In Our Own Words: Essays and Poetry by Women with DisAbilities

Poetry

Step, Step...Plunk, Plunk.... about independence and endurance, related to life with a disability by describing what it takes to do one task that able-bodied people might think is something simple, and also emphasizing the positive feelings that come from being able to be independent, despite difficulty. By Kat Katz

Purple is the Color Of...... about endurance and survival By Kat Katz

Believe in Yourself encouragement to keep a positive outlook and maintain self-confidence By Amy Benton

If I.... describes the author's responses to ableist, discriminatory comments made to her by non-disabled people regarding how she could make herself more desirable, more acceptable, and attractive by trying to "pass" as a non-disabled person. Beautifully written and very poignant. By Karyn Laura

Power of Lightning about the author's dreams of how things should be and could be more fair and equal for her in the world, as a disabled woman, how she could be accepted for who she is rather than seen as different, and about lacking the power that comes with equal treatment. By Karyn Laura

Essays, Rants and Research

Reunion a creative, encouraging and interesting piece on having hope during chronic illness, specifically, but also related to maintaining hope while dealing with any difficulties that can come with any disability. By Lauren

Because Women With Disabilities Are...... a long rant. It is a sort of take-off on the famous "because women's work is never done and is unpaid, etc...." long quote on why women are feminists or part of the women's liberation movement. This one is about why women with disabilities are fighting for our rights, with many reasons why we need to. By Jen Robinson

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities a personal account describing life with this often misunderstood (or not understood) condition and factors that contribute to why MCS exists. She describes the way that toxins and the mistreatment of the planet earth are detrimental to the lives and well being of human beings and also debilitating or sometimes deadly to people with multiple chemical sensitivity. MCS is also known as Environmental Illness. By Selene Anema

Chronic Pain as an invasive microorganism - description from personal experience with an interesting outlook on chronic pain as an invader of the body, with pervasive effects, and information about treatment for chronic pain and coping with pain. By Kathleen Brown, R.N.

Invisible Illnesses, Visible Stereotypes is about life with an invisible chronic illness, the way these diseases are often dismissed, and not recognized, and the problems involved with trying to deal with this type of disability By Jen Robinson

Wheelchair Woes about experience with using a wheelchair while still having some mobility, and the way other people react towards a w/c user who is able to stand up. She also expresses some thoughts on access problems the author discovered when she began using her wheelchair. Formerly titled "Yes I Really Do Need My Wheelchair", but changed when the author sent her own title for it. By Sue Clark

On Being a Ghost: Invisibility and Powerlessness is about specific ways women with invisible disabilities are ignored by society, in specific aspects of society, and why social change and more awareness of invisible disabilities are needed to end the marginalization of women with invisible disabilities. By Jen Robinson

In the Eye of the Beholder: My Life with Cerebral Palsy is a firsthand account of the difficulties, and the successes in the life of a woman who has dealt with this disability since birth, along with learning disabilities that led to other barriers. She points out that, while others may view her life differently, she herself views it as a success, and describes accomplishments she has made, including becoming an advocate creating awareness about disability issues. This is an encouraging piece of writing by a woman with good self-esteem. By Cheryl Coleman

The "New Era" of Home Care and Problems Not Addressed The author submitted this article to 91 (yes, ninety-one, not nineteen) different newspapers, to find that only one expressed any interest in it. This is an article describing problems that exist within the so-called new era of home care, and how these problems affect individuals who need help at home and who are falling through the cracks of a system that is not addressing their needs. This pertains to the home care system in British Columbia, Canada, but readers may find it relevant to similar problems people with disabilities face in other parts of the world. By Valoree Baker

Healing from PTSD is an article describing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, its symptoms, the reasons many women develop this "disorder" (ie, it is a very common result of abuse), and offers helpful advice on coping and healing from PTSD, outlining specific things that have been helpful to other women with PTSD and to the author herself. The author of this article has experienced PTSD herself and written a book on the subject of women surviving childhood abuse, which is set for publication soon. By Paige Alisen, PhD

Stupid Things People Say and The Fear That it Brings describes the author's concerns about living in a place and time where help for people with mental illnesses is often taken care of by religious organizations and churches, rather than the government. She describes specific personal concerns with the way that people with psychiatric disabilities are described and treated. By M. Rhiannon Cox

Pain, Suffering, and Death: The Story of Kelly is an account about a woman dying of cancer and suffering from delusions during the process of death, by a woman with a disability who knew her and saw the isolation Kelly lived in during her last days. This is a moving and very sad story. By Amy Benton

Remission in Stills Disease: Fact or Fallacy? Personal opinions based on research into this condition and communications with other people who have Stills Disease, as to whether or not a remission can really occur. By Kathleen Brown, R.N.

Stitched: On Self-Injury is a rather graphic description of the author's problem with self-injury and what happened in her life on one particular day. By M. (who chose this pseudonymn and who did not write other writing on this site)

Eating Disorders two pages, with a letter to young dieters, or women and girls on the verge or beginning of an eating disorder about the detrimental effects of eating disorders on women and our bodies. Also there is a page of quotes relevant to eating disorders and body image issues, and a short research paper on ending the objectification and starvation of women. By Jen Robinson