The Invisible Illness Club | Chronic Illness, Auto Immune30 Juni

061 Disability Is Not a Bad Word: Jenna D’Angelo Shiner on Accessibility, Faith, and Living with Chronic Illness

What does it look like to navigate life when the world isn’t always built with disability in mind? In this episode, I’m joined by Jenna D’Angelo Shiner, who shares her journey from being able-bodied to living with chronic illness and disability. We talk about mobility aids, internalized ableism, accessibility, faith, church culture, and why disability is not a bad word. This honest conversation explores what it means to live fully, advocate well, and create spaces where everyone belongs.

What You’ll Learn

Jenna’s journey into disability and chronic illness
The emotional transition from able-bodied to disabled
Why using mobility aids can bring freedom instead of defeat
What internalized ableism looks like and why so many struggle with it
How disability identity shapes the way we see ourselves
Why accessibility matters and practical examples of barriers people face every day
How churches can become more welcoming and inclusive
The relationship between faith, healing, and living with chronic illness
Why loving others includes advocating for accessibility and justice

One Tiny Step

Take a fresh look at one space you frequent—your church, workplace, favorite coffee shop, or even your home—and ask yourself, “Would this be easy to navigate for someone with a disability?” Small changes can make a big difference.

Guest Info

Jenna D’Angelo Shiner is a social worker, disability advocate, and passionate voice for accessibility and disability justice. She lives with chronic illness and disability and loves helping people better understand what life actually looks like for those navigating a world that isn’t always designed with them in mind.

Find her at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenna.reza

Instagram: instagram.com/jenrezdan

Resources

Join The Unseen Sisterhood newsletter
Visit The Invisible Illness Club website
Listen to more episodes of The Invisible Illness Club podcast

Credits

Host: April Aramanda

Guest: Jenna D’Angelo Shiner

Music: AudioJungle

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(73)

072 The Fear That Never Fully Leaves: Living With Chronic Illness Uncertainty

A familiar ache. A lower energy day. A call from the doctor's office. A test result in the patient portal. Sometimes one small moment is enough to send the mind racing toward the next flare, the next ...

15 Sep 12min

071 How to Talk to Children About Chronic Illness, with Sara Olsher

Trigger Warning: This episode includes conversations about cancer, chronic and terminal illness, death, anticipatory grief, and talking with children about a loved one’s health. Children notice the ca...

8 Sep 40min

070 The Apology Habit: You Do Not Have to Be Sorry for Having Limits

How many times have you said “I’m sorry” this week? Sorry I canceled. Sorry I am tired. Sorry I need help. Sorry my body changed the plan again. For many of us living with chronic illness, those words...

1 Sep 12min

069 Building a Business That Lets You Rest, with Randi Pullar

What if your business expected your body to have hard days? For chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, conventional business advice can feel impossible to follow. Post constantly. Stay visi...

25 Aug 1h

068 Chronic Illness and the Lonliness of Being Misunderstood

Some of the loneliest moments happen beside people who genuinely love us. They may pray for us, bring dinner, sit in waiting rooms, and help however they know how—and still struggle to understand what...

18 Aug 14min

067 The Things I Never Thought I’d Miss With Chronic Illness

Before chronic illness, I never thought I would miss walking through Target, standing in line, helping Victor drive on a long road trip, or sitting comfortably in one position for more than a few minu...

11 Aug 14min

066 When Chronic Illness Makes Your World Feel Smaller

Chronic illness rarely changes everything at once. More often, your life becomes smaller one quiet “no” at a time. You make fewer plans. You start calculating the physical cost of every invitation. Pl...

4 Aug 11min

065 The Version of You No One Sees: Invisible Struggles, Faith, and Being Known

There is a version of you that almost no one knows—the one carrying private fears, unseen grief, unanswered questions, and struggles that never become visible enough for other people to recognize. In ...

28 Juli 14min