It has been a busy month... I gave three presentations in less than ten days between October 26th and November 1st - two virtually on zoom to different special education classes at my alma mater Holy Family University and one in person at an elementary school I actually attended for a year. Each presentation was different, but it was great to connect with each audience especially the fifth graders in person and I also got to meet the principal's very friendly emotional support dog! And I still remember my dad's face when I came home that night and shared how nice the principal's dog was and how if that breed could be bred to be a service dog I could maybe see myself wanting one down the road eventually...

On Tuesday October 26th, I gave a presentation virtually on zoom to Dr. Arango's class at Holy Family University for the second year in a row. Last October after I posted How to be a respectful communication partner to AAC users, Dr. Arango asked me if I would speak about it and my experiences with AAC to her class and she asked me to do it again this year. I am grateful for this opportunity and very grateful that some of my related service providers from my earlier education joined me as the students asked me many questions that I had no idea how to answer and or about things I did not cover at all such as what was done at certain IEP meetings.

On Thursday October 28th, I gave a presentation  about my cerebral palsy in person which was really cool to fifth graders at Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem, Pennsylvania where there is a girl with cerebral palsy in the grade. I did a similar presentation to second graders three years ago in October 2018 at Afton Elementary School in Yardley, Pennsylvania. I spoke about similar things and I also showed pictures and videos of me doing many different things such as riding a horse, riding a tricycle, hitting a piñata, swimming, swinging, hanging out with my friends and family, and physical therapy. I named this presentation Rolling with It: Taking Cerebral Palsy to Belmont Hills Elementary and Beyond! and in my opening I shared how I actually went to sixth grade at Belmont Hills Elementary School.
I then went on to explain cerebral palsy: “As you probably have heard I have cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is not contagious, you can’t catch it. Having cerebral palsy does not mean that you are sick, it means that your brain has a hard time talking to your muscles and that makes it hard for you to move properly.. I still understand everything and can laugh with my friends. Cerebral palsy affects my movements.  It is harder for me to move my arms, legs and mouth. My brain doesn’t tell my muscles to relax and do what I want them to do, it takes me longer to do things and I often need to do things differently or have someone help me. I use my power wheelchair to get around and when I was younger used a walker.  I use my iPad to help me speak. I can talk but sometimes it is difficult for people who do not know me to understand what I am saying. Even though you ask a question and I don’t respond right away it doesn’t mean that I didn’t understand you or that I don’t have an answer, sometimes my voice just gets stuck and I can’t respond so being patient helps. It is also great to talk to me and not the person who is with me. During school I have had many people in and out of the classroom help me. I have had physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists help me to figure out how to make my body work for me. All people with cerebral palsy are not the same. So every person with cerebral palsy may not use a wheelchair, some may use a walker and others may walk without any assistance.”
I really tried to emphasize "We have more in common than you think and because I need help doesn’t mean that I always need or want help, it’s best to ask and it doesn’t hurt my feelings when someone asks me questions. I was raised to believe that having a disability should not stop you. While in college, I created a club called IDEA to bring students of all abilities together to accept and support each other and just have fun. Maybe some of you saw the movie Wonder. It’s best to be kind to others and treat them the way that you would want to be treated. People with cerebral palsy are normal people who want to play and do all the things that everyone else is doing. We want to be included and recognized. Sometimes eye contact and a smile can go a long way."
The kids were very engaged and asked a lot of great questions! And thankfully for me this time no one asked “How did you get cerebral palsy?” and the flustering whopper followed “How did you lose oxygen when you were born?” which I made my mom answer when a second grader asked at my presentation three years ago. The funniest questions I got this time were if I liked pizza and if I ate pizza everyday from multiple kids and I guess I did mention "Everyone is different, just like you guys. You might like pizza and the person sitting next to you may not." and maybe that was what prompted these questions.
It was really cool to see how much my little buddy grew and this time answer some of her own questions too!  It was also really cool and a little freaky but in an awesome way to see someone sit the same way I do, with our backs leaning towards the right and our hips twisting - and I noticed our fingers move the same way too. I also appreciated being able to ask some questions about how she and her team decided on her tobbii dynavox eye gaze communication system. ​Once I got home I also became friends with her mom on Facebook and I’m sure video chatting is in our future, and I also sent her teacher copies of The Year of the Buttered Cat by Susan Haas (with Lexi Haas) and Roll with It by Jamie Sumner.

