The Advocacy Life Podcast & Blog

Tag: Disability Awareness

  • A Disabled Father

    A Disabled Father

    Happy Wednesday Good people I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. This week I was planning to do a whole blog about the new rules the Department of Transportation (DOT) is hoping to implement to help disabled travelers when they are traveling on airplanes. I read a few articles and even drafted a few lines, but I wasn’t feeling it. It was written without love. So I went back and rewrote something I wrote back in 2020. All these years later, it’s still one of my favorite pieces of writing. You can find the original version in my first publication, Confessions from DisabilityLimbo. I hope you enjoy it. See you next week! 

    ‭‭Exodus 20:12 NIV‬‬ [12] “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

    Hi there, I’m Kevin Nuñez, and I’m all about standing up for people with disabilities in New Jersey. I’ve got Cerebral Palsy, but that hasn’t stopped me from joining state committees to make life better for folks like me and our families. Now, I get it—when you saw the title of this blog, you probably laughed or rolled your eyes. “How could a guy like me be a dad? Can I even handle changing diapers or holding a baby without dropping them?” Sound familiar? You might’ve even thought, “This is too far-fetched. Let’s talk about something else.”

    Let’s clear the air. I don’t have all the answers. I’m what you call a “realistic optimist.” That means I know how tough life can be, but I’m always on the lookout for the good stuff. I’m 33 years old, and it’s been forever since I went on a real date. So yeah, the chances of me becoming a dad anytime soon are pretty slim. But here’s the thing: life isn’t just about having all the answers. It’s about the journey, about keeping hope alive even when the odds are stacked against you.

    I know not everyone with a disability can have kids. It’s complicated, and I get that. This blog might not resonate with everyone, and that’s okay. All I want is to start a conversation—maybe even one you’ll have at your next family dinner.

    Hey, William Christopher,

    I’ve been holding onto this until you turned 18 because I want you to know how much you mean to me. I wrote this back in 2020, when everyone was thinking about their lives. It was before I met your mom, back when I had all this love in my heart but no one to share it with. So even though I might not be the perfect dad, I want you to know that I’ve always loved you.

    I can’t wait to be there for all your big moments—teaching you to ride a bike, helping you up when you fall. I’m not sure how we’ll figure it all out, but we will. And hey, you’re going to be bilingual—English and Spanish. Trust me, it’ll come in handy someday when you’re filling out job applications.

    It’s not going to be easy when people stare at us in public, but you’ve always handled it like a champ. I’m looking forward to watching baseball games with you and having fun wrestling matches, even if you know it’s all staged. Just remember to balance the fun stuff with hard work, and always treat everyone with kindness and respect.

    Happy 18th birthday, buddy. Make it a good one.

    Lots of love,

    Dad Kevin

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    Why I Love Wrestling
  • SABE, Books, & More

    SABE, Books, & More

    For the first episode of March, Kevin is proud to present this laid-back episode where he simply updates you on the fun times he had in the last few months. This is a different kind of podcast from your favorite little podcaster.

    SHOW NOTES

    New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

    SABE

    MOX

    A Promised Land 

  • Life Update February 2024

    Life Update February 2024

    Greetings readers, are you ready for spring? I know it seems kind of far away. I’m writing this with only a few days left in February. There is still a cold chill in the air. Although spring training games have officially begun, warmer weather must be on the way. I have observed several bloggers doing this by providing their followers with updates on their activities. I wanted to share my exciting upcoming projects with everyone to encourage them that anything is possible, even though it always seemed a bit silly to me. Hey, every few months, the president gives a State of the Union. I may not be the best writer in the world, but I can promise it’ll be better than that.

    ‭‭Mark 9:23 NIV‬‬   “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

    Let’s start with the health stuff. As of now, I have no major health concerns or upcoming medical procedures. This is really cool because last year I had two surgeries: a hiatal hernia removal and an endoscopy. The hernia revealed a whole bunch of polyps in my upper stomach that were noncancerous. When you have a disability, it always seems like there’s some weird medical thing on the horizon, so it’s nice for now to just enjoy the sunset.

