Now Is the Best Time to Set 2020 Goals
As we finish the first month of 2020, I keep thinking about how time flies as I get older. There are many theories for this phenomenon. For me, it’s all in the math. When I was 10, a…
Living, Learning, Thriving
— Ralph Yaniz
Ralph has served as the executive director of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation and the Berwyn Cicero Council on Aging, helping to establish the organization and begin serving the community. He was also an AARP regional vice president for a decade and, prior to that, the Illinois State Director for four years.
He holds BS and MA degrees in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago and worked as a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois for three decades. He also holds an MBA degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Ralph has served on numerous boards for nonprofit organizations and in 2018 founded the LGMD2L Foundation to help look for treatments and cures for his form of muscular dystrophy.
Featured Post
A Day on the Hill: Using Our Voices to Lobby Lawmakers
Columnist’s Note: Dear reader, this will be my final column at Muscular Dystrophy News. The past 15 months have been wonderful, but I have decided to take time away from writing to work on a variety of things, including…
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Ralph Yaniz -- Living, Learning, Thriving
Society Is Missing the True Definition of Inclusion
My experiences writing this column over the past year have been fabulous. But it was daunting at first to put pen to paper to capture what so many people feel. My first column talked about starting something new…
Surviving Winter with Muscular Dystrophy
I sometimes wonder how I will survive Chicago winters going forward. Winter is not a problem for some people with neuromuscular disorders. But for those of us in colder climates, it’s a big deal. The reality of my city’s…
The Employment Gap for People with Disabilities Is Too Wide
The world of employment and disabilities is difficult for me to understand. Readers of my column have always been good about giving feedback. I’d love your input on this subject because it is so important. The numbers don’t make…
My Adventure in a Wheelchair
Many of you who follow my column know that I focus on how those of us with a disability stay strong mentally and physically. I have also written about advocating for ourselves as patients and effecting positive…
Let’s Stay on the Cutting Edge of Research
I can’t believe it’s been 13 years since I started exhibiting muscle loss. A lot has happened since then. My loss is slow but steady. Even when I plateau, I look back and realize that I’ve weakened over time.
Prioritizing Goals in Life with MD
I have spent my entire career working and volunteering in the nonprofit arena. My focus has moved from mental health to aging to disabilities. I learned from each step and took that knowledge into the next phase of my…
Peeling Back the Layers of Societal Barriers for People with Disabilities
We often have the radio on at home in the mornings to keep up with news and events. I was working at my home desk recently when I heard an astonishing comment from an on-air guest on a program…
Opportunities Abound for Travel and Accessibility
My first column for Muscular Dystrophy News Today focused on the excitement of starting something new in life. I promised that future columns would focus on the many adventures awaiting us. The hope of traveling and seeing the…
‘30 Days of MD’ Brings Awareness That Lasts All Year
I am proud to say that Muscular Dystrophy News Today is running a great initiative called “30 Days of MD.” This series of stories by patients, caregivers, researchers, and others will continue for the duration of September…
National LGMD Conference Builds the MD Community
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in a very special conference in Chicago. I’d had the honor of seeing this event grow from the idea stage; the first planning meetings were over a…
Inaccessible Accessibility: It’s Time to Get Serious
Let’s really get serious about what accessibility is. The website Disabled World calls it the “‘ability to access’ the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity.” In short, the more people who can use the product,…
