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Erin Kelly

I'm a writer who was born with cerebral palsy, and my work has been published by The Huffington Post, The Good Men Project Wordgathering Poetry Journal, XoJane, and Oberon Magazine. During my senior year of college, I was hired as a columnist for The Altoona Mirror, the daily newspaper in Altoona, Pennsylvania. My column, titled, “The View From Here,” runs monthly and addresses the challenges I face on a daily basis. Writing is my window to the world, giving me the opportunity to bring what’s inside out.

It’s hard to find common ground in today’s whirlwind of news and chaos. It has become even harder to balance personal choices about things like identity and other core values. It’s everywhere we turn.

That’s all the more reason why we all must find a temporary escape – or at least something to help us balance reality. For me, that means gluing myself to my T.V. for a half hour every week to watch the award-winning TV show, Speechless.

The show follows The DiMeo’s, a fictional family whose son, JJ, played by actor and disability advocate Micah Fowler, has cerebral palsy. Fowler leads an incredible cast including Minnie Driver and John Ross Bowie as JJ’s loving but protective parents, Mason Cook and Kayla Kenedy as his brother and sister and Cedric Yarbrough as his trusty sidekick and personal care aide.

I don’t watch much TV, but this is a show that speaks to me in many ways.

I was intrigued from the start because I’m a daughter who has cerebral palsy with a family who goes the extra mile every day. I didn’t need much convincing other than that to tune in, but then I found out that Fowler has cerebral palsy in real life.

That made me feel like I had a responsibility to watch because everything I’d heard about it resonated with me on an intimately personal level. Not only that, but I wanted to see how all of this would play out on screen.

Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images.

I didn’t have negative feelings about anything I was hearing. I was just curious and excited to see something like this on network television.

It was the first time I can remember a show having this much effect on me. My expectations were exceeded – and then some.

My eyes were fixed on my TV screen as I was introduced to JJ – an inquisitive, free-spirited teenager who wants to be as independent as possible. His disability is his biggest obstacle, but it doesn’t stop him from being who he is and living life to its fullest. When things don’t work out, his family comes up with another way of doing whatever it is JJ has his mind set on.

They adapt with care and compassion, together.

I slowly whispered to myself, "This is my life. Someone finally gets it!"

I couldn’t believe something that had been so heavily advertised in the media could capture the essence of my life so accurately and vividly.

I started watching intently after the pilot episode, paying attention to how beautifully the show addresses the topic of disability without overdoing it or making it out to be something that it’s not.

It is crafted with such heart, warmth and humor that I forget I’m watching a show about a family much like my own. The DiMeo’s tackle everyday tasks with humility—like helping JJ into the family’s wheelchair-accessible van or making sure his school has everything he needs. All while trying to get to work on time or realizing their van stalled in the middle of a road trip.

It’s scenarios like these that bring a sense of camaraderie and normalcy to what a typical family goes through. It also breaks away from the widespread idea that there’s very little “good” in the media these days, and that it only reinforces the negativity that’s being spread.

Ya'll ready for this? #Speechless is back tomorrow with an all-new episode at 8:30|7:30c! https://t.co/g0xY5ghNgZ
— Speechless (@Speechless) 1541102977

I was immediately hooked, and fell in love with the fact that the show also paints a very real, accessible portrait of life that happens to have someone with a disability at its center.

I appreciate that this show is for everyone to watch – not just those with disabilities. It shines a vibrant light on the importance of acceptance, diversity and inclusiveness – three core values that have been buried underneath shameful political agendas and irrational actions in society as of late.

Speechless is a shining example of what we need right now, as well as how we need to act towards each other regardless of our differences. In an article published in 2016, The Atlantic praised the authentic and heartfelt approach to the show:

“Speechless became one of the most important shows about disability in the history of television. That’s not hyperbole; rather, it speaks to the fact that shows that center characters with disabilities, feature actors with disabilities, and tell authentic and informed stories about disability are extremely rare.”

This message is bold, enlightening and still holds true about the show. Yet, it says so much more about society in America, where it’s going and what it desperately needs more of.