    Next update on my advocacy career. I now represent seven states on a national board of directors run by and for people with disabilities. The organization is called Self Advocates Becoming Empowered or SABE click here to read about my initial reactions to joining this organization. For now, I can say it is the most challenging but thrilling adventure of my life. Helping others is what I was made for. I don’t even care about traveling across the country. Truth be told, some days I’d rather be home in bed. I don’t do this for prestige. The day it becomes about that is the day I leave people with disabilities. They should need to be at the table to make a difference.

    Finally, I want to recommend something that has nothing to do with disability at all. It’s a very fun and entertaining book called Mox. It is the personal memoir of professional wrestler and sports entertainer John Moxley. Yes, wrestling is partly staged, but they’re still real athletes trying to entertain you. This book teaches you about life in a very different way. You can turn your brain off, but some important nuggets will sneak in there.

    I know this is a different kind of blog. I hope you guys still enjoyed it. Thanks for your time, and have a great day. I will see you guys next week.

  • Spiritual Novel Preview

    Spiritual Novel Preview

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  • Fighting for One

    Fighting for One

    Happy Wednesday, my wonderful readers. Once again, I hope you guys are having a good day. and I want to thank you for spending a few minutes with me. When you hear the word “fighter,” what’s the first image that pops into your mind? Most likely Rocky Balboa or Bruce Lee if you’re over a certain age. If you’re more realistic, you probably think of Muhammad Ali or Randy Couture as two of the best in their sports. That’s not who I think about. I picture Muhammad Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Brad Lomax as people who won impossible battles. They were outmatched, and their lives were in danger. They fought with their words, not their bodies.

    I relate to this because I am physically weak. I’m only 5 feet, and I weigh barely 135 lbs. I have Cerebral Palsy (CP) There are a million things I can’t do for myself. I am unqualified to do anything. Instead, I was called and then qualified. The other day, I was asked, “Why do you keep going? What are you fighting for?” I may occasionally have guest writers, but I have done the majority of the work on this website. I created every single social media post. It can be a little frustrating As a content creator, it is very difficult not to look at the numbers to see whether or not my website’s getting traffic. How many listens does my podcast get? I recently added a bonus newsletter for some paid subscribers. I thought this would add a more fun aspect to my writing. I thought people might enjoy this. As of now, I only have one subscriber. So how do I not get lost in the numbers?

    I’ve just begun to learn that I was given this disability as a platform, not a weakness. Every podcast, blog, tweet, and keystroke is done with the help of the Holy Spirit. My new goal is just to help one person at a time. There are tons of podcasts, and anyone can make a blog. My hope is that anything I produce can make one person smile. I might not know who they are. I might not know their circumstances. I know they’re warriors like me. 

    ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

    The show scandal is famous for the tagline “gladiators in suits.” Well, this is to all my warriors in wheelchairs. My warriors use walkers. My Warriors, who don’t use words. My warriors may have invisible disabilities. our battle is long, and your battle is hard, but we can make a difference. we are the difference. The world sees your weaknesses, but you know your strengths. You grow stronger every day because you overcome more every day. Would God save his best warriors for the easy battles or save them for the ones he needs to win? Don’t give up. Keep going. Don’t look back; keep moving forward. Thank you for your time, and I hope to spend more time with you next Wednesday.

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    Online Missadventures
  • A Valentine’s Day Message

    A Valentine’s Day Message

    Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope this blog brings some joy to your day. Over the weekend, many couples celebrated Valentine’s Day, which is honestly my favorite holiday. Even though we should show love to our friends and family every day, it’s easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of life. That’s why having a special day dedicated to love is so important.

    To me, Valentine’s Day isn’t about fancy gifts like flowers and chocolates. It’s more about showing genuine care and support for someone, even in small ways.

