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.

Articles by Kevin Schaefer

A Question that Surprised Me

Having SMA means that strangers approach me on a regular basis. From the onlooker who’s infatuated with my service dog, to the 10,000th person who sees my wheelchair and asks me if I “have a license for that thing,” I’m quite used to comments from people that range…

Recovering from Pneumonia, Getting Back to Work

Alas, after a long couple weeks of constantly spitting phlegm into a cup and spending hours attached to my Vest Airway Clearance System, I’m finally getting over this pneumonia and back to “normal.” Normalcy isn’t exactly something that factors into my life at any point, but I…

Avoiding the Flu, Catching Pneumonia Instead

It’s been a pretty lousy week for me, to say the least. What started as a ridiculously annoying cough in the middle of the first week of February eventually resulted in a trip to the emergency room the following Saturday. “Please don’t say the P-word, please don’t say…

The ‘SMA News Today’ Forums: Join These Discussions

Since the launch of the SMA News Today forums, SMA patients and caregivers from all over have taken part in various discussions pertaining to life with spinal muscular atrophy. Topics that have so far been covered include acquiring assistance in college, disability and dating, using feeding tubes, having able-bodied siblings…

SMA Author and Nonprofit Founder Heads to China

Kevan Chandler, founder of the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan, made national headlines in 2016 when some of his closest friends carried him on a specialized backpack across Europe. Chandler has SMA type 2, and since returning from his Europe expedition he’s written a book about the experience and helped…

Danyelle Sun on Having Two Children With SMA

Danyelle Sun is the mother of two children with SMA, and is also a spokesperson within the SMA community. In 2017, she took part in the Patient Focused Drug Development conference in Maryland, which was organized by Cure SMA and the Food and Drug Administration. SMA News Today caught up…

‘SMA News Today’ Podcast Episode 4: Dr. Danielle Sheypuk

In the latest episode of the SMA News Today podcast, Dr. Danielle Sheypuk shares her perspective on the topic of disability and dating. Sheypuk is a clinical psychologist with SMA, and in her work she strives to change negative stereotypes about individuals with disabilities. Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Sheypuk has…