The Time You Don’t See:
Justin’s Story
In August of 2026, I will have officially lived over half of my life with a disability. I was injured just before my 23rd birthday and turning 46 this year, and it is difficult to recall what life was like prior to my spinal cord injury.
That said, I do vaguely remember setting alarms 30 minutes in advance of leaving the house, including the time needed to shower, get dressed, and even grab a quick bite to eat. I would sometimes wake up in the morning and on a whim, decide to take a day trip to the beach. I remember meeting friends of family for dinner without googling the restaurant to confirm that it would be accessible. I somewhat recall quickly booking a hotel room online without checking five or six times just to be absolutely sure that I checked the right accessibility boxes followed by packing for a three-day trip in ten minutes. My free time? Abundant and amazing.
Today, a “30 minutes before leaving alarm” is more like two and a half hours in advance. The idea of a day trip to the beach decided upon morning-of is absurd and I most certainly always google restaurants prior to leaving for dinner. Hotel rooms and rental cars are booked weeks and sometimes months in advance and packing for even an overnight trip often begins at least one day prior to take-off. That free time? It is often filled with self-advocacy and efforts to ensure that both I and the rest of our community have access to the spaces and opportunities taken for granted by the general public.
Though it may sound like I’m complaining, I’ve absolutely accepted and grown accustomed to the fact that this is simply my normal now. It isn’t always the easiest life, but it is my life, and I intend to make the most of it.
So, if you’re reading this and you do your best to include those living with disabilities in your facility or event planning, we thank you. If you’re also considering all that it took for us to get there, that’s empathy and we can’t thank you enough.
Justin