    Now, let’s talk about something important: advocating for people with disabilities. Before we get into it, I want to be clear. Some people with disabilities may not be able to understand or consent to romantic relationships, and that’s okay. But for those who can, it’s important to challenge misconceptions about what they’re capable of.

    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4‭-‬5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ [4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

    Years ago, people with disabilities were often kept out of sight in institutions. But things are changing, just like they did for the LGBTQ community. It takes time, but education and breaking down stereotypes are key.

    Having a disability can make romantic relationships more challenging, but it’s not impossible. It just takes understanding and communication from both partners. There might be people who don’t understand or stare, but love knows no boundaries, whether one or both partners have a disability.

    It’s important to see the person beyond their disability. I’ll share links to two couples who are in integrated relationships to show that it’s possible. I promise to keep talking about this topic regularly in my blog because awareness is important, just like having accessible facilities.

    I’m sending love to everyone who needs it today, and I’ll see you next Wednesday!

    Sources:

    Roll with coal and Charisma

    Squirmy and Gloves

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    Kevin for President
  • Disability and the American Dream

    Disability and the American Dream

    Whether we like it or not, 2024 is a presidential election year. Now that we are most likely faced with a rematch, Americans will have to make a choice. It’s fair to say that President Biden has had his share of critics. His first term is not even over, but I don’t think many historians are going to put him in their top five of the best US presidents. I know I’m a few months early, but as a disability advocate, I have a different perspective. There are issues that matter to me that most people don’t think about. Most people don’t recognize disabilities until they’re affected by them. We finally have a president who has seen this underrepresented community.

    “provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of liberty.”

    free and both of the US Constitution

    Biden became the first president to improve the lives of people and families with disabilities when he vowed to support Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), which includes long-term services and supports. (LTSS) People with disabilities should live in their communities in the least restrictive environment. For some people with disabilities, they are locked away and forgotten. We must serve and protect those who are most vulnerable. Some may want us dead. We all have the same right to live.

    ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ [14] The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

    I am a capitalist. It is maddening to me that just because I was born with a disability, I am forced into a system of poverty. There is nothing wrong with being broke. What is wrong is that I, as an American, don’t have a chance to change that. The social security asset limit set in the mid-1980s has not changed. Under this administration, there has been serious discussion about raising it. I cannot have more than $2,000 in a bank account, so someone else can pay for my $50,000 wheelchair. How does that make sense? I want to live my American Dream, not exist off of the backs of others. There is nothing like going home knowing you earned that money.

    Emily Voorde probably won’t be studied in history books like Kamala Harris. Voorde was the associate director of public engagement for just under 500 days. For the first time in my life, I saw someone who looked like me in a real position of power. She was not there just to be a token, but to actually make change.

    Most Americans don’t realize that we still don’t have marriage equality in this country. There is still a marriage penalty for those with disabilities. This president may stumble with his words from time to time, but I’m confident he would support eliminating this obscene restriction so people can love regardless of their abilities.

    I certainly don’t agree with all of the Biden administration’s policies. He still has more proof. The work is still not done. However, he is the first president to give me, as a disabled American, hope for my American Dream.

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    Cinematic Civil War

  • The Dream Job

    The Dream Job

    @theadvocacylifepodcastat

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    Hello, my friends, I hope you guys are having an excellent day. We all have dreams. Cinderella said it best: “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Without a dream, we cannot have goals. Every goal starts out as a dream or idea. There are so many people out there who are “dreamers,” but there are very few who do anything about it.

    I’ve never wanted to be an NBA star or an astronaut. One of the restrictions of my disability is that I cannot have a ”dream job.”. To be specific, I do not have a job. Anyone can dream. Now that it is January 2024, it is officially election season.

    Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you fall on, there will be an election in a few months.

    ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

    My dream job is to have a job working for an elected official. Disability should not be a partisan issue. Every American should have the right to work and earn a living. Why do my circumstances automatically put me in a system of poverty? The disability asset limit sits at $2,000 at any one time. That limit has not been raised since the mid-1980s. The cost of raising a disabled child is 20 to 25% more. There is no official disability tax, but I certainly feel it.

