The Challenges of Navigating Life with a Disability in Northern Nevada

“Growing up with a disability was hard. When you’re a kid, all the other kids want to know what’s wrong, why you walk like that, and why you do certain things,” Jenna said. Jenna is a 28-year-old disabled woman living in Reno, Nevada. She’s been navigating her disability her entire life. When Jenna was an infant, she suffered a stroke, which resulted in severe deficiencies on the left side of her body. Jenna’s left hand often takes a hooked position due to the lack of strength in her wrist, and her left foot turns outwards, making it difficult to walk. But Jenna is not alone; more than 1 in 4 adults live with some type of disability in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. “I didn’t start walking when everyone else my age did. I would walk on my tippy toes, I wore casts, and I would fall over places. I couldn’t be alone.” she said. Jenna has come a long way since then. In early October Jenna got engaged to her fiancé, Jon. Now the couple lives together in a small townhouse in South Reno, along with Jon’s 6-year-old daughter. Jenna plays an active role in Jon’s daughter’s life, often being the main caretaker of her while Jon is working. Audio minidoc by Sara Ewing-Garcia.