Hawken Miller, features writer —

Since early childhood, we have all strived to become independent. We want to be able to do things on our own. However, to achieve independence with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, we must flip the typical definition of the word on its head.  When we think about…

Life can get hectic sometimes, especially when you are dealing with a rare disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, you shouldn’t let your busy schedule prevent you from making regular visits to your primary care physician or neurologist. At routine appointments, your doctors can track your…

Last week, I wrote an open letter to parents of kids with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Now I want to offer some words of advice to those kids. Your parents love you and will sacrifice a lot for your well-being. That means you have an even greater responsibility as a…

Whether your child has been living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy for years or was just diagnosed, I’m here to remind you that it isn’t the end of the world. It’s just the beginning, and there’s more hope than ever.  You have…

Being reliant on a wheelchair is not always easy, but there’s no reason to let wheels stop you from getting out and having a good time. Modern technology and increased accessibility have opened doors. Museums, movies, and walks through the park are just a sampling of activities available…

I believe that my physical limitations heighten my observational skills and journalistic Spidey sense. Throughout my life, I’ve realized that I notice and remember the finer details that my physically-abled friends do not.  I read license plates to figure out how old a car is…

I have a lot going on in my life right now, and I don’t get enough time to rest. I’m transitioning to independent living, keeping track of my income while balancing my medical expenses, and completing an internship at The Washington Post while…

I didn’t know many kids with Duchenne muscular dystrophy growing up. Everyone around me was physically able; I was the only one who couldn’t keep up. Now, as I’ve gotten older, I understand the importance of finding friends who have the same disease. When I meet someone…

I discovered something different about Washington, D.C. when I moved there for the summer: wheelchair-accessible Ubers are everywhere. Los Angeles, where I come from, has a dearth of accessible Ubers. Having the ability to take an Uber with my power chair opens up a…

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is not easy for people to wrap their heads around. Most haven’t heard of the disease, which is rare and affects about 1.02 males ages 5 to 24 per 10,000 in the United States. When people see me walking, they might…