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About Alana Alana Nichols is a two-sport phenomenon in wheelchair basketball and alpine skiing. She grew up in Farmington, N.M., and was an avid snowboarder throughout her youth. In 2002, however, Nichols landed back-first on a rock while attempting a backflip on her snowboard. The injury caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down. Nichols didn’t let her athletic career stop there, though, as she began playing wheelchair basketball just two years later. Her talent in the sport ultimately took her to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, where she and Team USA earned gold. Shortly after the Beijing Games, Nichols moved to Colorado and picked up adaptive alpine skiing through the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park. At the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games, Nichols earned two gold medals, one silver and one bronze in alpine skiing events, becoming the first female athlete in history to win gold medals in both the summer and winter Paralympic Games. credit: http://www.teamusa.org/usa-canoe-kayak/athletes/Alana-Nichols

המסע שלי עם טרשת נפוצה שלום לכולם! קוראים לי אלכס. אני בן 24 ואם לא ניחשתם מהתמונה, אני קצת נרקומן כושר! התחלתי את מסע הכושר כשהייתי בערך בן 16 ואחרי כמה חודשים הייתי מכור. אהבתי לראות את ההתקדמות שלי ונהניתי לדחוף את עצמי מעבר לגבולות. הרגשתי שאני מתחזק בכל יום! אבל בסוף 2015, החיים זרקו אתגר חדש לגמרי לעברי. הכל התחיל עם כמה סימפטומים 'מוזרים'. התעוררתי יום אחד כמעט ללא איזון. בקושי יכולתי ללכת בקו ישר! איבדתי את כל כוח האחיזה ואת הקואורדינציה ביד ימין שלי ולא שמתי לב למתרחש סביבי. הרגשתי כאילו אני חי בתוך בועה. במרץ 2016, לאחר סריקות MRI רבות, בדיקות דם ופגישות עם רופאים, אובחנתי עם טרשת נפוצה. בחודשים הראשונים הייתי בהכחשה. סירבתי לשנות דבר מאורח החיים שלי. הרגשתי חסר אונים ושאין לי שליטה על העתיד שלי. הרעה במצב במרץ 2016 שינתה לחלוטין את הגישה שלי. איבדתי את רוב כוחי ברגלי ובקושי יכולתי ללכת. אימוני הכושר שלי נעשו קשוחים וקשים יותר ובכל פעם יכולתי להרים פחות משקל. הרגשתי כל כך חלש. החלטתי שהספיק לי. הייתי צריך למצוא דרך להרגיש טוב יותר. אז התחלתי לחקור, ללמוד, להתחבר עם אחרים. עד מהרה התחלתי לעשות מדיטציה, יוגה ולקחת כל מיני תוספי מזון טבעיים (אפילו התחלתי בלוג משלי!). אימוני הכושר שלי השתפרו והתסמינים החלו לרדת. השנתיים האחרונות היו קשות, אבל עם תמיכה מקהילה מדהימה ואורח חיים המוקדש לבריאות וכושר, אני סוף סוף מרגיש שוב בשליטה על החיים שלי. ההידרדרות הזאת אולי הדפה אותי, אבל עכשיו אני מרגיש חזק יותר משהייתי. My Journey With Multiple Sclerosis Hi All! My name is Alex. I'm 24 years old, and, if you haven't guessed by the picture, I'm a bit a of a gym junkie! I started my fitness journey when i was about 16, and after a few months I was hooked. I loved seeing my progression, and enjoyed pushing myself past my limits. I felt like I was getting stronger every day! But in late 2015, life threw an entirely new challenge my way. It all started out with some 'odd' symptoms. I woke up one day with almost no balance. I could barely walk in a straight line! I lost all the grip strength and coordination in my right hand, and i kept 'spacing out'. It felt like I was living in a bubble. In March 2016, after numerous MRI scans, blood tests, and doctors’ appointments, I was diagnosed with Relapsing and Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. For the first few months I was in denial. I refused to change any aspect of my lifestyle. I thought i was powerless, and had no control over my future. A relapse in March 2016 completely changed my attitude. I lost most of the strength in my legs, and could barely walk. My gym sessions became harder and harder, and each time I could lift less weight. I felt so weak. I decided that I'd had enough. I needed to find a way to feel better. So I started researching, learning, and connecting with others. Pretty soon I was meditating, doing yoga, and taking all sorts of natural supplements (I even started my own blog!). My gym sessions got better, and my symptoms started to reduce. The last couple of years have been tough, but with support from an amazing community, and a lifestyle devoted to health and fitness, I finally feel in control of my life again That relapse might have knocked me back, but I feel stronger now than I ever have done.

