Connie Chandler is the director of family engagement at the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan. She grew up in the foothills of North Carolina but now owns a home and lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was diagnosed with SMA type 2 when she was 18 months old. She believes the best way to receive great care is to give great care to those around her. Through her column, she hopes to share funny and sweet stories about her friendships with her caregivers and the ways they are growing together.
I love to travel! A trip to England this summer was my first journey overseas from my Indiana home, but I’ve been to a lot of beautiful and amazing places in the U.S. and…
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“I’m feeling a bit Muppety today.” It’s an adjective I made up for myself years ago (meaning “like a Muppet”) because there are just some aspects of having a neuromuscular disability that are hard…
Last week I had the honor of speaking at and participating in the 39th annual SOFT Conference. SOFT, which stands for Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13, and Related Disorders, is a nonprofit…
Every year while I was in high school, I went to a weeklong summer camp with my church youth group. It was my favorite week of the year because I felt like I belonged…
As I unpacked my suitcase after a trip to England, I found a little paper bag that held smooth pebbles, bird feathers, a snail shell, and a piece of sea glass — things that…
I write a lot about my able-bodied friends and the ways they care for me. But sometimes the person who can offer the best support and help is disabled as much, if not more,…
“Connie, can we make some doughnuts?” Two-year-old Eden, with her blond pigtails and soulful blue eyes, asks me this question on a weekly basis. “Of course, sweet girl,” I reply and let her lead…
“OK, so just pick up my arm and rest my elbow on the table right here, with my hand up toward my face. That’s right. Now do the same thing with my other arm.
Confession: I do not enjoy taking showers. Please don’t misunderstand me; I absolutely love the feel of hot water on my skin, the sweet fragrance of scented soaps, the soothing comfort of a shampooed…
“Umm, bunk beds?” My mom and I stopped in our tracks, backpacks and pillows in tow, peering into the room where we were supposed to sleep during a fun and relaxing weekend away. Needless…
With a fresh cup of coffee balanced on my knee, I quickly scanned my church’s cafe area for a place to land where I could have a supportive tabletop. The only vacant spot at…
One of my favorite pastimes is cruising the sidewalks of our downtown area all by myself. I have a wheelchair-accessible van, but I need my friends to drive it, which means I rarely go…
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