Opal Besaw, like most 21 year olds, is in search of her autonomy. To leave home for the first time, work a job, pursue an education; to have control over her own time and her own body. There are moments of joy and freedom, success and hope. But not everything goes smoothly. Opal encounters many of the same obstacles she has seen her entire life as a person with a disability. An elevator stops working, her power wheelchair runs out of charge, her shoe falls off and she can’t reach to pick it up. Opal has become adept at speaking up for her needs, but feels the weight of her reliance on others. She requires assistance with things like eating, going to the bathroom, and getting dressed. These responsibilities fall to Opal’s parents who live with her and care for Opal while working full time as teachers.                       

“I know that taking care of me is burdensome. It's frustrating that in order for me to have a life, that automatically means that someone else doesn't get to have a life,” Opal said. 

Despite the challenges she faces, Opal remains hopeful and determined, inspired by the disability rights advocates that paved the way for her and others in the disabled community. 

Opal recalls the exact moment that changed her life. She was 15 years old, watching a video of Judy Heumann, the renowned disability rights advocate who participated in a 26 day sit-in and later helped write the Americans with Disabilities Act. Opal can recite the speech Judy Heumann gave to members of congress from memory, word for word. 

“We will no longer allow the government to oppress disabled individuals. And I would appreciate it if you would stop shaking your head in agreement when I don’t think you understand what we are talking about.” Heumann says towards the end of her testimony.

Opal remembers thinking: 

“Oh my god. I’ve never seen someone with a disability stand up for themselves… stand up for a whole community. It slowly dawned on me the rest of the week that I could do that. I could be that.” 

Opal writes poems about her experience living with a disability. A passage from her poem, A Beautiful Home, reads:

“I wish for a beautiful home full of beautiful things

But most of all

I wish for a home that is filled with joy instead of sadness

Compassion instead of anger 

Respect instead of injustice 

Peace instead of unrest

And Love instead of hatred 

I wish these things 

Not only for my own home

But for all the homes in all the world

Amen”