This interview was done with Dr. Marcia (shey/they), a physical therapist based out of the United States. They completed their Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2014. Currently she is a physical therapist, yoga teacher, co-host of a podcast, and creates accessible content across a range of social media.
Dr. Marcia has sjogren’s syndrome, small fiber neuropathy, dysautonomia, Hypermobile type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), as well as identifies as neurodivergent. They described themselves as being athletic but clumsy their whole life and overall “healthy” (besides allergies and asthma). A few years post physical therapy (PT) graduation, she developed chronic illness.
Their use of mobility aids centers around energy conservation at home. These include shower stools, kitchen tools, buying footwear that's easily put on, and using a portable air filtration system for allergies.
In the following interview Dr. Marcia discusses her experience with graduate school and professional practice in relation to her disabilities.
Graduate School
What type of barriers did you face in grad school?
I am not a morning person, and I also don't sleep or rest well. This makes waking up and getting somewhere on time tough. I also have auditory processing delays, which caused issues with teachers that didn't provide slides or relied heavily on verbal teaching techniques. More often than not, I would read ahead and tune back in whenever I had questions.
Did you feel supported in grad school? By faculty, other students, etc…
I was very lucky to have support from the Dean of our program (a Black woman at the time) and Dean of the college (a Black man at the time), as both wanted to support 1 of 3 Black people in the class. They helped me to secure a scholarship that covered a significant amount of tuition.
“No matter the program or prestige, do NOT assume the school is accessible or will provide needed support.”
Is there any advice that you would give to students with physical disabilities applying for or in school now?
No matter the program or prestige, do NOT assume the school is accessible or will provide needed support. Find out what their accommodations process is like, find clubs/communities of disabled folks to see what their experience is like, and get your paperwork in order. Although self diagnoses are totally valid, educational & work institutions rarely honour them.
Do you feel accessibility (in general) has changed at all since you started school?
In terms of education, no. In terms of technology, definitely! Unfortunately, although we have all the tools available to us to offer accessible education, disabled and chronically ill folks are still an afterthought for many schools.
Professional Practice
Can you describe your professional practice right now? (Private/public, in person/telehealth, clientele type ie age or specific conditions)
Since graduation in 2014, I've worked in skilled nursing homes (SNF), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF), pediatric outpatient clinics, prescribed pediatric extended care centers (PPEC), adult neurological outpatient clinics, acute care hospital settings, wound care hospital settings, and schools. These days I am entirely self employed. Since the pandemic, my in person services are only for the pediatric population, many of which are on state Medicaid or managed care plans. I do not offer telehealth or wellness services anymore for adults, but I do create free & low cost content online.
Can you talk about when you were seeing clients in person vs. Telehealth?
In person with adults pre-pandemic for me was not as fulfilling as pediatrics in person (which I still do) as a business owner. Anyone looking to run their own practice needs to find the area that calls to them and more importantly the community that values them. Although I was great and enjoyed treating strength athletes, the community as a whole does not value Black, Chronically Ill & Disabled Women. Find a community that finds your value and you'll never have an issue.
How does having a disability AFFECT your practice?
It changes the environments I'm a part of due to heat intolerance and photosensitivity. Also with the ongoing pandemic there are additional safety concerns that keep me out of many spaces. My disability also comes with cognitive dysfunction that varies day to day, meaning I can't always do important tasks for myself, my practice, and my household in a day. It helps whenever possible to have a good support network outside of work, and support within the practice. I am lucky to hire help 5-6 hours a week to help with admin stuff that piles up
How does having a disability INFORM your practice?
The healthcare system teaches us that disabilities are for old or "unhealthy" people, and that traumatic accidents happen but not that much. So it feeds into an us vs them mentality. Having a disability has informed me greatly in terms of recognizing ableism, reducing harm, and providing options when it comes to exercise.
Do you feel supported by your employer? What do they do right? What can they improve?
I never did. and this is why I run my own show. In large hospital systems there is no wiggle room for anything below productivity standards or outside of 8-5. For small time employers, I was overworked and undervalued by toxic bosses that did not want to accomodate my need for limited schedules.
“Having a disability has informed me greatly in terms of recognizing ableism, reducing harm, and providing options when it comes to exercise.”
What would you like other health professionals to know about disabled health rehab workers?
We exist and we're still damn good at our jobs.
What would you like patients to know about disabled health rehab workers?
Needing accommodations or needing to do things differently does not make anyone less than.
Anything else you would like to share?
Anyone can become disabled at any time. It's not a matter of poor choices or unhealthy habits. Disability is an equal opportunity employer. So when we create an accessible and inclusive world (universal design) with PWD in mind, it benefits everyone.
Interview with Dr. Marcia, conducted by Stephanie Molloy
Where to find Dr. Marcia:
Website: DoctorMarcia.com
YouTube: @MoveWithMarcia
Instagram: @MoveWithMarcia
TikTok: @MoveWithMarcia