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Has SMA ever benefited your career?
Fun fact about me: the very first time I was a moderator for anything, it was in a volunteer capacity for a singles group on Facebook! As I explain in my latest column, the role was pivotal in preparing me, a homeschooled then-19-year-old with no career experience, for every job that followed, volunteer or paid. It was also where I met Brianna Albers, my fellow SMA News Today columnist and best friend, who’d recommend me to SMA News Today’s team.
I decided to tell this story because, while we do often recognise the career opportunities SMA takes from us, we seldom recognise when it gives us opportunities. I wouldn’t have met Brie if we didn’t both have SMA Type 2, and therefore, I wouldn’t have become a professional writer and your newest moderator.
Has SMA ever benefited your career in some way, even if indirectly? If so, how?
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1 Reply
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Honestly, I believe that having Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 has actually given me a significant advantage in my professional journey.
Of course, I can only speak from my personal experience, but I hope it will be encouraging to others as well.
Today, I’m 40 years old. Over the course of my career, I’ve shifted paths at least three times within the broader field of information technology.
In the early 2000s, I started as a web designer, helping small businesses establish their presence online. A few years later, I moved into professional 3D graphics and animation.
All of this I was able to do without ever leaving the comfort of my home, working remotely long before it became the norm.
In fact, I believe I was among the first to truly embrace and successfully sustain a remote working lifestyle starting around 2005.
For the past seven years, I’ve been deeply focused on cybersecurity and cloud technologies.
And I’m absolutely certain that my diagnosis has given me an undeniable edge: the way I manage my time, my ability to stay focused, and the foundation my parents built through my education have all played a major role.
These factors helped me develop a strong understanding of how information systems work and how to break down large tasks into manageable pieces — an essential skill in any tech field.
Especially today, with the rise of AI technologies, so many things are becoming even more accessible than before.
Across almost 20 years of my career, I’ve only needed to physically work in an office for about four months total.
And honestly, I didn’t find that office presence made me any more effective. In my case, personal interactions weren’t crucial to solving the challenges I faced — deep focus and technical skills mattered far more.
So, yes — I truly believe that the field of information technology is one of those rare areas where motor limitations do not restrict success.
In fact, in many ways, they can sharpen your strengths, open new paths, and inspire resilience that becomes a powerful asset.
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