This is a story of a couple and their six kids who overcame many odds to fulfill their dream: circumnavigating the world by boat. They had to adjust, adapt and accept deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and severe brain palsy, amongst many other obstacles. They are already halfway through and still going west, one mile at a time. Receiving the news Most of us can relate to the shocking moment when we receive ¨the news¨and realize that life will not continue as planned. This happened three times to us. First, when we were young and newly married, Roby was diagnosed with acute DVT which made us change our sailing-around-the-world plans and adjust to our new reality. Years passed and we learned to accept and adapt. The second time was back in 2013 when our fifth baby died unexpectedly 2 weeks before birth. Our biggest challenge was yet to come in January 2017, when our sixth baby, Candelaria, was born with severe brain palsy due to a rare hereditary disease. She went with a suitcase full of unexpected and ¨undesired¨ things as well as a basket full of ¨angels¨ dressed up as doctors, nurses, therapists, friends, and family members who helped us live with and live through the most difficult parts of having a child with severe disabilities. These events started molding our characters and beliefs, giving us a great sense of awareness of our great vulnerability, life´s unexpected way of unfolding, and a deep desire to cherish every moment. The moment came Years passed and Candelaria, now almost 5, made her room in this family of 8 showing all of us that, despite the doctor's prognosis, she wanted to share her life with us in her own ways. She cannot see or talk, and she can hardly move. She can listen, feel and smile. The first three years of her life weren’t easy until seizure medications and a gastrostomy stabilized her health. This made us reconsider a once unthinkable dream: sailing around the world as a family. Some months later, ¨Why not? ¨ was one of the names we wanted to put on our new boat, which ended up being called OHANA, which means “close family and friends” in Hawaiian. Adjusting to special needs This time, circumnavigating would require some adaptations. Months of stocking up on medical supplies; a postural wheelchair in the middle of our cockpit; most of our storage space (i.e. bilges, for yachties) stocked up with sterile supplies to inject life-saving medication daily through Candelaria´s port-a-Cath; and two caregivers (Ruth and Amalia) to help us with her 24-hour care needs, were some of the ways in which we adjusted this adventure to our possibilities. Life aboard Life aboard is, in some sense, similar to our quarantine experience: lots of family time, each one does his or her duties and we all enjoy life together with our own uniqueness. Sailing is us enjoyable, challenging, and unique part of this year's experience. Sunsets and sunrises, lovely ocean views, warm weather, knowing new places and meeting new people, admiring nature under and over the water, taking responsibility with night watches at sea, and caring for Candelaria, are all part of this year's experiences as a family. Our journey Will we be able to complete the whole trip? We still don´t know and we are still taking it one day and one mile at a time. We left Ft. Lauderdale in January 2021, sailed through the Bahamas, and the Panama Canal, enjoyed nature in the Galapagos, crossed the Pacific Ocean for 19 days to French Polynesia, continued to Fiji, Indonesia, sailed 24 days non-stop to Reunion Island, and have almost finished crossing the Indian Ocean reaching South Africa. Our aim is to finish our circumnavigation where we started in March 2022. This is how, slowly but gradually, one mile at a time, this little girl and her family are fulfilling one of their dearest dreams (in spite of all the odds) and enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will surely stay in their hearts forever. If you'd like to follow us or know more about us, you can do it at our websiteww.ohanawaves.com or on Instagram @ohana__waves. Don´t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you! Corina van Waveren Souviron

