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Finding Out Autumn Has Osteogenesis Imperfecta When I first found out I was pregnant with baby Autumn, my boyfriend and I were so excited. We planned out my whole pregnancy. I planned on having her vaginally, she was going to be breastfed and I was going to work until I couldn’t work anymore. However, all that changed once we started having ultrasounds. During our first few ultrasounds the doctors would tell us “your baby legs aren’t growing at the same speed and that one leg was longer than the other.” They immediately thought that she would be a dwarf but we didn’t believe. A few ultrasounds after that we then found out that our beautiful baby girl had a few fractures in her legs. When her dad and I heard that, it broke our hearts. The doctor stated that “your baby may be born with a disease known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). It’s a disease in which the bones are very weak. They wanted to test my fluid while I was pregnant but I didn’t want them to do it because they said there was a chance in which I could miscarriage and we didn’t want to take that risk. I told my boyfriend that we will just have to wait and see if what the doctors are saying is true once she was born. As soon as we left the doctors I broke down and cried. I couldn’t fight back the tears because I was so hurt. What did I do to fracture my daughters leg? In all honesty I didn’t do anything. While Autumn was in the womb she could stretch a certain way and could easily fracture. Months went by and then we finally had our precious bundle of joy on August 27th, 2017 via c-section. Our baby girl was born 7 pounds 5 ounces with fractures in the ribs, both arms and legs but they all were healing. Outside of the womb, she has had two arm and two leg fractures. As time goes by she’s growing and learning so much. I'm proud to say that we have such a loving, beautiful, smart, warrior around who is only 17 months old. What the future has in store for her? We don’t know, but we can’t wait to see what amazing things she will learn and accomplish.

How a game of rugby changed my life forever On the 5th November 2014, the last thing I can remember was looking up at the sky not knowing what was happening. Five minutes into a rugby game changed my life forever. I was rushed to the hospital and told I had a spinal cord and brain injury. Little did I know the biggest uphill battle of my life was still to come. Initially, in denial, I was not listening to doctors or accepting my injury. I was angry, upset and hated my life. The psychological challenge was and is immense and I suffer from PTSD due to my accident. Also learning about what I can and can’t do has been difficult to adapt to and I’m still learning. However, for every negative, there have been many positives. I have been up Mount Snowdon in my wheelchair, married the love of my life, got back into work and became active again. My hunger and desire to succeed has increased and my wheelchair will not stop me. My family and friends who have been there to support me have dragged me through the hard times and I wouldn’t be here without them today! This year I started working with Sunrise Medical and Quickie wheelchairs. I have since gone on to become an ambassador for them. I have achieved things that I never thought I could and having this injury has opened up so many doors for me. It has made me a stronger person. I will always try and see the positive of being a wheelchair user, the free parking isn’t so bad and I will never have scuffed shoes again. This is my life now, but there will be a cure and I will be on my feet again!!

This Is Me Soon after I was born, my mom knew that there was something wrong with me because unlike most babies I was not moving my arms or legs. After speaking to different doctors, I was finally diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Quadriplegia, a disability that affects my four limbs, due to a brain injury at birth. There have been times in my life where things got complicated, but despite that, I kept pushing forward to be the best I could be. There are people who think that because I have a disability I need special accommodations for everything or I won’t rise to the occasion, and that’s not true. There are also people who support and believe in me and the things that I can do. I am proud of the person I am because even with the limitations that I have, I’ve accomplished and done so many things. I graduated high school, ranking #4 out of 100 graduating seniors, and I was the only one with a disability. I have an Associate’s in Paralegal Studies from LaGuardia Community College. While there, I became part of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society for Students with Disabilities. I graduated from there with a 3.7 GPA, which I am proud of. In 2015, I participated in the NY Miss Amazing Pageant. Miss Amazing is a pageant that celebrates the abilities of girls and women with disabilities, thanks to them I have grown so much as a person. In that year, I won the title of Teen Queen and got the chance to represent NY at the national pageant in LA, in which I won 1st Runner-Up. I also participated in 2017, and I won the title of Jr. Miss Queen. This past May I graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where I majored in English with a minor in Law. I want to go to law school in the future. For now, I would like to go to Colombia Law School and the kind of law I would like to practice is Immigration or Family. This past September, I modeled for the very first time in NYFW. I modeled for Nike, at the Fashion Revolution Event for Runway Of Dreams. Runway Of Dreams is an organization that advocates and helps promote people with disabilities in the fashion industry. I'm still remembering this incredible day. Growing up I never saw other kids like me in such events like this, or movies, magazines, etc. I'm glad I got to be a part of that event, to show that people with disabilities can do anything we set our minds to. Never in my wildest dreams, would I have thought I'd be this far in life, doing the things I'm doing, and accomplishing so many things. To me it's very important to put my self out there and do things, to share my story. Trying to end the stigma that those who have disabilities, shouldn't be able to do great things. I enjoy dining out, catching a movie, shopping and spending time with family and friends. Being in a wheelchair gives me a unique perspective. I know I am different but I also am able to appreciate even the smallest things. I can see the blades of grass, I can see each petal on a newly blossomed flower, and I can feel the warm rays of the sun on my back. I make it a goal to recognize the smallest blessings in life and that, I believe, is one of my greatest abilities. I believe that we all have disabilities, or things that we can’t do. With perseverance and a grateful heart, we can overcome any challenges and find the good in everything. In a sense, many of our disabilities become one of our abilities whether we choose to realize it or not. My mom helped me to see that even with my disability - no not “even with”, but thanks to it - I can change the world with my hope, joy, kindness, and love. So if I had to tell you what I am most grateful for, it is my disability; With it, I bring hope to people just by living a normal life. My goal in life will be to help people realize their great potential and the many abilities that they have in spite of any disabilities or trials that may come their way."

