About

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. I am happy to have you here.

Who am I? I am a former speech-language pathologist who puts her clinical expertise and personal history as a woman with a disability to work as an advocate for people of all abilities. I enjoy traveling and speaking to share my vision of inclusion and access with others. Along my journey, from my time as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student at the age of 16 until now, I have observed moments of wonder and love which helped shape my belief that everyone can be of service to others, regardless of physical or cognitive strength. Now, I have decided give myself permission to be what I have always wanted to be.

Thirty-three years ago. the night before I left my hometown for Australia to complete my year as an exchange student, I received the best advice from a family friend. As he gave me a hug, he encouraged me to make the most of the opportunities on my upcoming journey.

“Whatever you are asked to do, any invitation you receive – say yes. Do it all. You never know if you’ll get another chance.”

For years I wanted to be a writer. I have written – guest blog posts, memoir essays for a writing class, communications for work, speeches, presentations, letters and journals. But until 2014 I never gave myself the label, allowed myself to profess what it is I really want to be. Things changed when I turned 40. ‘Everyone’ says that happens. Sometimes ‘everyone’ is right. The law of averages has to give ‘everyone’ the benefit of the doubt occasionally. It was time for me to say YES to my ambition, to follow my writing dreams.

DeeScribes

DeeScribes was launched as a space for me to put into practice what I pictured in my head. I use this platform to develop my skills as a writer and to share my writing with you. Inspiration can be found all around me. Many days, I comment on what I consider the absurdities of life. Other days I “deescribe” my experiences as a woman with a disability, navigating the world on wheels. Hopefully, as you read, there will be words which resonate with you. Please engage in the conversation by posting a response or sharing this with others.

My posts reflect my interests.  Of course I write about disability and my experiences as a woman embracing the identity of “disabled.” I do have a page for my posts I once wrote in response to the Redefining Disability Challenge. You can see my changing identity and my own battle with internalized ableism if you go read them.

However, it was never been my intention to write a “disability blog.” There are many who do that, and they do it well. I am a woman who happens to live with disability. As such, I also write about sisterhood, friendship, travel, relationships, gratitude, writing, music – generally the musings of a 50-year old who doesn’t give a crap anymore about who does or doesn’t agree with her. You can help determine the path of the conversation through your responses and comments.

I can’t promise to be politically correct. I do promise to be honest. I can’t promise to conform to stereotypes. I do promise to be open to opinions different from mine. I can’t promise to accept the status quo. I do promise to be respectful and polite. At least, as polite as I can be for someone who is regularly far too free with her words when she should just keep her mouth shut.

Thank you for coming on the journey with me, for letting me be what, prior to now, I was too scared to be. I am a writer.

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