Defining Courage
The concept of “courage” means different things to different people. Courage, by definition, is “the ability to disregard fear,” according […]
Author Archives: Derek VanderVeen
To Give
Just as the seasons change during the course of the year, people change during the Holidays. It=s like a blanket […]
Spirituality and Disability
Making your way in this crazy world can sometimes seem damn near impossible. When you have a disability you often […]
Borne Identity
October. The harvest moon casts a glow over the world, cradling us in a dusky, pale-amber embrace; fallen leaves carpet […]
Adapting to Change, Pt. 2
Tom Brick, recently retired from the staff of the State Council on Disabilities and a longtime activist for disability rights, […]
You Gotta Have Friends
(The Time of My Life, Part II) When we left our gallant hero In June, I set out on a […]
Hot Company
True courage is a characteristic of the strongest heart, and those involved with Interact Center for the Visual and Performing […]
The Time of My Life
Years ago, back when I first began my recovery from the injuries I suffered as a result of an auto […]
Accessing America
My disability is not that severe, at least according to my friends. Most people have difficulty even seeing it once […]
The Extra Mile: Part One
It was April 2, 2001 when I started my job in a southern Minneapolis suburb. At no other time in […]
This Isn’t Your Grandma’s Botox
My doctor told my family and me that recovery from the traumatic brain injury I’d endured would have a window […]
Pack Your Value
It’s funny how, as we grow and find out more about this world and how we fit in, our perspectives […]