Hi, I am Steven. I was in a car accident when I was one year old. A senior citizen fell asleep on the highway and drove into us from the oncoming side of traffic. Not only did I bruise my spine, but I also injured my brain on collision. Doctors said I would not progress past grade 7... I am now 18 and in grade 12. I have placed 1st in South Africa and 9th in the world in the Lego World Robot Olympiad. I am the captain of the under 19 and 23 regional teams, as well as the under 23 national team. I'm also currently leading the senior league in rebounds, steals, scoring, and double-doubles. I have my own company, and teach children robotics. Lastly, I'm also the 4 time MVP for the under 19 league and have two MVP awards in the under 23 league.

What It’s Like Enduring a Stroke At 27 I am currently thirty years old, and I am a stroke survivor. I never thought I'd be saying that or that I even could be saying that at such a young age, but here I am. My stroke happened on June 27, 2016; I was just twenty-seven years old at the time. For about twelve weeks before, I was suffering from excruciating head and neck pain. I saw four doctors during that time. They told me I was fine and I didn't need further treatment. I had no other symptoms. As time went on, the pain started interfering with my job. I am a pharmacist at a hospital. I would either leave work early or call in sick to work, which was very unlike me. Then on Monday, June 27th, I woke up with extreme vertigo. Vertigo is often described as dizziness, feeling off balance, and a sensation of spinning. It is frequently accompanied by nausea. Within an hour or two, the vertigo improved, and I was able to shower and go about my day. Early afternoon, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond at a local outdoor shopping center. As I approached the mall, my right foot fell asleep. I thought the timing was odd because I had never experienced my right foot falling asleep while actually driving. At that time, the educated pharmacist in me briefly thought, "Headaches, vertigo, foot numbness; Am I having a stroke?" I thought "No, it's not possible; I'm only twenty-seven." When I was done at the store, I went to checkout. The woman at the counter stated, "Are you done? I can help you over here." The words sounded so jumbled. Difficulty comprehending speech is often another symptom of stroke so by this point, I was even more sure I might be having a stroke. However, I truly felt as if the woman had misspoken and I had heard the words correctly; I had never heard anyone describe this symptom exactly like this. Given this and my age, I convinced myself not to tell the woman I may need help. I left the store and as I stepped down from the sidewalk to the parking lot, I almost lost my balance and fell. I was more sure that something was wrong. I planned on going back to my car and calling 911. I got in my car, turned it on, and put my seatbelt on out of habit. I turned the air conditioning on because it was ninety-five degrees outside. By this time, my whole right side felt numb, I could tell I had a facial droop, and my vision was very blurry. I was 100% positive that my suspicions were correct; I was indeed having a stroke. I immediately looked at the clock to see what time it was. Identifying what time your symptoms start is crucial when having a stroke because of a drug called tPA, which is a clot buster. This drug can be given in ischemic strokes, which is the most common type of stroke. However, tPA must be given within a certain time frame from when one's symptoms begin. The time frame is typically three hours, but may be extended to four and a half hours if the patient meets certain criteria. After noting the time, I lost my speech completely. My arms were in a clenched position in front of my chest. As a pharmacist, I had responded to numerous stroke codes while working at a hospital, and I had not recalled seeing anyone as bad as I was at the moment, which scared me even more. I attempted to dial 911, but I struggled to do so because of my blurry vision. I would accidentally type 912, then have to backspace only to dial another incorrect number. This process continued for what felt like close to thirty minutes. When finally getting ahold of an emergency operator, I was relieved, but terrified at the same