A Conversation with Author Jessica Slice
Jessica Slice seated in her wheelchair with her white dog laying beside her.
By Arielle Dance, PhD - Writer at Diversability
I had the privilege of chatting with author Jessica Slice (she/her). Jessica’s book, Unfit Parent, explores parenting with a disability. “She writes about how disabled parents are often more prepared than nondisabled parents to navigate the uncertainty of losing control over bodily autonomy.” In response to our previous article about parenting as a disabled parent, this conversation dives deeper into the topic. Read more below about her inspiration, personal experiences, and how to follow her journey.
Diversability: How has your disability impacted your parenting?
Jessica: When I became disabled at 28, I underwent a necessary transformation — from an always on-the-go perfectionist to a more patient, more honest human. This second version of me is much more attuned to what kids need. There are things my body can’t do: play rough, go to school plays where the theater is down a flight of stairs, change a diaper in the middle of the night. It is tempting to think of these as negatives, but I think a more honest way to think of them is as limitations — or, in many cases, society’s limitations. Everyone has limits, and everyone has strengths.
Diversability: How has your disability shaped how you parent?
Jessica: My long journey to identifying as “disabled” required me to accept and believe that my experiences were real — that my body felt what it felt, that I wasn’t merely stressed out, like so many doctors said. Being kinder to myself has, I have to imagine, made it a much simpler matter to believe what my kids are going through and to advocate for them when they express a need.
Diversability: How did you teach/tell your child(ren) about your disability?
Jessica: In our house, we don’t talk about disability as a negative. It is a mere difference — which means that my body has certain needs just like my kids’ bodies have needs, although my needs may be different than theirs.
Diversability: Why is it important for you to share your experience with parenting as a disabled person?
Jessica: In a word, representation. Sharing the experience of even one disabled parent is important, given how infrequently we see disabled people parenting in the media. Hopefully sharing a whole book’s worth, with numerous disabled people’s experiences, will help change the conversation.
Diversability: What do you hope other disabled parents will get from your book and experiences?
Jessica: That they are not alone. That they deserve to be parents. That they, in fact, are uniquely suited to be excellent parents because they have been grappling with the fragility of human bodies and the ways we, inevitably, need each other. We are also very good at problem solving!
Diversability: What advice would you give to a disabled person who is considering family planning?
Jessica: First, believe in yourself. Second, be honest (with yourself and your partner, if you have one) about what you need, what you can do, and what you can’t do. Third, use the adaptive mindset you’ve been building and come up with a plan.
Diversability would like to thank Jessica Slice for this informative Q&A about parenting as a disabled person. Jessica will have a virtual book launch with Jessie Owen and Women and Children First bookstore on April 22, 2025. Follow Jessica’s journey on instagram @jessicaslice.