Spoonie Table

Andrew makes the whole experience so comfy and enjoyable — it was honestly like chatting with an old friend. 💙

We talked about disability, parenting, business, and so much more.

🎧 A Seat at The Spoonie Table, A Disability After Dark episode, is out now — listen wherever you pod!

https://www.playpodcast.net/podcast/disability-after-dark/

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Image description:
A beige graphic with a rusty red border around the sides, as well as two thin rusty red borders — one outlining the photo near the top and another outlining the text section below it.

The top section shows a photo of a smiling person in a yellow shirt and wheelchair, speaking into a microphone against a bright pink background. Text on the photo reads “Disability After Dark w/ Andrew Gurza.”

Below the photo, centered purple text says: “Thanks For Having Me, Andrew Gurza, I Adore You!”

At the bottom of the image is the Spoonie Table logo in teal, brown, mustard, and orange lettering.

Here’s to the day access isn’t rare, but the norm. That’s my dream.
Until then, let’s work together to make your projects more accessible — online and off.
I can help with accessibility testing and feedback. Hit me up!

Image description:
A digital graphic with a beige background and a thin warm brown border. In the center, bold teal text reads: “Access is a Human Right.” The word “Right” is underlined in warm brown, adding emphasis. The design is simple, clean, and direct.

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I applied for the Canada Disability Benefit on day one—June 20th—and still haven’t heard a thing.

I’ve been sitting here trying to write a post about it, but honestly? All I can think is:

Seriously, Service Canada? Seriously?

Enough said.

Image Description:
A beige graphic with a thin rounded brown border. Centered in the middle is the bold text: “It Should Not Be” followed by the italicized words “This” and “Hard,” both underlined in rust orange with a hand-drawn style. The Spoonie Table logo, in multicolored text, is centered at the bottom.

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A few years ago, I was a guest on StartUp Canada’s StartUp Women podcast and was asked what advice I’d give to other disabled entrepreneurs.

I said:
“Give yourselves permission to be disabled.”

That’s what I slowly started telling myself once I got my walker—because I felt like I couldn’t hide my disability anymore (not that I was fooling anyone to begin with, though lol).

I realized that if I let myself just be disabled—whatever that meant for me: wobbly walking, coughing, dizziness, needing rest—it could feel liberating instead of limiting.

And it was.

In fact, just a few years later (in 2020), when the pandemic hit and I was invited to give a presentation as a disabled entrepreneur, I jumped at the opportunity.

The rest is history, as they say.

Image description:
A rectangular digital graphic with a light beige background and rounded brown border. The brown text is centered and reads: “I’ve Been Disabled My Whole Life,” followed by a red heart graphic, and then, “But Only Embraced It Five Years Ago.” The Spoonie Table logo is placed at the bottom center of the image.

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I’ll never forget the paramedic who looked at me and my wife and said:
“I’m going to be honest with you—I have no idea what FD is. But you clearly know what you’re doing, so I’m going to listen.”

Then he pulled out his phone and googled “Familial Dysautonomia” right there in front of us.

On the surface, it might seem unprofessional. But truthfully? I had never felt so seen by a medical professional.

I’m the only person in Ottawa with FD. No one here knows what it is.
And that’s okay.
You don’t have to know—just don’t pretend.
Be honest. Listen to us.

Image description:
A rectangular graphic with a beige background and rounded corners. The text reads in all brown lettering: “It’s Familial Dysautonomia — Not Dystonia. And Yes, It’s Real.” A frustrated emoji appears underneath the text. The Spoonie Table logo is in the bottom centre.

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