Hidden Disability Advocate | Speaker | Author | Adventurer
May is fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue awareness month. I have both these diagnoses and here are a few things I’d like to make people “aware” about them: Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are real. Fibromyalgia is way more than just … Read More »
I have hidden disabilities, and I talk about them. It’s a little thing I do towards normalizing a conversation that is too-often shamed into silence. When I share on social media, though, there’s something I always brace myself for: the … Read More »
I recently caught myself doing something terrible … in my brain. My default answer to invitations for social events, whether intimate or large, has become “no.” I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and … Read More »
Last Sunday, I spent the day in Brussels with two friends of mine from London, father and son, named Tony and Sean. How we met is a fun story. I found them in an Irish pub in Lisbon, Portugal, and … Read More »
Well-known symptoms of my chronic conditions include pain, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and digestive issues. Things many of us with chronic illnesses expect to deal with every day. But we take on much more than the list of symptoms that come … Read More »
Today was my birthday, and a gift I got myself, besides the whole being in Belgium thing, was the opera. I guess I should write a blog about how this opera love of mine came to be, but for now, … Read More »
I had so much fun making my other documinitary, I was looking for a next opportunity. What better than maybe my coolest speaking experience ever? I spoke at the Pueblo of Jemez, a sovereign nation in New Mexico, last month. … Read More »
My book, Talking Splat: Communicating About Our Hidden Disabilities, has a chapter called “self-care toolbox.” this is an excerpt from that chapter, with tip #5. I really hope you’re having a good day today. If you are, I’m sure you … Read More »
Chapter 1. What the Heck? Invisible disabilities – talk about ruining a totally cool word by plopping it against a word that’s utterly depressing. Invisibility has been a fabled superpower since our childhoods. It ranks in the Top 5 Most … Read More »
Universal design is most widely known for inspiring ramps, curb cuts, and elevators that help people with mobility restrictions get around in our world. It means, literally, design for all. But as is often the case regarding people with disabilities, … Read More »