Wheelchair Daddy

To the Wheelchair Dads Watching Their Kids Reach the Next Big Milestone Published on May 20, 2026 To the wheelchair dads watching their kids reach the next big milestone this season, this one is for you. Today, my son Jacob officially completes middle school. There’s no graduation stage. No cap and gown. No big ceremonial walk while I pretend I’m not emotional behind sunglasses. But make no mistake: this is still a milestone. I’m still trying to figure out how that sentence is real. One...

My Wheelchair Is My Seat: Let Me Stay in It on Planes Published on May 18, 2026 A Simple Idea That Shouldn’t Be Revolutionary My wheelchair is my seat, and I should be allowed to stay in it on planes. It’s a simple idea, but one that still hasn’t caught up with reality. Flying isn’t complicated because of the plane or the air travel itself—it’s everything that happens before takeoff. The transfers, the coordination, the waiting, and the uncertainty turn what should be a routine experience...

Accessible Cluster Mailbox Problems in New Neighborhoods Published on May 11, 2026 Drive through almost any new neighborhood today and you will likely see why an accessible cluster mailbox matters. Cluster mailbox accessibility sounds technical, but it affects everyday independence. A row of matching homes. Fresh landscaping. Sidewalks so new they still look nervous. Then, near the entrance or tucked into a common area, stands the accessible cluster mailbox unit — ready to give residents that...

Things Moms Just Know Published on May 10, 2026 Before becoming a dad, I thought parents mostly had things figured out. Now that I am a dad? I can confirm that — at least in my case — I’m basically flying through fatherhood by the seat of my pants while pretending I know what I’m doing. Honestly, half of parenting is confidently saying things like: “Yeah buddy, that’s probably normal.” …when internally you’re already preparing to Google it at 2:13am. Continue reading Things Moms Just Know at...

Combining Disability License Plates with Specialty Plates Published on May 5, 2026 I know, I know… you’re probably thinking, oh geez, he’s complaining about the most minute, trivial thing ever. Honestly? Fair. Still, hear me out. Combining disability license plates with specialty plates might sound like a small thing. And in the grand scheme of accessibility, it is. However, if disability is ever going to stop being an afterthought — something we tack on at the end — then we, collectively,...

Accessibility in Technology Has Come a Long Way Published on April 28, 2026 Accessibility in Technology Has Come a Long Way, and I see that progress every day. Voice assistants understand different speech patterns. Phones stabilize shaky hands. Predictive text finishes words before I type them. Built-in features help me stay organized, independent, and present as a dad. Compared to even 10 or 15 years ago, it’s a completely different landscape. However, while accessibility has improved...

The Assistive Technology I Use Every Day (That Most People Don’t Notice) Published on April 13, 2026 When people hear “assistive technology,” they usually picture something complicated. The Assistive Tech I Use Every Day (That Most People Don’t Notice) doesn’t look like specialized equipment or medical devices — instead, it looks like the same technology most people already use. Special equipment. Medical-looking devices. Expensive setups. I’ve used assistive technology for most of my life,...

Apple at 50: How Apple Accessibility Helps Me Capture Life as a Dad Published on April 1, 2026 Happy Birthday, Apple! Apple at 50: How Apple Accessibility Helps Me Capture Life as a Dad isn’t just a milestone — it’s a reminder of how thoughtful design and built-in accessibility make everyday moments easier for me as a dad with cerebral palsy. On April 1st, the company that put an iPhone in nearly every pocket turns 50. But for me, this milestone is really about Apple accessibility — and how...

Adults with Cerebral Palsy: Awareness Isn’t Enough Published on March 23, 2026 Every March, cerebral palsy gets its moment, complete with green ribbons, awareness posts, and inspirational quotes that somehow always involve mountains, sunsets, or a kid “overcoming” something. Hmm.. but aren’t we missing the adults with cerebral palsy in the room? And look—I’m not knocking awareness, because it does matter. However, after 55 years of living with cerebral palsy, I can tell you this with a...