When I became disabled from Ramsay Hunt Syndrome it pushed me over the edge physically from being able to spend 8-10 hrs a day, 5+ days a week with my face buried in Figma, Adobe CS, Canva, Squarespace, Wordpress, Instagram, TikTok and more. I could no longer handle the intensity required of a designer, especially when there are days and weeks when my vision is more impaired, my hearing is on the fritz and my vestibular system is just causing all types of system failures. Systems I rely on as a designer.

Careers are often windy roads. My job path wasn't direct or typical in any way, that had equal parts pros and cons. What happened when I thought I had set on a clear path and life + sudden disability hit?

I will openly say that at the time I was working in innovation I was not paying much attention to accessibility. I mention this because I do notice how little my network (outside of the a11y space) touches on the accessibility topic. I'm not here to "yell at you", I'm here to ask you questions and perhaps get you thinking about this now. Let's get those gears turning and consider how to create a more inclusive Web 3.0, Metaverse and AR/VR World.

I never felt like I fit in, except when I started my own company and created a workplace environment that made sense to me.

I always felt it was a struggle to integrate into existing ecosystems, especially when there was little onboarding and documentation on "how things worked". Figuring out how to navigate social and office politics seemed like an impossible task.

I'm writing this because I'm not particularly special or unique. Did you know that one large epidemiological study estimates that as many as 35% adults aged 40 years or older in the United States—approximately 69 million Americans—have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction?

Living with vestibular dysfunction is rollercoaster... literally and figuratively.

I have a permanent vestibular issue as a result of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which left me with 89% dysfunction in my effected side. Overall my recovery and ability to adapt has been really fantastic. If I didn't mention the issue the average person wouldn't notice it, only those that have known me for a long time can easily spot the differences.

It's been over one year since I was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a rare neurological condition recently getting a lot of attention in the press due to Justin Bieber announcing his diagnosis with the condition.

Have you ever experienced a VR rollercoaster? Perhaps you have ridden the One World Trade Center elevator to the observatory? Have you visited Spyscape in NYC and rode their elevator "experience"?

A few months ago I posted about my sudden facial paralysis, hearing, vision, taste and balance loss. I am Dana and I am a Ramsay Hunt Warrior!