Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Machandria Peters . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Machandria, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Watching the documentary “Crip Camp” was a defining moment for me and my desire to advocate for individuals with disabilities. It showcased a community banning together to create a necessary change. This was the catalyst that led to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It showed me that there are others like myself who desire to show society that we matter, we deserve accessible spaces, and that we will fight.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

You could say that I was born for this! I slid out of the womb and into the world two months premature and I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of two. What sets me apart from others is my ability to educate through sharing my lived experiences as a person with a disability. I am most of proud of the fact that I have been able to take lived experiences and use them to educate individuals who often have misconceptions about our lives. The main thing that I want followers, fans,and everyone to know is we out here living!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Daily living with Cerebral Palsy is a habitual illustration of resilience. Cerebral Palsy effects motor skills and the brain’s ability to send proper signals to your body. It’s equivalent to telling Alexa,Google, or Siri to pull up a bread recipe and they do not receive the message,compute something else, and shut down. Now, imagine this happening your whole life. It can be draining but, I am determined to continue living, achieving my goals, and educating others.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I feel that transparency is the most helpful for succeeding in my field because it opens doors for uncomfortable conversations which allows myths and misconceptions about living with a disability to be debunked.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/machandria_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/machandria.peters.3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/machandria-peters-38644a194/

Image Credits
Dr Kristen Guillory Karen Thomas Machandria Peters