Dec 20, 2014 | Beginnings, co-bedding, doctors, hospitals, kangaroo care, medical emergencies, power of touch, preemies, premature babies, rescuing hug |
I know the story only in the retelling. In the predawn hours of an early fall day, the chill in the air was both outside and inside the walls of that stark, barren hospital. The medical team had been assembled unexpectedly. This wasn’t part of the plan. I had...
Sep 22, 2014 | Ableism, Attitudes, Beginnings, changing perspectives, communicating respect, Disabilitiy, Family, Friends, kids with disabilities, negative perceptions, premature babies |
My line of thinking about this subject is different than most. Not very popular. Outside the norm. But I believe it with every fiber of my being, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. My dance instructor is a good friend of mine who supports me in ways...
May 7, 2014 | Attitudes, Beginnings, choices, communicating respect, Disabilitiy, Education, Health, Lessons, negative perceptions |
The most frustrating part was that he didn’t ask me. While the sun was melting away the icy traces of winter, and daring the world to adjust to the coming of spring, the adjustments that I was making had nothing to do with the weather. It was late February 1987 and I...
Apr 27, 2014 | Attitudes, Beginnings, choices, communicating respect, compassion, Disabilitiy, Education, Health, Introduction, Lessons, Questions, Wheelchair |
Dear potential caregiver, So you want to work for me? I think that is fabulous! I want this experience to be enjoyable and positive for everyone, so I thought it might be best to clarify a few things from the very beginning. I am in a pretty unique situation in that I...
Feb 20, 2014 | Attitudes, Beginnings, choices, Disabilitiy, Good Decisions, Health, Independence, Making Changes, negative perceptions, Power Wheelchairs, Wheelchair |
I thought the coach from my high school who helped me train for the ParalymIpics might be disappointed. I thought my family would think I had given up. I was afraid lots of people in my life wouldn’t understand. So I resisted. For a long time. It wasn’t for...
Jul 6, 2013 | Attitudes, Beginnings, choices, Disabilitiy, Events, Friends, Health, Heroes, Introduction, Questions |
People in the crowd in Lake Placid, New York were cheering, crying, staring in utter disbelief. It wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did. “It may be the single most indelible moment in sports history, said Sports Illustrated, “one that sent the entire nation into...