My name is Abigail Michael. I am a resilient woman, a creative, and the founder of ABG Graphic, where I specialize in bold and vibrant designs like logos, social media graphics, and flyers. Beyond my work, I am passionate about inspiring others, especially young people and persons with disabilities, to find strength and purpose in their journey.
My life changed fundamentally on May 1, 2016, when I was involved in a tragic accident that took the lives of my husband and my son. I also sustained a spinal cord injury that left me using a wheelchair. That moment marked the beginning of a completely different life for me. In the beginning, it was overwhelming, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I was dealing with deep grief, pain, and confusion all at once. It felt like my world had collapsed, and I struggled to understand how to move forward with such a heavy loss and a new reality.
There were moments when I felt completely broken and questioned how I would go on. The weight of everything made it hard to see hope. But deep down, something in me refused to give up completely. Even in my weakest moments, there was a small strength pushing me to keep going.
My journey was not instant, it was gradual. I started by accepting each day as it came. I leaned on my faith, allowed myself to grieve, and slowly began rebuilding my life. I also found strength in discovering new skills and focusing on what I could still do rather than what I had lost. Along the way, I encountered people who tried to link my situation to a lack of faith, which was painful. I also had moments where I questioned God myself. But over time, my faith became personal, I learned that not everything is a punishment, and that God can still bring purpose out of pain.
The hardest part of the transition was accepting my new identity and letting go of the life I once knew. Adjusting physically was one thing, but emotionally accepting that everything had changed was the biggest challenge. My turning point came when I realized that my life still had meaning. I stopped waiting for things to go back to how they were and started embracing who I had become. That was when I truly began to heal and accept myself as a person with a disability.
I still believe in healing, but I have redefined what that means. Healing for me is not just physical, it is emotional, mental, and spiritual. I have found peace, strength, and purpose, and that shapes how I see life now. I overcame my obstacles by building inner strength, staying connected to my faith, and focusing on growth. I also surrounded myself with supportive people and kept reminding myself that my story did not end with my pain.
Living with a disability has given me a deeper appreciation for life. It has made me stronger, more compassionate, and more intentional. I now see life through a lens of purpose, and I value things I once overlooked. This experience has also changed how I view relationships. I now value emotional connection, understanding, and genuine support more than anything. I have learned that love is not about perfection but about acceptance and commitment. My philosophy is simple: I believe in love that respects, supports, and grows together. I am open to partnership, but it must be built on understanding, patience, and shared values.
My passion for inclusion comes from my personal experience. I know what it feels like to be overlooked or misunderstood, and that drives me to advocate. Through my work and my voice, I want to show that persons with disabilities are capable, talented, and deserving of equal opportunities. While I may not have formal awards yet, the impact I make and the lives I touch mean everything to me. That is my greatest recognition.
Of course, challenges still exist. One of the biggest external barriers is the lack of accessibility and the societal mindset. Many environments are not designed with persons with disabilities in mind, and there are still misconceptions that limit opportunities. People often underestimate us; they focus on limitations instead of abilities. The truth is, we are capable of achieving great things when given equal opportunities.
To any young person with a disability who is struggling, my advice is: do not rush your healing process, but don’t give up on yourself either. Your life still has purpose, and your story matters. Take it one step at a time, and believe that you are stronger than you feel.
Disability is not the end of a dream, we must understand this. It can be the beginning of a new one.
My hope is to inspire others to rise above challenges and live meaningful lives. This is why communities like the DADE Initiative are so incredibly important.
They provide support, opportunities, and a sense of belonging. They help people realize they are not alone, while giving them the tools to grow, succeed, and advocate for themselves.
My life changed fundamentally on May 1, 2016, when I was involved in a tragic accident that took the lives of my husband and my son. I also sustained a spinal cord injury that left me using a wheelchair. That moment marked the beginning of a completely different life for me. In the beginning, it was overwhelming, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I was dealing with deep grief, pain, and confusion all at once. It felt like my world had collapsed, and I struggled to understand how to move forward with such a heavy loss and a new reality.
There were moments when I felt completely broken and questioned how I would go on. The weight of everything made it hard to see hope. But deep down, something in me refused to give up completely. Even in my weakest moments, there was a small strength pushing me to keep going.
My journey was not instant, it was gradual. I started by accepting each day as it came. I leaned on my faith, allowed myself to grieve, and slowly began rebuilding my life. I also found strength in discovering new skills and focusing on what I could still do rather than what I had lost. Along the way, I encountered people who tried to link my situation to a lack of faith, which was painful. I also had moments where I questioned God myself. But over time, my faith became personal, I learned that not everything is a punishment, and that God can still bring purpose out of pain.
The hardest part of the transition was accepting my new identity and letting go of the life I once knew. Adjusting physically was one thing, but emotionally accepting that everything had changed was the biggest challenge. My turning point came when I realized that my life still had meaning. I stopped waiting for things to go back to how they were and started embracing who I had become. That was when I truly began to heal and accept myself as a person with a disability.
I still believe in healing, but I have redefined what that means. Healing for me is not just physical, it is emotional, mental, and spiritual. I have found peace, strength, and purpose, and that shapes how I see life now. I overcame my obstacles by building inner strength, staying connected to my faith, and focusing on growth. I also surrounded myself with supportive people and kept reminding myself that my story did not end with my pain.
Living with a disability has given me a deeper appreciation for life. It has made me stronger, more compassionate, and more intentional. I now see life through a lens of purpose, and I value things I once overlooked. This experience has also changed how I view relationships. I now value emotional connection, understanding, and genuine support more than anything. I have learned that love is not about perfection but about acceptance and commitment. My philosophy is simple: I believe in love that respects, supports, and grows together. I am open to partnership, but it must be built on understanding, patience, and shared values.
My passion for inclusion comes from my personal experience. I know what it feels like to be overlooked or misunderstood, and that drives me to advocate. Through my work and my voice, I want to show that persons with disabilities are capable, talented, and deserving of equal opportunities. While I may not have formal awards yet, the impact I make and the lives I touch mean everything to me. That is my greatest recognition.
Of course, challenges still exist. One of the biggest external barriers is the lack of accessibility and the societal mindset. Many environments are not designed with persons with disabilities in mind, and there are still misconceptions that limit opportunities. People often underestimate us; they focus on limitations instead of abilities. The truth is, we are capable of achieving great things when given equal opportunities.
To any young person with a disability who is struggling, my advice is: do not rush your healing process, but don’t give up on yourself either. Your life still has purpose, and your story matters. Take it one step at a time, and believe that you are stronger than you feel.
Disability is not the end of a dream, we must understand this. It can be the beginning of a new one.
My hope is to inspire others to rise above challenges and live meaningful lives. This is why communities like the DADE Initiative are so incredibly important.
They provide support, opportunities, and a sense of belonging. They help people realize they are not alone, while giving them the tools to grow, succeed, and advocate for themselves.