He Was My Rock
Even though the Texas heat hung thickly in the air, the icy prickles of anxiety within me were so intense that it felt as though old man winter had taken up residence in my chest. I had been assured by several people that the man I was about to meet was very nice, but...
A Pathway to More Independence
The significance of what was happening in March 2020 didn’t really hit me until one evening when one of my caregivers was stretching me out before bed. He read a text aloud that he had gotten from the University of Kansas. “Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, classes...
I am More Proud…
It is not a memory that I recall fondly. As I sat in front of that room, I could hardly get my words out. And when I did, I stuttered and stammered all the way through the remarks I had prepared. I had not done...
Of Course You Do…
I remember it like it was just last week I was a senior in high school, and I applied for a scholarship to college. It was through a group called the Exchange Club of the Magic Circle and if I remember correctly, it was similar to a Rotary Club. They had chosen me as...
Let’s Talk Ableism…
Over the last few years, I have read several books and numerous articles that cover the topic of ableism. There are people I know who have all kinds of lofty definitions as to what it means, but I like the definition a friend of mine came up with recently. He said...
Two Kinds of Helplessness
It is a situation I am fairly sure has happened to everyone on the planet at least once. After a long night of sleep, I woke up and had to pee. Urgently. So, after I swung my legs over the side of the bed, I got into a sitting position, but I was not completely...
Just Shaking Things Up
For as long as I can remember, one of the ways that my family and I have dealt with my disability was through the use of humor. It was a way to lighten things up and a reminder to me that, while my circumstances could be difficult at times, there were far more tragic...
Even So
When he came for an interview to be one of my caregivers, I wasn't sure it was going to work out. He was a little rough around the edges, and his answers to my questions weren't ones that I typically hear from candidates. Even so, I was impressed that he had been an...
I Will Break Out the Champagne
Today I, along with all my brothers and sisters with disabilities in this country, have a reason to celebrate. Thirty years ago today, on July 26th, 1990, George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. As he was doing so, he said: "Let the...
Beyond Disappointing
When all kinds of things were shutting down and canceled in mid-March due to the Coronavirus, like everyone else, I was disappointed. For me, it meant a reduction in caregiver staff and the loss of some income. And like everyone else around me I had to adjust to the...