אלינה שפושניק היי, שמי אלינה, בת 39 מישראל. אני רואת חשבון מוסמכת ומנהלת בכירה בחברת חשבונאות וייעוץ גדולה. יש לי שיתוק מוחין ודיסטוניה בעקבות לידה קשה, שמשפיעות על ההליכה, הידיים, הצוואר ולפעמים הדיבור. מאז היותי ילדה, המשאלה שלי היתה להצטיין בלימודים, ולא נתתי לשום דבר להפריע לה. אהבתי ועדיין אוהבת ללמוד ולצבור ידע, ואני מאמינה שכל אדם זכאי לחינוך טוב שיבנה את ערכיו, ימקסם את הפוטנציאל שלו ויעזור לו להתפרנס. למזלי, היה לי ראש לכך, ואף על פי שהכתיבה שלי איטית וכל משימה, כל מבחן, כל נייר, לקחו לי כפול זמן בערך מלאדם ללא מוגבלות, עשיתי זאת. הקדשתי ימים ולילות ללימודים, היו לי מבחנים של 5-10 שעות, ולעתים הקרבתי את חיי החברתיים ואת בריאותי. האם אני מסוגלת כלל לא הייתה שאלה. סיימתי בהצטיינות את התיכון והאוניברסיטה, תואר ראשון ושני. האם היה שווה? בדיעבד אין לי תשובה ברורה. אני רק יודעת שלא יכולתי לנהוג אחרת - זה עניין של אישיות. אתם בטח חושבים שאני די חנונית, אבל אני אוהבת גם דברים אחרים מלבד ללמוד! אני מנגנת בפסנתר (בעיקר מאלתרת) ואוהבת לכתוב שירה... טוב, התיאור הזה לא עוזר הרבה, אז אני מניחה שאני חנונית... אבל אני גם מאוד חמודה... וצנועה מאוד, כפי שאתם רואים. אני תמיד עוזרת לחברים שלי בענייני בית הספר, ומוקפת באנשים שאוהבים אותי, אם כי לקח לי קצת זמן למצוא חברים אמיתיים - גם - עניין של אישיות. אני עובדת כבר 15 שנה במקום העבודה הנוכחי שלי, אני נוהגת במכונית וחיה לבד - כל זה לקח ועדיין לוקח מאמצים גדולים, ולא יכולתי להגיע לשם ללא תמיכה חזקה של בני משפחתי וחבירי. הנחמה שלי, מלבד היותי גאה בעצמי, היא שאנשים סביבי יודעים על המאמצים שלי, יודעים מה אני שווה ומעריכים אותי על כך. "רגע ניצחון" נחמד קרה כשהייתי בטקס הסיום שלי, וכולם בקהל עמדו והריעו לי כשעליתי על הבמה כדי לקבל את התעודה. אני חייבת להודות, אחרי התיאור הוורוד הזה, שבמשך השנים היו לי רגעים רבים של כאב וזמנים קשים - כמו כולם. גיליתי כי בחיים האמיתיים אין הארכת זמן, והשאלה האם אני מסוגלת לא מוטלת יותר בספק. כשזה קורה, אני מנסה לחזור אל הילדה הקטנה שהייתי, שבשבילה זו בכלל לא הייתה שאלה. אז לסיכום,, אני מאמינה כי מה שחשוב הוא לא המוגבלות - זו האישיות שקובעת את נתיב החיים שלנו, לטוב ולרע. אשר לי, אני תמיד מנסה להמשיך לעבוד על שלי, עם חיוך. Hi, my name is Alina. I'm 39, from Israel. I'm a certified public accountant and a senior manager at a large accounting and consulting firm. I have cerebral palsy and dystonia, due to a difficult birth, that affect my walk, hands, neck and sometimes speech. Since being a child, my wish was to excel academically, and I didn't let anything interfere with it. I loved, and still love, to study and gain knowledge, and I believe every human being is entitled for a good education, that would build his values, maximize his potential and help him make a living. Luckily, I had the brains for it, and though my writing is slow, and every assignment, every exam, each paper, took me about twice a time than that of a person without my disabilities, I did it. I dedicated days and nights to studying, had exams of 5-10 hours, and sometimes sacrificed my social life and health. Whether I can or cannot wasn't a question at all. I graduated with honors from high school, and the same was in university, with my first and second degrees. Was it worthwhile? From a time perspective, I don't have a clear answer. I just know I couldn't act otherwise – it's a matter of personality. You probably think I'm quite a geek, but I do like other stuff besides studying! I play the piano (mostly improvise) and love to write poetry… well, that description doesn't help a lot, so I guess I am a geek… but I'm also very lovable… and very modest, as you see  I always helped my friends with school matters, and have been surrounded with people who like me, though it took me some time to find true friends – also – a matter of personality. I've been working for 15 years in my current workplace, I drive a car and live on my own – all this took, and still take, efforts; sometimes great efforts, and I couldn’t get there without the strong support of my family and friends. My comfort, besides being proud of myself, is that people around me know about my efforts, know what I'm worth and appreciate me for that. A nice "victory moment" was when I had my BA graduation ceremony, and everyone in the crowd stood and cheered me as I went on stage to get my diploma. I must admit, after this rosy description, that over the years I've had many moments of pain and difficult times – like everyone else. I found out that in real life there's no time extension, and the question whether I can or cannot was no more undoubtable. When that happens, I try to call back that little girl, for whom it wasn't a question at all, and sometimes she does come back. So, finally, I believe that what matters is not the disability – it's the personality that prescribes our route of life, for better and for worst. As for me, I always try to keep working on mine, with a smile….

