Columns

It felt like fall all of last week here in the North Carolina mountains. Each year, crisp temperatures, crystal skies, and a hint of changing colors rejuvenate me, reminding me why fall is my favorite season. On the flip side, a mere taste of this spectacular time of year…

The thing about visible disabilities is that you can’t really hide them. You can try, but there’s only so much you can do when it comes to a big honking wheelchair. The internet, however, is a completely different story. There’s a freedom to it, a flexibility, that you can’t…

As I stared at the rolling green hills before me, I wondered what 8-year-old Alyssa would have thought of this moment. It was my nonprofit organization’s first charity golf tournament in almost six years, though the annual events dated back to 2010. However, the story began long before…

Hugo Trevino is a disability advocate and academic adviser from Chicago. He has spinal muscular atrophy type 3 and helps disabled students find success. Having a disability means I cannot do things on my own and it sucks because I need to ask for help with almost everything. As…

I’ve been blessed to grow up in a city that’s mindful of accessibility and inclusion, which means there’s an abundance of accessible activities to participate in. Throughout my life, this has provided opportunities for me and my family to be involved in a variety of programs and services, including…

Ty Dykema is an artist, musician, and punk rock connoisseur from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2. Dykema and his friend Kevin Schaefer attend the Cure SMA Annual SMA Conference. Community is the one great and gentle unifying force…

As those of us with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) know all too well, people with disabilities often face a slew of assumptions and misconceptions. To improve awareness and understanding, I want to address five of the most prevalent myths I’ve encountered, especially as I’ve become more visible and…

Near the end of 1995, my husband, Randy, and I purchased an old farmhouse, situated on almost 15 acres with a little mountain. There was no trail up the mountain, but our optimistic (and younger) selves were determined to investigate what was on top. As we hiked up, we…

My 7-year-old niece, Lily, has an unparalleled level of curiosity. She asks questions about the world, when we’re going to Disneyland next, and whether I’ve seen every episode of “Full House.” The answer to the latter is yes. Lily also inquires about my life with SMA,…

If you’d asked me a year ago what my plans were for SMA Awareness Month, I would’ve come back with a laundry list of items, from Instagram Reels to the Minnesota Walk-n-Roll event put on by Cure SMA. This year looks a little different. Part of it…