When you live with a disability, there is an element of leading by example, or living by example that comes with the territory. I have noticed a theme in both of my teacher education programs: no one knows what to do with me.

The Open Doors Organization (ODO) is happy to report that as more American adults with disabilities than ever take to the skies, far fewer encounter major obstacles at airports and with airlines. Their current spending on air travel alone is nearly $9 billion annually.

People who read my blogs regularly may remember an entry from the summer, where I mentioned a fiasco at a restaurant celebrating my role as a bridesmaid for the upcoming wedding of my best friend. Well, my bridesmaid dress arrived in the mail yesterday. “Yay!”, right?

On October 19th, Canadians will be casting their votes in the federal election; we may have a new Prime Minister by week’s end. I am not qualified to dissect each Party’s platform with an in-depth analysis – I studied politics in twelfth grade and then I studied political philosophy

Having a disability and being in a wheelchair presents a unique set of daily challenges that are hard enough on their own. Sometimes, able-bodied people add to the frustration. Here’s a short list of things that the able-bodied world does – mostly unintentionally – that makes having a disability harder than it needs to be.

The “wedding season” of my life is in full bloom. Everywhere I turn, my friends are getting engaged and married. I myself am nowhere close, but that’s another story.

For the first time, I get to be more than a guest. One of my best friends got engaged in May and asked me to be a bridesmaid. I am one of only four, one quarter of her innermost circle.

A new parking campaign was recently launched by BraunAbility to aid in the education and correction of accessible parking space abuse. It’s called Save My Spot

I am only speaking from my own perspective. With that, in no particular order… 

10. The effort that goes into the simplest things:How long does it take able-bodied people to get themselves out the door in the morning? Way less time than it takes me, I know that much.

Project Angel Fares is committed to providing individuals with special needs and their families a chance to travel and enjoy a weekend at Morgan's Wonderland, and San Antonio, Texas, an opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have seen as possible.

Anyone who relies on the use of a wheelchair will tell you – winter sucks. I woke up this morning, my first day back at school after the holidays, to the first significant snowfall of the season.