At the age of fifty after recovering from a spinal fusion, I was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, a neuromuscular disease that affects the peripheral nerves. Shortly after I was fitted for an ankle brace and later four constructive foot and ankle surgeries. As I coped with all the changes, I …
We Can Still Love!
We are dismissed because our disability is thought to make us stupid. Do you think it is always us? This area of dissection, which is readily unspoken about, is most difficult for the largest part to swallow. It is hard to believe, to the average person’s eye; that there indeed …
Peering Eyes Watching
Having been brought up to believe in the truth and goodness in man kind, I was won over, persuaded, and convinced by these so called experts, in the disabled community. These experts exercised restrained management to try and run other peoples lives, and have complete control and say so over …
Living By Our Own Standards
Society’s attitudes towards the disabled on that subject have some changing to do still I am afraid. I myself am an adjunct history professor, working on a doctoral degree. This degree is the only possible way for me, to be financially independent. In my own case, some, not all of …
My First Osteogenesis Imperfecta Conference in Washington DC
Since I lived only 4 hours away from our nation’s capital, my parents were able to drive me there. I was so excited about going and counting down the days till Friday, when I would arrive. I was going to share a room with Nathasha, Claudia, and Tess. I’d talked …
Hurts More Than A Broken Bone
Profoundly hurtful words can sear through you and unconsciously lower your self-worth over time. Some even argue that it is just as painful as being beaten. I must admit that this is a difficult topic to discuss being a verbal abuse victim myself. Verbal abuse doesn’t get as much attention …
The Trip I Took to the East Coast to Speak for Our People
For the last three years, I have traveled to the east coast, on my own expense, to speak on behalf of the disabled community and discrimination, at Kean University. ach department phone Previously, I had spoken in history classrooms with up and coming students. However, this time, I spoke to …
What We May Not Know as People with Special Needs
Despite most myths and misinformation, getting an electric wheelchair isn’t that difficult providing your physician can document the need. Clearly have them state that you need a manual, electric or even an electric chair with tilt features–it’s almost straight forward, but people make some simple mistakes. (1) You can’t walk …
Tank, Meet My Tank
Since I had my heart attack in my police cruiser in 1990, I have learned that it’s not the world I thought it was. If you receive benefits from your village, city, township, parish, county, state or even federal services, you best plan on getting in line and then plan …