For the past two years, my best friend and fellow columnist, Brianna Albers, and I held a tradition of collaborating with each other for SMA Awareness Month. We’ve written companion columns about the pros and cons of our respective countries (she lives in the U.S., while I’m…
Columns
At the latest pop culture convention I attended, I waited in line for 45 minutes on a Saturday morning with a host of like-minded geeks. But the line wasn’t to meet my favorite celebrity, voice actor, or comic book creator. It was just to get on the elevator. Having gone…
When I travel, even if it’s just to a friend’s house, I carry with me a lot of stuff. Among it all is my most handy gadget and trusty companion: a voice amplifier, a small piece of equipment I found on Amazon for a reasonable price. The other…
I didn’t even know about the “Barbie” movie until I saw people talking about it on social media. I watched the trailer and thought, “That looks like a funky little movie.” But I wasn’t particularly enamored with it. I figured I’d watch it once it hit streaming services,…
Who doesn’t love the luxuries and amenities of vacation? Swimming pools, complimentary breakfast, new sights and experiences, and a freshly made bed to return to after a day of relaxation or adventure. Disabled people and our families also appreciate these comforts, but when you’re vacationing with SMA…
When I was in college, I had a professor doubt my abilities because I was disabled. I started struggling in their class early in the semester, so I went to their office for two reasons: to get extra help and prove I was determined (and doing what I could) to…
As SMAers, we’ve probably all been there. We work tirelessly to build a caregiving team. We train, explain, and expose the inner workings of our dignity. We allow new hands and energy into the routine of our daily needs. Our schedule finally cruises along swimmingly — then suddenly, life…
When I was growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, our family vacations were precious getaways. Time and money constraints kept us primarily in Texas, but there was plenty to do. During one summer trip to south Texas, we walked across the border to Mexico on a dreadfully sweltering August day.
On the last day of the annual Cure SMA conference, the closing session is always a panel called “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It features a group of adults with SMA talking about their daily lives and answering audience questions. Its core theme is that there are plenty of…
Our family loves vacationing by the sea, and we’ve recently returned from a trip to Roanoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. Although we’ve passed through before, this trip was our first time vacationing in North Carolina. It won’t be the last. Waterfront views, fresh seafood,…
