CAB Category: Beyond the Chair: Living With a Disability

  • Joy Is Still Part of the Story: Michele’s Story

    Rows of airport seats, including a designated accessible seat with a wheelchair symbol, highlight accessibility, with the text Joy Is Still Part of the Story overlaid in bold white letters.

    One thing I wish more people understood about living with a disability is how much joy, love, and connection exist within the disability community. Too often, conversations about disability focus only on barriers and challenges, and the joy can get lost. Discussions about disability frequently center on what has been lost or what may be…

  • What It Takes to Get There: Paul’s Story

    A close-up of an accessible door button with a wheelchair symbol and the words TO OPEN on a brick wall, overlaid with the text What It Takes to Get There, highlighting accessibility power in everyday life.

    One thing I wish more people understood about living with a disability is how complicated travel can be. Even something as simple as going somewhere overnight can require a lot of preparation. For many people, packing for a trip might mean tossing a few things into a backpack or small suitcase and heading out the…

  • A Different Life, The Same Person: Josh’s Story

    A blue wheelchair accessibility sign in front of green bushes, with the text “A Different Life, The Same Person” overlaid in white bold letters, highlights Josh’s Story.

    One thing I wish more people understood about living with a disability is that a disability does not change who you are at your core.After a catastrophic injury or diagnosis, life may look very different, but you are still you. You still have the same heart. You still have the same personality, the same dreams,…

  • Access Shouldn’t Be Uncertain: Tae’s Story

    Blue disabled parking spot with a white wheelchair symbol and the text “Access Shouldn’t Be Uncertain” highlights accessibility, inspired by Vance's Story, in bold white letters across the image.

    One thing I wish more people understood about living with a disability is that planning ahead does not mean we are being demanding. It simply means we are trying to make sure the basic things needed to participate are actually available. When I travel or go somewhere new, there is often a great deal of…

  • Accessibility Is Power: Vance’s Story

    A concrete wheelchair ramp with metal railings leads to a building entrance. The words Accessibility Is Power are boldly displayed across the image, highlighting Vance's Story and the importance of accessibility for all.

    One thing I wish more people understood about disability is that it’s part of the human experience. Disability touches people at birth, through illness or injury, or simply through the natural process of aging. It’s not a bug. It’s a feature. The sooner we understand that, the sooner we can invest in strategies to remove…

  • The Time You Don’t See: Justin’s Story

    A wheelchair-accessible van with an extended ramp on a city street. Large white text across the image reads, The Time You Don't See, highlighting the power of accessibility in Vance'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…