If Trump reverses this one law, disabled Americans will lose their civil rights.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush passed the Americans with Disabilities Act — a law put into place to ensure the equal rights of nearly 60 million disabled Americans nationwide, including myself.

Now, almost three decades later, the GOP-led government wants to shut it down.

People participate in the inaugural Disability Pride Parade on July 12, 2015, in New York City. Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images.

U.S. House representatives were set to approve a bill on Feb. 8, 2018, that aimed to weaken the ADA by eliminating incentives for business owners to comply with the law mandating equal access to public places.

But some congressmen argue the decision to strip the ADA would take away the very thing this law grants to disabled Americans: equality.

"Right now, the way the ADA is structured, the reason why businesses are going to comply is that they might be sued," said Jennifer Mathis, director of policy and legal advocacy for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, D.C. "Once you take that away, that’s it, there’s no consequence. If you’re a business, there’s no reason why you need to worry about making yourself accessible."

The ADA ensures businesses take steps to be accessible to people with disabilities. Without it, it could mean limited access, job displacement, or drastic pay cuts for disabled Americans.

Under one proposed change, disabled individuals would have to provide business owners with a written notice if there’s a lack of accessibility to enter the business or with the services they offer. Business owners would have 60 days to acknowledge the problem, and an additional 120 days to make substantial changes. In short, people with disabilities would have to wait a total of 180 days to re-enforce their civil rights.

If the business owners fail to comply, they can be sued. Proponents of stripping the ADA say that the lawsuits are already out of control. Some lawyers looking for payouts conduct what are called "drive-by lawsuits" — suing businesses for a misplaced sign or ramp out of place to make a quick buck.

Yet these lawsuits are already happening and are evidence that the current legislation needs improvement more than further rollbacks.

As an American woman with cerebral palsy, I'm scared of what I stand to lose.

Today, I have the same rights as any other American, able-bodied or not. I can hold my job as a journalist and writer. I earn a decent wage. I have a right to enter all businesses: everything from shopping malls and restaurants to hotels and grocery stores.

What happens to my life if businesses don't have to create ways to help me access them?

I think about the long road I’ve taken to earn my place as a contributing member of society. If the GOP does take the ADA away, they’re taking my livelihood, and millions of others', with it.

From Your Site Articles

It's Disability Pride Month. You should know that I'm proud to be disabled. - Upworthy ›

When I meet new people, I know they have questions about my life. But all too often, they’re too afraid to ask them.

When I was about a year old, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

I don’t know much about the day I came into the world or what caused my cerebral palsy because I’m adopted. I was born on the streets of Seoul, South Korea, presumably without proper prenatal care. Someone, who I’m assuming was my birth mother, had enough sense to drop me off at a police station with a note that read: “Please adopt her to a family that can raise her.”

A few months later, I joined my very large family in America. I was almost 11 months old.

My family! All photos from me, used with permission.

Upon my arrival, my parents slowly went down the line of people in my family, explaining my disability. Eventually, everyone in my life knew about it. Some people were more accepting than others at first, but eventually they all came around. But still, they all had assumptions and questions they were too afraid to ask — like, “What exactly does Erin have?”

When I meet new people, I know they have questions about my life. Often, they’re too afraid to ask them. So today, I’m going to answer them.

In fact, I think this has been the story of my life so far: helping others get to a point where they realize that a disability isn’t something to fear or stay quiet about.

Here are six things you probably want to know about my cerebral palsy but are too afraid to ask:

1. How does your disability affect your everyday life?

CP is a condition that can affect everything from brain function to motor skills. I use a wheelchair because my legs aren’t strong enough to carry me.

CP affects every aspect of my day-to-day existence, from getting out of bed in the morning to getting in the car to go somewhere. But while there are a lot of things I‘m not able to do independently, my CP has never stopped me from trying to do things “the Erin way” before asking for help, regardless of how much time or energy it takes. Writing is something I can do completely on my own — and that’s been a gift that literally keeps on giving.

