Be In My Shoes

Emma, 39, Cerebral Palsy & Epilepsy

I’m excited to announce that I had the opportunity to meet Emma from London, England! Emma is a strong woman and breast cancer survivor who spoke about her challenges with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Read Emma’s powerful story below:

Kristina, 21, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis [Audio]

I had a fun interview with my friend Kristina from Calgary, Alberta. Kristina opened up about her experiences dealing with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): both the highs and lows. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Quinn, 32, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

I am so grateful to have had the privilege of interviewing Quinn, who is all the way from Rochester, New York. Quinn opened up about his heart-wrenching experience with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD for short. Please keep on reading to hear his story.

Morgan, 22, Dysthymia [Audio]

I interviewed a resilient young woman named Morgan from Red Deer, Alberta. Morgan spoke about her personal challenges with dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder, but also highlighted the lessons she learned along the way. Listen to her candid interview below.

Deardra, 52, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome [Audio]

I’m so excited to be posting my very first raw interview since starting my blog. I interviewed a 52-year-old woman named Deardra living in Edmonton, Alberta who spoke about her experience with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Deardra offers great advice to young people who are recently diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and how to be supportive if you know someone who has it.

Donate now to support NEADS’ 2019/2020 National Scholarship Programs for Students with Disabilities

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), NEADS National Student Awards Program is the only cross-disability pan-Canadian awards program that is open to students with disabilities at all levels of post-secondary education, regardless of field of study. The NEADS National Student Awards ($3,000 tuition awards), the NEADS Holly Bartlett Memorial Award ($1,000 tuition award), and the NEADS Christine Nieder Memorial Award ($1,000 tuition award) recognize outstanding Canadian college and university students with disabilities for their academic and community achievements, and their potential to succeed in their chosen career.

Over the past 12 years, the programs have awarded 87, $3,000 awards and 19, $1,000 tuition scholarships to deserving students with disabilities. The goal of our current fundraising campaign is to raise $6,000 to support two $3,000 NEADS Student Awards for our 2019/2020 program. All donations will go directly to the awards recipients. Any level of individual or corporate donation/sponsorship can make a difference.

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) is a registered charity, with a mandate to support full access to and inclusion in post-secondary education and the workforce for persons with disabilities in Canada. Donations to NEADS are tax deductible and you will receive a charitable tax receipt for 100% of your gift(s) to NEADS.

Donate online securely through CanadaHelps here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/national-educational-association-of-disabled-students-neads/campaign/2019-student-awards-program/

Anonymous, 25, Generalized Anxiety Disorder

I met with an individual diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) living in Ottawa, Ontario.

George, 22, Undiagnosed Neuromuscular Disorder

I had the privilege of interviewing George Alevizos, a thriving 22-year-old actor living in Toronto, Ontario with an undiagnosed neuromuscular disorder affecting his lower limbs. Despite being in a wheelchair, George has premiered in TV series Star Trek: Discovery and has done advertisements for companies like Hallmark, CIBC and Scotiabank.

Interviews in Alternative Formats

Hello readers,

Recently, I received a request to post my interviews in an alternative format, such as an audio file that people with visual impairments or reading difficulties can access. I’ve been considering the idea of posting recordings of my interviews, but it’s entirely up to the people I interview. Some people may prefer that their voice recording is not on the internet. Nevertheless, expect to see some form of alternative interview format in the near future.

All the best,

Adam Retsinas

Maggie, 34, Spina Bifida Occulta

Maggie Lyons-MacFarlane from Fredericton, New Brunswick is the epitome of what it means to overcome a toxic environment. She didn’t listen to them. She did what she knew she could do and I’m so proud of her. Please keep on reading to hear her powerful story and her experience with spina bifida occulta.