From performers to Paralympians, Southern California’s disabled community is diverse

After a corrective surgery for a bowed tibia gone wrong in her childhood, Claremont resident Samantha Bosco grew up with permanent nerve damage, and her right leg two-and-a-half inches shorter than her left.

From a young age, the Inland athlete did not let her disability and unbalanced leg stop her from participating in sports like basketball, track and field, gymnastics, road and mountain biking. Her drive and determination eventually brought her to the U.S. Paralympics Cycling national team, the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro — and to become a professional cyclist, two-time Paralympian bronze medalist for Team USA, and world champion.

“If I can share my story, help somebody or inspire somebody to chase a dream or to think about something that they truly love and not hold themselves back on it, I would share my story 20 times a day if I could,” Bosco, now 37, said.

Bosco — who will again be going for the gold in cycling at the Paris Paralympic Games, from late August to early September — is  proud to represent and celebrate people with disabilities every day.

She joins numerous individuals and groups in Southern California advocating for the disabled community during and beyond July’s Disability Pride Month — a month dedicated to bringing awareness to physical and developmental disabilities, and combating stigmas against disabled people.

Across Southern California, the rights and representation of disabled community members have been a recent hot topic — from controversial restrictions to Disneyland’s Disability Access Service program, to a new class action lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles for, activists say, not meeting federal and state accessibility laws in some of its public parks.

Despite ongoing challenges, the disabled community and allies have been showing up proudly over the past few weeks.

Awareness and accessibility 

Van Nuys resident Bill Abramson, who is autistic, was linked with a Special Needs Life Skills Program through Jewish Family Service L.A. earlier this year. He now works with a case manager to help him find accessible work.

The program helps adults with developmental disabilities find job opportunities and resources — from job training and case management, to resume workshops and interview coaching — helping to build independence and prepare them to enter the workforce, JFSLA officials said.

“Autism can affect your behavior and make you a worrier… my pride was a big thing for me to get over. When I finally said, I could use some help, the regional center gave me a lot of support,” said Abramson, who volunteers weekly at the center to pack food for the homeless. “We (disabled people) can do things.”

Abramson, considered a role model in the program, said he “exercises good work ethics.”

“I looked up to a lot of people in my childhood so I dig it as a compliment, that they look up to me and we can help each other,” he said.

Also looking to uplift others is Anaheim resident Rachael Stickles, who started the pop-up merchandise brand“The Chronically Illest” to fill a void she saw in the accessibility devices market.

“I’m someone who doesn’t really look disabled unless maybe my medical devices are showing,” Stickles, who has Type 1 diabetes, said. “Nobody sees that with Type 1 diabetes, it’s every single day you have to monitor your blood sugar, 24/7.”

Today, Stickles uses her social media and business to spread awareness and education about diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

While being active in the diabetes community over the last decade, she launched “The Chronically Illest” a year ago with her partner. The brand sells accessible products — including medical devices, accessories, insulin pump purses, decals and merchandise promoting disability awareness and pride — to markets across Southern California. Stickles hopes to expand the business in the future to carry accessibility accessories, like bedazzled canes.

In early July, the pop-up hosted a Disability Pride Month picnic in Fullerton to gather disabled people and allies for special giveaways, and to build community. Attendees benefitted from a medical supply swap and a “co-pay giveaway” drawing, where some had their insulin co-payments covered by the business.

Stickles said that having inclusive events like these, helping other disabled persons in need, gives her “hope… that’s so vital for our community to survive.”

“It’s always been kind of a dream of mine to erase the stigma between diabetes and make people aware of the struggles,” Stickles added. “Being branded as being something cool, and something to be proud of, is kind of the theme our business has… being sick is sick.”