Self-employment is a popular path for people living with disabilities. However, the path isn’t without its challenges, and deciding on the right industry is a big part of the equation. Here, we suggest business ideas that might be a good fit for a person with a disability. Why these careers? The small business ideas highlighted here either let you work from home, set your own hours, offer a low-stress work environment, or some combination of the three. While these parameters won’t encompass the needs of every disability, they can help pinpoint careers friendly to people with physical, mental, or emotional limitations. 1. Web Design If you have an eye for design and an ample heap of tech-savviness, a career as a web designer could be a great fit for you. As a web designer, you can work from home, coffee shops, and coworking spaces, and you get to set your own hours as long as you meet client deadlines. Another perk of working in web design is that it’s easy to brush up on or expand your coding skills through free online courses, saving you money over traditional higher education. 2. Fitness Training A career as a personal trainer can be a great fit for a service-disabled veteran who wants to share the dedication to personal fitness they learned in the military. If you’ve stayed fit after a physical disability, you can share your strategies for adapting workouts to meet individual needs. If you want to share your love of fitness with other people with a disability, you can even become a CertifiedInclusive Fitness Trainer. 3. Massage Therapy Massage therapists can set up a studio in their own home, making it a great career option for a person who prefers to work solo and doesn’t care to look at a screen all day. Plus, the tranquil environment you create for your clients may have a positive impact on your own mental wellbeing. You can become trained and licensed as a massage therapist in a relatively short time — between 330 and 1,000 hours, depending on your state of residence. 4. Farming If you find peace in working with your hands, consider starting a small farm business. Farming has been used as a therapy for people with mental and physical disabilities, and there are state-based AgrAbilityprograms designed to help accommodate disability and veterans’ health needs within a farm setting. A career in agriculture is especially popular with veterans, and there are training programsdesigned to prepare veterans for a future in farming. 5. Content Marketing People seeking a home-based business with flexible hours and low overhead costs should consider a career in content marketing. Content marketerscreate engaging content like infographics, blog posts, and webpages for clients, who use the content to draw in customers and improve their rankings in search engine results. 6. Franchise Ownership Becoming a franchise owner lets you start a small business without having to navigate all the aspects of running a small business on your own. The franchisor provides training and support to new franchisees, and since it’s an established company you benefit from existing name recognition and advertising campaigns. This structure, along with discounted franchise fees for veterans, is part of why it’s a popular entrepreneurial option for veterans — over 5,600veterans became franchisees between 2011 and 2014. 7. Lawn Care or Landscaping It’s well known that time outdoors benefits mental health which is why a career in landscaping can be a great fit for people living with a mental illness. Another great aspect of working in landscaping is that you can start small, focusing on just one or two services, and then scale up over time. This lets you save on startup costs and build a strong client base before going all-in. However, if you live in an area with cold winters, you’ll need to diversify your skillset to ensure year-round cash flow. Consider learning small engine repair so you can stay busy during the snowy months and save on repairs to your own equipment. Know that the benefits of starting a small business are manifold. But in order to receive these benefits, you’ll need to register your business entity with the Secretary of State. The process is tedious and time-consuming, but it pays off for the legal protection it provides, especially as an LLC. To establish your business, you’ll need to register with the Secretary of State to get your statement of information (California) file for a FEIN with the IRS, register with the Department of Revenue if you’re trading goods, and open a business bank account. A good option is to recruit the services of a professional to help file all the paperwork because of the sheer amount of time it saves. For more inspiring stories, resources, and tips to help you manage a disability, look no further than Yoocan Image via Pixabay

