How Chair Dancing Helps Me Exercise with RA and Disability
Being physically active is important when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exercise is useful for all of us, but when you have RA, it can be an vital part of supporting your joints and reducing pain. But for some of us, RA has caused so much damage to our bodies that exercise hurts. So. how…
You Deserve a Better Shower With RA
Do pain and fatigue make this daily ritual an ordeal rather something to enjoy? Check out my tips for showering with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain in my new column for HealthCentral: “STARTING THE DAY with a shower can be one of the most exhausting things you do with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Mornings can be hard,…
Made With RA: Solutions for Opening Nightmare Packaging With RA
Trying to open any package with rheumatoid arthritis hands can be next to impossible. In my new column for HealthCentral, I write about the problem with packaging design and share some workarounds: “AS SOMEONE WHO lives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), packaging is the bane of my existence. From medication dispensed in childproof caps and blister packs…
Made With RA: A Case for Identifying As ‘Disabled’
Could coming out as disabled help you live a freer life with RA? My new column looks at the benefits of identifying as a person with a disability: “DO YOU CONSIDER yourself disabled? Our perception of being disabled tends to be limited to needing a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair, and some wonder whether…
Made With RA: Know What Could Level-Up Your Life With RA? A Pet.
My latest column for HealthCentral talks about the benefits of pets when you have rheumatoid arthritis and shares tips for what you need to consider before getting an animal: “MY LAP HAS been the domain of quite a few animals over the years. Some enjoyed the cuddle only for a short time, while with others…
Dismantling Your Inner Ableism to Live Better with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Systemic ableism is ingrained in our society and we internalize those messages. In my new essay for CreakyJoints in Canada, I share tips on how to start dismantling your own internalized ableism to create a much better life with chronic illness: “It was productivity that got me. Or rather, yet another instance of overdoing simply everything…
It’s Time That Chronic Illness and Disability Become Election Issues
In my new essay for CreakyJoints Canada, I talk about why and how to make issues like mask mandates, pharmacare programs, and affordable accessible housing front and center during this year’s Ontario and Québec polls: “All over Canada, mask mandates, capacity limits, and all other protective measures have been lifted as the country collectively hit…
Made WIth RA: You’re Back to Normal: I’ve Been Left Behind
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the depth of ableism and discrimination against people with disabilities. In this column for a HealthCentral, I share the experience of being high risk and the emotional impact of being swept under the rug of pandemic ableism: ““Why should I change my life when you have to be careful anyway?”…
Made With RA: A Mobility Aid May Be the Ticket to RA Freedom
If you’ve been wondering if it’s time for a cane or a wheelchair (and maybe hating the thought), my latest HealthCentral column is for you. A mobility aid can be your key to leaving the house and having a life: “I WAS 16 years old the first time I used a power wheelchair and the moment…
Do You Have ‘Visible’ or ‘Invisible’ Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Look at the Pros and Cons
Whether or not your chronic illness is obvious to others can affect how you’re treated — and sometimes, how you feel about yourself. I write about the benefits and drawbacks of visible and invisible RA for CreakyJoints Caanda: “One glance at my hands will tell you I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They show the classic…
How to Talk to Kids About Chronic Illness
Most of us were taught to be awkward and avoid talking about chronic illness and disability. In my new columm for HealthCentral, I share tips on how to teach your children to be inclusive and comfortable with rheumatoid arthritis and disability, including a list of books for different ages to help you get the conversation…
Journaling with Chronic Illness: Tracking Your Life
Using a journal when you have a chronic illness can be helpful in many different ways. In the first post of this series, I talked about using expressive writing to process your feelings and thoughts and as a tool to cope. But as any bullet journaler knows, your notebook can also be a fantastic…