Columns

We need more conversations about disability and employment

At my day job, I work in a midsized public library system, which I really enjoy. I help folks find books and other resources and work to make them feel more connected to their community. We don’t charge for our services because we believe in the philosophy that everyone deserves…

How cold weather affects my hand strength with CMT

It’s getting colder in my corner of the United States. I can feel it in my hands. For me, it’s not just the sensation of the chilly atmosphere nipping at my bare skin. My hand strength also seems to be drained after time spent in the cold. I’ve heard anecdotally…

Considering what it takes to be a bodybuilder with CMT

John Nixon, like me, has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Based on how he tells his story, the CMT symptoms he’s dealt with since childhood are more severe than mine. When we spoke a couple of weeks ago via video chat, he told me that his feet have been deformed…

When is it appropriate to describe CMT symptoms as mild?

From a cursory internet search, it’s easy to find many articles that describe certain Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) symptoms as mild. Some even refer to types of CMT that way. For years, I didn’t think too much about it. After all, I first started seeing these types of articles as…

Making a space accessible should involve more than a checklist

After a recent conversation with Bernadette Scarduzio, my friend and fellow Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) advocate, regarding the inaccessibility of short-term rentals, I’ve been thinking a lot about accessibility. It’s a buzzword in the disability community, but for many, the concept is nebulous. This truth was highlighted by Scarduzio’s…