Off The Crutch Podcast

Living with a disability has its ups and downs. Regardless if you are born with one or acquire it, adversity is always part of your life. My guest today is Jesi Stracham and she lives with no excuses. 

Jesi Stracham is a trauma survivor on a mission to help individuals see the opportunity in their obstacles. She is the founder of Wheel With Me Foundation, the owner of Wheel With Me Consulting, and a full-time student. Through her struggles, she works for teaching individuals the power of our mindset. Jesi is also part of the Date Me series that I shared last week.

Jesi and I spoke about her story, living life to the fullest, acting, and her role in Date Me.

Follow Jesi at https://jesistracham.com/ or @jesistracham

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I think I can confidently say that one of the most difficult parts of having a disability is dating. Today's guest, Kristin Beale has created a brand new show, Date Me that explores this very idea. Kristin is a writer from Virginia. Our conversation highlighted how her journey to acquiring a disability helped shape who she is today. Date Me premieres today on YouTube.

Date Me Show
https://youtu.be/vVgwq5o00b0

Kristin Beale
@kristin_beale
www.kristinbeale.com

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This week brings me back to my time in California! My guest is a disability advocate, Keely Kat-Wells. Keely is the owner of C Talent in Hollywood, CA. Keely was recently featured in Forbes for her amazing story and how C Talent represents actors and writers with disabilities. 

Keely has been named a top 20 Change-maker and has also hosted many panels highlighting Diversity and Inclusion for The Portland Film Festival, Comcast NBCUniversal Xfinity, Toronto International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and many more.

Follow Keely on social media @keely_kat_wells and her agency at https://ctalent.org/

Forbes.com article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/allisonnorlian/2020/09/18/she-was-denied-an-acting-role-because-of-her-disability-now-she-runs-an-agency-representing-disabled-actors/?sh=5856085f1bfe

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Flying has certainly looked different since the pandemic. Add a wheelchair and things get even more complicated. Today my guest is John Morris. He runs a website called www.wheelchairtravel.org. It is an accessible travel blog with tons of information for people with disabilities looking to fly and find accessible lodging. 

John is a disability advocate, speaker, writer, and all around great guy! His story is incredible and our conversation is worth the listen. John lives in Florida. 

Follow John!
www.wheelchairtravel.org
IG @wheelchairtravel
Twitter @wctravelorg

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Short and sweet this week! I had my first experience with Botox last month and I want to tell you all about it. No interview--just me. Enjoy!

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Today's topic is all about mental health during COVID. The majority of the world is struggling right now, especially the disabled community. I'm grateful to have an expert in this field to discuss ways we can cope. My guest is Ann Monson-Slagle.  

Ann studied Psychology and Spanish at Azusa Pacific University and received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Saint Thomas in Minneapolis, MN. She worked in social services providing mental health rehabilitation to disadvantaged and dual-disorder communities and later provided counseling services at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL, where she now teaches Psychology. 

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Happy New Year, everyone! After a two-week holiday break, I wanted to start off 2021 with a bang. What better way than to have a prominent state figure and servant leader in my hometown. 

Brian Colón is the New Mexico State Auditor and he came on to discuss his background in politics, relationship to the disability community, and what his office is doing to help New Mexicans with disabilities for the first time.

Brian Colón was elected State Auditor of New Mexico in November 2018 with decisive wins during both the primary and general elections. As State Auditor, Brian is committed to bringing awareness to the important work of the office that uncovers fraud, waste, and abuse in agencies and entities statewide.

The first in his family to go to college, Brian received his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from New Mexico State University and later earned his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He has practiced law since 2001, but his top priority has always been one of service and a desire to give back to his community.

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Did you know the beginning of December is Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week? Crohn's Disease is a disability that does not get as much emphasis because it is an invisible disability.

This week I have another APU alumnus, Kaylin Morford. At seven years old, Kaylin Morford was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. She has now lived this disease for the past 18 years seeing countless hospital beds, medications, and operation rooms. Despite the ups and downs of being chronically ill, she finds great purpose and joy in sharing her story of living with a chronic illness and invisible disability. 

During her time as an undergraduate student, she was the co-president and co-founder of Azusa Pacific University’s (APU) club, STRONG, an on-campus support group for students with disabilities to find support, understanding, and advocacy for more resources on campus. Now working in the Accessibility and Disability Resources office at APU, she is gifted with the opportunity to continue advocating for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities on the campus. 

• CCFA: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org
• Camp Go Beyond: https://www.campgobeyond.org
• For more information about STRONG: https://www.apu.edu/articles/we-are-strong-living-with-chronic-illness-in-college/
• United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.: https://www.ostomy.org
• For more information about Crohn’s and colitis: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.com

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After a week-long break, I'm back! Happy December! This past Thursday was International Day for Persons with Disabilities. I discuss an "interesting" conversation I had on social media and then interview Kristen Manifold about self-advocacy.

Kristen lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is a graduate of The Ohio State University. Like me, she has cerebral palsy and is a disability advocate in her community. She was a joy to talk to and I hope you enjoy our convo!

You can follow her on social media:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Cheer4life11
Twitter: @kristenmanifold

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Legos and Churches...what? Today I have John Kraemer who builds churches out of Legos!
Continuing my series of Catholicism for the month, John is a Catholic out of Saginaw, Michigan, and has been building his annual "Lego Church Project" for over twenty years. With a focus on disability awareness. John and I share the same disability, cerebral palsy and it was such a joy to chat with him about his ministry. Hope you all enjoy it!

Follow him here at
Twitter: @Kc8wzm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegoChurchProject
https://prayingbricks.blogspot.com/

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