2. Has having a disability made your life harder?

Yes. But believe it or not, it’s also been an advantage. I learned a long time ago that if I was going to get anywhere in life, I needed to come to terms with what I have. I know this is something that will always be a part of me, so I’ve found ways to turn it into positive energy — mainly through my writing. When I let go of all the negative thoughts and hardships that come with being disabled, I was able to let the power of words and writing set me free.

I started writing at a very young age, out of a personal reaction to my situation. My CP made it difficult for others to understand me when I spoke — and it still does, to a degree. I just wrote how I felt and people slowly started to respond to that. In turn, it eventually let them know that it’s OK to be honest about disability. I’ve used that energy to build a platform where I can now share my thoughts with the world and help people to feel more comfortable around others with disabilities.

3. Can you die from cerebral palsy?

I get asked this a lot, and thankfully, the answer is no. I’m incredibly fortunate that my diagnosis of CP isn’t as bad as it could have been. This is a disability that can be caused by a lot of factors, like a lack of oxygen and/or prenatal care, as is likely in my case. But for other folks, CP can present itself in different ways, from something as small as a limp to something as severe as brain damage from a car accident. For me, the silver lining in all of this is that while there’s a laundry list of characteristics and contributing factors that can end up being fatal, the disability itself is not.

4. Is CP contagious?

This is another question I’m asked a lot. The good news is the answer is still no.

5. Are there any perks to living with CP?

If I had to pull something positive from this, it would be that I’m grateful for kind and generous people who let me go in front of them in long lines, and free admission at my local movie theater — even though they did away with that perk a while ago. It was fun while it lasted.

6. Do you ever get tired of living with a disability?

Yes. But I‘ve learned to put my time and energy into things that truly matter. I can’t fight every fight there is or solve all the world’s problems. Some battles aren’t mine to fight, but CP is my battle to fight. I’m grateful that my life will leave some kind of impact for people who meet me and read my stories.

Me with the book I wrote.

As a wise man once told me: “Everyone has a disability. Some you see, others you can’t.”

It’s easy to stop asking questions and let your own fear and assumptions form your opinion of someone or something that’s different, like me.

But please, keep asking questions. Throw away your assumptions. Look at me for my abilities, not my disabilities.

From Your Site Articles

'In your America, I will have three strikes against me.'

Dear Donald,

As the Republican nominee for president, you’ve made a lot of people angry — including the disabled community.

Last November, you openly mocked New York Timesreporter Serge Kovaleski and then later denied it. That was enough to potentially lose hundreds — maybe even thousands of voters, but you didn’t stop there.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.

You’ve continued to degrade people with disabilities throughout your campaign — and went as far as to ask a crowd of African Americans, “What the hell do you have to lose?” at one of your rallies this past August.

Even though you were specifically addressing that community, I started thinking. As a disabled woman I have a lot to lose too, If you become president.

As a woman with a disability, I'm afraid of what your presidency could mean for me. Even now, I have to work harder to prove myself.

I especially have to work harder as a writer and journalist. It’s a job that has a very high glass ceiling. I’m proud to say I’ve broken through, but I'm still chipping away at some layers. The fact I’m disabled makes it difficult because there’s added pressure to do well every time I write.

But Donald, you’ve made the mountain I climb even steeper with your comments about the disabled and, more recently, your comments about women.

Even now, many aspects of my life have already been compromised and are out of my control.

I don’t want to lose what control I do have — and having that little bit of power makes me feel like I can conquer anything that’s put in front of me. I’m proud to say I am finding my own way in life.

But in “Donald Trump’s America,” women are nothing more than puppets, and disabled folks are especially vulnerable to harassment because you’ve made it seem like all of this is acceptable.

Image via iStock.

If you win on Nov. 8, I have a lot to lose.

I was raised to be strong, but I think my disability has inadvertently made me stronger. My biggest fear is that everything I’ve worked for and built for myself will completely crumble. I keep telling myself, "If I lose my dignity as a disabled woman, he’ll win no matter what." I don’t think I’ll be able to look at myself if that ever happens.

For me, there’s also much more on the line than self pride, though.If America has four years of a Trump presidency ahead, empathy could be a thing of the past. I could just be seen as “a girl in a wheelchair” — the very thing I’ve tried my entire life not to dwell on or call attention to.

