Hawken is a recent graduate from the University of Southern California and a young journalist with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He has previously worked for the Washington Post, Sacramento Bee, KTLA 5 News and at USC Annenberg Media. When not writing columns, he’s reporting on rare disease-related news for the publisher of this website, BioNews.
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…
It’s hard to find time to spend outside, especially since I have a disease that hampers my mobility, but being outdoors reinvigorates and reboots me, and reconnects me to nature and God. During weekends I could lie under the covers well into the afternoon and watch…
I recently started my internship at The Washington Post in Washington, D.C. Getting to this point was a culmination of blood, sweat, and tears throughout all levels of education, and it’s not going to get any easier in the professional world. Establishing myself…
Watching YouTube videos allows me to simultaneously learn something new, laugh out loud, and connect with the gaming community. I never thought I could start a YouTube channel on my own. With the small number of videos I’ve produced on the…
Combining medical appointments with school, work, and finances can sometimes overwhelm me. My mom used to be the keeper of my schedule, but now it’s all up to me, and the pressure is on. The best way for me to reduce stress when everything seems to happen at…
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