Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I never gave much thought to mindfulness. Even during my short foray into Soto Zen Buddhism in my late teens, staying present, being aware of my body, emotions and mentality didn’t seem like something I should give much import to. All that changed, however, at age 28. I was finishing my internship at a public school teaching a low-functioning, medically-fragile population of elementary students and working on my thesis for gradua

Upon first learning about your child's diagnosis of Spina Bifida, it is natural to become deeply concerned about the disability's impact on your child's quality of life and that of your entire family, so it is heartening to share good news after eleven years of parenting a child with Spina Bifida. Teadora, my second of two children, enjoys a life that is just as fulfilling as her sister's. They both attend wonderful schools, and their afternoons are full of engaging activit

So for today’s blog post I thought I’d give you an insight to what exactly Spina Bifida is and what’s it like for me personally having Spina Bifida. I will also be explaining the 3 main types of Spina Bifida for those of you who don’t know much about the disability itself. So first things first I’d thought I’d start off by giving you some background information on what exactly spina bifida is. Spina bifida is generally known as a birth defect that occurs when the spine and t

Today I’d like to talk to you all about a condition which is known as Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by the build up of fluid in the cavities that can be found deep within the brain. The excess fluid causes the ventricles to grow in size there for adding extra pressure on the brain. Another name for Hydrocephalus is water on the brain. Hydrocephalus can happen to anyone at any age. The most common age it is said to occur though is either in infants, adults and peopl

Hey Everyone my name is WIll Motzkin. I am 25 years old and living in Tuscon Arizona. I was born with Myelomeningocele Spina BIfida and Hydrocephalus. i use a wheelchair to get around. So far in my life time i have had 40 or more surgeries. I do have siblings. I love to listen to music and make new friends

Identity theft is a very real and prevalent problem in the wired, high tech society that we live in today. With the invention of the credit card, computer, internet and sites such as twitter, Instagram, Facebook and amazon, if we want to be part of this modern world, much of who we are is on display for the world to see and easily within the grasp of those few who find pleasure in taking control of the lives of others simply because they have too much time on their hands and

It was meant to be a very special day at my daughter’s school. And, for the most part, it was. Her school recently had a day where the students were encouraged to invite friends and family members to watch a short concert and enjoy a reception afterwards. To my knowledge, I’m the only parent/caregiver in a power chair. I’ve always been impressed with the school’s accessibility. The floor plans are laid out where everything flows and if there’s a dip in levels, ramps are in pl

My journey began when my mom was seven months pregnant the doctors decide it was best for me to come out so I had a chance to have less Complications I was in the hospital since the day I was born on January 8 1986 until I was 5 months old I was in and out of hospitals after that always with complications at school no one knew about me having Spina Bifida because just by looking at me no one would know I had Spina Bifida. I like spending time with my family going to the movie

Our angel sang the day the heavens opened, welcoming you home. Amazing Grace she sang your song as the trumpets played along from God's golden gates. In my dream less I heard your laughter, the sweetest sound I never heard. Behind your door in the darkness you Will never again suffer, your demons that walked with you on this earth Have turned to dust and your door is now wide open. So many words left unspoken, I from Got to say goodbye. you left this world so

Are you thinking of going on a vacation as a wheelchair user? First, you should go on a trip in your home country to find out, how you can manage when traveling and if well... you might get enough courage to cross the border. Allegedly the five most popular travel destinations are Istanbul, New York City, Rome, Beijing and Prague. Some destinations are wheelchair accessible, others require more careful research. If you come from a small town what about to visit a capital ci