Cerebral Palsy (CP) is group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. CP is caused by damage to or abnormalities inside the developing brain that disrupt the brain's ability to control movement and maintain posture and balance. The term cerebral refers to the brain; palsy refers to the loss or impairment of motor function.

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At 9 months old, I was diagnosed with CP. I have right hemiplegia CP, caused by a stroke at birth. As a result, I have mobility issues with the right side of my body. Though, after years of physical therapy, my disability may not be noticeable to the untrained eye.

As a child, I needed assistance with a walker and braces on both legs. I attended physical therapy nearly 5 times a week and eventually was able to remove the brace on my left leg. By the 4th grade, I was able to remove my right brace as well. This was no easy feat and came after 10 years of hard work.

To this day, I do PT & OT regularly to help mitigate my CP symptoms. I also use accessibility tools, a night split to stretch my leg, and on occasion a brace to keep my hand from clenching.

Check out some of the ways I manage my Cerebral Palsy and resources I find helpful →

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that happens as a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, causing recurring seizures. Epilepsy is a common comorbidity that occurs in 30-55% of people with cerebral palsy. Although it normally shows up in childhood, it can also begin later in life.

Most doctors suggested to my parents that if I didn’t have a seizure by the age of three, it was unlikely that I’d have epilepsy. Naturally, my parents thought I was in the clear after that age.

I like to defy the odds, but this one really defied me. At age 13, I began to have grand mal seizures. This was a terrifying time, as they came on with no more than a few seconds warning. I would experience total numbness, lose control of my body, and convulse for what felt like hours. I tried different medications and was finally able to control the seizures. I have currently been seizure-free for 7 years. I am extremely grateful for this but know that this is not everyone else’s experience with epilepsy.

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At age 16, I took an entrepreneurship class in which we were given an assignment to create our own business and a plan of action for it. Being obsessed with both music and photography, I decided to create an online news magazine, focused on the local music scene and music industry. I named it Fall Forward Press.

I took this hypothetical business idea and made it my reality. I began photographing and interviewing local bands. My small business gained the attention of larger musicians, and I started working with PR firms to release the latest news on bands known nationwide. I began photographing and interviewing groups such as Paramore, The Flaming Lips, Wye Oak, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fallout Boy, and more. I continue to photograph live music today, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

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At age 17, I began my bachelor of arts degree at Emmanuel College in Boston. Inspired by the experiences I had been allowed through Fall Forward Press, I decided to group my love of photography, journalism, and PR to study Photojournalism. I took a student worker job as a front-of-the-house employee for Bon Appetit and began doing freelance photography on the side.

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After graduating from Emmanuel, I moved back to Connecticut. I freelanced full-time for the newspaper as a photographer and took other photography gigs whenever I could. I also served as a newborn photographer at Yale New Haven Hospital.

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Growing up with braces on your legs, wearing glasses, having seizures, and gaining weight from seizure meds doesn’t exactly make you feel like a “normal” kid. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere and would do everything I possibly could to fit in. I hated being different, and unfortunately, I carried this feeling into my young adulthood. At this point, it was easier to hide my disabilities, but it still affected my day to day. I was diagnosed with several other conditions, including endometriosis, PMDD, POTS, and more.

Read my article on the importance of Diversity & Inclusion →

Although I was still enjoying photography, I felt that I needed more of a creative challenge. About two years after obtaining my undergraduate degree, I began to explore the world of Interactive Media and embarked on a path to my Master of Science degree at Quinnipiac University. There I majored in Interactive Media and Communications, with a concentration in User Experience Design. For my Master’s thesis, I researched epilepsy, conducted interviews, surveyed people with epilepsy, and prototyped an app to track seizures. The final product was a 70-page document filled with research, branding, a prototype and more. I’ll put additional information about that on that here eventually.

View my UX/UI & Web Design Work →

6 months into my Master’s program, I landed a UX/UI internship at Digital Surgeons, a digital marketing agency in New Haven, CT. I loved my internship and was offered an extension to intern there longer, but after 6 months, I obtained a full-time position as a Graphic Designer at WTNH News 8, Connecticut’s first broadcast news station.

View my Digital Surgeons Case Study →

At WTNH, I created station graphics, ads, presentations, and animations for different forms of media; including television, digital, social, and print. I worked with producers to implement creative assets into the newscast; and schedule on-air promotions. In addition, I worked with Marketing, Sales, and News staff on developing multi-platform initiatives to promote and market the station’s brands. Furthermore, I created presentations for Nexstar Media Group and their potential clients, landing WTNH a $2 million sales pitch with Executive Auto Group. While at WTNH, I graduated from Quinnipiac with a 4.0 GPA.

