When Crystal Emery started to fall down, without tripping, everyone said she was just clumsy. But in 1981, Crystal Emery was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

For some people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the symptoms can be limited to body weakness and muscle atrophy. But for the Emery, the disease progressed. She lost the use of her legs and hands. Today, she uses a wheelchair and sometimes needs a breathing machine.

But despite her circumstances, she is anything but limited. Emery remained committed to her artistic craft, working as an artist, author, filmmaker, activist and comedian. Today, she joins us to talk about her work.

Later, we get an update on the future of disability services in Connecticut, and beyond. Advocates fear that decades of advocacy for better disability services, and more inclusivity, could be walked back among federal funding cuts.

Learn more about Emery's performance in New Haven here.

GUESTS:
Crystal Emery: filmmaker, author and comedian
Joy Houlder: Art Director at the Art Connection Studio in Hartford
Tobey Partch-Davies: Executive Director of Disability Rights Connecticut

When Crystal Emery started to fall down, without tripping, everyone said she was just clumsy. But in 1981, Crystal Emery was diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/charcot-marie-tooth-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350517">Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease</a>.
For some people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the symptoms can be limited to body weakness and muscle atrophy. But for the Emery, the disease progressed. She lost the use of her legs and hands. Today, she uses a wheelchair and sometimes needs a breathing machine.
But despite her circumstances, she is anything but limited.&nbsp;<a href="https://crystalremery.com/artistic-statement/">Emery remained committed to her artistic craft</a>, working as an artist, author, filmmaker, activist and comedian. Today, she joins us to talk about her work.
Later, we get an update on the future of disability services in Connecticut, and beyond. Advocates fear that decades of advocacy for better disability services, and more inclusivity, could be walked back among federal funding cuts.
Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://crystalremery.com/stand-up-comedy/september-19-20-comedy-show/">Emery's performance in New Haven here.</a>
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Crystal Emery:&nbsp;filmmaker, author and comedian</li>
<li>Joy Houlder:&nbsp;Art Director at the&nbsp;<a href="https://artconnectionstudio.org/">Art Connection Studio in Hartford</a></li>
<li>Tobey Partch-Davies:&nbsp;Executive Director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.disrightsct.org/">Disability Rights Connecticut</a></li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

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