My name is Lisa Irving. I am 52 years-old and I reside in San Diego. I live
with visible and invisible disabilities. I am blind to the extent that I see
some colors and some shapes. I also live with a mental health disability.
In some respects my life isn’t much different than that of other women. I
work part-time and  live alone. I am an avid reader and I like to body
board. To a large extent, I am who I am today because my adoptive mother
didn’t cave to the nay-sayers.

Many of us would agree that attitudes toward the disability community are
the biggest barriers that we experience. Attitudes cannot be mandated. That
is why there is state and federal disability laws. Despite all of the
legislation rarely does a day go by when I  am not subjected to some degree
of discrimination. Lately, it’s been flawed websites or share-ride drivers
who refuse to transport me and my guide dog. Yet, I am grateful  to live in
the United States.  I am thankful for our laws and   I appreciate the
legacies of my predecessors who enabled me to live the life that I choose.

Throughout my life I, willingly and sometimes unwillingly, educate and
advocate for myself and the blind community. Until recently, I believed that
my contributions to my people made a difference. Now, I am wondering which
rights and what freedoms will be repealed?  For the time being, I do not
like what I see; President Trump is about to trigger a civil rights
maelstrom.