Unfiltered Resilience: Dawn Olson's Journey

Most people hear the word "transportation" and think of buses and schedules. I hear it and think of freedom. Or the lack of it. In this episode I talk about what accessible transportation actually means for people with disabilities — and what it costs when the system fails. I tell you about an ADA meeting where my mom started keeping a tally of how many times the directors said "can...

In my last episode, I talked about the word "can't" — that earthquake feeling when a system slams the door in your face. Today I want to talk about the complete opposite. Two words that have opened more doors in my life than almost anything else: just try. In this episode I share what those words actually feel like — not the logic of it, but the feeling. The sunrise. The light at the...

"We can't do that." I have heard those words more times than I can count — in transportation meetings, in therapy rooms, from systems that were supposed to help me. And every single time, it lights a fire in me. In this episode, I get honest about the word "can't" — what it feels like, what it really means, and why I believe most "can'ts" are just "wo...

A year ago, I almost didn't do this. I thought a podcast was too much. That I didn't have enough to say. That nobody would want to listen to one more person share their story. I was terrified — and honestly, I almost let that fear win. I'm glad I didn't. Unfiltered Resilience is officially over a year old, and in this anniversary episode, I want to be honest with you about somethin...

Last episode, I told you about the reality of living with cerebral palsy and trying to stay in my own home — the 30% gross income rule, the attorney I hired, and the hope that didn't pan out. This episode is the next chapter. This is what happens after the hope runs out and you keep fighting anyway. I'm pulling back the curtain on what navigating the Medicaid system actually looks like fro...

This isn’t about awareness anymore. Last month, we talked about why visibility matters. Why speaking up matters. Why making noise matters. And I meant all of that. But this episode is about what comes after that. Because awareness without action doesn’t change anything. This is the reality behind the ribbon. In this episode, I’m walking you through what it actually costs to live independently as y...

March was CP Awareness Month — and today I'm making sure it doesn't pass quietly. In this episode, I'm getting personal about what cerebral palsy truly means in my daily life: the spasticity that takes over my whole body, the learning disabilities nobody sees, and a story involving 911, a locksmith, and my bare behind that I've never forgotten. I'm also celebrating three things...

Sometimes the most powerful thing someone can do is simply see potential in you—and say it out loud. In this deeply personal episode of Unfiltered Resilience , Dawn reflects on the women who didn’t just influence her life, but truly shaped it. In honor of International Women’s Month, she shares the story of Dr. Carlson—a woman who quietly defied every expectation placed on her—and the lasting impa...

Winter in North Dakota isn't just cold. It's 30 below, blizzards every weekend, and windows buried under snow kind of cold. In this episode, I'm getting real about what winter actually looks like when you navigate the world in a power wheelchair. Blocked curb cuts, caregiver worries, a patio door frozen completely shut, and a cat who blames me personally for all of it. I'm sharing...

Last time, we talked about grief — not just from death, but from all kinds of loss. Today, I want to talk about what helped me carry it. For most of my life, I didn’t even know that what I was carrying had a name. I thought I was too emotional. Too much. The problem. I believed that if I had been better, quieter, less difficult… things would have been different. But they weren’t different because...

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , Dawn Olson opens up about a kind of grief that often goes unnamed—and unvalidated. Not just the grief of losing people, but the grief of losing abilities, independence, privacy, spontaneity, identity, and versions of ourselves we once knew. Through deeply personal reflections—on caregiving, physical decline, anticipatory grief, and the quiet heartbreak of...

As we step into 2026, I’m feeling a mix of excitement and fear, and I wanted to be honest about that with you. In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , I’m talking about what this new year is bringing up for me: setting boundaries, finding my voice, and learning how to take up space without apologising for it. I share some personal stories that shaped how I see myself, including moments where I’...

This week on Unfiltered Resilience , I’m reflecting on something I didn’t even realize until I sat down to prepare for this episode—I’ve been teaching a disability studies class for fifteen years. In this episode, I share what the class looks like, why perspective matters, and how we walk students through the full lifespan of disability—from history and education to employment, parenting, and end-...

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , I take you with me through the Thanksgivings that shaped me — the ones spent at the Ann Carlson School, the few treasured trips home, the makeshift celebrations with chosen family, and the quiet holidays that look different as life and abilities change. These stories aren’t just about Thanksgiving. They’re about how all of us, disabled or not, learn to ad...

Disability Awareness Month may have ended, but the reality behind the statistics hasn’t. In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , Dawn Olson goes deeper into why awareness alone will never be enough — because right now, she’s living the consequences of a system that wasn’t built to support disabled people as they age, work, or try to stay independent. Dawn shares her personal case study in real...

“Awareness Isn’t Enough: What Disability Employment Really Looks Like” Disability Employment Awareness Month may be over, but the work isn’t. In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , Dawn Olson gets real about what “awareness” actually means—and why it’s not enough. From outdated laws to the fear of losing benefits, Dawn shares her own experiences navigating employment as a person with a disabil...

Welcome back to Unfiltered Resilience . Today, I want to talk about something universal yet rarely explored — aging, and what it means to age with a disability. For many of us, independence isn’t just a goal; it’s part of who we are. But as our bodies change, that definition begins to shift. In this episode, I reflect on how assistive devices — like walkers and wheelchairs — are often misunderstoo...

Welcome back to Unfiltered Resilience. Today’s episode is deeply personal — and yet, it’s one that many families will recognise. We’re talking about diagnosis day — that pivotal moment when a label is given, and everything you thought you knew about the future suddenly shifts. This episode was inspired by a classroom story from a parent — and by my own mother’s experience when she first learned ab...

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , I share the hard truths and unexpected lessons from my employment journey as a person with a disability. Starting with the stark reality that in 2024, only 22.7% of people with disabilities were employed compared to 65.5% without, I walk you through my own experiences navigating those numbers. From rejection after graduation to landing my first role with...

This episode is a milestone — Episode 10. Looking back over the journey so far, I can honestly say that telling my story hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been worth it. Each time I step out of my comfort zone, I can feel myself growing. In this episode, I reflect on what the past nine episodes have meant for me — from sharing about my early life and independence, to navigating healthcare...

Faith can be fragile, but for me, it has always been my anchor. In this episode, I take you deeper into my personal faith journey—the doubts I carried as a young girl, the songs I sang in chapel, and the questions I never dared to ask out loud. I share the pivotal moments that led me to the missionaries, the struggle between honoring my parents and following my heart, and the life-changing decisio...

In this episode of Unfiltered Resilience , I’m taking you on a journey through the many “they said I couldn’t, so I did it anyway” moments of my life. From a stubborn fight for contact lenses, to the bumpy road of learning to drive, to barely scraping by in college but still walking away with my degree—every step taught me that determination isn’t about speed, it’s about never losing sight of the...

This episode is one of the most personal and vulnerable I’ve ever recorded. Today, I open up about the complex and often painful experiences of navigating dating, friendships, and family dynamics while living with a disability. I share what it was like to date in high school, why online dating often left me feeling misunderstood, and how the message “I’ll take care of you”—though well-intentioned—...

In this episode, I share what happened during my recent trip to Washington, DC — a trip meant to present important research but marked by frustrating and painful travel experiences. From inaccessible seating to equipment failures, I break down what went wrong, what worked, and what needs to change. I walk through my experience of being transferred down a narrow airplane aisle, the challenges of be...

Hi everyone – welcome back. It’s Dawn here. This episode is especially close to my heart because today, I’m talking about something that has played a huge role in my daily life: Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) . These are the amazing people who come into our homes and help us live with dignity, safety, and independence. But as important as they are, navigating this relationship can be complicated...