On Monday November 1st, I gave a presentation virtually on zoom to Dr. Sullivan's and Dr. Wright's classes at Holy Family University. Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Wright asked me to speak about my transition planning process and transition process from high school to college, which could very well be a whole post by itself. I will be totally honest this was the hardest of the three presentations to prepare for, I really had no idea what exactly they were looking for, but ironically this presentation went beyond fabulous much better than the previous one for Dr. Arango’s class and I really connected with my audience and they asked many wonderful questions, such as would I ever write and publish a book since I like reading and writing so much and if I would ever want to plan another 5K walk.
My key points in this presentation were:

• Transitioning from high school to college was a lonely process.  I no longer had a group that knew me and team support.
• There seems to be more supports for students with intellectual disabilities and or autism, but not as much for students with physical disabilities, who have average or above average intellectual ability. Some colleges have programs specifically for these students giving them the much needed support to succeed. 
• Colleges do not have to identify students with disabilities nor is a student obligated to inform the school. 
• If you want or need help, then you must request help; no one will come to find you. You have to reach out to the office of disability services.You have to understand your disability and know your strengths and weaknesses, be able to explain where you have had difficulty and what has helped and what specific adjustment might work now.   
• The keys to success are attitude, self advocacy and preparation. I would encourage young adults with disabilities entering into adulthood to be engaged in the process, ask questions, and remember everyone involved is there to support YOU!

I am looking forward to Christmas and the return of This Is Us in early January. I will continue periodically updating my website when typing allows.

Simply Being was featured on my previous blog in November 2017 and published in the 2019 edition of Holy Family University's literary magazine Folio alongside my poem Today Is A Day.

I thought it would be a good time to update my website before I give presentations to three different groups towards the end of the month. I also thought it was timely to repost this post now not only as a reminder to myself, but also because I have sort of been struggling with some of the feelings I describe in this piece a lot again. All of my siblings are now away in college, my parents and I and every other human are getting older, I recently lost my best buddy Bentley (my dog), typing is continuing to get harder, and I have been missing my friend who passed away unexpectedly in February 2016 more lately with all the changes happening around me as she seemed to magically understand all these feelings we both shared so well. But one has to find ways to try to stay present and choosing to be Simply Being helps a little and allows us to try to shift our focus. 
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Like every human, I am susceptible to becoming trapped in my own head and worrying incessantly.

I have been through a lot and would like to believe it has made me stronger, but some days I am just tired.

My spinal fusion saved my life, but at times I questioned whether all of the pain was worth it.

My feeding tube allows me not to be hungry and also sustain my weight, but I also have had a number of issues with that.

Some people who were in my life are no longer in it.

I worry who will help me in the future and how that will all work.

I have to strive to remember I can not change my past or my future. I only can live for now. Everyday might not be a good day, but there is something good in everyday.


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​People often say many different things about time and also hope, and not many people say the exact same thing. As many of you know I love music, especially when I am having a particularly uncomfortable day and lately a verse from Colony House’s “The Hope Inside” has really resonated with me: “Maybe there's a reason why / I get dragged beneath the surface / Every kick against the current / I sink down deeper and I ask myself / Is there something more than meets the eye / That makes all these troubles worth it?” There are so many joys and there are also many disappointment going through life. Each day has a purpose and meaning unique to each and every special individual.

There have been a couple of times when I have been depressed and felt utter despair such as when I was first diagnosed with dystonia in 2010, when I was recovering from my spinal fusion and processing my new reality and coming to terms with how it unfortunately had to happen in order to keep me alive in 2013 and 2014, and again when I felt painfully visible but utterly ignored my freshman year of college. But May 16, 2015 and May 16, 2021 were two very special days for me.

