What Accessible Hiking Really Looks Like with Luke 5 Adventures
I went hiking with Luke 5 Adventures at Fairmount Falls in Southeastern Jefferson County, Kentucky. To be honest, I wasn’t so sure about this “accessible hiking” business. I wasn’t an active participant, so… can you call that hiking? Using the Joëlette Co. “chair cycle,” an adaptive device made by a
A Tribute to Grief and Friendship
Our community is grieving after the death of our dear friend Paul Erway. While I’ve touched on this topic before, now is a good time to revisit grief. What is grief, and how can we grieve well? Grief honors and values a person To not grieve is to deny a
A Wheelchair-Accessible Kitchen Makeover
Who doesn’t love a good kitchen renovation show? Watching a room go from meh to mah-velous packs a punch every time. While I didn’t have a TV-worthy budget, I did upgrade my 18-year-old wheelchair-accessible kitchen. When I purchased my condo in 2007, I changed the design and layout of the
Escaping Winter (Sort of) in Wheelchair Accessible Naples, Florida
Avoiding the cold during the winter months isn’t an option. But thanks to some friends, I managed to break free from the single-digit temps… only to land in cold, yet wheelchair accessible Naples, Florida. What?! That’s not exactly the tropical escape I envisioned, but hey—blankets, fleece jackets, and hats work
Disability Representation in Fiction
I have a story to share about disability representation in fiction. By now, you know I like to get out of my comfort zone. Well, I don’t always like it, but I know it’s a good practice for me. So… I did a thing. A scary thing. I tried writing
From Fear to Finish Line: My Journey as the First Quad to Compete at the Head of the Charles
“Why do I do this to myself?” I sat in the hotel room practicing deep breathing exercises in an attempt to calm my nerves and my flip-flopping stomach. I’d finally have the opportunity to check off a bucket list item: race at the Head of the Charles, the largest rowing
Is Financial Peace Possible with a Disability?
Anyone with a disability knows that finances are one of the most stressful parts of a disability. The burden of health insurance, co-pays, supplies not covered by insurance, and caregivers (no, insurance doesn’t pay for this) can be overwhelming. Studies back this statement showing that households that include an individual
What I Do to Stay on Budget for Groceries
Last summer, I found myself continually going over my budget for groceries. I hadn’t changed anything; the cost of food had gone up. Typically, a person would adjust their budget, but there was nowhere to cut back. Life with a disability is expensive. So, something had to change. (Did I
The Journey Conference in Gracias, Honduras
The trip to Honduras, where I facilitated a three-day conference on the emotional and spiritual impact of disability, went beautifully. For a quick overview, you can watch this video. For a longer explanation of all we did, continue reading. The Travel Travel went smoothly to San Pedro Sula. My only
Dear Personal Care Attendant
Dear Personal Care Attendant, I’m writing this letter concerning the events of the past two days. You changed plans. Then canceled. Let me first say I’ve been singing your praises. You learned my routine quickly. You’ve shown up three times in a row. And on time. My expectations aren’t unreasonable
Jenny Smith
After a spinal cord injury at 16, I discovered that a wheelchair could take me places I never dared to imagined.
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How I Can Tweeze My Eyebrows as a Quad
What is a pressure sore? (Video)
Quadly Cooking: Middle Eastern Chili (Video)
How Does a Quad Put in Contacts?
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