Category: AWARENESS
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They See What’s Different-Not What’s Possible
Disability Pride series Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie There have been so many moments in my life when people noticed my disability before they noticed me. They saw my walker before they saw my smile. They noticed my cerebral palsy before they noticed my personality. Sometimes they made up their minds about what I could…
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The ADA Changed the Law-Not Every Mind
Disability Pride Month series Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990, it changed history for millions of people with disabilities. It opened doors that had never been open before, creating a whole new world for people with disabilities. It brought greater access to schools, businesses, transportation,…
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Accessibility Is Not One Size Fit All
Disability Pride Series Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about disability is that accessibility is not one size fits all. For years, people with disabilities have fought for equal access. The ADA changed our country in incredible ways, making schools, businesses, transportation, and housing more accessible than ever before.…
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The Ugly Laws: The History Many People Never Learned
Disability Pride Month Series Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie One of the reasons I wanted to create a Disability Pride Month series was because I realized that many people—even people within the disability community—don’t know some of the history that shaped our lives today. I know I didn’t. Not long ago, I learned about something…
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What is the Disability Pride Flag Mean to Me
Disability Pride Month Series — Marie W.O.W.C.P. When I look at the Disability Pride Flag, I do not just see colors. I see stories. I see people. I see history. And I see pride. For many years, I struggled with what disability meant in my own life. Not because I hated who I was. But…
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The Generation In Between
Disability Pride Month Series — Marie W.O.W.C.P. Sometimes I feel like I belong to a generation that existed between two worlds. I was born after the disability rights movement had already begun changing lives, but before many of those changes fully reached everyday life. I was born after people had already started fighting for accessibility,…
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Welcome to Disability Pride Month
Disability & Advocacy: Disability Pride Month& Disability History Welcome to Disability Pride Month. For me, this month is about more than awareness. It is about history, progress, community, and pride. As someone who was born with a disability, I know that many of the opportunities and freedoms I have today exist because of the people…
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Laws Changed, But People Didn’t Always Change
Disability & Advocacy,Disability Rights History Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie W.O.W.C.P. When I was younger, my parents had to fight for me and everything I needed so I could be part of public school, part of the community, and part of the world around me. They did a wonderful job with so many things. What…
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Learning to Adapt Without Giving Up
Identity & Personal Growth,Living with Cerebral Palsy Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie One thing living with cerebral palsy has taught meis that life can change at a moment’s notice. You can wake up with plans for the day.You can organize everything perfectly.You can mentally prepare yourself for what needs to get done. And then your…
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The Mental Toolbox
Health & Wellness,Mindfulness & Personal Growth Our Beautiful ChallengesBy Marie W.O.W.C.P. Lately, I have felt a little off in life. Not necessarily lost— but disconnected from myself. I think sometimes life becomes so loud,so emotionally heavy,that we forget how important it is to center ourselves again. For me,centering myself is not always hard to do.…
OUR BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGES 