Fall or float? How we respond to events that occur in our lives reveals a lot about us. How buoyant are you? When adversity looms high above you, does it knock you down? Or are you able to rise above it? Things are not always as they seem, and coming to this realization usually requires a shift in perspective. This lesson is learned by young and old alike in the pages of this issue of Kaleidoscope.
In our featured essay, “Iron Girl,” Cassandra Brandt was a rarity as an iron worker and welder in a field that is predominantly male. At thirty-two, she was a strong, fearless, self-sufficient, and adventurous single mom of a thirteen-year-old daughter. She felt at home on a construction site, hard hat and steel-toed boots on, climbing onto beams several floors above the ground. When a car accident left her paralyzed from the chest down, she went from fiercely independent to utterly dependent in the blink of an eye. It would take time for her to redefine herself and recover her mental toughness. During rehab she learned that a different sort of heavy machinery would help move her forward.
Erika Marie York is our featured artist. Seeing life as a beautiful gift, she tries to incorporate its wonder in the vibrant, bold work she creates. She is legally blind, yet well-versed in adapting to challenges as they arise. Read more about her and the works of many other contributors to this issue including Jennifer Lee Austin, David Bachmann, Notty Bumbo, Douglas G. Campbell, Mimi Eagar, Hannah Ehrlich, Elly Katz, Isolde Keilhofer, Rowan MacDonald, Allegra M. Marcell, Deb Robert, Wendy Sheehan, Naomi Stenberg, Poppy Reeves, Mary Ellen Talley, Joseph Trance, Susan Levi Wallach, Devon Wells, and Emily Yates who share their insightful stories, thought-provoking poetry, and poignant essays on these pages.
Kaleidoscope magazine, published by United Disability Services in Akron, OH, offers a creative and thought-provoking exploration of the experience of disability through literature and the fine arts. This award-winning publication highlights diverse perspectives—including those of individuals with disabilities, their families, friends, healthcare providers, educators, and others—capturing the richness and complexity of life with a disability.