Columns

Keeping My Goals and Adapting Them to Suit My Needs

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 toward a common practice at this time of year: New Year’s resolutions. Many people choose to start a new year by…

The Humorous Interactions That Stay with Me

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 so sorry for this horrible thing you have to live with.” I’ve…

Preparing for Christmas Celebrations with SMA

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, I love the winter holidays! Christmas has always been my favorite. I love watching my favorite Christmas…

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

I’ve been in awe of spectacular night skies for as long as I can remember. When our family moved to the mountains of North Carolina (close to the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway) at the end of 1995, we realized that we were privy to the magical…

Amid the Stress, I Am Finding Time to Rest

There are only a couple of weeks left in the year and although I’m excited for Christmas, I’m also ready for this year to end. Let’s bring back the Roaring Twenties, shall we? But instead of roaring, maybe a long nap would be better.

A Robot Named Otto Transformed My Life

Four years ago, I put on my big-boy pants and finally learned how to feed myself. Throughout my high school and college years, I was too lazy to pick up a fork on my own. Instead, I just played the disability card and relied on the sympathies of…