Welcome to a special six-part series featuring Megan Bailey. Megan speaks openly from her perspective as a young woman living with a lifelong disability. In her early years, she received therapy services through Rainbows United.
Today, she’s a college graduate, a professional, and an advocate—ready to share her journey.
Special thanks to Brandon Paulseen, host of the ICT Podcast, who sat down with Megan to hear her story—you can listen in here.
Living with a disability does affect my life. I know I am not the only person who struggles with this. I know that there are other people who have a disability as well, and I am not alone. I will continue to grow up into the woman I want to be. I will not let my disability affect me for who I am. Everybody has something. Sometimes you can see it, sometimes you can’t.
I live with my parents and their house is accessible, so it is easier for me to get around. My bathroom is handicap accessible with grab bars and a step-in shower. It is easy to maneuver. When I am in the house, I use my canes to get around. I can make my own breakfast if it is cold, otherwise somebody else has to cook my breakfast because it is difficult for me to balance and cook on my own. Over the years, I have helped my mom with meals in the kitchen, so she supervises me when I am around the stove or oven. I help around the house whenever I can, cleaning, doing dishes, and sorting laundry.
I do my exercises to build up my strength, so I can do things, such as walking, swinging, and swimming. I have to modify my exercises so they are easier. When I go swimming, I take my canes, and I use the ladder to get in and out of the pool. When I am in the water though, I am able to swim like other people.
I enjoy swinging in the backyard because it builds up my arm and leg muscles. It is also great to be outdoors because I am able to exercise and get fresh air at the same time. I enjoy walking outdoors as well. Walking helps relieve my stress, anxiety, and also helps build up my muscles. If I continue to do these activities, it will give me the opportunity to do more things on my own.
I enjoy watching movies with my parents, talking to my friends and my brother on the phone, and going out to eat. I enjoy spending time with my family, whether I have a disability or not, just like all of you.