When organizations say “all are welcome,” what they often mean is “some.” This piece explores how disability exclusion is rarely malicious – but frequently chosen – through neglect, inaccessible systems, and conditional access disguised as inclusion.
Religion and politics have always shared a table, but lately, the conversation feels louder, sharper, and harder to walk away from as a professional. I’ve found myself navigating these topics with increasing discomfort – not because I lack conviction, but because conviction now carries consequence. When someone asks if I’m religious, I usually answer, “I […]
This reflection comes from my work alongside Ryan, a friend and colleague who lived with Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy and taught me firsthand about the broken systems around personal care. The Long Road to Yes Ryan used to tell me all the time: “There’s no one out there.” He meant personal care assistants – the people who show […]
The Call That Stuck With Me I recently got off a call with a person of means who had reached out more than once to get involved with adaptive soccer. They were enthusiastic, motivated, and clear they wanted to help. So, I did what I always do: I asked about their why. What they care about […]
The Feel-Good Trap There’s a particular kind of silence that only follows when a stranger calls you a hero. A silence that stretches and strains – not out of awe, but out of awkwardness. We were in a small-town shop when an older man walked up and pointed directly at the person I was with. […]
There are days when surviving feels like failure. When you lie in bed, fully aware of what needs to be done, equipped with the tools to do it, and still – you do nothing. Not out of defiance. Not out of ignorance. But because your own brain has barricaded the path forward. As a behavior […]
Finding Alignment – and Facing Friction There’s something powerful about finding people who share your passion, ambition, and drive. It fuels momentum. It renews belief in the mission. At the same time, anyone who’s led change knows that disappointment is inevitable, not because the mission isn’t worthy – but because people don’t always align. Whether […]
There are stories that ache to be told. And then there are stories so heavy, so disbelieved, so misrepresented, that telling them might destroy the person who lived them. This is one of those stories. The Weight of Surviving I woke up thinking about the story I rarely speak aloud. A story of trauma, abuse, […]
Choice is a fundamental part of being human. Whether it’s deciding who to be around, where to live, what to do with your free time – choice is woven into the fabric of daily life. For many individuals (especially those with disabilities, mental health conditions, or other marginalized experiences) choice isn’t always a given. In […]
Let’s be honest – dealing with the people around the person with a disability is often half the battle. Some families and support teams are deeply engaged, educated, and proactive. Others are overwhelmed, struggling to even know where to start. Then there are those who, despite the best of intentions, have wildly different ideas about […]