Brianna Albers

Happy Tuesday! To wrap up Disability Pride Month, I decided to write about… well, disability pride, and how hard it is to do the concept justice. You can read it here. Let me know what you think!

How would you describe disability pride?

I’ve been working on getting a new chair for months, only to realize the seat was way too high. I couldn’t get under my desk or our dining room table! I tried to shave some height off the seat itself, but that didn’t work. I also found out that Permobil can’t alter the chair base. My desk is bad enough, but this means I won’t be able to get under…[Read more]

We’re more than halfway through Disability Pride Month! Can you believe it?

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was going to write a column about disabled characters in media. It went live yesterday, which means you can read it here. Let me know what you think — and if you have any favorite characters that I didn’t mention!

It’s been a long, drawn-out fight, but I’ve decided to give up on JACO for the time being. I wasn’t getting anywhere with insurance, and I feel like, even if I was successful, technology is changing so fast that the robotic arm — as cool as it is — will probably be obsolete soon.

Do any of you know any alternatives to JACO?

Happy Disability Pride Month! Hope you’re all doing well.

This week, I wrote about the new SSI act. This piece of legislation has the potential to really revolutionize disability rights. I thought about how its provisions could end up affecting everyone — even people who aren’t disabled. You can read the column here. I’ve included links that…[Read more]

Happy Friday!

For week three of Disability Pride Month, I’m writing about disabled characters in media. Specifically, I’m looking at characters who aren’t treated as disabled but who still live with a disabling condition. Do any characters come to mind?

Have any of you experienced any of the side effects associated with the BiPAP recall? I have persistent sinus issues that I always chalked up to allergies. Now, however, I’m wondering if there’s more to it.

Happy Tuesday! (It’s my birthday, too — level 26, y’all!) I’ve been struggling with insecurity of late and wrote a column about self-talk. I’m trying to love myself from a place of belief, as opposed to a place of fear. Hope you enjoy reading!

Do you struggle with self-talk? Do you have any tips? 

Have any of y’all dealt with a too-thick seat? We finally got the seating on my new chair squared away, only to realize the seat was so thick that it made me too tall. I can’t get under my desk or a table of regular height. We’re going to try and trim it down, but I’m worried it’ll still be too tall.

Any suggestions?

Happy Tuesday!

I’m slowly making my way through the “Star Wars: The Old Republic” novels. I wrote a column about the disability representation in the second book, “Deceived” by Paul S. Kemp. You can read it here.

It’s tough, because I really disliked the portrayal of disability here. There was so much missed opportunity. Can you relate? Has…[Read more]

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I saw a movie the other day — for the first time since the pandemic started! It was so weird being back in the theater. But in a good way! I’m looking forward to going again.

Have you been to the theater lately? What did you see?

Happy Tuesday! A quote I saw on Tumblr got me thinking about community and the blessing that is doing life alongside other SMA patients. I wrote a column about friendship, proximity, and resilience, which you can read here.

Would you agree that the world looks less difficult when standing next to a close friend? Do you find this within the…[Read more]

How are y’all finding caregivers these days? I tried Care.com but no one responded to my ad, and I’m not eager to pay for a subscription, since I haven’t had the best of luck with it in the past.

Do you find caregivers through a company? How do you deal with quality when the hiring process is more or less out of your hands?

Happy Tuesday! My latest column is about “returning to normal” and how I’m trying to give myself grace. It’s been a rough year and a half, so I’m giving myself permission to take things slow.

How do you feel about returning to normal?

Do any of y’all have experience with compression socks? I saw a podiatrist earlier this week and she mentioned them. Any recommendations?