    No matter how significant the medical diagnosis is, everyone should feel like they have a purpose. Everyone should be able to dream. There is currently legislation to have the asset limit raised to $10,000, but it hasn’t gotten much public attention, so it really hasn’t gotten anywhere. My population just wants to do their part,pay their taxes, and contribute to our society.

    America is the land of opportunity. America is the land of dreams. America started out as a dream. Whoever sits in the overall office come January 2025, don’t forget the American citizens with disabilities. We just want the chance to turn our dreams into reality, like anyone else in the land of the free.

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    I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters

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  • Spiritual Breakthrough

    Spiritual Breakthrough

    Hello readers, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for spending a few minutes of your busy day with me. I had a really nice moment that I want to share with you all today. Before I do, let me just give a quick recap of who I am and my mission for this website, in case I have any new visitors.

    My name is Kevin, and I’m a Puerto Rican male living with cerebral palsy from New Jersey. I serve on various state and national boards advocating for people with disabilities. The purpose of this website is to create conversations about faith, society, and disability. The Purposely Broken World produces two episodes a month. On the 1st and 15th of every month. With the accompanying blogs every Wednesday. In addition, every so often, I have a few contributors that add to the website. For example, Miss Betzy Lee hosts the Living the Extraordinary Life Podcast.

    I will never charge for any work produced on this site. If you enjoy it, please leave me a few dollars in my Cash app or PayPal. There is also a link to support the podcast directly. Think of me as a musician just playing a song on the street. All links are above every post.

    As a writer, I’m always finding myself in front of a keyboard, typing my way through an idea. It may not surprise you to find out that I have a journal where I write letters to Jesus. Essentially, they are my prayers. On rare occasions, I share them with a friend. After reading it, I was asked a simple question: “Why don’t you ask God to help you walk?”

    This might sound naive or even strange, but I never gave it much thought. Once, when I was down the Atlantic City boardwalk, two inebriated gentlemen asked to pray over me. I didn’t want to be rude, and prayer is always good, so of course I said yes. They prayed that the demon would leave my body so I could walk. This was years before I was saved, so I didn’t take it seriously. Truthfully, I thought it was a bit rude. After all, they didn’t even say my name when they prayed.

    I will not lie my disability can be exhausting. People think it’s all about not walking and not being able to do stuff. There is no day off, which can be annoying, but it is what keeps me up at night. Even the best mother has been known to hide in her bathtub for a few extra minutes. Any dad will admit that they have stayed in the driveway of their house just to finish a song before going in. I can’t go for a run when I feel stressed. Physical therapy is not the same thing as a workout at the gym. Like most people, when I pray, I ask for my family, my friends, and a loving partner to accept me. Here is a fact: God is not a genie. One of the biggest challenges as a Christian is accepting his will over your own.

    I do not believe that God is not punishing me. I don’t believe I deserve to walk. My life purpose is to accept the gift of grace he’s giving me. I don’t have perfect faith. I also know that I don’t need to have perfect faith. I realized by thinking about this simple question that I’m not the man I used to be, nor am I the man I want to be. I think a lot of people like to pretend and lie to themselves about how strong they are in their faith as if they could show it off on Instagram. It’s okay to say you don’t understand God’s plan right now. It’s okay to say I’m willing to be God’s miracle. A miracle is more than just splitting the sea. It’s answering a text from my friend. It’s buying someone dinner. It’s doing a Bible plan with a friend. Faith is laughing until your ribs hurt. Faith is not being afraid to ugly cry.

    I can’t say I’ve ever seen myself walking down the street. However, I never thought I’d be going to Washington DC, regularly to be the voice for others. I just made the arrangements for my next trip in April. I know I’m going to dance with Jesus one day. That’s what faith means to me. At the age of 36, here’s my new prayer.

