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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Navigating Mental Shutdown: Understanding Its Impact and Pathways to Resilience
When life’s demands or inner turmoil become overwhelming, the mind can enter a profound state of mental shutdown. This phenomenon, often linked to stress, trauma, or complex mental health issues, varies for each person. Understanding and addressing mental shutdown is crucial, particularly…
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Finding Resilience: Lessons From A Global Crisis
When the Pandemic struck, it felt as if time stood still, with the lockdown, uncertainty, and isolation casting a shadow over every facet of life. In the midst of this tumultuous period, I discovered resilience. Resilience, characterized by the capacity to adjust…
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Seeing Me: Understanding Misconceptions and Implicit Bias About Disabilities
As someone navigating life with a disability, I constantly encounter social and societal misconceptions that shape how others perceive and interact with me and many others in similar situations. These misconceptions erect significant barriers to participation, affecting our lives profoundly. Misconception 1:…
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From Acts of Kindness to Systemic Change
Carly Okyle’s Time Magazine piece, “I’ve Been Paralyzed Since I Was 3. Here’s Why Kindness Toward Disabled People Is More Complicated Than You Think,” offers a profound critique of the superficial nature of kindness directed towards people with disabilities. Delving into the…
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Understanding and Preventing Injuries: Insights into Cerebral Palsy
Navigating adulthood with Cerebral Palsy (CP) poses unique challenges that demand meticulous planning and strategic adaptation, particularly due to the persistent risk of physical injuries such as muscle strains or fractures. Consider Kristy, a vibrant woman in her forties living with Spastic…
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Beyond Rhetoric: Navigating the Realities of Inclusion with Anna’s Story
Understanding Inclusion and Its Challenges Inclusion entails welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds into environments that not only cater to their needs but also appreciate their contributions. Rooted in the principle of universal design, it promotes accessibility from the start. However, the effectiveness…
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Beyond Labels: Redefining Disability through True Inclusion
Carly Okyle’s piece in Time, “Cerebral Palsy Is Not the Most Interesting Thing About Me” sheds light on the drawbacks of being reduced to a symbol (Okyle, 2015). Okyle contends that terms aimed at inspiring or raising awareness about disabilities often oversimplify…
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Finding My Place: The Struggle for Inclusion in Higher Education
While many students eagerly anticipate the transition to college as a time of new opportunities and exciting experiences, my journey was marked by significant challenges due to my spastic Cerebral Palsy. Upon leaving a well-established support network, I found myself in an…
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The Silent Strain: Understanding and Preventing Secondary Injuries in Cerebral Palsy
Navigating life with Cerebral Palsy (CP) often feels like trying to find your way through a dense fog—you sense the path, but it is not always clear. For those of us living with CP, we quickly realize that primary symptoms such as…
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Championing Change: Strategic Advocacy for CP and Disabilities
Advocacy for Cerebral Palsy (CP) and disability rights is a strategic and considered effort that seeks to educate, influence policy, and empower individuals. This type of advocacy avoids confrontational tactics that often lead to conflict. Instead, it emphasizes dialogue, negotiation, and partnerships,…