Embracing Your Voice: Stuttering as an Invisible Disability and the Path to Becoming a Limitless Leader In a recent episode of the InVisible InCourage SHOW podcast, host and IDA Executive Director, Jess Stainbrook welcomed a remarkable guest whose life story reframes how we view communication and leadership. Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith, author of Limitless Leader: Leading […]
A Conversation with John O’Leary: Embracing Scars and Finding Awe John O’Leary, a man whose life story is as inspiring as it is challenging, shared his journey and insights on the InVisible InCourage SHOW. From surviving a devastating house fire to becoming a motivational speaker and author, John’s perspective on life, family, and invisible disabilities […]
Emily Cram’s Journey of Courage and Advocacy Living with ERBIN In a world where many illnesses and disabilities are invisible, Emily Cram stands as a beacon of strength and advocacy. As the only woman in the United States diagnosed with ERBIN, a rare connective tissue disorder, Emily’s journey is one of profound challenges, unwavering resilience, […]
I’m still struggling and experiencing panic attacks! Today , at work, I was hit with a wave of anxiety that I couldn’t shake. My mind kept drifting back to the morning conversation with my son. He seemed down, and when I asked him why, he shared his frustration with me. My son had recently broken […]
Today is a very special day. Today, July 18th, is my wife, Sherri Connell’s birthday! I have been wondering how I can honor Sherri and show her how truly grateful I am for her. It is hard to believe we met almost 30 years ago. On March 21st of 1992 to be exact, Sherri walked […]
Disability Employment Awareness Month Reminded Us to Make the Most of Ticket to Work October marked the annual occurrence of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) in the U.S., where organizations nationwide work to educate the public on the value and necessity of a workforce that includes people with disabilities, as well as the challenges faced […]
Conversation starter products to address your invisible disability also can make it easier to live and work with the people you encounter in your daily life. The Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) is very excited to announce the addition of two incredibly handy new awareness items in the IDA Store. Both products were inspired by people living […]
We were immediately drawn into an article written by Brooklyn-based journalist Ed Cara chronicling the experience of twin sisters — Ariella and Sarah Cohen of Philadelphia — plagued with a mysterious array of undiagnosed symptoms that drove them regularly to the emergency room from childhood. Now in their 20’s, the young women suffer from chronic […]
Wired Together, a brain retraining and neuroplasticity symposium was hosted by Brain IDEAS. Neuroplasticity, brain training, brain-based therapy, rewire your brain, brain mapping, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, and therapeutic humor. Microbiome, unconscious mind, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dyslexia, Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome, nutrition, and stroke. Post-traumatic stress […]
Resolve to Believe Even Though You Might Wonder How Someone Who Looks So Good Can Be So Sick Resolve to believe. As yet another year dawns and, of course, I need to make at least one resolution. The good news is that I know I can keep this one. I resolve to believe you! I […]
“I can’t believe how strong you are!” “I can’t believe how hard you keep fighting!” “You are so courageous!” “You amaze me!” Believe it or not, it is all too common for a person living with a continuing illness or pain to be treated as if they are not positive enough, do not try hard […]
A diabetic, a blind man and an amputee walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What is this – some kind of joke?” Having a disability is no joke according to IDA Advisory Board Member and Neurohumorist expert, Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN. “But it can be a laughing matter. Pain, suffering, isolation, stress, depression, financial hardships […]
I attended a fundraiser in Denver this past week that supported the Carson J Spencer Foundation. The foundation was formed by Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas to honor her brother Carson who lived with mental illness and eventually took his own life. Many attendees were impacted by suicide including the host, renowned photographer John Fielder, who lost his […]
I broke my arm and … was diagnosed with PTSD and a brain injury, walking around like a zombie in ‘The Walking Dead,’ Jim Stanek recently told TheBlaze. I was isolating myself. I didn’t want to socialize with people … I couldn’t remember things. For me, being a vet with PTSD, I’ve been called a […]
The online Merriam-Webster dictionary has the following definitions for the word inspire to make (someone) want to do something to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create to cause (something) to happen or be created to cause someone to have (a feeling or emotion) Therefore, it follows that an inspiration is a […]
“You’re lucky you don’t have to work!” “You’re just giving up!” “You need to get out more!” When we break a leg, are we better off hopping on it or using crutches? Right after having major surgery, would we recover better if we went hiking or if we rested a bit in the hospital? We […]
“Why did I decide to found the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA)?” This question has been posed to me on many occasions. The obvious answer is because of my wife, Sherri. As you may know, Sherri lives daily with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic Lyme disease, chemical injury and traumatic brain injury, as well as severe […]
Wayne Connell, IDA Founder was given the special privilege to create his Movie Night, Gluten Free, Organic Pizza on the Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage cooking stage at the Evolve Expo on Sunday, February 23rd, 2014. Heather Isely of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is the recipient of the 2014 Corporate Honors Award. Wayne was […]
What an amazing time to honor those who have given so much to ensure our freedom. To these individuals, I want to say thank you! It always amazes me when men and women believe so strongly in freedom and the American way of life that they are willing to fight for these causes. I am […]
This past week Mike and I went to see my kidney doctor, as we do about every 4 months. The purpose of the visit is to monitor my kidneys and how they are doing. It’s always like sitting on pins and needles until he reads the numbers from the blood test, which tell you everything. […]