How Jennifer Gasner is Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis
Jennifer Gasner, a woman with wavy blond hair, smiling at the camera. She’s wearing a white top and turquoise glasses.
By Arielle Dance, Diversability Writer
I recently had the opportunity to interview Jennifer Gasner (she/her), the author of My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis. She has lived with Friedreich Ataxia (FA) for her entire life, with onset in her teens. It took one year and multiple doctors to determine the diagnosis at 17. Ten years ago, she received an additional diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She uses a wheelchair and has slow motor skills.. Because of her disabilities, Jennifer believes she is more empathetic and understanding of others’ experiences. She continues to face challenges with finding adequate employment, adapting her transportation needs, and securing accessible housing.
Jennifer detailed her experience with caregivers and support, which she finds frustrating these days. She is a recipient of In Home Support Services (IHSS) that is linked to Medicaid. She explained that her “income and assets have to follow strict guidelines and require a yearly evaluation. The process can be cumbersome and scary. If one thing is incorrect, it can affect eligibility for IHSS, making it your responsibility to pay for caregiving when you cannot afford to.” She recognizes that she is lucky to have supportive caregivers, and emphasized that finding good care can be exhausting especially when the pay is not high.
Jennifer shared more about her journey and latest accomplishments. Here are some of the highlights about her latest memoir:
Arielle: What are you most excited about right now?
Jennifer: My memoir, "My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis," was published on September 7, 2023. It is an Amazon Best Seller, received Honorable Mention in the Biography/Autobiography category at the Hollywood Book Festival and is a Notable 100 Book in the 2023 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition.
Arielle: What inspired you to write the book?
Jennifer: I had always wanted to write a book and wanted to portray a positive and accurate portrayal of a person with a disability—not some tragic, asexual trope.
Arielle: What was your writing process?
Jennifer: In 2018, I took a year-long class in memoir writing. Pre-pandemic I typically would get away from the house and go to Starbucks or the library to write. But of course that became impossible. Until late in 2021, I found another coffee shop near me that was much less busy and more spread out. I was comfortable going there. I did get Covid in May of 2022 and decided that I wanted to get my book published ASAP. I had already decided to submit to a Hybrid publisher—they help with the coordination of printing, editing, formatting, and uploading to e-book formats—something I knew I didn’t really have the patience for. And I didn’t want to get an agent or anything like that. They accepted my proposal, and I worked with an editor for about seven months, and it took another six months to publish after that.
Arielle: How have people in your life reacted to the book?
Jennifer: Many of the people I have not heard from, while some of them may not even know I wrote it. But I’ve gotten very positive reviews from those who have read it.
Arielle: What advice would you give to other disabled people who want to write their story?
Jennifer: Do it. It’s challenging without a doubt, but it’s also very healing and liberating. You can start small. Just keep writing and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Arielle: And just for fun, what do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Jennifer: I love music, movies, and reading. In college, I went to many concerts. Depeche Mode, Dave Matthews Band, and Pearl Jam were three of my favorite artists and I saw each of them multiple times. I enjoy drama and comedy movies and books, along with thrillers and mysteries, but I am not a fan of horror.
Jennifer shared that she’s learned so much throughout this journey. Although she still has mixed feelings about being disabled, she has discovered that “happiness can be found, regardless of walking. I am worthy, valuable, and do not need to be fixed.”
To learn more about Jennifer’s book, visit jennifergasner.com.
Acknowledgement: Thank you Jennifer Gasner, member of the Diversability Leadership Collective, for sharing your story.
About the Author:
Arielle Dance, PhD is a Writer at Diversability who identifies as a black queer woman with disabilities. Arielle is published across multiple online platforms and has a children’s book, Dearest One, that focuses on mindfulness and grief.