I am a 48 year old woman with a rare disease known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta. I have had more surgeries,  broken bones and serious health issues than I can count yet I have always overcome the adversity life has thrown my way. I graduated from college and from Georgetown University School of Law at the top of my class. I am no longer able to practice law because of my health but I am raising two beautiful children who I adopted internationally with husband, Kyle. I am passionate about disability rights and am very active with the national foundation for my disease.

As a disabled woman, I have had to fight for things that most people take for granted. My parents had to fight for me to get an education. I had to fight for every job I got. I had to fight for health insurance and good health care. I had to fight to adopt both of my children. And I continue to have to fight for things as simple as access to buildings or an accessible parking space. I still regularly experience discrimination – probably in some form almost every day. Today, I am terrified. Terrified that all these fights have been for nothing and that we have turned back to a time when people with disabilities were locked away and not valued as contributors to our society. I am also worried about the discrimination that my foreign-born children with different skin color will face. What terrifies me the most, however, is not Trump but the fact that 58 million people voted for this. Voted for a man who openly mocked a disabled reporter and holds views on minorities that should scare every person in this country regardless of political party.