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I am a survivor of multiple sclerosis, lupus, heart attack, fibromyalgia, aneurysms, and more. I am turning my pain into purpose. I now advocate for chronic illness warriors and empower the voiceless to rise and thrive. I advocate for the National MS Society, the American Heart Association: You’re the Cure, and the Lupus Foundation of…

“I’ll never be a mum,” I cried as the tears rolled down my cheeks. This was the first thing I said to my neuropsychologist, and that would be the theme for the next hour. I can’t believe it’s now been seven years since I was diagnosed with ataxia. Seven years since my whole world turned…

“What does it feel like to live in a Body that knows its limits?” At age 24, just five days after moving to New York City, I answered. Though I wouldn’t have responded honestly then, had I not suddenly become a Stroke Survivor. Burnout was no longer a rhetorical and far-fetched concept, as Disability became…

The first time I heard the word “hunchback” was the day a boy teased me in front of my class. I remember that moment so clearly, as if it happened yesterday. He pointed at me and laughed, saying my back was not straight and that I walked funny. His words pierced deeper than I could…

It has been 30 years, and I can still remember almost every “I’m sorry” when I share with someone that I am deaf-blind/visually impaired. I remember those moments when people would say to me “I would rather be deaf than blind” as if disabilities are some cool pair of pants that either you like or…

Ishaunna Gully is a native of Laurel, MS, and a devoted mother to one son. She earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology from William Carey University and is currently pursuing a master of public health degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. At the age of 20, Ishaunna Gully was paralyzed from the waist down…

Michelle Colon is a model, content creator, beauty enthusiast, and disabilityadvocate based in New York City. Proudly representing the intersection ofbeauty and disability, Michelle made her mark with her first beauty campaignalongside MAED, My Ceremonia, and La Voute. Her modeling career has since expanded to collaborations with majorbrands including Victoria’s Secret, PopSugar, Parade, and many…

Adeshola Akanji’s Story Growing up, I experienced a number of health challenges, including joint pain, constant sore throat, and abdominal pain, and I was hospitalised multiple times for typhoid fever. I could not have anticipated that adulthood would present its own set of adversities and challenges. Much of my time during secondary boarding school involved managing…

I was born and raised in the heart of Eastern North Carolina, in Bertie County, a place where the river bends slow, the fields stretch wide, and the spirit of the people is unshakable. This is the land that raised me, where resilience is not just a value, it’s a lifeline. And in that rich…