An area woman is using her disability to spread awareness, but not just on a local level.
Danielle Stevens-Orsborne was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement. The mom of five, who is in a wheelchair and an advocate for others with SMA, has a simple message.
“I’m here, I’m here to stay, we’re not going anywhere. We contribute, we love, we go to college, we have kids and families. We just want to be seen as human, as much as the next person,” she said.
Using that message, Danielle was recently crowned Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania. She now plans to go to Nationals to spread her message of hope and inclusion.
“It’s really about how in this day and age, where there are so many things that weren’t legal just ten years ago, and everybody has the same equal rights and privileges, for the disabled community, that’s still very much so not the case,” she said.
“People often say ‘I’m sorry’ when they see me or hear about my disease, but there is absolutely nothing to be sorry about, nothing. I have a great life,” she added.
Danielle says she’s seen improvements over the years in regards to how people react to others who may be different, but notes more needs to be done.
“I would like to do some compassion training because often times, more often than not, people don’t know how to talk to someone that’s disabled, mentally or physically. They don’t know how to approach you whey they want to help but they don’t want to offend,” she said.
The National competition is in August in Grand Rapids, MI. Danielle will not only be representing PA, she will also be representing her local community. The Tyrone native, who now lives in the Ginter area is excited to continue advocating for others with disabilities.
“I really hope that my community, the place I grew up in and the place that I love would reach out and support me, everybody knows somebody with a disability,” she said.
Danielle will need to pay her own way to get to the national stage. If you would like to contribute to her campaign, you can click here.
To learn more about Ms. Wheelchair PA and to follow Danielle on her journey, click here.