Wiley’s Walk
Join the journey. Walk the path.
Writing by Kerry Ann Wiley about disability, adaptation, participation, and the difference between access and inclusion.
New on Wiley’s Walk
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Threaded Fire
There are times when a person returns, and everything seems almost the same. The door still opens easily. The chair waits exactly where it was left. A familiar voice echoes faintly down the hall. Yet, something in the air has shifted. The…
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The Shape of Reception
At a dinner party, someone begins telling a story— a story about a flight delay, and a memory of thunderstorms and kids stomping in puddles at recess. The delivery is smooth, almost rehearsed, each sentence arriving after a thoughtful pause, more rhythm…
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Disability and Aging Services: Examining the Proposal to Eliminate the Administration for Community Living
On April 16, 2025, the Federal Office of Management and Budget released a 64-page draft budget proposal that has prompted concern among some advocates for older adults and people with disabilities. Among the provisions attracting attention is a proposal to eliminate the…
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Belonging Without Bending
True inclusion requires more than presence—it calls for shared participation. Equity involves recognizing the different challenges people may face and making sure everyone has the support, resources, and opportunities they need to be fully included. As groups grow, the goal is not…
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Who Gets In? Rethinking Systemic Access and Inclusion
A job application is met with silence. A storefront has steps but no ramp. In conversation, attention bypasses the person with a disability and settles instead on the person beside them. Individually, these moments may seem minor—but over time, they add up.…
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“Measure Twice, Cut Once”: The Wisdom of Getting It Wrong First
The phrase measure twice, cut once isn’t just about craftsmanship — it’s a quiet warning against assumptions. A second look can prevent damage that a first glance never saw coming. In disability spaces, this wisdom becomes more than metaphor. Whenever a button…
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From Self-Care to Isolation: Recognizing the Turning Point
At first, stepping back from social activities can seem reasonable, even necessary, offering a welcome sense of relief. Over time, though, these small breaks can quietly grow, leading to a gradual distance from friends, family, and the support systems that bring stability.…
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When Silence Burns
Some moments catch without warning and leave a mark deeper than any mirror can show. A phone rings in the dark, but no one moves to answer it. A hand reaches across a table, but it pulls back at the last second.…
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Finding Steadiness After Loss
Some losses hit without warning, leaving no guide for how to navigate them. A friendship that once felt certain fades without explanation, and the absence shows in the smallest moments. A job that once provided structure vanishes, leaving days empty and unshaped.…
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In the Planning or the Pause: Reflections on Disability and the Shape of Inclusion
Exclusion doesn’t always come as a slammed door. Sometimes it slips in quietly—tucked into rushed decisions, or meetings where a single, unspoken perspective quietly shapes the room. It lingers in small signals, the unspoken hints about who was counted on and who…