My “Why”

The pull to write is a vital force that has been fundamental to my lifelong social, artistic, and political development.

In childhood I loved to dream up stories with characters based on my younger disabled foster and adoptive siblings and our black-and-white Corgi dog confronting the injustices of the world. When I came out as queer in middle school and developed chronic pain, illness, and mental health disabilities in my late teens, writing provided a crucial lifeline to self-reflect and claim my voice as an activist. Now I apply my disability rights, social justice activism, and creative writing expertise to elevate the authentic stories of disabled, chronically ill, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities.

All too often, our experiences are erased or misrepresented in mainstream literature and media. Meanwhile, we’re told our real stories must fit a formulaic equation of inspiration, overcoming, and assimilation in order to appease the general public and assuage their fears of “otherness.”

I intimately know this pressure to mold my disabled, Mad, crip, queer, genderfeisty, fat, and Jewish self to be more palatable and appeasing.

But what if I told you it’s a bunch of BS designed to keep us small, quiet, and obedient? And that our authentic stories are not only desirable to audiences—they’re necessary to our individual and collective liberation.

The personal and political power of sharing our lived experiences is why elevating the stories of disabled, chronically ill, and LGBTQIA+ writers—including those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), signed languages, and other forms of expression—is at the heart of my mission. It is my great privilege and honor to serve my communities this way and I’d love to support you.

Please visit my services page for more about how I can help you and to book a free consultation with me.