יוגה עם שיתוק ע"ש ארב התחלתי לעשות יוגה לפני כמה שנים ואני ממש אוהבת את זה. אמנם בהתחלה חשבתי שלעולם לא אוכל לעשות הרבה תנוחות בגלל הזרוע שלי, אבל לגמרי טעיתי! יש לעיתים קרובות שינויים לתנוחות, או שאני עושה אחרות שאני יכולה. מהות היוגה היא לא להיות גמישה ביותר או להיות מסוגלת לעשות תנועות מהודרות. זה עזר לי להיות מסוגלת לקבל את הגוף שלי כפי שהוא. אני רוצה להיות מורה מוסמכת ליוגה ולחלוק את היתרונות של היוגה עם אחרים, תוך התמקדות בהתאמות / שינויי תנוחות כדי להפוך את השיעורים לנגישים יותר עבור כולם. Hi, my name is Kate and I have Erb's Palsy in my right arm from a difficult/traumatic birth. I went through many years of physical and occupational therapy, and I have tried my best to not let Erb's Palsy stop me from doing the things I want to do. My parents have always been very supportive and advocated for me to receive services all through my childhood, for which I am forever grateful. תמיכה באנשים החיים עם שיתוק ע"ש ארב השתתפתי גם בכמה מרוצי מכשולים בשנת 2016. תחושת ההישג שחשתי בלסיים את המרוצים האלה הייתה מדהימה. לא הייתי בטוחה אם אני יכול לעשות משהו מאתגר כמו מסלול מכשולים, אבל זה נראה מלהיב, אז הלכתי על זה. המרוצים האלה היו הדברים הכי מאתגרים פיזית שעשיתי בחיי, אבל אני כל כך שמחה שעשיתי אותם. אני מקווה ששיתוף ההרפתקאות שלי יעורר השראה באחרים לנסות דברים שאולי הם חשבו שלא יוכלו לעשות. פתחתי דף בפייסבוק בשם Living with Erb's Palsy בשנת 2013 בתקווה להתחבר עם מבוגרים אחרים הסובלים משיתוק, מכיוון שמעולם לא פגשתי מישהו אחר עם זה. מאז, שוחחתי עם אנשים נפלאים רבים והקהילה המשיכה לגדול. Yoga with Erb's Palsy I started doing yoga a few years ago and I absolutely love it. Although at first I thought I would never be able to do many of the poses because of my arm, but I was totally wrong! There are often modifications for poses, or I opt for a different one that I can do. Yoga is not about being the most bendy or being able to do fancy inversions. It has helped me to be able to accept my body as it is. I want to become a certified yoga instructor to share the benefits of yoga with others, focusing on adapting/modifying poses to make classes more accessible for everyone. Supporting those living with Erb's Palsy I have also completed several Spartan Races in 2016, earning my first Trifecta. The sense of accomplishment for me finishing those races was incredible. I wasn't sure if I could do something as challenging as an obstacle course race, but it looked exciting, so I went for it. Those races were the most physically challenging things I have ever done in my life, but I am so glad I did them. I hope by sharing my adventures that it will inspire others to try things that maybe they thought they wouldn't be able to do. I created the Facebook page Living with Erb's Palsy in 2013 in hopes of connecting with other adults with OPBI, as I have never met anyone else with it. Since then, I have chatted with many wonderful people and the community has continued to grow.

I fight not to drink every day and sometimes I lose. This past weekend I got into it with my family and friends. But this was the last time because I refuse to let the devil keep controlling my life. I know now that I have to stop going around certain people and I know it's going to be hard at the end of the day. I have to make sure I'm good because I finally know what I'm here to do and that is to write.  Most people are afraid to admit their flaws but I'm not. I made a lot of mistakes and I still do but every mistake I make it a learning experience.

Geege Taylor is an author, motivational speaker, an autism advocate. Her YouTube Channel, PLANET POOT, premieres in April and features the hilarious adventures of life with her non-verbal son with severe autism. You can also follow their adventures on Instagram, @geegetaylor My son, “Pootie” is sixteen, non-verbal, and totally thrives with severe autism. In the early days, I would have never dreamed that his disability would lead me to my happiest life. ‘Autism Awareness Month’ should actually be changed to ‘Autism Celebration Month’ in my opinion. It took a minute for me to get to this place, however. The first years were filled with navigating the unknown and needing ten times the energy of the average parent, yet operating on ten times less sleep, as my son had chronic insomnia and needed care 24/7. At eighteen months, a team evaluated Pootie and saw a load of red flags for autism (however, they weren’t doctors who could make a formal diagnosis.) He immediately qualified for every therapy that the agency offered. In one meeting, the course of my life had forever changed. I went to bed, buried myself under the comforters, and cried until there was nothing left. I mourned the loss of who I thought Pootie was supposed to be. He would never work at his father’s firm, never give me grandchildren, and would probably never live independently. It was a bitter pill to swallow. After forty-eight hours of sobbing, I pulled myself from the cocoon that I had made and paid attention to the mirror. Janis Joplin was staring back at me. I looked like I had been hit by a truck. I had to get myself together as my mother was bringing the children back home to me. I walked into the den to find my beautiful son crawling on the floor. He was short, dark and handsome…with dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin. He looked like a baby Elvis. His face lit up when he saw me. I immediately felt guilty that I had grieved for those two days. My son was alive, healthy, and standing right in front of me— needing his mommy to except him for exactly who he was, no matter what the outcome. At that moment, I vowed to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I gave myself pep-talks along the way…“Never look back, only look up… Think like a winner; you can do this better than anyone…Don’t question ‘Why?’ Instead ask, ‘Why not?’” After all, it was an honor to be this child’s mommy. Pootie was formally diagnosed a few months later. The doctor determined that he had autism within the first five minutes of observation, as he was so severe on the spectrum. The years that followed were filled with early intervention, therapies, doctors’ appointments, and special schooling. Despite all of the advantages that he had been given, Pootie remained very severe on the spectrum. Yet another tough pill to swallow. I entertained various scenarios that seemed unbearable—What if he never learned to talk? What if he remained the lowest functioning in the entire county’s school system? What if he needed assistance with practically everything? With time, all of those ‘What if’s?’ proved to be true. I felt myself spiraling into a depression from the anxiety. So, in an attempt to preserve my sanity, I decided to place my focus on what autism gave our family instead of what society imagined that it might take away—because if you haven’t figured it out by now, happiness is indeed a choice that we make. Celebrating Pootie for exactly who he was became a stress-reliever. This level of acceptance also made Pootie extraordinarily happy and confident. I have been blessed with a very affectionate child, but I don’t think it’s been a total accident. Pootie is the product of positivity, unconditional love, and total acceptance. He deserves that like everyone else. He doesn’t only deserve that if he behaves “normally.” I’ve met a few autism parents who are angst-ridden because they’re constantly focused on the fact that their lives aren’t like every other boring person's walking down the street. Some of them seem to pity me as well because Pootie is more severe than their children. I hate their pity. Pootie is the light of our lives. Yes, caring for someone with special needs can be hard work—It is parenting 2.0—you’re going to work a bit harder, but the rewards can be even greater. Once we really started focusing on the joys of autism, we were able to sit back and enjoy our lives more than ever before…Pootie royally entertained us by the way he saw the world…He rode his therapy horse backward. He ate pine straw whenever he went outside. He galloped sideways instead of running straight. He took ten minutes to eat a single M&M. He ran in place outside whenever it rained (and insisted on doing this while holding a tennis racket for some unknown reason). He tried to sleep between the mattress and box springs every night. He wanted to wear my Spanx because he liked the squeeze. He laughed all day while staring at the palm of his hand. He swiped food off of stranger’s plates at restaurants. He constantly made “Ehhhhh-Ehhhhhh” noises, prompting multiple neighbors and passers-by to ask if we owned a goat…I could list a million more. Pootie’s take on life began to actually make some sense to me when I analyzed it. A perfect example would be his feelings about Halloween. For Pootie, Halloween involves getting into a scratchy costume, going out into the freezing cold, dark night, and being forced to interact with strangers just for a piece of discount candy. I began to think more literally as he did…why on earth would anyone ever dress up like a duck and take candy from a stranger in the dark? Many times, Pootie’s perspective was spot on. In the spirit of autism awareness month, I’d like to share a couple of things that have made a profound impact on my understanding of autism. There are many things that I could add to this list, but these two stand out. I once observed a behavioral therapist giving a talk about autism to a classroom of typical school children. He asked them to pretend that they had a bad tummy ache—but instructed that they weren’t allowed to use any words to communicate this to others. As you might imagine, the entire classroom of children instantly acted autistically…gesturing, screaming, crying, pulling, and hitting out of frustration. It was at that moment that I realized that Pootie was one of the smartest children I knew. He was always finding ways to compensate for his deficits. He was communicating non-verbally…I just needed to listen with more than my ears. Yes, there are times when I have zero clues what he wants, and that’s tough. But life can be tough sometimes. If you focus primarily on the struggles, you won’t be living. The second thing that gave me clarity was reading the book, The Reason I Jump, written by Naoki Higashida, a non-verbal boy with autism, considered to be severe like my son. I casually opened the book, not prepared to suddenly understand what my son must have been thinking and feeling for years. The passages leaped off the pages: “Flapping our fingers and hands in front of our faces allows the light to enter our eyes in a pleasant, filtered fashion. Light that reaches us feels soft and gentle like moonlight. "When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upwards to the sky. Really, my urge to be swallowed up by the sky is enough to make my heart quiver…I can feel my body parts really well, too—my bounding legs and my clapping hands—and that makes me feel so, so good.” “Sometimes I actually pity you for not being able to see the beauty in the world the same way we do. Really, our version of the world can be incredible, just incredible.” The book described the child’s extreme appreciation for the beauty in the world, as well as his sadness from feeling that he was constantly disappointing people by not acting “normal.” All this child wanted was acceptance; for people to just give him the chance to be himself, like everyone else is given. I never wanted to raise Pootie in an environment where his every move was “corrected.” Although staying on top of his therapy goals is crucial, Pootie understands that he is more important than mastering goals. In keeping with the celebration of autism awareness, I’d like to send a message to my little masterpiece… “Pootie, My perspectives on life have changed immensely because of you. We are all far better humans for knowing you. I thank God each day that he gave you to our family…we hit the jackpot. I am infinitely proud of you and can not thank you enough for your gifts of love and autism. It is a privilege to call you my son. Love, Mommy.”

