Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I should be able to do this on my own,” or “I don’t want to ask for assistance,” even though you know those expectations aren’t fair? You may be experiencing internalized ableism. More people in disability spaces have started to talk about this experience online, giving language to something many have felt for a long time. Internalized ableism happens when negative social messages about disability are absorbed over time and begin to influence how...

After sustaining a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), it can be challenging to reorient and figure out what dreams are still within reach. Life after an injury will inevitably look different from life before it. That does not mean the road ahead is full of dead ends—it simply means that the ways people pursue their ambitions may shift. Rebuilding a sense of identity is often part of that process, especially when facing new barriers and realities. Jen Goodwin’s story reflects this kind of...

After SCI, the body’s ability to regulate temperature doesn’t work the same way it used to. In colder months, this can mean navigating a fine line between being too cold and suddenly overheating, sometimes without the usual warning signs.