Disability Pride

Well hello there sunshine! So for some odd reason I did not know that July was Disability Pride Month. Apparently I’m that much of a hobbit.... So I’m honouring Disability Pride Month with this post! Firstly, I am not one of these people who thinks disabled and disability are bad words that we should never use. I’m sorry, but I’m not.... I think the only way a word gains power is if we give it. If we treat it as just a word then that’s all it’ll ever be. I choose to be proud to call myself disabled, and by doing that not only am I saying disability is ok, I’m also encouraging society to look at the word differently. I am not ashamed of my disability nor am I ashamed of the word disability. Everyone has labels, and often they make up who we are. Black, white, First Nations, short, tall, etc etc etc. We all use them, disability is just another. It doesn’t mean I am my disability, but it does mean my disability is part of who I am. I think we do a disservice to society if we don’t use the word disability. Who better to show society what disability truly means than us!?
Secondly, I’m not going to blow sunshine up your ass and say that having a disability is some special gift that’s precious to me. Having a disability is just crappy 70% of the time. But not for the reasons you’d think, so let me give you some examples...

1. In BC, if a disabled person wants medical coverage, which includes coverage for some medical equipment, we have to become a registered Persons with Disabilities. But when you do that, you automatically are signed up to receive disability income assistance, which is a laughable amount of money that’s deposited into our accounts every month and we’re told to survive off it. For 99% of the population this amount is not enough to live a life, so you are graciously allowed to get a job. Yeah, good luck with that! But here’s the catch... You’re only allowed to make a minuscule amount every month, the government is up your ass making you report every penny you make, and if you go over a certain amount then you get cut off everything, including medical benefits. The amount you’re allowed to make is literally just enough that you could probably get a part time job at minimum wage. So if you don’t want to basically live in a financial black hole, the only option is to not be a PWD. But then you better have the best job in the world to make enough money to cover medical, the medical equipment you need, caregivers if required, etc. In summary, it’s a never ending cycle where essentially the government keeps disabled people well below the poverty line, and no one gives a crap about it.
2. Medical equipment, the essential stuff like wheelchairs, is NOT fully covered by the government if you’re over 18. If you’re under 18 the government gives out approvals like they’re candy. If you’re over 18, I guess you’re an adult and you should be able to figure out how to scrape up enough money for a wheelchair. You want to know how much a power wheelchair costs? Anywhere from 20 to 50 thousand dollars!! That’s right, and they get replaced every five years. The government only covers HALF the cost. So on my 32 thousand dollar wheelchair, they paid about 14 thousand, and left me to come up with the rest. Joy.
3. Despite the fact that disability is one of the largest minority groups in society, and that number is growing, society still thinks it’s ok to treat disabled people like second class citizens. I’m talking, “oh yes, our restaurant is accessible, but you have to go to the back door and go through the kitchen”. “Do disabled people really need accessible washrooms? They don’t go out in public anyways! Why should we make this event inclusive and accessible? It’s not like people with disabilities can live a normal life anyways!” Yeah... that’s great... 
4. People think that because I’m disabled I obviously don’t have the ability to get offended, therefore they can say whatever they want to me. You would not believe some of the things complete strangers say to me! On any given day, if I manage to get out in public because apparently that’s an accomplishment, I’ll hear things like “What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so weird? What happened to you? Do you even have legs? Are you able to be cured?” Because apparently I have to tell every stranger I meet my whole PRIVATE and very personal medical history. Oh and did you know, there’s something wrong with me? Hence why it needs to be pointed out daily. 
5. You constantly get judged by the way you look, which often dictates whether you make friends, get invited to things, get asked out on dates, etc. Having body positivity or feeling sexy as a disabled woman is extremely difficult. Between knowing that people do indeed think there’s something wrong with you, and constantly seeing examples of why a normal body is just better, it’s hard to feel confident and comfortable in our own skin. This gets perpetuated even further by society fuelling the lie that sex is everything in life. If you’re not having sex, if you can’t meet the standards of being sexy, if you’re not viewed as a sex symbol, then forget trying to fit in socially and don’t even try to have a relationship. People don’t equate disability with a healthy sex life. People don’t equate disability with being beautiful and sexy. No matter how much confidence I try to give out in society, which trust me isn’t easy when you have a body like mine, sometimes it doesn’t matter because literally all people will see is the disability. I legitimately had someone say to me once, “You know, you’re actually pretty good looking for a disabled person.” Wow! You mean disabled people can be attractive!? Call Einstein because I bet he didn’t see that coming! 
6. People with disabilities live in a world where everything, and I mean everything, is geared towards “normal people”. Events, social gatherings, sports, hobbies, employment, recreation, clothing, buildings and businesses, and especially advertising. Have you ever seen an advertisement, something that’s not already disability related, let’s say like a Covergirl advertisement, that features a person with a disability? What about something sports related? What about something adventurous? No!? Yeah neither have I.... Because disability is considered weak, people with disabilities are thought to not be capable of living a full life, society just hides us away. That’s where we belong right? Wrong! The only way the perception of disability will change is if it is boldly brought to the light. We are human just like everyone else. We deserve equal opportunities. Why? Because if the average able bodied person has those opportunities, why shouldn’t we? 
7. Our rights are constantly infringed upon or completely taken away, not only by government but by society as well. Oh you’re disabled? You don’t need privacy or personal space! Disability you say? I guess that means you can’t speak for yourself, here let us tell you what you need. Well since you’re disabled you don’t need to do things like go out in public, have a relationship, go to school, get a job, participate in events and sports and well.... Life! Our rights are constantly trampled on by society. But do you see that all over the news? No! Do you see massive groups of people supporting and rallying for change? No! Does anyone even care? Probably not. So while everyone is fighting for every other cause on the planet, excuse me while I try to go find an accessible washroom.... 