May 16, 2015 
May 16th 2015 will be a day I will always remember and what a wonderful day it was to wrap up my senior year of high school especially after my heartbreaking junior year. My best friend, Melanie Edwards, and I pulled off something really special and an amazing event that not many people have been able to duplicate. Mel and I named, organized and held the first ever Stomp Out Dystonia 5K walk at Robert K. Shafer middle school in Bensalem, Pennsylvania to support the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF). I wanted to bring the community together for a fun day and also educate my community about how dystonia has affected my life as well as my family’s lives since my diagnosis in middle school, as well as the other hundreds of thousands of individuals and families also living with dystonia. I have always had a desire to make a difference in the world around me and I continue to hope that I can help motivate others to stay strong and not give up or give people the courage to try new things. Looking back at pictures and videos can only provide glimpses of the amount of work that went into organizing the event and the amount of pride over how marvelous the day Mel and I pulled off. Mel and I worked tirelessly for months organizing and planning this event, obtaining sponsors, participants and permits as well as coordinating back and forth through countless emails with the DMRF. Our school lunches became orchestrated planning meetings up until the very last day before our walk and I still remember counting T-shirts all spread out over my kitchen table the night before the walk for hours and hours and then going over to Shafer middle school to mark the course. I took charge of writing our sponsor letter and most of the press interviews. Mel, being her amazingly creative and talented self, designed our logo herself and it is still something all of our friends and family talk about. The day itself was beautiful and marvelous, with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures in the upper seventies - low eighties, over 400 participants, around twenty sponsors  and a little more than $16,000 raised. It was truly a wonderful surprise to see so many people participate and even more of a surprise to be presented awards for our awareness efforts by the DMRF.

Flash forward six years and a pandemic later to my college commencement ceremony on May 16th 2021...

May 16, 2021 
While it was a long time coming with numerous fights and battles, my college commencement ceremony on May 16th 2021 lived up to almost everything I had been dreaming about since kindergarten. I began my journey at Holy Family University in August 2015 and felt painfully visible but utterly ignored and lonely, but I wheeled through to earn my bachelor’s degree in communications in December 2019 leaving Holy Family University with many new ideas about family and inclusion. Like many in my class, I was heartbroken that we could not have our planned commencement ceremony in May 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. When my university announced plans to make up my class’s commencement ceremony I was overjoyed, however the two weeks leading up to the day I have been dreaming about all my life was a very emotional time hearing some upsetting news about accessibility plans and a reminder to never stop fighting for what you believe you deserve. Thankfully everything worked out and arriving the morning of commencement, I felt an awesome overwhelming feeling of “Yes! I did it!” Fortunately the morning wasn’t too hot and while not all the faculty and staff were able to attend due to capacity limits it was wonderful to see those who did including: Father Mac - our campus minister and one of the first people to make me feel welcomed at Holy Family, Shannon - my friend who is the one librarian at Holy Family who has always been supportive and has read my work out loud at different receptions, Keely - the director of disability services, who I am honored to call my friend and am extremely glad we are able to confide in one another as well as connect over many interests we are both so passionate about, and finally Dr. Sullivan - my lovable book buddy and a huge supporter who helped me get IDEA  off the ground at Holy Family, and who I would also like to thank for helping me move my tassel from side to side.
Having the opportunity to have an in-person commencement ceremony, both my mom and my dad attend the ceremony with me, and sit with my peers and wheel across the stage to be recognized like every other graduate meant the world and so much more to me. I also loved my cap topper designed by my friend Christy which incorporated my all time favorite book ever My Perfect Imperfections, the book/movie Wonder, and the club IDEA that I started during my time at Holy Family. It was wonderful to graduate with my friend Rory and see him and Christy for the first time in over a year. Later that afternoon, my family and my best friend went out for a very nice early dinner to celebrate. I recall posting on my Facebook that night the video of me wheeling across the stage, my cap topper and saying, and writing some of what I was feeling that day and it still remains true: my victory is not only for me it is also for the kid who has been told “no you can’t do that...” or did not get invited to hang out with everyone else, for the parents who try so hard to comfort their children even when their hearts are breaking and there are no easy answers, and for everyone who has loved and supported me throughout my journey. My Perfect Imperfections Grew into a wonderful IDEA 

Both days are ones that I can look back on and celebrate the accomplishments. Though the memories are joyful, they are also a good reminder of all of the hard work that went into it and the path that I took to get to where I am. 