In your America, I will have three strikes against me.

I’m a woman who also happens to be a journalist who also has a disability. And Donald, I’ve worked too hard to let a sea of questionable headlines about your candidacy and ethics ruin my life.

Does America really want this kind of uncertainty for the next four years? Do we really deserve this? As President Obama has said numerous times during this election season, “Don’t boo. Vote!”

So, Donald, I'll be voting next week, and it won't be for you.

If you need another look at what I have to lose, I think this commercial featuring Judy Kohn, the mother of a disabled son, will put everything in perspective — period.

Lawyers' Committee

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights

What it was like to vote while disabled 50 years ago, compared to now.

With all the progress that's been made in America, the "Land of Opportunity," it’s hard to believe the right to vote wasn’t always a given for everyone — including the disabled.

But if we take a look back at American history, we can see that there was a time not too long ago when people with disabilities did not have a say in any election, let alone a presidential one.

It wasn’t because of someone’s personal beliefs against voting, or even religious beliefs. There were simply no laws in place for the disabled to make their voices heard, which caused a longstanding battle of discrimination and prejudice. In fact, people within the disabled community were (and still are) often denied the right to vote despite steps being taken to grant them that right.

Photo via iStock

In the 1960s, the disabled community got real about prejudice during the disability rights movement.

Before that, if you had a disability, you probably couldn't vote. The polls weren’t accessible.

The movement sparked radical change for more than 54 million Americans by ensuring that polling places — as well as the actual voting process — would be made accessible. This includes having ballots printed in Braille for the blind or visually impaired.

I have cerebral palsy and use a motorized wheelchair, so I’m one of those 54 million people who can now vote more easily.

I’m not ashamed or embarrassed to be a statistic in this demographic because it’s a group that often has to fight a little harder for what they want and what they believe in.

I’m also not ashamed to say I’ve voted before. In fact, it was one of the first things I did when I came of age. My older brother went with me to help, and at this particular time, I didn’t have my motorized chair. I just had my manual one that I use in case of an emergency or if I’m going somewhere for a short period of time.

Photo via iStock.

My brother lifted me (and my chair) out of the car and pushed me into our local polling place. The room was fairly large, and there was a woman waiting at a table to check my voter registration card as we came in the door. I pulled the card out of my wallet and showed it to her.

“It says here you’re 18?” She asked immediately (because I didn’t look 18).

“Yes ma’am,” I replied.

My age caught her off guard, but I could tell by the surprised look on her face and her body language that my chair did, too. I don’t know which one surprised her more, but I wasn’t really bothered by it. I’m used to getting that reaction from people, and I understand it’s part of having a disability.

For the most part, voting for the first time was a hassle-free experience for me — except the booth was almost too high for me to reach from my chair.

It made for some difficulties, but I decided not to make a big deal out of it because it wasn’t a matter of someone doing that on purpose to prevent me from voting. It was minor compared to some of the challenges I’ve faced in my life. If anything, I was just proud to cast my vote.

For me, voting for the first time mattered because it made me feel like I was a part of something bigger than myself.

This year, disabled Americans will be turning out in droves to vote, given Donald Trump’s blatant mockery of disabled folks. That means it’s even more important for every voting booth to be accessible.

In fact, according to the American Association of People with Disabilities, people with disabilities will account for about one-sixth of eligible voters in the 2016 election — 34.6 million people.

In 2016, there will be 62.7 million eligible voters who either have a disability or live with someone who has a disability, more than one-fourth of the total electorate. And in 2012, 56.8% of people with disabilities voted, compared to 62.5% of people without disabilities.

Photo via iStock.

This election will be a milestone not just because of its magnitude, but also because of what it represents, as well as what’s at stake. And for the first time, I think people with disabilities will be on a level playing field like never before.

Changes have been made to include the disabled community in voting, and that is a huge step forward.

But our progress can’t — and won’t — stop there. If we have something to say, Nov. 8, 2016, is the time to say it.

It’s our chance to counteract the embarrassment that Trump has inflicted on so many people with disabilities and to start righting some wrongs, too.