To President Biden, From an American With a Disability

Dear Joe Biden,

I’ve heard you struggled immensely with stuttering in the past. Sometimes you still stutter or struggle pronouncing something, but I know what you mean. An estimated one in four Americans have a disability, and I am one of them. I was born with cerebral palsy. I don’t stutter, but I do have a slight limp when I walk and my hamstrings are tight.

President Biden, I know you know what it feels like to be different. I know you know what it feels like to lose someone you love. Your stuttering isn’t a liability, but an asset. It proves you’re human and imperfect. I hope you place Americans with disabilities at the forefront of your administration and policy agenda, and I hope the Biden presidency will be one of inclusion and tremendous gains for those in the disability community.

Thank you for inspiring those of us with disabilities to continue to reach for new heights. When you succeed, America succeeds. I will be praying for you.