There’s obviously way more to the social injustices of having a disability, but I’ll leave it there. And the thing is, ignorance is not an excuse anymore! Disability has been around for decades, and it’s 2020, so you can’t tell me that people don’t know disability exists. The truth of the matter is, having a disability sucks and don’t let anyone tell you differently. If they do they’re in denial. BUT! Most of that suckiness (yes I know that’s not a word) comes from the societal view of disability. If that were to change then I’m sure the “suck-o-meter” for disability would go way down. Because honestly, when you take all the society crap away, having a disability does not mean having no life. It means having a full, and often more enlightened existence. I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to, and despite the many barriers I face, I have done some incredible things in my lifetime. And I’ve had to fight to have those experiences. Why? Because I am me, and part of me is that I have a disability. I can’t change that, so I might as well embrace it and move on with my life. We have a strong disabled community full of incredible people, and we need to rise up and be bold about our disabilities. We need to prove them wrong. We need to show them that we are human beings, and we do deserve to get just as much out of life as everyone else. The fact that there is disability in this world will never change, whether it’s through birth, conditions, diseases, or acquired. But what can change is our perception of disability. Society’s perception of disability. And guess what? You are society! So make that choice, be that change, decide to make a difference. You never know the places you’ll go.

Arth-ro-gry-whaaaat?

Hello there sunshine and welcome to today’s post!

Let’s just get this out of the way.... The world has gone bat sick crazy!! Ehehehehe see what I did there? But I think there’s enough media out there on the current COVID, economy crashing, clueless politician, greedy toilet paper hoarding crisis. So to lighten the mood, today I will be defining and laying out the intricacies of my disability. But we’ll start with a question... What’s it like to have an extremely rare disability? Well quite frankly.... It stinks! More on that later...

So what is my disability anyways? Get ready for the very bane of my existence as a kid. My disability is called Arthrogryposis, which is pronounced “arth-row-gry-poe-siss”. Yeah, try saying that when you’re seven years old and missing your two front teeth... The full name for it is Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, which gives my autocorrect an aneurism every time I type it out. Thankfully there’s an abbreviated version, AMC, which I will be using for the rest of this post. Ok so we’ve established the name and how to say it, but what exactly is AMC? Well my friends at amcsuoport.org do a much better job at defining it, so I’ll let them take this one. “Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), commonly referred to as arthrogryposis, is the medical term describing the presence of multiple congenital contractures. The word arthrogryposis (arthro, from Greek meaning joint, gryp meaning curved, posis meaning fixed) refers to curved joint(s) in a fixed position. Thus, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita means curved joints in many (multiplex) areas of the body, which are present at birth(congenita).” So now that we know what AMC is, I want to take a moment to debunk something I commonly hear, and something that irritates the hell out of me when I do hear it. AMC is not, I repeat NOT, a disease! That makes it sound like something you can catch… I did not go to sleep one night normal, and wake up the next day as a human pretzel. Nor did someone walk up to me and sneeze and several hours later my limbs started to shrivel up. One more time, my congenital birth defect, meaning present at birth, is not a disease. Most disabilities are not diseases. Are we on the same page? Cool. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming….

AMC affects a whopping 1 in 3000 live births, making it a rare defect. The cause of AMC is still not really known, but some research states it's a defect in the spinal cord and due to lack of movement in the womb. While the condition itself is not generally fatal, complex cases usually coupled with other conditions, can make some individuals with AMC pass away before they reach adulthood. Interestingly enough though, most people I know with AMC, myself included, were deemed to be unlikely to live past a few weeks old. So to that effect we are natural born fighters. AMC is not progressive, meaning that it doesn’t get worse as time goes by. In fact in a lot of cases, early surgery and treatments like physical therapy can improve upon things like range of motion and severe deformations. But, as people with AMC age, things like arthritis can make the symptoms of the condition worse. Here are some more random facts…. Most people with AMC are born with a red birthmark on their foreheads, called an angel kiss, that fades with age. AMC can affect one joint of the body or several, which means some people with AMC can walk and are very high functioning, and some people are permanently in a wheelchair and low functioning. A mild form of AMC is clubbed feet. AMC can affect any joint of the body, including the jaw. AMC is a form of Muscular Dystrophy. Most people with AMC are deemed to have above average intelligence (obviously…. ;) ) People with AMC are naturally sexy. Ok, I made that one up….

Hopefully this has been fairly easy to understand, but it can get more complicated. AMC is an umbrella term, but there are actually several different types of it; Amyoplasia, Distal, and Everything Else. To save time and energy I’ll just define the type I have, Amyoplasia (pronounced “ah-mioh-play-shah”). “Amyoplasia (A = no, myo=muscle, plasia=growth) means no muscle growth and is the most common type of AMC . It is estimated that one third of people born with AMC will have Amyoplasia about 1 in 10,000 and it’s typically referred to as ‘Classical type AMC.’ This is considered the non-genetic form of AMC, meaning there has been no mutation in the genes to cause the condition to be present, and is not passed down from the parents.” So there you have it! I’m a stiff, twisted, physically weak human being…. And that’s just what’s physically wrong with me…

I can only imagine what it was like for my parents, when their newborn baby was diagnosed with this thing they’ve never heard of, and the doctors were telling them, “You’ll be devastated when you see your child. She won’t live past two weeks. Maybe you should just walk away now.” Yup, this coming from the medical professionals… But after switching to a doctor who actually knew what he was talking about, my parents were positively enlightened that I’d have some challenges in life but my future was not all doom and gloom. Phew! But here’s the thing about having a rare disability… Most doctors don’t know what it is, let alone how to improve upon it. Most doctors look at me in a confused stupor when I enter their office… So when I was four, we traveled to the great state of New York, all the way from Canada, to see one of the very few specialists out there on AMC. And what did he want to do? Knock me out and cut me open with a knife… Thanks doc. The surgery is called a rotational osteotomy, and involves cutting the femur in three places, rotating it, and putting it back together with screws and a plate. At four years old having bone surgery, which is deemed one of the most painful kinds of surgery, was definitely not a treat and to this day has left me with some medical PTSD. But the objective was to fix a severe deformity in my leg so I could sit in a wheelchair, and that was thankfully achieved. I had one more surgery when I was eight to remove the plate and screws, thus ending my under the knife experiences. Were there more surgical intervention options available? Oh of course! But most of them wouldn’t improve my function much, just the aesthetics of my limbs, and I’ve pretty much accepted that I’m as sexy as I’ll ever be… ;)

But what’s it like to be a kid growing up with a severe and rare disability? Well just to recap, it stinks… And honestly sometimes it was very lonely and confusing. Not only did I have to navigate the normal aspects of being a kid, but I also had to face the fact that not only did I not look like other kids, I also couldn’t do most of the things they could. Plus I had this big ass clunky wheelchair strapped to my butt, which always stuck out like a sore thumb. I would always get asked “what’s wrong with you”, which was not only difficult because I didn’t really understand my disability myself let alone how to explain it, but it also made me feel like maybe there truly was something wrong with me and that was a bad thing. I mean, the fact of it was that I had never seen anyone else who looked like me. Or not until I was ten years old that is. We eventually got wind of a conference that happened yearly in the states, and amazingly enough, it was specifically for people with my disability. Could this be? Would I finally meet someone who looked like me? We made the trek down to Texas for the conference, and I discovered for the very first time that there were lots of people who looked like me, both adults and kids alike! And they could do the most amazing things! And in the conference no one said once that something was wrong with them. Those conferences were a turning point in my life. I made many new friends, but most importantly, I finally knew that I wasn’t some fluke or a freak of nature. We went to many more conferences after that, and today they still run yearly, usually in a different state every year.

Since this post is long enough as it is, I’ll start to wrap it up here. But you can expect another post on childhood with a disability in the future! The point of this post was to kind of “humanize” my disability, and also show that knowledge is power. The more you know about something, the less intimidating it becomes. So go ahead! If you have questions, ask me! But otherwise don’t forget to share and follow my blog, and I’ll see you next time. Stay safe and stay well everyone!

References:www.amcsupport.org 

Who Are You Gracie Lou?

  Hello there sunshine and welcome to today’s post! 

For this week and before I get into other promised posts, I thought I’d introduce you to someone who has impacted and continues to impact my life in many special ways. She is more of an alter ego or a spirit within me, and through her I have found myself on some pretty crazy adventures. I’m kind of cheating here, because what you’re about to read I’ve actually had written for a couple years now... But if you want to get to know her, I can think of no better way than giving you this description. So I hope you enjoy! This is... Gracie Lou Whatwontshedo. 

My mother always taught me it was unladylike to swear. And yet, with the gradual whir of the helicopter rotors I went through every swear word I knew, and probably a few made up ones too. When one believes, whether founded in the truth or not, that death is too close for comfort, the mind tends to race as far away from reality as it can. She was with me then, whispering to dive far beyond my comfort zone. I don’t always want to listen to her, but in this case, I had no choice. I could risk being decapitated by the razor-sharp blades of the helicopter in trying to escape, or face my fears like the mature woman I pretended to be and stay strapped in my seat. Reality has the ability to make a fool out of the best of us though, because the very moment my winged transportation left the ground I forgot all my melodramatic absurdities. Like a phoenix rising to meet the sun, so was my soul breaking free from its bondage. I can only describe the feeling as taking a breath of life for the very first time. Acting like an adult being the farthest thing from my mind, I began to laugh and cry all at once, as if I was rediscovering my childhood innocence and wonder again. She was right, as is usually the case. 

I can honestly say that the excitement of the helicopter taking off is rivaled by the anticipation of it landing. The doors flew open, and myself and my companions carefully lowered ourselves into the waist deep snow of the mountain peak we had just been set upon. And then came the revelation… I found myself perched on the top of a mountain, whose mysteries were yet to be awakened. My heart was immediately overwhelmed by the visions of majestic beauty that were before me. Light has always been a fascination of mine, but when it is cast on snow of the purest whites, it seems to dance and sparkle like no earthly diamond could display. These blankets of snow were seemingly untouched by any living creature. It seemed as though we were in a different world, one where sorrows and hardships could not reach us. The peaceful quiet of this mountain haven is a sensation I to this day struggle to describe. If I were to try, the only conclusion I can make is that the sights and sounds must be as close to heaven as one can imagine. 

My musings were interrupted by the realization that it didn’t matter if I would be satisfied with just the helicopter ride and the view. She wouldn’t let me daydream all day, not when there were adventures to be had. I can remember heaving in deep breaths as I watched my guide float effortlessly through his first few turns. My heart began to thump, my chest tightened, and as I held in my final breath, I imagined the line I was going to choose. I had heard the term “powder eights” used in the skier world, and though in general I try to be a nonconformist, in this case I had to know what they felt like. Exhaling one final time, my courage rose up within me, and I dropped in for my first carve in the snow. From that point on I will always associate cutting in a new line on skis with having butterflies in the stomach. There is nothing more satisfying than carving into the untouched terrain before you. I had hoped that my first few turns would feel like floating on air or bouncing on fluffy clouds, and I was overjoyed to find that they were. Clouds of snow formed around me as I glided from side to side, tickling my cheeks and forming a smile on my lips. I found my rhythm with my guide, and echoed his movements in perfect harmony. And when we both stopped, unable to wipe the gigantic grins from our faces, we looked back on the magical figure eights we had just drawn in the snow. The helicopter glided over them as if to approve our artistic efforts. 

My ski partner, the man whose heart beats to the same rhythm as mine, gave out a light chuckle which only reflected what everyone was feeling. My body may not have left the sit ski which I was securely strapped into, my physical limitations may not have been altered, but my soul in that moment was truly freed. I had for as long as I could remember chased the feeling of freedom. I learned a great lesson that day, the value of which transcends simply skiing on a mountainside. My body may still be bound, but my heart and soul is free to have experiences without limits. My powder eights in the snow were proof enough that you don’t need an able body to experience life’s pleasures. Just an able mind and the tenacity to see it through. 

It was in that experience, one I will never forget as long as I live, that I really grew to appreciate her. All my life I had been told what I could and could not achieve. And yet, her voice was always there, beckoning me to a version of myself I could scarcely recognize. This is the magic of Gracie Lou Whatwontshedo. Who is this mythical creature whose influence challenges the souls of mere mortals like myself? To put it simply, Gracie Lou or whatever name is chosen to represent it, is the undeniable spirit we have within us. A spirit that tells us we can go beyond what is deemed impossible. It is the voice that calls us to be courageous, to be tenacious, to achieve our dreams and reach for the stars. In whatever circumstance, whether it be fighting a personal demon or finding the strength to be a pioneer, we all have the capacity to be exactly what we want to be. Though it took me a long time to recognize her presence, I have come to realize that Gracie Lou was apart of me all along. She is always there, daring me to find myself through the experiences I have. And so I continue to seek adventures beyond my limitations. With Gracie Lou in my heart, there really is no telling what I’ll do. 

Fourteen No More!

Well hello there sunshine and welcome to another post!

For today’s post I thought maybe I should introduce myself. Now I know I did an introduction when I started this blog, but that was also almost ten years ago, and I am no longer a socially awkward fourteen year old. I am now a socially awkward adult! Honestly I’m not the same person I was even a year ago, let alone almost a decade ago. Woah... a decade.... That makes me feel old... Anyways, let’s take some time to get reacquainted! Also if you’re new here, you’re probably wondering who the heck I am and why I’m taking up space on the internet... 

Hey there! I’m Grace Brulotte, I’m twenty three years old, and I was born and raised in heavenly Fernie British Columbia. I was born with two physical disabilities, both of which leave me wheelchair bound and reliant on caregivers. The first is a congenital birth defect called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), which is a big scary term that basically means stiff joints. From the neck down, all my joints have little to no flexibility. I also have basically no muscle and am not really able to gain muscle. Arthrogryposis isn’t progressive, meaning it doesn’t get worse over time (so they say). I’ll be doing a separate post on AMC later, so stick around for that! The second condition I have is Scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine. And much easier to spell/say than my other condition... Scoliosis is unfortunately progressive, meaning every year the curve in my spine gets a little worse. My curvature is considered very severe, coming in at a shocking 95 degrees, and is deemed inoperable (too dangerous to fix via surgery). Another post will be coming later on about Scoliosis and my specific situation as well. 

Despite my physical disabilities, I still manage to have a pretty full life! I know, what.a crazy thought... Someone with severe limitations can have a full life! Honestly, since my Scoliosis diagnosis became so serious, I’ve began a new life motto of “accepting what is and letting go of what cannot be”. I enjoy challenging myself to try new things and reach new goals. I love anything outdoors, so in the summertime you’ll find me on long walks to my favourite scenic spots in Fernie. Becoming familiar with plants and trees is another outdoor activity I enjoy. I find it interesting to look up how things were used, either medicinally or practically. I’m able to be a lot more active in the summer, so I enjoy activities like paddle boarding, camping, swimming and of course road trips. The only time you’ll find me indoors is when it’s raining, and even then I tend to have a dance in the rain every now and then. Which is why my wheelchair technicians hate me... Being outside gets restricted for me in the winter unfortunately... The only real outside time I spend is when I’m sit skiing, which I’ve been doing since I was fourteen. I’ve skied every lift and every bowl at Fernie Alpine Resort, conquered blacks and double blacks, went cat skiing twice, and was the first female tandem sit skier to heliski in Canada. But more on all that later... When I’m not skiing, I enjoy reading good classic books, watching feel good movies, and of course writing. 

Let’s see... How would I describe my personality? A little shy at first I’d say. I’m not a huge fan of large crowds, and if I’m meeting new people I tend to be quite antsy. But once I warm up to someone, then all my quirks come out. I’m an enthusiastic and cheerful person 90% of the time. Although if I’m not doing well for whatever reason, people generally don’t know it because I’ll hide behind my well known smile and attitude. Only the people who know me intimately can tell the difference between my real smile and a fake smile. I generally love being social and being around people, but I also value my alone time when I get to go for a walk or listen to music. I’d say one of my greatest strengths, and potentially my greatest weakness as well, is that I care about others and love to help in any way I can. I have a passion for advocacy, and even though it scares me beyond all reason, I love public speaking. I have an addiction to buying cute teacups from thrift shops (or teapots), and literally have a whole cupboard dedicated to them. My rule is that I have to use a different cup every time, and then I feel totally justified in owning so many... I also have a chip addiction, to the point where I have another cupboard in my kitchen which is deemed “The Snack Cupboard”. I’ll buy pretty much anything if it’s purple or has something to do with unicorns. And my shelves are literally exploding with well loved books. Beyond all that, I’m a pretty dorky human being, who will sass attack anyone, and absolutely loves to laugh. 

As far as my professional life goes, I’m a very busy girl.... I manage not one, not two, but three nonprofit societies. For my paid job I am the Administrative Manager of an amazing organization called Elk Valley Hospice. I’ll be doing a post later on finding a job and being employed as a person with a disability, so stick around for that! For my volunteer work, I’ve been the President and Program Manager of FIRE Adaptive Snow Program for almost 10 years now, which I founded when I was just fourteen. My work with FIRE has earned me a national award for administration, I was recognized provincially as the Most Influential Woman in Business, and was the City of Fernie’s Youth Achievement Award winner. In 2019, I became the President and co-founder of the Gracie Lou Foundation, which focuses on inclusion and advocacy for people with disabilities. In June 2019, with the help of some amazing volunteers, we built purple portable ramps for 15 businesses in downtown Fernie, making them accessible for those with mobility challenges. It was such a fun kickstart project and will be followed by many more! 

There you have it! All acquainted with the adult version of Grace Brulotte... She’s fiercely independent, incredibly sassy, crazy busy, ready for a new challenge or adventure, and most importantly... Always smiling! Don’t you forget to smile today, and make sure you join me next time for another post on the Gracie Lou Perspective! 

Instagram - @gracielouwhatwontshedo 

Facebook - @gracielouwhatwontshedo

Email - gracielouwwsd@gmail.com

The Gracie Lou Foundation Facebook - @gracieloufoundation

FIRE Adaptive Snow Program Facebook - @fireadaptive

Where’d you go!?

Well hello there sunshine!

Where have you been!? Yes I know it’s been a while... It’s funny how life goes, isn’t it? You go through phases, you love something for a while and then you don’t, you’re motivated one minute and procrastinating the next, you’re passionate about something and then you move on. But then you come back! And when you do, you’re more fired up than ever! So I hereby solemnly swear that I will try harder to work on this blog, to potentially (I said potentially), bring you a somewhat interesting read every week, and attempt to not neglect said blog for oh.... A year or more. Or I’ll try my darnedest at the very least! And if I don’t then it’ll be like every other New Years resolution that fell by the wayside. Hmm, I never did buy that gym pass... 

Now... I’ve made a fundamental change to this blog, which you shouldn’t have failed to notice if you’re a veteran to it. The blog will no longer be called Disabled and Living in the Real World. Gasp! I know, shocking!! I do have a somewhat reasonable explanation for this... Firstly, since I’m attempting a fresh start with this blog, I figured it too needed a fresh start. While I will always love its previous name, I’m a little older now, a tiny bit wiser, and feel that the blog should be a reflection of where I am currently in life. Gracie Lou, whom I shall introduce you to in a forthcoming post, has become a huge part of my current life path. Not only is she an alter ego if you will, a public persona, she is also someone I strive to be when facing new challenges. But more on that later... This blog shall hereby be known as The Gracie Lou Perspective. Picture a beam of light shining down on the title, a choir singing, fireworks exploding, all that good stuff. 

So what can you expect from this new and hopefully improved blog? More narratives of the world as I see and experience it of course. But I’d also like this blog to be somewhat useful. Not just me telling you how hectic my life is on any given day. I refuse to have a “millennial” blog where all I do is talk about myself, repeat the word "like" after every second word, and post 20 pictures of the food I eat. That’s like totally 2019! So you can expect practical advice, real world experiences, reviews, potentially some interviews with other people, and much more. I hope to speak to those in the disability community, offer my experiences and hear theirs, be an advocate to the best of my abilities, shed light on the things that have been hidden, offer a different perspective, and hopefully redefine “disabled living” for society today. I know, way to set the bar high! But hey, go big or go home right!? ;) 

I hope you’ll join me as I attempt (if at first you don’t succeed, try till it pisses you off, swear a bunch, cry and yell and scream, and then for god’s sake try again) to not fail at blogging... again... You can subscribe on the right side by entering your email, and you’ll receive a notification when I make a post. And then you can marvel right along with me that I didn’t procrastinate and actually got it done. And don’t worry, a notification of a new post is all you’ll receive via email subscription. Also feel free to follow me on any of the social media outlets listed below. Don’t be a stranger! Let me know in the comments if there’s a blog subject you’d like me to address. 

Until next time, enjoy some pictures summarizing how much life I’ve neglected to capture on this blog.... Bad Gracie Lou! And hey, don’t forget to smile!

Instagram - @gracielouwhatwontshedo
Facebook - @gracielouwhatwontshedo
Email - gracielouwwsd@gmail.com
The Gracie Lou Foundation Facebook - @gracieloufoundation