31 Days of SMA: Magic Wheelchair

by Kevin Schaefer | August 31, 2019

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Day 31 of 31 Days of SMA⁣⠀ Topic: Magic Wheelchair ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ This is @christinegetman story:⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Feeling seen and heard for the right reason when living with disability or serious illness has always been a cornerstone of my work. From promoting the healing power of art and expression to encouraging the vulnerability of disclosure and advocacy in the workforce, representation means proudly bringing your unique value to the conversation. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ My current job has reignited my passion and appreciation for inclusion and representation. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Magic Wheelchair is a nonprofit organization building epic wheelchair costumes, at no cost. Our kiddos are the bosses, and our builders bring their imaginations to life. Whether it’s a Star Wars spacecraft, a princess carriage, or an original creature — a Magic Wheelchair offers a new spin on representation. I want people to feel seen, heard, and accepted for what they love and what excites them. To me, we are celebrating differences by celebrating what we actually have in common (which is a lot!). ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ We aren't getting the full experience of our interests, passions, and fandoms if certain people are excluded. You're not getting the full picture, or the whole story, if you aren't meeting everyone who loves what you love. The more we can raise awareness for inclusion and diversify accessibility within cons and cosplay, the more we will be able to learn and connect to our geeky tribe on a deeper level. It's powerful for everyone. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ What I didn’t realize in my work was that I was also being given the opportunity to be a representative—to sharing my voice and having my ideas and hard work validated in other under-represented industries has been incredibly humbling and exciting. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Ultimate inclusion will change the world!

A post shared by SMANewsToday (@smanewstoday) on Aug 31, 2019 at 8:43am PDT

About the Author

Kevin Schaefer Kevin Schaefer (he/him) is a writer, podcaster, and lover of all things pop culture. Diagnosed with SMA type 2 at the age of 18 months in 1995, he shares a vast array of hilarious and eye-opening stories from his life with a neuromuscular disability. He works as the associate director of community content for this site’s parent company, BioNews. He also hosts the SMA News Today Podcast. Kevin is a graduate of North Carolina State University and lives with his parents in Cary, NC. People regularly mistake him for Tony Stark, on account of his intellect and advanced technological equipment.