Jennifer V.,  —

Jennifer V. (she/her) received her diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder – aquaporin-4 positive (NMOSD-AQP4) in early 2010. Residing in Toronto, Canada, Jennifer actively manages her condition, which is often unseen, by maintaining a busy schedule. She works as an HR consultant, and is a passionate patient advocate. In her personal life, Jennifer plays the roles of a devoted mother to her daughter, a dog's loving guardian (her fur baby), a dedicated wife, caring sister her siblings, and a protective daughter. You can stay updated with Jennifer by following her column, "The Beginner's Guide to Walking."

Articles by Jennifer van Amerom

How to Respond to the Dreaded Question, ‘How Are You?’

¿Cómo estás? 你好嗎 Ça va? How are you? With the holiday season upon us, people are getting together, hopefully safely, considering the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. While I always enjoy seeing friends and loved ones, I find it uncomfortable when I’m asked difficult questions like, “How are you?” While the phrase…

Why I Still Snowboard With a Disability

Gravity is my friend. Even if I’m tired, gravity will pull my snowboard and me down the mountain. I like to ride alone because I need to listen to music, which I only play in one ear so I can hear my surroundings. During the offseason, I build music…

How Pets Can Benefit People With Disabilities

Sometimes in life, the easiest decisions make the greatest impact. It probably wasn’t reasonable for a new couple to get a dog together, but that’s exactly how Marmaduke came into our lives. A wild idea led to an internet search, and as luck would have it, we were able to…

Why We Discuss Disability With Our Young Child

In my family, I am the third child of four, the daughter of proud, immigrant parents. I grew up in small towns until I finally relocated to Toronto in my early 20s. Growing up, I only knew one kid with an illness, and she entered my life as quickly as…