IndependenceChick's Nest – You are entering the Independence Zone!

Red in the Face: How to Help When Disability Becomes Embarrassing

Happy August, readers! One month closer to autumn--yea! And my favorite time of year for most of the United States, back to school season. I share the same opinions as…

Diversifying Conflict in Disability-Centered Stories

Hello readers, As you know, I love stories. Fiction, nonfiction, I don't care. If you can hook me with a great character or unique angle, I'm in. As part of…

Redefining “Brave,” or The Freedom to Be Brave

Hello readers, So far, June and July have been extremely busy months. I've been away from technology recently, having gone camping with the fam (not my favorite thing, but we…

What PWDs Do–and Don’t–Have in Common with Senior Citizens

Hello readers, Once again, a post idea came from real life, although it took a while for me to decide how to approach it. Recently, my family had to transfer…

Ch-Ch-Changes: How Change Affects PWDs Every Day

Hello and happy June, readers, I spent the last part of May at a writer's conference and vacationing for Memorial Day, but now I am back with fresh ideas. Disability…

Disability in Pink: Why the Disability Experience and Narrative Needs More Women

Hello readers, I hope everyone had a joyous and blessed Mother's Day, and that any mother figure in your life felt loved and cherished. If you have lost a mom,…

Beyond High Fives in the Hallway

Hello and happy May, readers, Unless you're a complete ableist, or unless you have particular people in your life whose mannerisms annoy you, you probably like the PWDs you know.…

Blog Bonus: Characters With Disabilities You and Your Loved Ones Should Know

Hello and welcome to the bonus round! We've talked a lot on this blog about books featuring persons with disabilities, gifts, illnesses, or other unique circumstances that enhance their personal…

What I (Don’t) Like About You: What to do When a PWD is Someone You Do Not Like

Hello readers, There are literally billions of people on this planet, and chances are you only know a fraction of them in real life. Hundreds or thousands of others, you…

Blog Bonus: Neurotypical Awareness or, Well, When You Put it That Way…

So clearly, I should have waited a day before writing my last post. Apparently, there are people out there questioning Autism Awareness Month by making memes and writing blog posts…