*One last note: As excited as I am about the future, I also have much anxiety and have to admit certain things are getting harder including typing and I probably will need to continue to take intermittent breaks from posting on my website like I did from my last post in March until now. I would also like to possibly explore opportunities to serve as a consultant to other businesses and organizations to improve accessibility and inclusion efforts.

Please remember that everyone is not the same.  If you see someone different, be kind, smile and say hello.  Maybe they have cerebral palsy and maybe they do not, but at least you now have some understanding of what cerebral palsy is. People with cerebral palsy often need to adapt/modify how they perform tasks, however, they typically like the same things as you and want to be included.  
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March 25th is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day in the United States, sometimes referred to as Go Green Day! This day began in 2006 by a nonprofit organization called Reaching for the Stars (RFTS), an education and advocacy group run by parent volunteers. They realized there was no national awareness day for Cerebral Palsy (CP) like there was for autism, Down syndrome, and practically every other disorder and disease. In partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF), advocates decided on March 25th as National CP Awareness Day and the color green to represent the day. They wanted the day to follow St. Patrick’s Day since people were already embracing the color green and could just continue to deck themselves out in green all month. 

March 2nd also marked Read Across America Day and as an avid reader (or book nerd depending who you ask... pssttt Dad) I would like to end this post with my top 6 books about cerebral palsy (CP):

1. My Perfect Imperfections by Jalpa Williby 
2. Inside My Outside: An Independent Mind in a Dependent Body by Sara Pyszka
3. Dancing Daisies (Just Be, Book 1) by Sara Pyszka
4. Switch the Song (Just Be, Book 2) by Sara Pyszka
5. The Year of the Buttered Cat by Susan Haas (with Lexi Haas)
6. Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

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Also noteworthy are The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen and Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, but these two books in my opinion were a little too inspirational to make it on my official list.

And if you really like the color green or like supporting an awesome cerebral palsy warrior, you can go green again after all of the the summer fun and sun on October 6th for World CP Day which began in 2012!

My Power was featured on my previous blog in December 2018.


My power is my own. I decide, I control and I embody my power and how I use it. 

No one can take my power away from me no matter how hard they may try. 

No acquaintance. 
No classmate.
No doctor.
No family member.
No friend.
No professor. 
No therapist. 
No personal care assistant. 
No one.

I cannot make other people change.

I may not have control over my body, and I may not always have my emotions in check.

But I do have control over my power.
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​In honor of October being AAC awareness month, I would like to introduce you to AAC and share how you can be a respectful communication partner.

AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. You may have seen someone write in a notebook to answer a question. Maybe you have seen people using sign language or other gestures. You may have seen someone push buttons on a computer that speaks for them. These are all forms of augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC. 

AAC includes all of the ways we share our ideas and feelings without talking. It is an umbrella term that encompasses the communication methods used to supplement or replace speech or writing for those with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language. The goal of AAC is to achieve the most effective communication possible for the individual in order to maximize their potential and lead the highest quality of life possible.

There are many types of AAC from alphabet boards to iPads with specialized apps to Dynavoxes or specialized computers. The Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS, allows people with little or no communication abilities to communicate using pictures. People using PECS are taught to approach another person and give them a picture of a desired item in exchange for that item.

I am able to speak but it is often difficult for outsiders to understand me, you need to focus on what I am saying and not be distracted. I can not speak clearly or fast enough for strangers to understand and be patient. When I have a lot to say it can become jumbled and you may only get bits of pieces and a lot lost in translation. My parents, siblings and close friends are able to understand me especially in one to one quieter settings.  I use my iPad to communicate with others.  People make assumptions that I can not speak and or understand. If I only communicated through text people would not know I had a disability.  People, including doctors, are impressed with my writing ability and it changes their view of me.  

