Advocate

Minimalist illustration of a young woman with pale pink bobbed hair working at an accessible office workstation with an ergonomic chair, footrest, raised laptop, wrist support, desk lamp, fan, water bottle, and cane. Coworkers sit at desks in the background.

Workplace Accommodations for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a complex chronic condition that for many patients comes with some level of disability. It also often comes with other comorbidities (health conditions that occur alongside a primary diagnosis) such as dysautonomia or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). As there are 13 types of EDS and symptoms often manifest differently in […]

The Other Back-to-School Checklist: Redefining a Successful School Year for Kids With EDS

As a mother of three children living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the start of a new school year has always brought a certain amount of anxiety. While many of my mom friends and their kids were shopping for new clothes and school supplies, excited about the possibilities of a fresh start, my back-to-school “to-do” list often […]

Novelty disguise glasses with bushy eyebrows, a large plastic nose, a small mustache, and a drawn frown on a white background.

The Pressure to “Perform Wellness”

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that has nothing to do with the joint pain, dysautonomia flares, or GI symptoms. It has everything to do with how you’re expected to present those things to other people, specifically your healthy, able-bodied friends or coworkers or strangers on the street. If you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) or […]

Minimalist graphite sketch of five towering stacks of administrative forms, folders, and clipped papers against a plain white background.

Beyond the Medical: Why Disability Is an Administrative Experience Too

For most of my life, other people told my story. As a teenager, I saw my story appear in newspaper articles, documentaries, and conference presentations, focused on my rare genetic condition, scientific discovery, and perseverance. The stories helped other families find answers and gave people hope, and I remain grateful for the community they created. […]

Amy Wang-Hiller seated in a wheelchair, holding a violin and bow, wearing a black dress and smiling at the camera.

An Interview with Amy Wang-Hiller: Music, Disability, and Advocacy

This month, we spoke with Amy Wang-Hiller, a violinist living with quadriplegia, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), and related complex neuro-connective tissue conditions. As a violin instructor, Amy works with intermediate and advanced musicians navigating changes that affect performance, such as complex neurological disorders. She is also a disability advocate, founder of the InclusiVibe Foundation, and […]

Cover of the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation 2013 Learning Conference welcome brochure. The cover reads "2013 Learning Conference" and lists the Rhode Island Convention Center and The Omni Providence in Providence, Rhode Island, with conference dates of August 1–3. A nighttime photograph of the Providence skyline appears at the bottom of the cover.

Ten Years and a Time Capsule: What Changed, What Didn’t, and What’s Next

July is a busy month in the Ehlers-Danlos world. The EDS Society’s Annual Global Learning Conference takes place in Allen, Texas, on July 24-26. It will feature a great lineup of esteemed physician speakers, patient organizations, advocates, and presentations covering this year’s theme: “Exploring Comorbidities in EDS & HSD.” It is also the Ten-Year Celebration of the founding of the Ehlers-Danlos […]

"Graphic for Disability Pride Month featuring the Disability Pride flag with diagonal red, yellow, white, blue, and green stripes on a dark gray background, overlaid with a black accessibility wheelchair symbol in the center."

Disability Pride Month: The World Works Better With Us

  Every July, the disability community marks Disability Pride Month: an annual celebration tied to the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA was a landmark civil rights law that prohibited discrimination against disabled people in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and government services. It was the result of […]

Illustration of a student with EDS using a cane as she heads to college, pulling a suitcase and carrying a zebra-themed tote bag. A campus building awaits in the distance, symbolizing independence, resilience, and pursuing higher education with a disability.

College Accommodations for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

  Going off to college is an exciting time, filled with new adventures and much more freedom, both personally and academically. However, it can also come with numerous challenges, particularly for students with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and related conditions. On the positive side, increased independence means students with EDS may be able to manage some […]