Brianna Albers

Hi everyone! I finally got around to writing a column on “Disability Visibility” — I hope it was worth the wait! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the anthology. It was not only engaging but healing, especially in times like these. I highly recommend it.

Have you read “Disability Visibility”? If so, what did you think?

I know I have several months between now and when I actually get my new chair, but I’m trying to prepare myself for the change. I’m notorious for hating new tech, even when the old tech is driving me nuts, so I’m forcing myself to get into the right mindset ahead of time.

Do you have any tips or tricks for adjusting to a new chair?

Happy Tuesday!

My latest column is all about dreams — in particular, my few recurring dreams, and the tenuous meaning I ascribe to them. I’m not big on dream symbolism, but I can’t help but feel like my dreams of losing my voice are a metaphor for losing my ability to tell stories.

Do you have any recurring dreams? Any fellow psychology gurus here?

I just sat down with my ATP and finalized the order for my new chair! I’ve had my current one for seven years, and it’s starting to get pretty uncomfortable, so I’m looking forward to the change. I should get it — hopefully — within two to three months!

When was the last time you got a new chair? What was the experience like?

Do you ever have bad brain days? I’ve mentioned them before in my column, but it’s essentially a day of feeling… off. You’re not sad or upset, necessarily, but you do know that something’s off, even if you can’t quite pinpoint why.

What do you do to combat bad brain days? Especially these days, when many of us are voluntarily self-isolating.

Happy September! My latest column is about early start times. I recently had an appointment at 9 a.m., which may not seem all that early, but when you factor in transportation and showering and everything else, I had to get up at 7:45. I wanted to explore how getting up early affects my health and well-being!

How do you feel about early morning…[Read more]

I’m finally getting a new wheelchair! I’ve needed one for years, as I’ve had my current one since 2012, so I’m pretty excited. I’m going with a Permobil, and am hoping to get the automated recline so I can shift in my seat without assistance.

My question is, do y’all know of a way I could control my chair — seat elevator, tilt-and-space, p…[Read more]

Happy Tuesday! With SMA Awareness Month drawing to a close, I wanted to write a column about it. A conversation I had with a friend from Singapore inspired it.

As much as I love the initiative, I sometimes wonder if SMA Awareness Month offers much value to the community. I lay out my argument in the column, with the caveat that many people…[Read more]

People have been raving about “The Magnus Archives” all over social media. I’m not a big podcast fan (I have a hard time retaining audio information), but I’ve seen so many good reviews, and I’m trying to spice up my media life, so I’m giving it a go.

I reached the season one finale the other night and am obsessed. The story takes a while to…[Read more]

Hi everyone! You may have heard about the derecho that swept through the Midwest last week. Ironically, I wrote a column about it, long before I knew the storm affected the rest of the Midwest.

I hate storms. Hate, hate, hate. So when the derecho knocked our power out last Sunday, affecting my BiPAP, I knew I had to write about it. I hope…[Read more]