31 Days of SMA

31 days of SMA will run through the month of August for SMA awareness month. Everyday for the next 31 days a different member of the SMA community will share their story and unique perspective on life with SMA.

31 Days of SMA: Why Being a Disabled Model Still Isn’t Normalized

Photo courtesy of Vita Bernik Day 21 of 31 This is Vita Bernik’s (@wheelchairsparkle) story: Hey there! My name’s Vita, I’m 23 years old, and I’m from Slovenia. I’m a university student studying criminal justice and security, a blogger, and a model. In 2019, a photographer reached out to…

31 Days of SMA: My Loving Community Fuels My Optimism

Photo courtesy of Seda Karakaya Day 20 of 31 This is Seda Karakaya’s (@lifebeyondmywheels) story: Hey! This is Seda from Turkey. I’m a 24-year-old college girl with SMA type 2 who studies two majors at two different universities. Nope, one wasn’t enough for me. I guess I like…

31 Days of SMA: Persevering Through the Unknown

Photo courtesy of Bryarly Parker Day 19 of 31 This is Bryarly Parker’s (@movingmountainsformightymax) story: Max was diagnosed with SMA type 2 on Nov. 24, 2020, in Alberta, Canada, when he was 22 months old. We realized something was wrong when he stopped weight-bearing, was barely moving…

31 Days of SMA: Representation Matters for Disabled People of Color

Photo courtesy of Sarbjot Kaur Day 17 of 31 This is Sarbjot Kaur’s story: Mehtab, whose name means moonlight, is our cheerful, adorable, and compassionate 4-year-old son. He loves playing with superheroes, dinosaurs, and Legos — his favorites are Black Panther, Batman, and T. rex. After numerous visits to…

31 Days of SMA: I Dreamed Big and SMA Became Small

Photo courtesy of Jacob Frost Day 15 of 31 This is Jacob Frost’s story: I have SMA type 3. I started using a wheelchair in elementary school. Thanks to supportive family and parents, I never believed my disease controlled my life or limited my potential. I dreamed of…

31 Days of SMA: Creating Art Has Expanded My World

Photo courtesy of Pia Noi Schmid Day 13 of 31 This is Pia Noi Schmid’s (@pianschmid) story: I’m Pia Noi Schmid. “Noi” is my middle name — it means “little” in Thai. Cute, isn’t it? When I was 2 years old, I was diagnosed with SMA type 2.