Meet Lauren. This resilient author found her happy place at camp when she was a kid. She graduated from college, worked in nonprofit marketing for years, and now is a camp coordinator for a weeklong summer camp and weekend camps for adults with neuromuscular diseases. She and her friends are hosting a wheelchair accessible wellness and nature camp coming up in April. We are so fortunate to have her as a member of the Network.

What's your story?  Tell us a little bit about yourself

Lauren lives with spinal muscular atrophy type II and has been a power wheelchair user since the age of four. An only child of two incredibly supportive parents, she grew up in New Lisbon, a small, rural town in central Wisconsin. She explains that she had a fairly typical childhood, aside from relatively frequent hospital stays and a few major surgeries. “The highlight of my year was attending MDA Summer Camp where I spent a week with kids like me and was introduced to mentors with similar disabilities who attended college and inspired me to do the same,” she tells us. After high school, she moved almost two hours away to pursue a degree and independence at UW–Whitewater. Not only did she earn a BA in multimedia digital art, but the skills to live independently with a team of caregivers. Shortly after graduation, she met her partner of 15 years and moved to Janesville, where she currently resides. She worked for 14 years in nonprofit marketing until recently retiring to focus on her health. Last spring, her partner and full-time caregiver passed away unexpectedly. In order to remain independent and stay in her home, she recruited and hired a team of 10 personal care assistants from scratch thanks to Family Care's SDS program. After seven months of living with her parents so they could care for her while she grieved and recruited caregivers, she’s incredibly grateful to be living on her own with the support of her amazing team, with her two dogs, in her home of 11 years.

How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Lauren is currently one of two camp coordinators for With A Little Help, Inc., an organization that provides a weeklong summer camp and weekend camps for adults with neuromuscular diseases. More information can be found at walh.org

Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination?
Lauren and some friends are also hosting a wheelchair accessible wellness and nature retreat April 25th–27th at Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek in Wisconsin Dells, WI. This weekend-long retreat experience will offer professionally led group sessions and workshops focusing on mental health, nature immersion, and community building for individuals of all abilities, as well as access to miles of paved nature trails, nourishing homemade meals, and fully accessible accommodations. More information and registration can be found at bit.ly/retreatable

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
In 2015, Lauren wrote and self–published a children's book entitled The Out Of Reach Peach by Lauren Oh. She explains that it was originally created as a baby shower gift for her best friend's first child, and the story follows, Leon, an owl who doesn't let his uniquely small wings prevent him from going on adventures and conquering challenges with the help of his new friends. The book is available now on Amazon.

What are some of your hobbies?
Lauren loves art of all kinds and enjoy writing, photography, and creating digital art. She also enjoys anything involving nature including going on trail walks and gardening. She and her partner used to enjoy traveling, camping, and attending music festivals in our converted shuttle bus camper. 

***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.