Be patient. Talk to me. Listen to me. These are key messages for good communication partners. Consider 10 strategies to put the AAC user first in your conversations.

1. Good communication partners respect the effort AAC takes
2. Good communication partners are patient and wait
3. Good communication partners help manage noise
4. Good communication partners help manage physical space
5. Good communication partners watch the person, not the device
6. Good communication partners pay attention to the message and other cues
7. Good communication partners do not dominate the conversation
8. Good communication partners respect an AAC user’s voice
9. Good communication partners ask
10. Good communication partners accept that communication is on the AAC users terms

For me, personally, if it is quiet I prefer to try using my voice first especially if the person I am talking to is patient or familiar with me, as typing takes a lot out of me and a really long time. However, sometimes words just get stuck and it’s just easier to use my iPad.

Everyone has their own unique voice, experiences and desire to connect and be included, no matter their communication style.

​It is always important to ask the individual their own personal preferences, be patient and understanding, speak to the individual as an equal and a person, not hover over the individual, not touch the person’s device unless the person says it’s okay and always always put the person first! 

You can also learn more about the 10 strategies to be a respectful communication partner as well as access a checklist to see if you are a good communication partner here: www.assistiveware.com/learn-aac/follow-their-lead-how-to-be-a-respectful-communication-partner?fbclid=IwAR0Thh3hi0lD0NSwXG--J6xdYLdX9hYA9y-utORq5mYK5V27uxNxBt5RuWI

September is dystonia awareness month! And no, dystonia is not a foreign country like Genovia in The Princess Diaries.

Dystonia is a little-known neurological disorder that presents with extreme involuntary muscle contractions that cause twisting, repetitive body movements and abnormal posture. It has painful and devastating effects on people's lives. There is no cure and many patients live with chronic pain. 

Dystonia is more common than ALS and Huntington’s Disease combined, but I usually end up having to explain what it is.

Imagine being awake for days because excruciating spasms relentlessly grip your body. Imagine not being able to walk, swallow, speak or brush your teeth because you can’t control your movements. This is my reality and has been for the past ten years. It is also a reality I share with more than 500,000 Americans.

Dystonia can affect a person's entire body (generalized dystonia), like me, or it can affect a specific area(s) of a person's body such as their hand, eyelids or neck. Causes of dystonia can include brain injury or cerebral palsy, environmental factors, genetic factors, some anti-psychotic medications as well as unknown causes. 

To learn even more about dystonia, please check out the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF)'s website here: dystonia-foundation.org

Although this year's in-person Zoo Walks for the DMRF (Dystonia Medical Research Foundation) have been cancelled due to Covid-19, you can still join with people affected by dystonia all over the country at our Virtual Zoo Walk on September 12. Registration is FREE. If you'd like to, you can also purchase event T-shirts and support the DMRF in other ways on the event website. Here's the link to sign up and support and to the agenda:

https://letszoothis.swell.gives/#!/login

IMPORTANT: Times shown are for Central Time. All events will happen an hour later in Eastern Time.

Heellllooo!

Since finishing college, the world has become infiltrated with coronavirus which has drastically altered everyone's way of life. I debated picking back up my college blog A Little Imperfect Entirely Me whose title was heavily influenced by my all time favorite book My Perfect Imperfections by Jalapa Williby, but because of some copyright policies by Google and different ideas I have I thought it would be better to create my own unique website.

I will continue blogging here from now on, as well as posting reviews of books and movies with a disability theme under the Media Reviews tab.

Much of my life is still the same. It is still obvious I look different than everyone else my age. I still rely on my power wheelchair. My body still likes to express itself by an array of uncoordinated movements due to my cerebral palsy and dystonia. I still rock socks instead of shoes. My speech still sometimes comes out as a slew of jumbled syllables. At other times my speech is more intelligible.

In many people’s eyes I am either an inspiration or invisible. I am not an inspiration. Nor am I a ghost. However, I am just trying to live my life as fully as I possibly can. And I believe I have a lot to say and offer the world.