Embracing My Inner Alien – a column by Kevin Schaefer

February 11, 2020February 7, 2020

My Days at Ye Olde Student Newspaper

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

On Super Bowl Sunday in 2013, I attended my first meeting at NC State’s student newspaper, Technician. I went on a whim with zero journalism experience. My only hope ... Read more

February 4, 2020January 31, 2020

Embracing the Power of My Voice

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

Ever since I was a kid, some of my favorite actors have been those who weren’t always in front of the screen. Given my love of animation and motion ... Read more

January 28, 2020January 24, 2020

Combating Stomach Issues with SMA

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

For most of my adult life, I’ve been fortunate to maintain my physical health. Aside from a bout with pneumonia in early 2018 and a broken femur the previous ... Read more

January 21, 2020January 17, 2020

Rare and Resilient: My Adventures in Philadelphia

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

Amid its heart-pounding fight sequences and images of Michael B. Jordan carrying car tires in the middle of the desert, the film “Creed II” offers a poignant representation of disability. ... 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 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

December 17, 2019December 13, 2019

A Robot Named Otto Transformed My Life

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

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 ... Read more

December 10, 2019December 6, 2019

The Movies that Made Me: Life Lessons and SMA

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

During the recent Thanksgiving holiday, I spent a lot of time reading, going to movies, and streaming shows at home. I particularly enjoyed the Netflix documentary series “The Movies ... Read more

December 3, 2019November 27, 2019

My 10-year Challenge: Reflections on a Decade

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

If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably seen a flood of posts with the hashtag #10yearchallenge. This trend, popular on sites such as Instagram and Facebook, prompts ... Read more

November 26, 2019November 21, 2019

My Rare Disease Family Goes Beyond SMA

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

Just a couple of years ago, I knew little to nothing about cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States alone. My perspective ... Read more