Image Description: A selfie of Lessa, a white non-binary person with brown hair, tucked in a graduation cap and wearing a blue shirt.
Author Bio
Lessinaydraa “Lessa” Astercourte is a freelance artist and aspiring disability advocate. They’ve lived in Indianapolis for 4 years and intend to stay for a while yet, continuing to work on projects with various homeless and disability causes in the city. Their pronouns are they/them, they identify as a nonbinary lesbian, and their favorite animal is the tarantula.
Image Description: A headshot of a Black man with short hair and glasses, wearing a gray suit jacket, a patterned dress shirt, and a blue plaid tie.
Author Bio
Three words adequately describe the Reverend Doctor Milton Keys: Preacher, Teacher and Producer. Keys uses these three gifts to change the world. Although he was born with cerebral palsy, and a bleak diagnosis, Milton has let nothing stop him from achieving his goals. Despite being given a two-year life expectancy and being supposed to have severe cognitive disabilities, Milton has earned 3 degrees. He has produced and released 13 musical albums, 4 plays, 1 ballet, held 8 youth summits, and completed numerous small projects in the last two and a half decades. As a disability theologian, Dr. Keys has been working to promote the rights of people with disabilities and to create a more inclusive society. His writings and speeches are aimed at inspiring and empowering people to overcome their challenges and to achieve their goals. Keys is the founder and executive director of Advocates Embassy, an organization that helps churches create environments where people with disabilities feel safe, are welcomed, and have access to abundant life. In 2025, AE released Dr. Key’s first book, Finding My Place: A Devotional About Disability and the Human Experience. Dr. Keys is an ambassador from a world without boundaries.
Love yourself. No one else can do that for you. This seems impossible at fifteen but you have to learn somehow. Nothing else will get you through this beautiful but trying life.
Embarrassment is not a fatal condition no matter how much high school might lead you to believe it is. You are powerful because you know how to weep down into your bones. You know you might’ve made a great Juliet in the ninth-grade school play. Sure, the role wasn’t made for an overweight girl with cerebral palsy in a power wheelchair. Still, I’m proud of you for trying because it wasn’t the role they wanted you to play.
Who are they? Some of them are other kids who think you don’t belong in public school, influenced by parents who think your presence in their kids’ lives is an act of grave political significance. Alleged adults will tell you in your classes that they have been unsure of your intellect because you are unsure of yourself. They will write concerning notes on your report card about your startling lack of a social life.
You’re fifteen. You cannot actually remake society. The loud-mouthed women in your life will sometimes encourage you to try. Silent serious persistence aimed at specific goals is more your way, that’s all right.
Your brain cannot save you from your body. Also, your heart’s a mess. The good news is, the world is bigger than Richmond, Indiana where you now live.
At fifteen, you have two friends– maybe three. All of them are gorgeous boys–two blonds and one whose hair is auburn. None of them love you “like that.” Sometimes, you think that because the blond one cannot feel your love, you won’t survive but you do.
Your Mamaw and Papaw met at ten, married at eighteen and were married til they died. You have anxiety that you will fall behind. You won’t. You’ll have three whole weddings.
The bad news is, being loved “like that” still won’t save you from your disabled body. Your husband can’t know what to say or do when the stuff of your life is spoken of in terms of price ADL’s and units. You have to love yourself, because then you are free no matter what anyone else does. Jesus loves you so it doesn’t serve Him not to love yourself.
You are a curious girl, I love that about you. You will try to reshape your body and thoughts in at least a million different ways over the next twenty-seven years. Try not to be terrified of the woman you’ll become who neither diets nor dyes her hair. Life without other women’s beauty rituals doesn’t have to be scary.
It’s not your fault you were born and therefore take up space. Trust yourself more. You can’t be able-bodied , but you can be yourself which is pretty great, I love you, dear child. At least, I’m trying.
Love,
Stacye 2026
About the Author
Image Description: Woman in her thirties in a blue sundress and shawl holds a yellow bouquet, smiling.
Artist Bio
Stayce Robinson lives in Indianapolis with her husband Ryne and graduated with a master of arts in creative writing from Ball State University in 2013.
Image Descriptions: The first image is a yellow poster featuring a cartoon illustration of a smiling man, referred to as “The GM,” dressed as a football coach with a headset, a “GM” logo on his jacket, and a clipboard showing a play diagram. Above him, various encouraging phrases like “WOW, YOU DID IT!”, “I AM PROUD OF YOU!”, and “I SEE YOU! I HEAR YOU!” are scattered like speech bubbles. The main text at the bottom reads “HUDDLE UP WITH THE GM!” followed by a caption: “THAT’S WHY I WANT TO START A PODCAST TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND RECOGNIZE THEIR SUPER POWERS!!”
Image Description: The second image is a green poster featuring a cartoon of a smiling man dressed as a football coach with a headset and clipboard. The text “HUDDLE UP WITH THE GM!” is centered below him. Surrounding the coach are several encouraging phrases describing how PAC Services helps him, including: “Understand my options”, “Focus on what I CAN do”, “Feel seen, heard and respected.” A caption at the bottom explains that with a waiver, he is reaching his goals and starting a podcast to help others recognize their “SUPER POWERS!”
About the Artist
Image Description: A young man in his twenties with short brown hair. he is wearing a blue casual shirt with a tan hooded drawstring sweater over it. He is leaning on a brick wall with a smile on his face.
Artist Bio
Emry Cole McHugh Himes is a community leader from Southport, Indiana and the Inspirational Coach for the Franklin College Football Team, where he is known as the heart of the Grizzlies program. He is a Roncalli High School graduate, a participant in Franklin College’s Inspire program, and a longtime volunteer with organizations such as Best Buddies, Hope Gallery, and Special Olympics. Emry is also a Special Olympics athlete and 2025 Backstroke State Gold Medalist who loves music, dancing, sports, and bringing people together.
