Rebecca Alexander: Face It, Embrace It, You Can Do it
Rebirth With J.R. Martinez
English - March 25, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.3 MBSociety & Culture Health & Fitness Mental Health Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Rebecca Alexander is an Author, Keynote Speaker, Psychotherapist, and Disability Rights Advocate. Rebecca was diagnosed with a rare condition that would leave her blind and deaf over the course of her lifetime. When she had to use a cane to walk for the very first time, she cried. Today, she shares her experiences and how her genetic disorder has not stopped her from being an extreme athlete, jumping out of planes, and so much more.
Key Takeaways
Rebecca was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, Type 3, which is a very rare condition that only about 100 people in the world have. When was the first time Rebecca was labelled as having a disability? When Rebecca was in college, she met someone who advocated for her and made her feel like it was okay to have a disability. RJ met a 12-year-old boy who was losing his vision and he shared with him why his blindness was a blessing. When we think ‘disabled’ we immediately think of what someone can’t do. How did Rebecca become an extreme athlete? Rebecca was in a serious accident where she fell out of a window when she was younger and broke nearly every bone in her body. Humor plays a critical role in feeling alive again. Rebecca has to be physical. Ever since the accident, she lives with chronic pain. By working out, she feels like she’s in control of her body. What does Rebecca’s diet look like? What kind of challenges has Rebecca faced while being so active? Asking for help is not a weakness. People who need a cane, it can take them between 5-15 years to accept that reality and finally use one. The first time Rebecca used a cane, she cried. If you care so much about the way you look or your disability, or how it’s perceived to others, you’ll be wasting so much energy. This is who you are, embrace it. How did Rebecca become a psychotherapist? Rebecca shares her experiences skydiving! How can able-bodied people better show up for someone with a disability?
Continue On Your Journey
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