time because I didn't know how I would communicate. She asked me what my emergency was, and I was able to respond with only a moan. She continued asking questions such as where I was, if I was by myself, had I been drinking or using drugs, and so on. Sometimes I was not even capable of producing any sound when trying to respond. Finally, she traced my call and confirmed my general location. The emergency operator sent mall security to come find me. I saw mall security driving around shortly after and luckily, the man was able to spot me almost instantly. He quickly realized I truly needed help when I was unable to open my car door upon his instruction. He directed the emergency operator to send paramedics. Two ambulances arrived, and several paramedics surrounded my car. A few paramedics focused on evaluating and communicating with me while the others searched through my wallet and front seat trying to gather whatever information they could. The paramedics realized I was unable to move on my own so they proceeded to take my seatbelt off and lift me out of my car onto a stretcher. I was then put in the back of the ambulance, and we left for the hospital. Shortly after, we arrived at the hospital, which was coincidentally the hospital I also worked at. I was rushed into an exam room in the ER. I just remember lots of people swarming around me trying to take vitals, evaluate me, change me into a gown, and so on. They were not sure what was wrong with me. The whole time I kept thinking, "I am having a stroke; call a stroke code." I couldn't communicate this message so I continued sitting in silence. I somewhat presented as if I was having a seizure so they initially started treating me for that. Even though I had every typical stroke symptom, they were not considering stroke as a diagnosis because of my age. My mom arrived minutes later. She realized that I was aware of what was happening and communicated with me by asking yes or no questions. My mom had a transient ischemic attack or TIA, also known as a mini stroke, about fifteen years prior. She had experienced similar symptoms so was able to relate to how I felt. I remember her asking, "Are your eyes painful? Are your eyes blurry?" I shook my head no, then yes. She continued to ask, "Is your right arm numb? Here? Here? Here?" while pointing to three different locations on my arm. Again, I shook my head yes to all three locations. My mom was persistent and insisted I was having a stroke. The staff finally called a stroke code, which alerts several members of the healthcare team to respond. I was taken for a CT scan of my head and neck. They determined I was having an ischemic stroke in the brain stem and basilar artery, which has a high mortality rate. The CT scan also showed I had four arterial dissections. A dissection is a tear in the artery, which can lead to a blockage in the blood vessel and cause a stroke. My dissections were in the four main arteries that supply blood to the brain. In general, dissections are rare, but having four dissections is highly unusual. Next, I was evaluated by a neurologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital via telestroke, which allows a neurologist from a remote location to assess a patient. The neurologist asked me to follow certain commands like moving my arm and leg various ways. He also asked me to identify certain images on cards he showed me. I remember just staring straight ahead, and I was almost in tears from the frustration, fear, and panic. The critical care pharmacist, who is also one of my good friends, had responded to the stroke code. I remember being so glad to see her because I knew she would take very good care of me. She in addition to the rest of the medical staff and my parents were hard at work trying to figure out if I was a candidate for tPA. Since I had been alone, they had no idea what time my symptoms began. They used my receipt from Bed, Bath, and Beyond and my phone to identify what time I called 911 to ultimately determine I was just within the window to receive tPA. Thus, I did receive tPA. Later on while still in the ER, I was worsening because I was needing to be intubated in the ER. Afterward, I underwent a complicated procedure to remove the clot and have two stents placed to keep the appropriate arteries open. The doctor