Editor’s Note: From dancing to triathlons, 31-year-old Vincenzo Tufano is constantly on the move. This wasn’t always the case, though. After falling in 2010 due to muscular dystrophy, he lost nearly all mobility leaving him in an electric wheelchair and unable to participate in the activities he previously enjoyed. Over the course of the following […]
Editor’s Note: Clay Garner, a successful entrepreneur and businessman, was nearing retirement when nagging lower back pain eventually led to hip replacement surgery. A few weeks prior to his scheduled operation, groin pain and troubles urinating landed him in the emergency room. Tests showed a swollen prostate and an infection, which, following a procedure and […]
Editor’s Note: When an orchestra performed at her school, 10-year-old Gaelynn Lea decided she wanted to learn to play the violin. However, as an electric wheelchair user born with osteogenesis imperfecta, she couldn’t hold the instrument the traditional way. With the help of one of her teachers, she developed her own unique method of playing […]
People with disabilities make up the nation's largest minority with nearly 20% of the US population living with some type of disability. Unlike racial or ethnic groups, anyone can become part of the disability community at any time. Unfortunately, people with disabilities experience discrimination on a daily basis. Diversity Inclusion The concept of diversity inclusion encompasses […]
Editor’s Note: Connie Cardenas grew up running, and even into early adulthood, her life revolved around the sport. In her early 20s, she set out to qualify for the Boston Marathon but soon after started experiencing hip pain. Assuming her injury stemmed from overtraining, she cut back her running schedule drastically, but the pain remained. […]
Editor’s Note: When a dear friend was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Debra Mills decided to stop working and put her nursing background to use to care for her. As time passed and her friend’s condition worsened, she was exposed to the various tools and products available to the disability community today. Sadly, ALS eventually […]
Editor’s Note: After falling from a tree while hunting, Geoff Newmyer became a T9-T10 paraplegic. A few years later, a friend shared an article with him about the Outbounder, an off-road wheelchair that just happened to be produced only 45 minutes from his hometown. He quickly contacted the manufacturer to try one out and instantly […]
Disability Awareness month is coming up and with so many great events on the calendar, now is the time to start planning out your October. If you’re part of the ostomy and continent diversion community or would like to support awareness, Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k should most definitely be on your radar. Although ostomy […]
Editor’s Note: As an infant, Zully JF Alvarado contracted polio, but at the time, the villagers in her home country of Ecuador didn’t have the resources or knowledge to properly diagnose her condition. When a priest on a mission trip took interest in her, her parents allowed him to take her to the United States […]
Editor’s Note: After a difficult childbirth in which both baby and mother’s lives were in danger, Chris Lenart’s parents discovered he had cerebral palsy shortly after. In an era where children with disabilities were often institutionalized or segregated into educationally subpar programs, Chris’ parents did everything in their power to ensure he received solid schooling. […]
