Ataxia Awareness Archives - Page 6 of 22

Explaining Ataxia to Friends and Family

Michael MantzSeptember 11, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Ever tried explaining why you can trip on flat ground, slur a word at dinner, and still feel ‘fine’? That’s Ataxia—unseen, misunderstood, and rarely simple to explain. Bringing it up isn’t simple, and it’s not something that slips easily into everyday conversation. For someone newly diagnosed—or even for those of us who’ve been living with...

What Happens When We Actually Give a Sh*t

Michael MantzSeptember 2, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

What is “awareness,” really—and why does it matter? Awareness is a word we hear constantly. There are awareness months, campaigns, and ribbons. But awareness is more than hashtags or recognition days—it’s how we choose to see each other, how we respond when someone is struggling, and what we do in the ordinary, unpolished moments when...

Your Voice Matters: Shaping the Future of Ataxia Gene Therapy

Michael MantzAugust 29, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Research and Development

Science can only move forward if people are willing to share their voices. That’s what makes the Ataxia Gene Therapy Survey such an important opportunity. For once, the spotlight isn’t only on labs, data, or test tubes—it’s on you. The National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) and Ataxia UK have launched a global survey to gather patient...

How Personal Challenges Became a Brand

Michael MantzAugust 26, 2025Ataxia Awareness, My Story

Some of the biggest shifts in life don’t start with a business plan or a marketing strategy. They start with something far more personal. For me, it began with Ataxia. I was born with it. I didn’t know the name until I was 28, but the signs were always there—awkward balance, stiff movements, and those...

Why Do I Keep Tripping or Losing My Balance?

Michael MantzAugust 19, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Sometimes, it sneaks up on you. You clip a rug. Miss a curb you swear you saw. Stumble turning too quickly. You laugh it off, blame it on needing coffee, and move on. But then—it keeps happening. If you’ve ever stopped mid-step and thought, “Why am I tripping so much lately?” you’re not overthinking it....

Small Movements, Big Wins

Michael MantzAugust 12, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Physical Wellness, Resilient Voices

This post is part of the Steady Steps series and is about gentle movement for coordination—something that’s helped me stay grounded, especially while living with Ataxia. You won’t see these moves trending on social media. But they’ve helped me stay grounded—literally. This isn’t about competition. It’s about building strength, protecting function, and staying just a...

Movement That Meets You Where You Are: Rethinking Exercise with Ataxia (and Life in General)

Michael MantzAugust 5, 2025Ataxia Awareness, My Story, Resilient Voices

When you’re navigating exercise with Ataxia, it’s not about perfection—it’s about possibility. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.— Naeem Callaway A few months ago, I asked my physical therapist something that had been on my mind for a while: “Is it possible to gain...

Thread by Thread, Word by Word

Michael MantzJuly 29, 2025Ataxia Awareness, My Story

Last week, I finally launched InspireThread—something I’ve been quietly working on for months. Yeah, it’s an online shop, and sure, there are other awareness stores out there. But for me, this one’s different. It’s part of a bigger picture— another way to take all the things I’ve been through and turn them into something real....

Megan Marx on Ataxia, Visibility, and Living Forward

Michael MantzJuly 22, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Part of the Resilient Voices series — honest stories and perspectives on living with Ataxia and beyond. What happens when someone in the spotlight shares exactly what no one expects? That’s what happened when Bachelor Australia alum Megan Marx opened up about living with a rare neurological condition called spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA6). At 33, she...

Visible & Unshaken: Why I Created InspireThread

Michael MantzJuly 15, 2025Ataxia Awareness, My Story

Resilience isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s just quietly trying again. I was born with something rare. Even though mine’s milder than what some people live with……… that doesn’t mean it’s easy. For years, I tried to keep it hidden—staying quiet and trying to look steady on the outside even when my body had other plans. It’s...