So, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 27 this year. And that’s something worthy of celebrating. Now, before you point out that this might seem to be an odd thing to celebrate, let me quote a scene from the iconic television show Sports Night, where two characters are debating celebrating Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round […]
accessibility
The ADA and Disabled Motherhood
I became a mom in the early days of the ADA, back when just the idea of disabled women becoming mothers was revolutionary. And it’s not that disabled mothers or disabled parents did not exist. Disabled parents have always existed, but have done so behind the scenes of other people’s lives because being fully in charge […]
When my Limited Body Was No Match for the Limitless Love of my Daughter
My daughter is only allowed to watch a small number of television shows (yes, I am one of those parents). One of her favorite shows is Paw Patrol; I don’t use the word favorite lightly – she owns Paw Patrol dolls, pajamas, figurines, vehicles, stickers and don’t forget the light-up tennis shoes!! Nearly 4 months […]
Why Play Dates Make Me Nervous
My daughter is five and has quite the social life! She’s made many friends from various facets of her life and my life combined – school, church, sports and recovery meetings. She’s the type of child who writes an invite list to her birthday party that’s longer than her Christmas wishlist. Needless to say, she […]
Christmas from the Chair: Advice from a Disabled Mom
My name is Amanda Northrup. I am 34-years-old and from Tennessee. I am a wife, mom, working artist, gym developer and an advocate for inclusion in fitness for the disabled. I also happen to be a quad amputee and in a wheelchair. I had meningitis at 4-years-old and have been disabled for 30 years. I […]
Trunk-or-Treat as an Accessible Option for Families with Disabilities
Our family loves Halloween-the decorations, the spooky factor, the costumes, and for the kids-the candy! The ultimate culmination of Halloween is trick or treating. My husband and I are both wheelchair users and we don’t live in a neighborhood with sidewalks. Even if we did though, most porches would make it impossible for us to […]
It’s Back-to-School for Us
Okay, so I know I haven’t written in a while, but I’m sure we’ve all been busy parents. Back to school this year was a little different. Last year, we tried online public school at the beginning of Kindergarten. It was a good program, but it didn’t work out for us. This year, we took […]
ADA Reflections: My Parenting Journey
When my daughter was born 22 years ago the Americans with Disabilities Act had already been passed in 1990. I had no awareness of the weight of this legislation or its impact on my life as a disabled person and parent. I also had no support system and was not affiliated with any local disability-related […]
My Experiences Parenting with the ADA…So Far
I was eight years old when the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. It has been the most significant piece of legislation in my life thus far. From parking to ramps in public places, every aspect of my life has been impacted by the ADA. As a mom, it has affected my life […]
Living Life One Step at a Time with the Help of some Clever “Handi-Hacks”
Seems like everyone is counting their steps these days as gizmos like Fitbit are all the rage. Because my daughter and I share a rare orthopedic disorder, Larsen Syndrome, we have many limitations in our upper and lower extremities that greatly impact our daily “steps.” Emily is a full time wheelchair user and I’m an […]