Columns

January 17, 2020January 16, 2020

Please Stop Glorifying Being Homebound

Columns, Life, One Cup at a Time - a Column by Alyssa Silva

As I write this, I’ve been home for 11 days. Actually, let me rephrase that. I haven’t left this house so much as to go outside to get some ... Read more

January 15, 2020January 13, 2020

Directives that Come Straight from the Angels

Columns, We're Not in Kansas Anymore - a Column by Helen Baldwin

Our third baby, Jeffrey, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) on a midsummer evening in 1997. The referral to a pediatric neurologist came that morning during what was ... Read more

January 15, 2020January 13, 2020

Ella Works Through Life’s Frustrations

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

The house is full of wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. Soon to be added will be a cane. Ella’s mom, Lindsay, had a total left knee replacement. The knee replacement ... Read more

January 14, 2020January 9, 2020

Let 2020 Be the Year of Disability Representation

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

I just finished watching “The Ataxian,” a documentary from 2015 about Kyle Bryant, a bicyclist living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a rare disease which shares commonalities with SMA. The ... Read more

January 10, 2020January 8, 2020

Keeping My Goals and Adapting Them to Suit My Needs

Columns, From Where I Sit - a Column by Halsey Blocher

Congratulations! You have completed another rotation around the sun. Now that the holiday celebrations are over and we have resumed our normal daily schedules, let us turn our attention ... Read more

January 7, 2020January 3, 2020

Common New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Apply to Me

Columns, The Mermaid Chronic(les) - a Column by Kala Godin

Let’s talk about New Year’s resolutions. For the most part, I already live the way I want to and don’t feel the need to set any new goals, so ... Read more

January 7, 2020January 2, 2020

The Humorous Interactions That Stay with Me

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

A few months ago, my colleague Brianna Albers wrote an excellent column about ableism in interactions with strangers. People pity those with disabilities and say things such as, “I’m ... Read more

January 3, 2020December 20, 2019

My 10-year Transformation: I Proudly Wear My SMA Battle Scars

Columns, Life, One Cup at a Time - a Column by Alyssa Silva

For the past few weeks, social media feeds have been inundated with posts about the #10yearchallenge. It’s a way for people to showcase transformative photos of themselves. Some are ... Read more

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

Preparing for Christmas Celebrations with SMA

Columns, From Where I Sit - a Column by Halsey Blocher

It’s not a secret that I’m not a big fan of winter weather. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like a few things about this time of year. Specifically, ... Read more

December 20, 2019December 18, 2019

Our Christmas Lights Remind Me to Slow Down and Savor the Moment

Columns, Life, One Cup at a Time - a Column by Alyssa Silva

This time of year is my family’s time to shine — literally. Our house sits on a hill on a narrow street that runs parallel to the main road. ... Read more