by David-Elijah Nahmod
She explains why she chose to share
the story of Lexie, her college caregiver.
“It was a profound relationship that
took place at a critical juncture in my life,” she said.
“We all enjoy
reminiscing about our college days, and I simply can’t separate that experience
from the relationship I had with Lexie.
I also wanted to write about a rite of
passage that was perhaps a little less obvious than something like first love
or losing one’s virginity.”
And what advice does Johnson-Wright
offer to other disabled people?
“Don’t hide, don’t try to pass for
non-disabled,” she says. “If someone makes you feel inferior for having a
disability, get the hell away from them. Hang out with kind, good hearted,
nurturing people. Stay away from manipulators and abusers. Find out what you’re
good at, discover your passion, and follow it. Find your disability identity
and be proud.”
The anthology Firsts: Coming of
Age Stories by People with Disabilities is available now on Amazon and
other retailers.
David-Elijah
Nahmod is an award-winning film critic and celebrity interviewer. You can find
him on Twitter and on Facebook.
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