View my WTNH News 8 Case Study →

After 3 years of experience at the news station, I leveraged my skills landing the position of Digital & Social Media Strategist at Women’s Health Research at Yale; an interdisciplinary research center within Yale School of Medicine at Yale University.

At WHRY, I was a creative manager, leading the design of all digital and print materials. Using Google Analytics, I analyzed metrics to advance the center’s communication plan, help improve future content development, and improve the user experience. I also performed user research and testing to improve the website.

I managed student workers focusing on collaboration and talent development. I trained copywriters in SEO to improve the viewership of WHRY’s content. I developed a comprehensive, diversified internet presence and social media strategy to advance the center’s mission, initiatives, and outreach to its various audiences.

I was a jack-of-all-trades at the center, working with internal staff, university researchers, professors, students, council members, and donors. I collaborated with web developers at Yale to create new website components that were used university-wide.

View my Yale Portfolio →

Check out my Yale UX Case Study →

CP is often referred to as a childhood disorder, however, children grow up. Although CP is not a degenerative disorder, the body by nature, is degenerative. For those who have mobility challenges, imbalances, and musculoskeletal issues, aging doesn’t exactly help matters. I’ve noticed that as I age, I’m starting to experience more pain, back issues, and complications from my many disorders.

All throughout my professional career, I tried to hide these issues for fear of repercussions. I had experienced discrimination at several of my jobs, but tried to keep quiet and do my work to the best of my abilities regardless.

While I have had great success with proven results in every job I’ve had, when I needed accommodations, people's perception of me seemed to change. I was no longer seen as a successful, dedicated employee anymore. I was seen as an inconvenience or a liability. I had been told I didn’t look like I had disabilities. I had been told that I had to stop working until they learned more about my conditions.

This discrimination crushed my spirits and made me question my worth; not just as an employee, but as a person. This all may sound like a sob story, but I couldn’t be more grateful for these challenges.

LEARN ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES →

Side note: The current administration is actively trying to strip away ALL of our civil rights, our healthcare, and our ability to pursue happiness through attacking our lives and constitutional liberties. That being said, they are focused specifically on disadvantaged and disenfranchised groups.

While no administration has protected our most vulnerable populations as well as they should have, this administration is determined to rescind the rights of disabled people, women, minority groups including people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and basically anyone who’s not a straight white man. They are shuttering research, spreading misinformation, attempting to incite violence, and trying to make us feel helpless to it all.

I continue to try to advocate for a better world for all of us and write about my personal experience on my Disability & Art Blog to create more understanding during a time where our government wants to keep us divided and fighting amongst ourselves rather than fighting the oligarchy that relentlessly is attacking our democracy.

These billionaires, major corporations, and tech companies would rather us all suffer and argue so they can continue to make money and rule as they please. They will try to make you feel like you have no power to change this or make a positive impact on your community…this is not true. We must continue to fight for our rights and share our experiences so we can improve the world for EVERYONE.

Read more on my Disability & Art Blog →

Over the years I’ve called myself a photographer, photojournalist, writer, graphic designer, UX & product designer, social media manger, artist, etc., but none of those titles alone fully embody the creativity I am constantly trying to express in new ways.

After in-depth creative exploration, doing both full-time and freelance work for over 13 years, I decided that I don’t need to be just one thing. I also realized that don’t need to hide who I am to make others more comfortable. I’m a creative person with disabilities and a whole lot to offer. I have embraced that it is a true asset to have so many skills and the life experiences that I’ve had.

I am now freelancing full-time, utilizing all my creative abilities. Being a multi-passionate individual, this has allowed me to balance all my creative endeavors, and add a few more!

My whole life I’ve loved painting and drawing, and recently began printmaking. Now, I incorporate fine art into my graphic design work, and continue to do UX, web design, graphic design, photography, branding, art direction, and more. I’d be delighted to help you with any of your creative needs, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

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It took about 30 years, but after facing my disabilities and the challenges they bring head-on, I decided it was time to take control of how I was treated. I decided to no longer hide my disabilities, or be ashamed of who I am. I challenged those who chose not to respect me and my needs, and defended others that were being mistreated as well.

My disabilities have shaped who I am as a person in such a profound way, that it’s hard to separate my work from them. Having disabilities has taught me to be empathetic of others’ needs. I want to design things in a way that is accessible to people of all different abilities. I also want to educate others to create more understanding, and an environment of pure creativity, unhindered by those who choose not to understand. Thank you so much for reading!

VISIT MY DISABILITY & ART BLOG →

Want to know what I’m up to now? I’m focused on wedding photography in CT, New England & beyond, specializing in 35mm & 120 film. As a Connecticut wedding photographer, I capture engagements, elopements & microweddings with a nostalgic, documentary style on film. From CT wedding photography to destination celebrations, I create authentic, timeless film images that feel like beautiful memories.

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