More Than My Disability Hi, I’m Kimberly. I’m a 20 something-year-old Disability Lifestyle blogger on The Sitting Beauty Diaries. I’ve used a wheelchair my entire life due to my disability Cerebral Palsy. Growing up, I didn’t let my disability stop me from doing things when possible. This made for some interesting and at times downright funny experiences. My disability has allowed me to see the world differently and for that I’m grateful, but growing up I learned that most people can’t see past the disability at least not right away. I was just a girl in a wheelchair and nothing more. They don’t see women who like to go out with their friends, work, wear makeup, be fashionable and do everything else life has to offer, yet we want these things just like everyone else. I started my blog because I wanted to share my experiences as a wheelchair user and a woman who loved beauty, fashion, and so many other things. I’ve always been into fashion, but there was a time when I believed I wouldn’t be able to fully embrace my love of makeup and have fun with it due to my disability. I was snapped out of that quickly, though my skills are a work in progress. When I started looking I didn’t see much content that considered people with disabilities in beauty or fashion, the idea for The Sitting Beauty Diaries was born. My goal is to inspire women with disabilities to have fun with beauty and fashion in a way that works for them while living their best life with their disability, reminding them that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you are defined by it.

...still pressing on after spinal cord injury What happened to you? Why do you use a cane to walk? Why do you use a scooter? It was 1979, and I was 18 years old enjoying one summer week before I headed for college. I jumped into a pool, hit my head and started drowning. The E.M.T said “she is a quadriplegic and will probably never walk again.” The tunnel of darkness began, it felt like I was in a wrapping of heaviness beyond belief. What just happened to me? I could not move, I could not feel my body! They told us to prepare our home for a wheelchair ramp. What they did not know was that there was a different plan for my life. “Will she walk again? Will she move? “It's very serious, just come home now” my uncle told my mom who had to stop her Eurotrip and find someone to help her go back on the train immediately. It was better she didn’t know exactly what happened. “Your daughter is a quadriplegic, she will never walk again” …the on-staff neurosurgeon told her when she arrived 3 days later. I heard her scream. "הבת שלך משותקת, היא לעולם לא תלך עוד" מה קרה לך? למה אתה משתמשת במקל הליכה? למה את משתמשת בקטנוע? זה קרה ב-1979, אני הייתי בת 18 ונהניתי משבוע קייצי אחד לפני שתתחיל המכללה. קפצתי לבריכה, נפגעתי בראשי והתחלתי לטבוע. החובשים אמרו "היא משותקת מהצוואר ומטה וככל הנראה לא תלך עוד לעולם". מנהרת החושך החלה, הרגשתי כאילו אני עטופה בכבדות עצומה. מה בדיוק קרה לי? לא יכולתי לזוז, לא יכולתי להרגיש את גופי! הם אמרו לנו להכין את הבית שלנו לכיסא גלגלים. מה שהם לא ידעו זה שהיו לי תכניות אחרת לחיי. "האם היא תלך שוב? האם היא תזוז?" "זה רציני מאוד, תחזרי הביתה עכשיו" דודי אמר לאימי שהיה עליה לעצור את הטיול שלה באירופה ולמצוא מישהו שיעזור לה לחזור מיד. מוטב היה שלא תדע בדיוק מה קרה. "הבת שלך משותקת, היא לעולם לא תלך עוד…" הנוירוכירורג המטפל אמר לה כשהגיעה שלושה ימים לאחר מכן. שמעתי אותה צורחת. "חזרת" התחושה החלה במהירות לאחר תפילות רבות, שלושה חודשים ועשרה ימים מאוחר יותר. ההליכה שלי הייתה חלשה כמו כל הגוף שלי, נאבקתי עם הרגליים, אבל הייתי נחושה מוקדם מאוד לזוז כמה שאני יכולה. הייתי מאושפזת בשיקום במשך שנה. אלו היו חיים בפני עצמם שלרוב לא פופולרי לדבר עליהם, אבל אני חושבת שחלק מהלב, הנפש והנשמה שלי נקרעו שם. לצערי אני יכול לומר שבכיתי כמיליון דמעות. הימים הראשונים של החזרת השימוש בגופי היו סיוט שלא נגמר. "לחזור" לא היה קל, אבל המשכתי בשיקום באשפוז ושנה לאחר מכן הלכתי למכללה וקיבלתי את התואר הראשון שלי. פגשתי אדם שאהב אותי בדיוק כמו שאני, עם כל האתגרים שלי. התחתנו ונולד לי בן בלידה טבעית! מעולם לא נכנעתי. עדיין יש בי מוטיבציה. כל יום אני מתאמנת. האם עליי לעשות פילאטיס, להרים משקולות או לשחות? למעשה, בקיץ הזה, אני מתכננת לחתור עם קבוצת חתירה מותאמת בנהר הפוטומק כאן בבירת המדינה שלנו! יש שיאמרו שזהו קרב. לפעמים צריכים לבחור באיזה צד של הקרב תהיו באותו יום, שעה, או אפילו רגע. אני יודעת. זה כמו דלת כבדה. אתם יודעים, יש דלתות שדורשות דחיפה נוספת, לתת את האקסטרה שיש בכם! כך זה מרגיש לי לפעמים. אני ברת מזל לומר כי 38 שנים מאוחר יותר אני עדיין הולכת! זה נפלא, זה נס, אני יודעת. The “return” of feeling began quickly after many prayers, three months and ten days later, I was up walking in the parallel bars. My gait was weak as was my whole body, I struggled with all the other issues, that quads deal with, but I was determined very early on to move as much as I could. I was an inpatient in rehab for