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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Unbound Voices: The Quiet Power of Self-Trust and Purpose
There’s a tension that arises when your voice meets silence or when you’re misunderstood. It doesn’t just pass by—it reaches inward, testing your sense of worth and belonging. Often sparked by others’ biases or doubts, this feeling can lead to a choice:…
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Claiming Her Place
Quinn leaned her walking poles against the wall by their table, the faint scrape of rubber tips on brick cutting through the silence. It was a gesture she had performed many times before—familiar, grounding, and subtly marking her space. As the poles…
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Voice Unbound: Rediscovering and Reclaiming My True Voice
The sting of disbelief still lingers. I recall standing there, motionless, as my teacher’s harsh words pierced the classroom silence: “Kerry, you couldn’t have written this.” That single sentence felt like everything unraveling at once—a complete dismissal of all I had invested.…
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Shapes of Courage
The reunion hall was filled with laughter and voices, faces blending into a buzzing crowd. I stood back, watching, feeling a quiet uncertainty I couldn’t shake, as though my life had slipped off course. Then, across the room, I saw Sarah—a friend…
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Cultivating Grace
Grace often feels elusive, like trying to catch raindrops or hold snowflakes. Over time, I’ve come to see grace as a steady support during life’s uncertainties and challenges. In childhood, grace was natural and effortless. Hurts and disappointments didn’t linger; trusting and…
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Invisible, but Not Imaginary: Bridging Awareness and Understanding of Hidden Disabilities
When people think of disabilities, the common image that often comes to mind is something visible—someone using a white cane, a person with a prosthetic limb, or an individual walking with crutches. However, what happens when the challenges a person faces are…
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Beyond Awareness: Turing Inclusion Into Action
Disability awareness campaigns are highly visible today—on social media, in schools, and at community events. These efforts spark important conversations, build empathy, and highlight the challenges that individuals with disabilities face. While essential, awareness alone does not create lasting change. It’s a…
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Championing Inclusion: Voices of Change — The Legacy of Dart & Heumann
Disability advocacy is not just about laws—it is about empathy, courage, and the power to inspire change. For Justin Dart Jr. and Judith “Judy” Heumann, two pioneers in the disability rights movement, leadership meant shifting attitudes, fostering inclusion, and giving people with…
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Beyond the Walk: A Journey to Inclusive Recreation and Accessibility
Wiley’s Walk began as a personal challenge—a test of my limits and a desire to discover if I could walk without assistive devices. What started as a solitary goal quickly transformed into a broader mission: advocating for accessible, inclusive environments across critical…
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Building Truly Inclusive Workplaces: Are We Doing Enough Beyond Awareness?
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), observed each October, encourages organizations to celebrate the talents and contributions of employees with disabilities while promoting equal employment opportunities. Established in 1945, NDEAM plays an important role in starting conversations about inclusion of people with…