successfully performed the procedure and is why I'm here today. I remember waking up in the intensive care unit (ICU) later and still thinking I was in the ER. Though, I knew I was at the hospital, which was a very good sign. The next day, I was able to speak again, but it was hard and my speech was definitely slurred. It was also extremely hard to swallow. I could not move my entire right side, still had a lot of numbness and tingling, and suffered from severe pain. Emotionally, it was very difficult to process the severity of what I was going through and all the unknowns. How long would I be hospitalized? Could I ever walk or drive again? When could I go back to work? I could not even begin to process that I might actually have long term consequences and disabilities and that my life would be changed forever. On that first Thursday, three nights after my stroke, a CT scan showed I might be worsening. The next day, the doctors decided I needed to be transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. I had an extremely hard time with that news and lots of tears were shed because it brought up so many more unknowns. I was transferred by ambulance later that day. The next forty-eight hours were the absolute toughest and a complete blur. I don't remember much; I was in so much pain. I was in the first two hospitals for a total of three and a half weeks, almost all of which was in the ICU. Afterward, I went to Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), and I was an inpatient there for another three and a half weeks. At RIC, I underwent rigorous physical, occupational, and speech therapy. I had therapy about four hours per day, six or seven days a week. I was in a wheelchair and trying to relearn how to stand, climb stairs, walk, and talk. I could not get dressed, shower, or go to the bathroom on my own. I was supervised all of the time. I cannot begin to explain how that feels when just weeks before you were doing everything on your own. My whole life had now become dedicated to moving one finger on my right hand, then opening and closing my entire hand, rotating my wrist, moving my right leg, balancing, and strengthening my right side. My right side was my dominant side prior to the stroke so I was forced to become left-handed. As a result of doing everything with one, non-dominant hand, I developed severe carpal tunnel issues from overuse, on top of every other obstacle. The pain I still experienced due to the dissections, mainly in the form of unrelenting and excruciating headaches (unlike that of a migraine), kept me abstaining from watching television, reading, or listening to music for months. When I was discharged home, the struggles continued. I had someone staying with me for a couple of months in case I were to fall. For several months after, I had extreme difficulty coming up with the right word I was trying to say. I experienced bladder and bowel incontinence for some time because of muscle weakness and decreased feeling. My day to day life was consumed by doctor appointments, trips to the pharmacy, phone calls with the insurance, and outpatient day rehab at RIC, which consisted of six hours of therapy per day, about three days a week. After a lot of testing, I've been told I have some underlying genetic connective tissue disorder, which predisposed me to the dissections. How have I survived this and gotten to where I am? I try to maintain a positive attitude despite everything. I've also had the most wonderful support system, which is incredibly important. It definitely starts with my family and friends, coworkers, therapists, and doctors. The stroke team at the initial hospital was amazing and provided excellent care; I cannot even begin to thank the stroke coordinator, nurses, pharmacists, and doctors, as well as the doctor who performed my procedure and his nurse practitioner. They saved my life and I’ll forever be grateful. The main piece of advice I'd give to others is do not wait if you are suspecting a stroke or just think something is generally off. Millions of brain cells die every minute when you're having a stroke. I'm talking from experience. My biggest regret is not seeking help sooner. Strokes can AND do happen to anyone. Please, don't think you are the exception! Erin Gianaras, Doctor Of Pharmacy & Stroke Survivor

