Doctors told Alexis’s parents “ Alexis wouldn't live past two weeks old, her level of Spina Bifida Lesion was too high and the fluid on her brain was too severe. Joni, Alexis’s mother told me “ No matter how many times I said no to abortion , my obgyn doctor would corner me each visit, nurses would bring it up at each visit. “ . Joni continued to say “ They would separate me from my husband to offer me abortion. They made my pregnancy harder than it had to be. I even refused

I feel like I need to make a public service announcement To the world, And if I don’t, My head will fully explode. This world is lying silently still on this word, I am about to spill. I may walk, I may crawl I may not have any limbs at all. Are you completely confused? If you are... DONT Because I am about to shout it out to the world. Disability ! I can almost see your faces, As some of you are frowning with disgrace, Wanting to turn your back away You feel like it’s a

Once we spun in circles, we all went round and round, We put our arms like blades of steel and lifted off the ground; It flew us to a new place, one the seemed as sound As all things that would spin and rise and go to where we’re bound… Once we took our circles and rolled to where we could, Moved like wheels and tires and went to where we would; It wasn’t just compulsion to go just where we should, It was free choice and gave a voice to all we felt as good… Once we

Once she dragged her chain behind but it pulled her from the core , It changed as she could see the weight and worked as metaphor For what she would let go of, what she could release, And as she came to realize her busy mind could cease… Once she reached into the sky by cutting off the chain, She dropped the thing, link by link, and released some inner pain; She talked of what is danger, what can slow her down, And as she walked away with heart she moved herself to town

I bet most of us like to be as independent as we possibly can. We like doing a lot of things on our own. Most of my life I’ve had this stubbornness and pride where I want to do everything on my own. I’ve always had this negative connotation related to needing help. Especially if you’re disabled. Society says you’re weak and stupid and should be treated like a child if you’re disabled. But my thoughts on it have gotten a bit better. I decided I would give God a little bit of a