    ‭‭John‬ ‭9:1‭-‬3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ [1] As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3] “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

    “Jesus,

    My Lord and Savior. The keeper and protector of my faith. It would be wonderful to run, jump, and take showers by myself. If you’re willing, may I be healed physically so I may be able to do things like everyone else? So my life won’t be so hard.

    More importantly, may I be healed spiritually. So that I may be a miracle for your glory to help others. My life may not be easy, but because of this journey you gave me, I’ve done more than I ever thought I would. I’ve surprised so many people, including myself. Keep the devil from me so I may continue to thrive. My life can get lonely, but I know that with you by my side, there will never be a moment alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, I say

    Amen

    Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this very personal testimony. Have a good day. Tell me in the comments: What do you pray for?

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    I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters

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  • A “Walk” in a Park

    A “Walk” in a Park

    @theadvocacylifepodcastat

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    Greetings,. I hope everyone had a very nice Thanksgiving and is still eating leftovers. If you don’t like them, then hopefully it’s not too much. The important thing is that we don’t waste food.

    Is there one moment in your life that just makes you smile? This is something I’ve been wanting to write about for a long time. I know this will not make sense to a lot of people, but I went on a walk with God. This is another blog about my spiritual growth, so if you don’t want to read it, I won’t take offense. However, please scroll down to the bottom for a special announcement.

    Due to the global pandemic and my disability, my brother and I did not really leave the house for the majority of 2020 and 2021. I did not see family or friends. My family all got together and decided to splurge on a cruise for the holidays. The Allure of the Seas by Royal Caribbean The idea was to start 2022 off with a bang. Try to put all this pandemic sadness behind us. It’s easy to talk about how great the lobster and beef Wellington were. Being sunburned and peeled like a lizard in the Caribbean is not my greatest takeaway from this vacation. In the middle of this cruise liner, there is an actual park filled with flowers and bird noises. For someone who only made it as far as the backyard and a few doctor’s appointments, this was mind-blowing. You don’t have to take my word for it; click on this link to see it for yourself A central park in the middle of the ocean. Still don’t believe me? Take a good look at the picture In the future image of this post.

    This may surprise you, but I don’t spend a lot of time on my own. Some mothers may spend a little extra time in the bathtub with some candles just to relax. I don’t get that because I need help in the shower. I can be left alone for about 4 hours until I have to pee. If I’m honest, that’s the best-case scenario. I have to be doing something and not drinking anything. Having diabetes is a real pain. When I was a kid, I would hold it only because I could. Anyway, back on the ship. For a few minutes, I found myself scrolling through this park. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt peace and freedom! What would you do in this moment? I rode around and thanked God. People think they have to go on a road trip to discover him. As I’ve said before, God is accessible; he meets you where you are. I know I must have looked completely insane to everyone else who was strolling by. I was in the middle of a conversation.

    This ship had multiple decks with very accessible elevators. One of my most irrational fears was riding in an elevator by myself. I could get stuck. What are the odds that it will be empty on a ship full of people? It was! I hit the button and went down to meet my family After my conversation was over, I was so full of God’s grace and love that I didn’t even notice until after. We don’t always recognize the little moments that change our lives. The Holy Trinity is not a group of genies. Our circumstances don’t always change, but our perspectives can. It’s more important to recognize the interior change than anything on the outside. The same God that does big things also does small things. The same God that is in a house of worship is in your heart. Don’t forget to look in there also. Once again, I thank you for reading. Please leave any comments.

    A special announcement:

    This is my last blog for 2023. Think of it as the season finale of a good TV show, not a goodbye I will be returning in January with more podcasts and blogs around January 15, 2024. If you like my content, click on the links to support me. I hope you have a blessed holiday season and see you all next year!

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    I started Letters from the Limbo as a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Twice a month, I send out an email filled with personal anecdotes, professional updates (like my recent reelection as Vice Chair of the NJCDD), and the policy insights I don’t share anywhere else. This isn’t just another email—it’s an unfiltered look at the life of a disability advocate. Join my community and get an exclusive, honest look at the work that matters

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