Read more about the article Disabled Lives Have Value

Disabled Lives Have Value

This wasn't the way that I planned to end my Disability Pride Month posts - I had another post, and another topic, planned. But last week, an article in Time magazine came out, with an excerpt of a forthcoming book written by one of Donald Trump's nephews. And after reading the article, it was all I could think about for days - it really burrowed deep into my mind and got stuck there. So I want to end Disability Pride Month by taking today to remind you all that no matter what people may say, disabled lives have value.

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Read more about the article Books with Disability Representation

Books with Disability Representation

Today's post is an updated version of a post I wrote back in 2022 for Disability Pride Month. I'm sharing books with disabled or chronically ill characters, or written by disabled or chronically ill authors (or both!). It's hard to put into words how important it is for disabled people to be represented in books - to feel seen in the things you're reading. And for non-disabled people, reading about disabled characters, or reading about disability, can help broaden your understanding. It's so important and honestly, something that's still really lacking.

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Read more about the article Disabled While Going to an Amusement Park

Disabled While Going to an Amusement Park

I spent the end of last week in Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. My dad spent a summer when he was in college working there are really loved it, so in my childhood we used to go back every summer. We took a break for about 10 years, but have started going back every year again since 2021. I always enjoy my time there, but I think a really valid question is "what do you do there?" Because for the most part, I don't ride the rides anymore! But here is what I can do at an amusement park.

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Read more about the article Disability Pride Month: Everyday Accessibility

Disability Pride Month: Everyday Accessibility

One of my favorite things about sharing my disability experiences here and on Instagram is when people comment and let me know that I've made them think about or notice something new. Sometimes advocating can be exhausting - it takes a lot of work for a little bit of progress - so the reminder that people are recognizing the inaccessibility of the world gives me hope for change. So I thought that today, I'd share some of the most common accessibility things I look for and notice when I'm out! And maybe you'll start looking for and noticing them, too, and little by little, ramp by ramp, change will happen.

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Read more about the article Disability Pride Month: How To Be A Good Ally

Disability Pride Month: How To Be A Good Ally

One of the most frequent questions I get is how people can be a better ally for the disabled community. It's honestly a bit of a tricky question, because while I absolutely want to encourage and empower people to be allies for the disabled community, it's also important that non-disabled people don't drown out the voices of disabled people! So while you read my advice and put it into action in your lives, remember that part most of all - that the biggest thing you can do as an ally is to amplify the voices of disabled people who are already speaking out.

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Read more about the article Accidentally Adaptive: MicroStitch

Accidentally Adaptive: MicroStitch

I've shared quite a few times before that while I love all things fashion and style, finding clothes that actually fit me can be a challenge. My disability means that I'm very petite - I can actually fit in some kids sizes, but that doesn't mean that I necessarily like the styles of kids clothing! So I've learned to adapt clothes to work for me... often with a safety pin or two. It's fine, but doesn't always look the nicest, though I have become good at hiding it well. But this MicroStitch makes it so much easier for me to do quick and simple "alterations" so things fit me much better!

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Read more about the article Disabled While Going to a Baseball Game

Disabled While Going to a Baseball Game

Every year, I like to go to at least one baseball game here at PNC Park. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest baseball fan, but I love to go for the experience - the views of the city, the food, and just being there, relaxing at having a fun time. A few weeks ago, we had an unseasonably warm week for early May, realized it was also fireworks night at the park, and decided a few days in advance on somewhat of a whim to just buy tickets! And so I thought it would be fun to share a little bit about going to a game as a wheelchair user.

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Read more about the article Accidentally Adaptive: Ultra Thin Cotton Pads

Accidentally Adaptive: Ultra Thin Cotton Pads

I love learning about skincare and creating a routine that works for me and my skin, but sometimes it gets physically tricky for me to work with different products. The type of dispenser and the texture of the product itself can have a huge impact on how easy (or how challenging) it is for me to apply on my face. But I've started using these ultra thin cotton pads to apply more of my products, and they've made the process so much easier - the latest "Accidentally Adaptive" addition to my routine!

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Read more about the article Disabled While Going to the Theater

Disabled While Going to the Theater

For a few years now, I've had a subscription to the Broadway tour series here in Pittsburgh, which means that I've seen quite a few shows by now! I saw Company over the weekend (and loved it!), and when I posted a story to Instagram, someone replied asking about accessibility at shows. Inspiration hit, and I thought I'd share what it's like for me to be disabled while going to the theater in Pittsburgh.

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Read more about the article What to Bring to the Hospital

What to Bring to the Hospital

After my recent hospital stay, I realized how much more comfortable I was there (as comfortable as you can be in a hospital) because of what I brought with me from home. I've had quite a few experiences, over the years, of hospital stays, so I've curated a good packing list of the essentials to bring during a hospital stay! There's a fine line between not bringing enough (and wishing you had brought more) and bringing too much (and feeling cramped in a small hospital room, plus risking losing something when you go home). In my opinion, these are the things the bring!

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