Hello again, I hope you are having a good week so far. I'm blessed to be speaking with JenniferGasner on the latest episode of my podcast What's Your Excuse? We discussed her life and how it changed as she was being diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia,. Including her gradual transition to using a walker full time and eventually living in a wheel chair. She shared about how joining a support group lead to big changes in her life but not how I or you would have expected. And it was wonderful hearing her talk about deciding to become more positive and to see a life of possibilities. We talked about her experience writing her first book, and about the publishing process in general. Hey, with two writers on the call, it had to happen. I wish I had asked her more about her travels, but you can tell that she is the kind to overcome accessibility issues in order to enjoy her life. Even with her halting voice and unusual speach patterns her strength, optimism, and passion come through clearly. I hope you will check it out. On With The Show Visit Our Supporter Couldn't do this without the support from the awesome team at www.blubrry.com Both technical and financial support. They also provide hosting for other podcasts hosted by people with disabilities. About Jennifer At seventeen, Jennifer Gasner was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare, progressive, neuromuscular disease. After the initial shock and denial wore off, she realized that her life was going to be full of joy. Her determination and sense of humor helped her meet the challenges she faced going from walking independently to using a walker, and eventually, a wheelchair. Jennifer attended college at her home state’s University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she received her BA in English. She was involved in the Student Activities Board, and campus radio station, where she honed her love for music. She then went on to Western Illinois University for her MS in Recreation. She began working with Independent Living Centers in Wisconsin and began advocating for people with disabilities and learning about disability culture. Her understanding of programs for the disabled, including those living with Friedreich’s ataxia, gave her the courage to move to San Diego by herself when she was 28. In San Diego, she worked for various non-profits and UC San Diego. She became involved in the disability community as a mentor for What’s Next, a mentorship program for youth with disabilities and as co-chair of UC San Diego’s Staff Association for staff with disabilities. In 2020, she became an Ambassador for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, (FARA), advocating for research and bringing awareness of living with Friedrich’s ataxia to the community. As a result, she participated in Rare Across America, meeting with legislators to discuss current legislation affecting more than 25 million Americans living with one or more rare diseases. As a member of the International Memoir Writers Association, she was honored as a Member of the Month in February 2020. She is currently writing a coming-of-age memoir, with the working title, Walking is Overrated. Besides writing, in her free time, she loves doing yoga, going to movies, and traveling. She lives in San Diego, CA with her boyfriend Gregory and their two dogs, Wyatt and Ki. 10 Things you Don’t Know About Me 1. I love football (GO PACK GO!) 2. I love eating, almost, everything pumpkin 3. I never wanted to eat sushi…now I could eat it every day 4. I am afraid of frogs 5. My dream is to spend six months travelling through Europe 6. I haven’t dyed my hair for eight years 7. I’m 45% Norwegian and proud of it 8. I struggle with organization 9. I cried when my parents sold my piano even though I hadn’t touched it in over a year 10. When I was ten, I auditioned for Annie Contacting Jennifer Website: www.jennifergasner.com Amazon: www.amazon.com/My-Unexpected-Life-Finding-Diagnosis Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferGasner Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gasner Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennygwriter Bluesky: www.bsky.app/profile/jennygwriter Threads: www.threads.com/@jennygwriter Recommended Service As a blind online business owner I struggle to find truly accessible tools. So, when I find something that is accessible, easy to use, and reasonably priced; I can't wait to share it with you. This is how I feel about www.lessannoyingcrm.com A great CRM option that is easier to use because of their investments in accessibility. Sharing Is Caring I hope you will share this episode with your friends, family members, and followers. I ask because it will definitely benefit you to hear her story, and because I'm sure you know someone else who needs to hear it too. And the best way I know to say thank you to my guests is to help drive traffic to their websites, books, social media accounts, etc. If you also feel grateful for the work I put into bringing you this podcast, then you can also leave a rating or review on the podcast player of your choice. Thanks again for joining me. Take care out there, Maxwell