Editor’s Note: During deployment in 2004 as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq, Tammy Duckworth lost both of her legs when her aircraft was struck. Harnessing her desire to continue serving her country, the Purple Heart recipient began devoting her time to advocating for wounded Veterans, and in 2009, President Obama appointed her to […]
Editor’s Note: Ali McManus spent the beginning of her life running around and playing just like any other kid in her Detroit, Michigan suburb. But at the age of seven, her life took a major turn when she began experiencing pain throughout her body and frequently breaking bones. During those frustrating times of childhood and […]
For many people, the month of January represents a new beginning, an opportunity to make changes in your life where you feel you have failed in the past. As someone living with paralysis, I’ve come to the realization that there is no reason to dwell on the past. Our mistakes and tragedies are not meant to […]
February is a short month, but that doesn’t mean there’s no time for educational activities, fundraising, and fun! If you’re looking for ways to get involved in celebrating and supporting the disability community this month, consider one of these five events. 1) Annual African American Conference on Disabilities February 15, 2019 • Phoenix, AZ For the […]
Editor’s Note: Have you ever dreamt of plunging off the edge of a boat into crystal clear waters and exploring the underwater world, yet felt it was something you’d never be able to experience due to your disability? Well, guess what? Thanks to Dive Pirates, people with mobile disabilities CAN learn to scuba dive. And […]
Back in 2017, Wheel:Life featured a story on Yoocan and Alto. For those of you who missed it, Yoocan is a unique, collaborative online community for people with disabilities to connect, share personal stories, and empower each other. Alto was a membership club providing discounts on products and services for the disability community. The two […]
Editor’s Note: Annette Ross was living the fairy-tale life. She had gotten her degree, met the man of her dreams, started a family, and bought a house. Life was moving along beautifully until the day she went to the hospital to give birth to her second child. The excitement of welcoming another daughter to the […]
Editor’s Note: When Franklin Elieh and Nick Struthers, both living with spinal cord injury, met while doing volunteer peer support work at a hospital in northern California, they discovered there was a major gap in service for newly discharged SCI patients. Panic and anxiety was a common reaction when families realized they would soon be […]
As each year comes to a close, we like to look back and reflect on the people we met, the journeys we went on, and the lessons we learned. In 2018, we talked to adventure travelers, authors, filmmakers, techies, physical therapists, fitness gurus, entrepreneurs, and more. We learned so much from each and every person […]
Editor’s Note: When Kristi Hales noticed her unborn baby wasn’t as active as usual just a few days before her due date, she decided to consult her doctor. After an ultrasound revealed no movement, she was rushed to the ER for an emergency C-section. Doctors delivered little Kessley who had been tangled up in the […]
