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first person

DEVELOPING PITTSBURGH

To me, accessibility feels like an afterthought in Pittsburgh development

By First-person essay by Heather Tomko | March 6, 2019

Having spinal muscular atrophy means that I’ve never been able to walk. I’ve used a wheelchair since I was about 3 years old. I rely on help from others for many parts of my day — bathing, getting dressed, making my meals and just generally getting around.
I still try to be independent however I can. Growing up, I went to public school and took classes with my peers. I lived in the dorms with the rest of the students in college. I work as a research coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh and am pursuing my master’s degree in public health.

FIRST PERSON

Teasing, condescension and other injustices against people with autism are rarely discussed. This is my experience.

By First-person essay by Max Driks | December 31, 2018

Letting yourself feel vulnerable is one of the hardest things in the world to do, with or without autism. But opening up is the only way your story will be told.

FIRST PERSON

Living anxiously in Pittsburgh has taught me that mental health should be treated just as seriously as physical health

By First-person essay by Cristina Holtzer | December 20, 2018

To put in perspective how widespread mental health conditions are, consider this: About one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Mental illness will affect one in five Americans at some point during their lifetime.

FIRST PERSON

Listen to Black girls. They know what they need best.

By Edoukou Aka-Ezoua | October 11, 2018

Edoukou Aka-Ezoua reflects on her experience meeting other young black women at the 3rd Annual Equity Summit.

FIRST PERSON

Black girls are left out of national debate on sexual violence

By Britney G. Brinkman | October 11, 2018

Despite the fact that the #MeToo campaign was founded by Tarana Burke, a Black woman activist, this anti-sexual violence campaign has largely overlooked the sexual harassment of Black girls in K-12 schools.

FIRST PERSON

ALS stole much from my husband, but not his sense of humor.

By Sarah Wood | September 20, 2018

We never had a break in this constantly changing landscape. The realization that he was dying, piece by piece, was horrible, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.