Embracing My Inner Alien – a column by Kevin Schaefer

November 12, 2019November 8, 2019

My Quality of Life Is as Important as My Physical Health

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

Recently, I spoke with my friends Jim and Becky Berry on the SMA News Today Podcast. In late 2018, they lost their eldest son Carson, who was a college ... Read more

November 5, 2019November 6, 2019

Taking Stock of the Advances in SMA Treatment and Research

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

Recently, I attended the 2019 Cure SMA Chapter and Leadership Conference in Boston. There, I connected with friends I had met through previous conferences and listened to presentations from ... Read more

October 29, 2019October 25, 2019

Halloween Unlocks a Spirit of Imagination

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

It’s my favorite time of year. I love the fresh autumn breeze that brushes past my face every time I go outside and the fact that it’s socially acceptable ... Read more

October 22, 2019October 18, 2019

Felicia Day Taught Me to Embrace My Weird

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

The auditorium filled up quickly for a Monday night. Everyone was bursting with excitement. I sat in the back with my friend Jacob and posted on Facebook that I ... Read more

October 15, 2019October 11, 2019

SMA Experiences Make for Unique Coming-of-Age Stories

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

Fun fact: I’m a huge sucker for the coming-of-age genre. I voraciously consume memoirs like “If at Birth You Don’t Succeed“ and religiously quote shows like “Boy Meets World.” ... Read more

October 1, 2019September 27, 2019

I’m Rolling Through the Seasons After My Roller Coaster Summer

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

My summer was a roller coaster of ups and downs. Amid all of my adventures and celebratory occasions, I also dealt with loss and my fair share of chaos. ... Read more

September 24, 2019September 25, 2019

Disability, Pop Culture, and Acceptance in ‘The Pretty One’

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

In 2017, writer Keah Brown created the hashtag #DisabledAndCute. To Brown’s astonishment, this phrase sparked a viral social media movement. As the hashtag flooded her Twitter and Instagram feeds, ... Read more

September 17, 2019September 18, 2019

I’m a Work in Progress, and That’s OK

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

A few weeks ago, someone posted a question in a Facebook group for people living with neuromuscular conditions. The question, composed of a few simple words, prompted me to ... Read more

September 10, 2019September 11, 2019

How Self-advocacy Helped Me Gain More Independence

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

I remember it like it was yesterday. Every muscle in my body tensed up as I looked at my parents from across the kitchen table. I had never before ... Read more

September 3, 2019September 4, 2019

Turn the Page Already!

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

For most people, lifting weights is a suitable form of physical exercise. For me, successfully turning just one page of a book makes me feel like I’ve run a ... Read more

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