My dad and I arrived in New York on the night of Thanksgiving. It was cold, though I was excited about the big move; adjusting to the new culture was a challenge. As English is not my first language, communicating was hard for me at first, but thank God I attended bilingual schools in El Salvador, so I knew a little bit of English. I was the only one of my brothers to pass the ESL exam, and I did not have to take that class in high school here. The last challenge that I had to overcome was studying in a new school with kids in wheelchairs, just like me. That school made me feel like a typical student because I wasn't the only one in a wheelchair. This past June of 2013, I graduated from there with a local diploma. In June 2020, I graduated from Queensborough Community College with an associate degree in Internet Information. Now I am attending The New York City College of Technology for my bachelor's degree in computer systems.

There is a natural desire to pass family traditions down to the next generation, and I always thought I would do that… until my son, Brennen came along, rocked my world, and changed how we do things, including the Holidays, entirely. For the first couple of years of Brennen’s life, I would dread going to toy stores. Who am I kidding, I still do. I avoid them at all costs, knowing that there is very little available that Brennen can “play” with. Christmas shopping has become a challenge, and though I try to resist it, every year I inevitably find myself in a toy aisle, tears streaming down my face with the realization, once again, that I am living in a starkly different world. While I dream of wrapping up the one thing my child will adore, the one thing that will attract is attention, ignite his creativity and give him opportunities to play and learn and grow, it is not that easy. Finding products and toys that will work for Brennen is difficult. I look at items, analyze their potential, and ultimately decide that they are not suitable – that he cannot physically manipulate them on his own, and will be a complete waste of money. Sometimes I will purchase the toy anyway, in hopes that some miracle will happen and his skills will improve. Sometimes I just want to feel like any other parent shopping at Toys R Us, who can pick out a present for their child without having to stress about whether or not it will be used for its intended purpose, or be added to the stuff that goes into a closet and never comes out. Christmas is different with a child with special needs. Brennen can’t write a letter to Santa. He can’t tell me anything that he would like to ask for, or what he hopes to find underneath the tree on Christmas morning. He can’t get up in the middle of the night to exclaim his excitement that Santa has come, and he can’t unwrap his own gifts. I don’t even know how much he understands about Christmas or Santa Claus or traditions or magic, but we do it anyway. We bring Christmas into our home and we celebrate with all of the things that a little boy should have around him – love and light and wonder and joy. We do it for him, and we do it for us, as a family. It is important to carry on with some of the things that meant a lot to us growing up. We love Christmas! I still get giddy thinking about my favourite Christmas songs, favourite Christmas movies, and favourite Christmas treats. My most cherished Christmas memories from when I was a child are never related to a present. They are memories of going to mass on Christmas Eve with my father and grandfather, Dad reading The Night Before Christmas to my sister and I no matter how late it was (literally every year until we moved out), having turkey dinner on Christmas Day with my Mom’s family, and a sing-along at my parents’ annual blow-out Boxing Day party (that is still a tradition today!). My favourite memories revolve around people, family, spending time with loved ones and celebrating the holidays together. This is what matters most to me, and this is something that I can continue with my own little family. Brennen enjoys the sights and sounds of Christmas. He loves to look at the twinkly lights on the tree, and we have Christmas music playing constantly. He is happy when he is surrounded by people, and he certainly knows that he is loved. We have started some new traditions. On Christmas Eve, instead of going out, our family and friends now come to our house to see Brennen before he gets tucked into bed for the night. Our schedule of events now includes the Janeway Children’s Hospital Christmas party, Easter Seals Breakfast with Santa, and the Rainbow Riders Live Nativity. These have quickly become our favourite and most anticipated events of the season! We don’t go overboard with gifts. On Christmas morning, we take time to help Brennen unwrap each one, enjoying the sound of ripping paper, and the anticipation of what’s coming next. We focus on the importance of what the holidays are truly about – family and togetherness, kindness and giving, magic and wonder. If I were to give advice to parents of children with special needs this Christmas, I would have to say not to put too much pressure on yourself, and don’t expect things to be ‘perfect’. The holidays are stressful for all parents, but our children’s special needs add an extra degree of difficulty. Try not to get caught up in the details, and just enjoy the time with your family. It may not look the way you had envisioned it, and it may not run as smoothly as you had hoped, but it can still be special. It may not be what you had planned, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be awesome! Focus on the positive things, and think of all the things you’re thankful for. Start new traditions, make it meaningful. Find happiness in your child, and that will get you through anything!