one year. It was a life unto itself, often dismissed and not popular to speak about but, I think, part of my heart, mind and soul were torn there and then some. I sadly can say I must have cried a million tears. The early days of regaining use of my body was a nightmare never-ending. “Coming back” was not easy, but I continued in outpatient rehab and one year later I went to college and earned my bachelor’s degree. I met a man who loved me just as I was, and with all my challenges. We married, and I had a son by natural birth! I have never stopped long enough to quit. Today, I am still motivated. Everyday I train. Should I do pilates, free weights or swim? In fact, this summer, I plan to row with the Adaptive Row team on the Potomac River here in our nation’s capital! It is a battle, some say. Sometimes you need to choose which side of the battle you will be in that day, that hour, or even the moment by moment. I know, I do. It is like a heavy door. You know, some doors require that extra push, that extra something that you have in you! This is what walking feels like for me sometimes. I am blessed to say that 38 years later I am still walking! It is wonderful, it is a miracle I know.

My name is Dionte. I am 27 year old and I was born with Cerebral Palsy but I do not let that stop me from doing anything! I love to inspire others because we all go through trials and tribulations. I never let that stop me because I feel like everything happens for a reason, so I play the hand I was dealt. I love working with people with disabilities to let them know if you put your mind to it, anything is possible. For a long time I was lost and just recently found myself and now I have a career that I love and I get the travel the world while making money.

I'm just a human being I've always felt a little awkward when someone calls me "inspirational" or a "hero". It makes me feel uneasy. Yes, it is a lovely compliment, but am I really? I only live my life as an individual, raising awareness of various issues. Anyone can do that, right? I am never sure whether to accept these compliments or say actually, I'm not because I'm just a human being, who is passionate about helping to change lives for the better. trying to figure life out The sad thing is that I bet that the reason why the majority of people say things like this to me is that they mainly see my Cerebral Palsy as struggles and I bet that they think that they "couldn't do it" if they were disabled... Em, yes they could. We all could if we absolutely had to! This is me - Yes, I have CP, and yes, it affects my daily life, but I live with it. I get all the ups and downs, and I do get depressed at times, but I live with it. Does that make me a "hero"? Absolutely not! I am just a twenty-something woman, trying to figure life out. Accepting the "Hero" Compliment This is a difficult subject to talk about because on one hand, I don't want to be seen as a hero, but on the other hand, I don't want to be un-noticed. Ok, I blog about disability to raise awareness, and to give me something to do. Yes, some of the content I write may be inspirational to some people, I accept that, but some people say I'm a "hero" out of the blue. When someone says things like this, I don't know how to react. Do I accept the compliment, or do I say 'well, actually, I'm not a hero because...'? I appreciate the compliment, I really do, but it just feels wrong. It is an extremely odd feeling, half of me is saying: "Ah, that's nice", and the other half doesn't want to accept it because it doesn't feel right. I'm torn between two options... If I accept it, do I really deserve to be called a "hero" or an "inspiration". Or if I reject it, would people get annoyed and think that I'm ungrateful? I really don't know what to say or do. What does being a hero mean? In my eyes, being a hero involves being heroic (eg. helping or saving someone), and although I have helped a few people, I don't think that I have helped anyone to any great extent. I am not the best at accepting compliments anyway, but I definitely find it difficult to accept them when I think I don't deserve them. There are far more heroic people in this world than me. If I actually do something that is inspirational, and it warrants a pat on the back or something, then feel free to praise me for it, but other than that, please don't. It makes me feel extremely awkward. Don't get me wrong, I would love to know if I've helped people in some way, but I don't view myself as heroic. I know you mean well, but please don't call me a "hero" just for the sake of it. As I said before, I'm only living my life as best as I can, and I'm trying to use the tools I am given. That's it. Check out my blog: http://ailsas.wixsite.com/brainsonwheels/single-post/2019/01/20/Am-I-Really-a-Hero