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Ataxia

A Life-Changing Partnership: Considering a Service Dog for Ataxia

Michael MantzApril 8, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Living with Ataxia can make challenges with mobility and independence feel overwhelming. However, Ellie Martin shares in her insightful article that a service dog can be a transformative companion. Service dogs offer many benefits that extend far beyond their well-known roles. Finding the Right Match The first step in deciding whether a service dog is...

Why Strength Matters, especially for the Physically Limited

Michael MantzApril 1, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Lily’s insightful article, “The Importance of Strength (Especially for the Physically Limited),” discusses something many of us can relate to—whether due to disability, age, or even a temporary injury. So, I wanted to share my thoughts on why building and maintaining strength is an essential activity for anyone with physical challenges. Our Bodies are Designed...

Resting Like a Butterfly: What Ataxia Has Taught Me About Surviving Life’s Storms

Michael MantzMarch 25, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

The other day, I stumbled across a great quote…. “Did you know butterflies rest when it rains cause it damages their wings? It’s okay to rest during the storms of life. You’ll always fly again once it’s over.” Simple. Poetic. True. It got me thinking: How often do we push ourselves through the hard stuff,...

Struggling with Sleep and Ataxia? Here’s What Might Help

Michael MantzMarch 18, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Overall Wellness, Resilient Voices

I saw a question recently about Sleep and Ataxia that stood out: “I’m having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Any recommendations?” Sleep issues are challenging for anyone, but with Ataxia, they can seem like an entirely different struggle. Some nights, regardless of how tired you are, your mind won’t quiet down, making it impossible...

Keeping Your Fingers Moving: How People with Ataxia Maintain Dexterity

Michael MantzMarch 11, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Most people don’t think twice about dexterity until it begins to fade. If you live with Ataxia, you may have noticed changes in your fine motor skills over time. Tasks like buttoning a shirt, typing, or even holding a cup of coffee now require more effort and focus. So, what can you do to keep...

You degenerate, you!

Franke JamesMarch 8, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Well, I am a rebel, but I have never considered myself a “degenerate.” Yet, this word now sadly has a ring of truth to it since I was diagnosed with Ataxia. Regular readers of MichaelMantz.com know what Ataxia is. However, if you’ve just stumbled on the site, Ataxia is a degenerative neurological disease that can...

Finding Magic in the Everyday: Lessons from Brad Meltzer’s Make Magic and Living with Ataxia

Michael MantzMarch 4, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

I was flipping through the channels this morning, sipping my coffee, when I came across an interview with Brad Meltzer. He was talking about his new book, Make Magic, which comes out March 4, 2025. As I listened, I couldn’t help but feel like parts of it could have come straight from my writing. His...

Pushing Limits: The Importance of Staying Active with Ataxia

Michael MantzFebruary 25, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t. Staying active with Ataxia can feel like trying to climb a mountain on a foggy day—every step takes focus, and the way forward isn’t always easy to see. But here’s the surprising part: keeping your body...

What Kind of Jobs Can People with Ataxia Do?

Michael MantzFebruary 18, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

One of the most common questions people ask after an Ataxia diagnosis—whether for themselves or a loved one—is, “What kind of jobs can someone with Ataxia do?” It’s a fair question. Ataxia can make many jobs more challenging—there’s no getting around that. When your movement, balance, and coordination become unpredictable, it changes how you approach...

From Participant to Observer: Life with a Progressive Movement Disorder

Michael MantzFebruary 11, 2025Ataxia Awareness, Resilient Voices

I recently watched part of the Christopher Reeve: The Man of Steel documentary on CNN. After his accident, he said something that stuck with me: “It’s hard to go from participant to observer.” That line hit me in a way I didn’t expect. It summed up something I’ve felt, something many of us with Ataxia...