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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The Light They Left
Time does not move evenly. Some years leave only a trace, while others settle into the objects that are handled again and again. Holiday decorations are among them, brought out, arranged, lived with, then taken down and packed away, growing more delicate…
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Rethinking Independence
Most days begin around seven. The extra time is necessary for putting on shoes, having coffee, and settling into the morning at a pace that feels workable. That time has become a reliable gauge. It isn’t effortless, but it reveals what has…
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After She Sat Down
Sometimes an ordinary task is interrupted in an instant: a part breaks, a movement misfires, or support that was reliable a moment ago suddenly isn’t. When that happens, the situation strips down to what’s practical—what needs fixing, what can be done now,…
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In Honor of Alice Wong
Last week, Alice Wong, a leading advocate for disability rights and inclusion, died. As the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, she reshaped national conversations about access and equity, leaving a lasting impact on how many—including myself—understand disability and justice. Although I…
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Still—We Knock
Some moments are personal. Others belong to something larger—a shared struggle, a long effort carried quietly by many. This poem honors those whose work often goes unseen, yet whose presence shapes what continues. It is not about a single event or voice,…
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Walking the Path of Advocacy: The Power of “We”
I sat at a table in a dressy black dress, the kind you wear when the evening calls for something more formal. We had just finished a meal, and the room had settled into that familiar quiet that follows shared conversation. Then…
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Making Participation the Rule
Inclusion begins with design. It grows from choices that shape systems, define spaces, and determine whose experiences are valued. Advocacy is the practice of noticing where exclusion exists and taking deliberate action to replace it with equity and access. Equity means structuring…
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Oversight and the Future of IDEA Implementation
The federal government’s decision to dismiss nearly all staff responsible for administering the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is more than an internal adjustment; it represents a significant change in how educational equity is upheld. For nearly fifty years, IDEA has…
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Finding a Way: Reflections on Advocacy
Some moments don’t just change how you see your work; they change why it matters. Friday, October 17, 2025, was one of those moments. What began as a routine virtual meeting turned into something far more meaningful: a moment of recognition that…
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When Oversight Fades: What the OSEP Layoffs Mean for Students with Disabilities
The news came quietly but carries far-reaching consequences. Late last week, nearly all senior staff members of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) within the U.S. Department of Education were notified that their positions were being eliminated. Only two remain in…