Hi, my name is Alysia Kezerian and I am 22 years old. On Aug 2, 2015, my friend and I were hiking in Oregon when I fell over 50 ft off the side of a mountain, shattered my L2 vertebrae, and immediately lost function in my legs. I have always been someone who created a clear path to follow to accomplish all of the things I have wanted for myself. With my new paralysis, I was terrified that such a path was no longer possible and that my life would be of lesser value because of my inability to walk. However, I spent my next 10 weeks at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver and soon realized that my legs do not get to define my happiness and I can STILL do everything. From there, I moved back up to the University of Oregon to finish up my degree in Business Marketing, was the commencement speaker at my graduation ceremony, and even studied abroad in Vienna, Austria and traveled to 10 different countries while I was there. While life may be a bit more difficult at times, I have found a strength in me that I didn't even know I had. I still work hard every day to prove all of the impossibles possible and to prove to other wheelchair users that life does not have to be mediocre. Life can still be wonderful, and you might have to work at it a bit harder, but you'll never know until you try. To see some of my travels abroad, search my hashtag #wheeliesaroundtheworld

Just thinking about my ex-boyfriend makes me upset. When I was 17 or 18 years old, I thought I had found love but it turned out to be a lie. My ex-boyfriend and I had been dating for 11 months when our relationship turned nasty. I broke up with him while losing all trust in men. I decided not to date anyone...until now. Lets go back to 2012 first. My ex-boyfriend said some nasty words to me one evening when we were on the phone after I returned from a concert in London. At first the conversation was great- we were laughing and joking. He didn't like me socialising or drinking, and this particular weekend I had been. He wasn't happy. Whilst on the phone, he turned nasty and said some unpleasant words about my disability and parents. He said the only reason my parents kept me was because of the benefits they could receive (ie: The blue parking badge, etc). However, my parents did a lot for me when it came to my disability, so I hung up and barely spoke to him and his family since then! Now I’m 26 I’m happy in love again with a great guy who understands me and my disability and is so caring and supportive and his family are amazing about my CP too. Here are my tips for helping to find that one true love Tip #1: Be Honest Tell your partner what disability you have and how it affects you in different ways. Tell them if you have a nickname for your weak side (ie: I call my left hand lefty). Tip #2: Make Sure Your Partner's Family/ Friends Know About Your Disability Make sure their family and friends understand that you have a disability so they dont say anything stupid such as those horrible names you hear now and again to describe people with disabilities. Tip #3: Be Yourself Make sure your partner sees the real you and don't hide behind your disability. Tip #4: Be Comfortable Make sure you do activities that you can actually do. You can even suggest to plan the first date if you want. Tip #5: Answer Those Awkward Questions xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Tip #6: Don’t Rely On A Romantic Partner for Daily Care Don't force them to do your daily care. If they love you, they will take care of you without being asked to. Tip #7: Dating Websites There are dating websites which help disabled people find partners. Feel free to check them out. Tip #8: Just Ignore The Haters There will be haters, doubters, non-belivers, and then there will be you and your partner proving them wrong. xxxxxxxxxxx Make sure you feel comfortable with that one person before you rush in to things. Tip #10: The Only Disability In Life Is A Bad Attitude If your partner isn't the one, dont worry! The right person will show up when you least expect it.

My name is Bibiana. I'm a Brazilian teenager who has Cerebral Palsy, diplegia actually. I'm 16 now and my life has changed completely in the last 6 years. I always knew I was "different." I didn't know how or why, but I always had to deal with the pain the perception of difference brings us. I felt guilty, angry with God and the universe when failing to do things everyone around me did. I didn't understand why I needed physical therapy when no one else I knew did. When I understood the severity of my condition and how lucky I was for even being able to walk, I worked my ass off. Turning pain into being a proud adolescence Suddenly, comments that haunted me for several years no longer made a difference. "You walk wrong." "Why do you walk funny?" "She is lame." "You walk differently." "You can't do that." Guess what? I CAN do whatever I want to. No matter if in Physical Education I will be last to be chosen, I will run slower or I will fall sometimes. P.E. classes still haunt me, I still hate running or dancing in front of people, I still can't stand watching myself walk. But I'm ok, I'm alive, and the most beautiful thing that Cerebral Palsy gave me is the courage and strength to fight against any challenge that I face. Today, I'm a better person. I will never be the first in Physical Education, but I am the first in all the other subjects.

Hi my name is Leandra Ferreira and I am from South Africa. I was born with AMC and as it goes, the doctors told my mom I would not survive past my first year and if I did, I would have to live in a special needs home. Lol- the joke was on them! My mom, being a strong independent woman, raised me just to be as strong as she was. I have been working the past 10 years and it has been great. My fellow colleagues treat me equally and don't see my disability. I have a son who is awesome and I love him dearly. There's a lot of challenges, but I take things each day at a time.

