Hi! I’m so excited and honored to be part of Good House keeping’s first-ever accessibility issue!
This issue is all about shining a light on the disability community and the ways in which accessibility can improve everyone’s lives and experiences.
Being in a wheelchair has helped me develop a level of patience, creativity and resilience that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Sure, it has also tested and challenged me. I’ve doubted myself along the way. But it certainly hasn’t prevented me from chasing my dreams.
One hundred years ago, my dreams wouldn’t have been possible — as someone in a wheelchair, I wouldn’t have been allowed to attend school, much less perform on Broadway. Still, it’s hard to believe the Americans with Disabilities Act, a long overdue law that protects people with disabilities in many areas of public life, was passed only three decades ago. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to do. Even But I’m not ashamed of my disability at all: In fact, I’m grateful for it. Keep this in mind: If you decide to approach someone who is disabled (it’s not always necessary), don’t ask what’s wrong. Introduce yourself and ask, “What’s your story?” Here’s a bit of mine:
