Elizabeth

Hi and welcome to AbleBodies!

I'm Elizabeth and have been a resident of West Michigan for the majority of my life. As a child, I attended public school and later went on to graduate from Hope College. I now work for a non-profit disability organization.

At the age of 8, I’d been newly diagnosed with a recessive form of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. You can read more at: Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). I neither understood the ramifications nor cared at the time what the diagnosis meant for my future. I just wanted to be a happy kid. And I was! I can truly say, I had a wonderful childhood and upbringing as my physical and emotional needs were changing. I can 100% say, my transition and positive outlook on life is directly attributed to my loving parents and brother. I transitioned from a running child, to slowly walking, to at present utilizing a wheelchair for mobility. And each transition has prepared me for what will come next, head-on. Each transition, I learned something new about myself and that I’m capable of achieving more that what society expects.

This diagnosis has not always been easy though. There have been a number of frustrations and tears, as I needed to learn to navigate my surroundings. But, each time I look back on my life, there have been far more happy moments. Life did not end with a diagnosis. It may be a different life than expected but one that has lead to wonderful opportunities that I’m not sure I would have otherwise experienced. And, I’m very thankful for it.

So, now that you know a bit more about me, I hope to share some of my experiences as an individual in my community with a physical disability. I also hope to showcase stories, pictures, and life experiences of friends and family. So, please enjoy and I look forward to your feedback.

- Elizabeth -

Check out her blog posts:

Happy Holidays!

The ABLE Act

Gratitude

What's a Personal Care Aide?

Halloween and Wheels!

September 11th Nation Day of Service and Remembrance

#ALSIceBucketChallenge

Do Ask Questions...Just Use Your Common Sense!

24th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Representing Disability in the Entertainment Industry