I recently did my first ever Facebook Live stream. My employer, The Mighty, has been inviting staff and longtime writers to make live appearances on the company Facebook pages and answer questions about our disabilities, special areas of interest or expertise, and more. When we were invited to sign up, I instinctively jumped on it….
On July 10, 2016, I had the opportunity to attend the second annual Disability Pride Festival in New York City. It was an amazing opportunity to connect with people, and made me think about my disability and the lives of people with disabilities in ways I hadn’t before. As people with disabilities, we are…
Note: This article contains a few spoilers. I recently had a chance to watch the new Netflix original film “The Fundamentals of Caring,” based on the novel by Jonathan Evison. It’s one of those rare films that gets disability right — for the most part. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen something close to my own…
My English Setter Winston is going to his new foster home today. He has been through at least three homes in his two short years of life. I feel terrible about that; I wish I could change my situation, make things work for him here. I’ve tried for almost a year. But I can’t….
I got the call yesterday morning. My dear friend Brandy Maltas passed away after a two-year battle with uterine cancer. Things looked good after her initial surgery and first batch of chemo. But then a few months later, they found spots on her liver. She had more chemotherapy, but her body started reacting badly,…
A few months ago, I got an awesome job. I am a part time (roughly 3/4 time) editor for a major disability and health website. I like my job because I’m helping people, using my writing and editing skills, and learning about the Internet media market. I can work from home, and I have…
When I was a little girl, I had to do physical therapy every day because of my cerebral palsy. It was boring, exhausting, and sometimes painful. I hated it. I would scream and cry, and refuse to cooperate. The only thing my mom found that would help was music. She soothed me with classical…
Recently, the online disability community has been discussing ableism and whether we should let disability define us. On the one side, some people say “I am more then my disability. I don’t let it define me.” On the other side, there are those who believe we should “Let disability define us. Be proud. It’s part of our…
When I was about 7 years old, I found a little paperback book on my parents’ bookshelf. It was on its side in front of the other books, spine facing out. The cover showed a little girl with long red pigtails and a big smile. Her name was Karen Killilea, and the book was entitled Karen, by…
I wrote this piece for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Please share it with the parents you know! Dear Parents of Kids with Cerebral Palsy, Thirty-something years ago, my parents were where you are now — raising me, their daughter with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. I was blessed with loving parents who fought for me to…
