--- title: Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | EmpowHer Stories (3) description: This blog is a part of the Disability EmpowHer Network and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation collaborative blogging program, which uplifts the voices of women and girls with spinal cord disabilities. (3) --- [Community](https://www.christopherreeve.org/community) [Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | EmpowHer Stories (3)](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/3) # Voices from the Community Our blog offers stories from the community, updates from the Reeve Foundation, and breaking news on research. The opinions expressed in these blogs are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. [Latest from our community](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en) [Reeve Round Up](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=reeve-round-up) [Life After Paralysis](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=life-after-paralysis) [Research](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=research) Close Filters Lifestyle Health Español EmpowHer Stories Caregiving Advocacy and Policy News Quality of Life Grantee Spotlight Relationships SCI Awareness Hope Happens Here Team Reeve Mental Health Peer & Family Support Program Spotlight Travel Community Spotlight Reeve Summit Adaptive Fitness Events Assistive Technology Community Education Accessible College Reeve Family Emergency Preparedness Donor Spotlight Employment Military / Veterans Pediatrics Reeve Collaborators International Team LeGrand Show all tags Apply Filters Clear Filters Close Filters [![arielle rausin](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/arielle%20rausin.jpg) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/diving-in) EmpowHer Stories ## [Diving In](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/diving-in) October 19, 2023 I never imagined I would be a scuba diver. Growing up in Florida, I was always an avid swimmer and beach lover, but after my spinal cord injury, I... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/diving-in) [![G Bisnett](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/G%20Bisnett.png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/advocating-for-safety-for-students-with-disabilities) ## [Advocating for Safety for Students with Disabilities](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/advocating-for-safety-for-students-with-disabilities) September 22, 2023 September is Emergency Preparedness Month, and this is really important to me as a highschooler with a disability. In high school, we experience a... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/advocating-for-safety-for-students-with-disabilities) [![A Chancellor](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/A%20Chancellor.jpg) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/from-wheels-to-wings) EmpowHer Stories ## [From Wheels to Wings](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/from-wheels-to-wings) September 14, 2023 Why am I 43, and just now getting back into the dating pool? The water’s fine, really. [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/from-wheels-to-wings) [![DeAnna Alexander](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/DeAnna%20Alexander.png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/perspective-of-the-mind) EmpowHer Stories ## [From the Perspective of the Mind…](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/perspective-of-the-mind) August 25, 2023 Thirteen years ago, on February 28, 2010, at 11:42pm, I was randomly gunned down and left paralyzed from the stomach down. I was convinced that I was... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/perspective-of-the-mind) [![Jessica Maclean ](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/Jessica%20Maclean%20.jpg) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/swallowtail-butterfly-effect) EmpowHer Stories ## [The Swallowtail Butterfly Effect](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/swallowtail-butterfly-effect) August 15, 2023 Like a tiger with eight iridescent blue eyes that shimmer with changing light, the four-inch wings of a Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly float,... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/swallowtail-butterfly-effect) [![Sabrina Patel ](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/Sabrina%20Patel%20pic%201.jpg) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/letter-to-my-past-self) EmpowHer Stories ## [To: Me, From: Me: A Letter to My Past Self](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/letter-to-my-past-self) August 8, 2023 I know what you are thinking: “How did I get here?” [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/letter-to-my-past-self) [![Shante Nelson ](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image%20(21).png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/love-and-gratitude-my-paralysis-journey-as-a-medical-provider) EmpowHer Stories ## [Love and Gratitude: My Paralysis Journey as a Medical Provider](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/love-and-gratitude-my-paralysis-journey-as-a-medical-provider) July 17, 2023 In 2017, I acquired a level T4 spinal cord injury after a car accident. Before my accident, I often heard the phrase, “Be grateful for what you... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/love-and-gratitude-my-paralysis-journey-as-a-medical-provider) [![Ashley Llorens](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image%20(20).png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/disability-and-imposter-syndrome) EmpowHer Stories ## [Disability and Imposter Syndrome](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/disability-and-imposter-syndrome) July 11, 2023 Imposter syndrome has been something I’ve personally been working on addressing within myself. Imposter syndrome occurs when people doubt their... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/disability-and-imposter-syndrome) [![Shameka Andrews](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image%20(19).png) National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/human-first) EmpowHer Stories ## [Human First](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/human-first) July 10, 2023 When Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2016, a local Spectrum reporter reached out to me and asked me to share my thoughts about the broader... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/human-first) [1](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/1) [2](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/2) [3](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/3) [4](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/4) [5](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/5) The opinions expressed in these blogs are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. [Back to top](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/empowher-stories/page/3#top)