Emergencies in my baby girl’s life were something of a biweekly event. Starting at about two months of age, I rushed my daughter to the Children’s ER often for gastric issues. These episodes consisted of her not being able to keep formula/food down, refusing to eat and screaming in pain that could not be comforted. […]
school age child
School’s Touching Accommodations
If you are a parent, you know the feeling of pride that comes from watching your child(ren) perform in a school play or sing at an event; you’ve experienced the joy that occurs when you visit the classroom or engage in school activities with your child(ren). But, imagine if you had to stay outside the […]
Mommy’s Nervous About Kindergarten, too!
Today, my daughter began Kindergarten. For the past several days, she’s expressed the typical fears and nervousness about starting at a new school with a new teacher in a new building with new friends to make and so on…. We talked about her feelings and I tried to help calm her anxiety by pointing out […]
Adventures in Parenting
My son is one of the most interesting characters I have ever met. When all the news came about regarding the “reformed” health care bill, he realized very quickly that it was unfair to his mommy and her friends. I was both sad and proud of his reaction. His ability to empathize with others never […]
We’ve Only Just Begun
Yes, I am aware that I quoted The Carpenters in the title. This is the attitude which I am taking today. Progress is a process, and it isn’t always easy. My son is becoming more conscious of the fact that spasticity can severely limit my movements. Mommy is very tired most of the time. This […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The World is Yours
Summer has started, and my daughter Scarlett’s first week out of Kindergarten is being spent at ballet camp. It’s the same camp we did last year, but the location has changed to a church in the middle of San Francisco. When I first heard that, I was enthusiastic. A church has to be accessible, right? […]
Motherhood
As I am writing this, my son is watching an animated feature film about accepting others unconditionally via monsters! At six, his questions are incessant. Some of those questions involve my disability: “Mommy, why can’t you walk?” “Will we need an elevator in this house forever?” “Why don’t they build steps that can turn into […]