Why Are Car Repairs So Expensive?...Maintaining a reliable vehicle is vital for individuals living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to maintain their independence and overall well-being. Unfortunately, vehicle repairs can often be a financial burden...reactions1comment
Social Media and Mental Health...Social media can be a game changing tool for anyone, especially people in the SMA and disabled communities. I've chatted about this before – it allows homebound individuals to make...reactions4comments
Getting Out Of My Head...I know that I am not alone in this feeling. We ‘SMAers’ are very observant wallflowers. Meaning that we see everything. For me, this has helped me to survive when...reactions2comments
My Ewok Companion...In the vast and colorful world of dog adoption, there are countless tales of furry companions who found their forever homes. These stories often involve the rescue of dogs from...reactions1comment
Support Animal...Do you have a support animal/pet? What do you love about them? Would you recommend a support animal for other SMA patients?...reactions1replyTips & Advice
The Joy of Finding My Four-Legged Support...Life has its moments – some challenging, some joyful. As a full-time electric wheelchair user with limited arm mobility due to spinal muscular atrophy, I've experienced my fair share of...reactions1comment
Grieving Over a Spoon and Fork...Who would've known that a seemingly simple pair of utensils could carry such emotional weight? The other night, my sister invited us over to her house for dinner. This wasn't...reactions1comment
"Most Likely Not To…" The Musical!...On February 29th, 2024, The Times Center officially hosted the first-ever SMA musical in collaboration with SMA My Way and Genentech! I wanted to write about my experience as an...reactionscomments
Self Advocacy...Do you consider yourself an advocate for yourself? If so, how did you start advocating? How has it impacted your life with SMA?...reactions1replyTips & Advice
The Importance of Wearing Your Seatbelt with SMA...In my younger days, donning my belt each morning was a steadfast ritual. It was something I did everyday, like brushing my teeth. Annoying? Undoubtedly. A safety measure? Absolutely. As...reactionscomments
The Gift of Self-Advocacy: Teaching Kids To Use Their Voice...Growing up with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), I've had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable impact of my parents' guidance in teaching me to be my own advocate. This journey...reactions5comments
If I Knew Then What I Know Now...When I was around 10, I was going through a lot of drama with my personal nurses. So now, I want to put a positive (but also realistic) spin on...reactions4comments
Diffusing Awkwardness With Humor...When living with spinal muscular atrophy, there are moments when you're getting some help dressing or with personal care, and something hilariously awkward happens. For instance, that time when my...reactionscomments
Making Friends as an Adult with SMA...Back in elementary school, the worry about making friends lingered—I feared judgment based on my wheelchair and back brace. My hope was always that my peers would see me just...reactionscomments
What Would You Invent?...Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” We asked our Health Leaders, who live with spinal muscular atrophy, "What accessibility-related invention would you like to see, that would make...reactionscomments
SMA & Technology...Do you have smart technology that you find yourself relying heavily on in your day to day life? Tell our SMA community all about it!...reactions2repliesAssistive Equipment
How Alexa Became One of My Disability Must-Haves...I was talking to my Public Partnerships consultant a few weeks ago (PP is a program where I live where someone you love can get paid to help take care...reactions2comments
I Was a Guinea Pig...In the 1990s, I found myself unwittingly becoming a pioneer in the quest for advancements in SMA care. As a person living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the landscape of...reactions1comment
Becoming Me...Although we are only a few months into the year, as I write this, I've learned so much. About a week ago, I decided to get rid of, by unsubscribing...reactionscomments
Valentine's Day and SMA...The holidays always bring their own set of challenges, and Valentine’s Day is no different for me. Throughout my life, I've never dated anyone, but I still hold onto the...reactions3comments