Get Out Get Active Statistics show disabled people to be the least active group in the UK. The ‘Disabled People's Lifestyle Report’ from September 2013 found that there is clear untapped demand for physical activity and sport within the community with 70 per cent of the disabled people surveyed stating they would like to be more active. The report also found that 64 per cent of the disabled people surveyed would prefer to take part in sport and physical activity with a mix of disabled and non-disabled people. However at the time of the report only 51 per cent did so. The research highlighted a clear mismatch between people’s preferences and the availability of opportunities. Over 60 per cent of those surveyed claimed that either a lack of awareness of opportunities or a lack of available opportunities is what prevents them from taking part in sport and physical activity. Get Out Get Active is aimed at addressing these issues. Get Out Get Active is a programme to encourage more disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together and has been introduced by a consortium of partners led by the English Federation of Disability Sport. The £4.5m programme will concentrate on ‘fun and inclusive activities’ over a period of three years. As the husband of a T12 parapegic and somebody who has been involved in disability sport in various roles since 1991 I can relate very strongly to the finding that many disabled people want to take part in physical activity with a mix of disabled and non-disabled people. My wife, Samanta, is a former no 1 Brazilian wheelchair tennis player and very active but the majority of her current activities are with non disabled family and friends. In her wheelchair tennis career the competition was with other disabled people. Outside of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour and since retiring the vast majority of Sam’s physical activity and sport is done with non disabled people. The list of activities and sports she has tried is extensive: Archery Basketball Camping Canoeing Cycling Fitness classes Golf Gym Roller skating Snorkelling Swimming Surfing Table Tennis Pushing/Walking Trampolining Yoga As a couple we want to do activities together and this certainly applies to our nieces who dont see any barriers to the activities that we can do as a group. When planning to go roller skating the question came up as to whether the venue would allow Sam to go round in her wheelchair. The younger niece who must have been 7 at the time said ‘Of course it will be ok as she already has wheels.’ Our nieces love to do activities with us as a group. We cycle, run, push, attend fitness classes, go swimming and play tennis as a family. We take part in these activities in the house, in the garden, in parks, in the counytryside, in sports clubs & in leisure centres. In the words of a 11 year old niece ‘I like the challenge of going on cycling adventures with Sam and solving how we we will get over and round obstacles like rough ground, up & down slopes, across narrow bridges over ditches & occasionally up & down stairs using teamwork. When we go swimming I don’t notice Sam has a disability. She is such a good swimmer’ We believe strongly in the benefits of inclusive activity and sport but not just for the physical benefits. Exercise and social interaction are beneficial for the wellbeing of all family members. Exercise & sport for disabled people does not have to be in disability specific sessions. People can go for a walk/push with non-disabled family and friends of a similar fitness level. Some people may prefer to participate with people with a similar impairment. Some may want a combination of both complementing time spent with family & friends with time with people with a similar impairment sharing thoughts and ideas. The key is that the disabled person is in a position to make choices about the most suitable environment(s) for them to exercise and play sport. To conclude everybody should Get Out and Get Active. I am off for a run followed by some yoga.

Unstoppable dreaming My name is Omar Hesham. I am 25 years old, graduated from the faculty of commerce. I'm a wheelchair user and became an ambassador 7 years ago for Helm organization. I am a good communicator and enjoy CrossFit. Since my birth, I had water on my brain but cured it without surgical intervention. However, I was delayed in everything except for my speech. My family did not know why. The doctors also said that my treatment should be physical therapy. At that time, I was 4 years old and my father died. After my father's death, my mother and sister discovered that I had Muscular Atrophy. At that time this was a rare disease and there was no treatment, but my mother continued to put me in me in physical therapy, bur my condition was making me deteriorate. I became a wheelchair user at the age of 7 years and was then moved to a new house with no elevator on the third floor. I began attending a school located on the fourth floor. This was a difficult period for me because I wished to do everything the other children did. Most children did not understand how to deal with the differences and views of the community until I got used to it and how to deal with the children until secondary school. I started to go out with my sister and introduce myself to her friends. I then entered the college of commerce and in this period I was introduced to Helm Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that seeks to make society in Egypt more accessible to people with disabilities. I joined them and developed many skills. I became a more positive person and I decided to pay more attention to sports and entered. I have to complete the road to the end. I did not care to participate in the marathon because I know my abilities but I refused to leave. Since that day, I began going to the gym with my role in Helm Foundation. I help them with events. I also represent them in television programs. This is my story. I always try to overcome all barriers and to make new challenges in my daily life.

All in a Day "Stay at home!" "Isolate!" "Social distancing!" These terms have been thrown around a lot lately. However, for those of us with disabilities, these terms are pretty much an everyday occurrence. With or without a deadly virus looming over us, we fight all the time to be seen and heard as equals. Why should now be any different? I am happy to say that this particular event has actually done the opposite. I have seen many people on my social media timeline who have disabilities showing the world what it is they can do. For example, a friend of mine, who lives with a spinal cord injury, posted a video of her exercising. Another example is, I have even put my advocacy out there and read two of my books on Facebook Live. Now, I am not the most technologically savvy person, so my attempt was a disaster in both accounts. However, the point is I was out there trying to entertain and educate while giving a sense of inclusion during a time of isolation. These are just some of the many incredible examples. People have shown how we can stay active and included during this time. What will you do to keep this movement going? How will you be heard because even though you may be alone that doesn't mean you have to be silent.