Laughing at My Nightmare: Spreading Joy and Accessibility This Holiday Season
When you think of holiday giving, you may picture gifts, warm meals, and moments spent with loved ones. All of these are wonderful but for one amazing nonprofit, giving means something even bigger, helping people with disabilities live more independently and joyfully.
Laughing At My Nightmare (LAMN), is a nonprofit, based out of Bethlehem PA, started by Shane Burcaw, a writer and disability advocate with spinal muscular atrophy, and his cousin Sarah Yunusov. They both saw how much the disability community needed real, hands-on support. They decided to turn a simple blog into something bigger, a nonprofit with heart. Shane is also supported by his wife Hannah Aylward. You might know them from their YouTube channel Squirmy and Grubs, where they share their life as an interabled couple with humor, honesty, and a whole lot of love.
Photo credit: Laughing At My Nightmare, Inc. Facebook
Shane started with a blog, sharing funny and real stories about life with a disability. That blog grew into a full-blown nonprofit that now gives away adaptive equipment, like wheelchairs, ramps, and assistive technology through their “Tech-cessibility” program, to people who need it but cannot afford it. They also offer college scholarships and emergency financial help to people with neuromuscular disorders. LAMN is transforming lives by breaking down barriers and making accessibility a reality for everyone.
Not only during the holidays, but throughout the year LAMN is all about:
- Helping people get the gear they need to live more freely
- Spreading awareness about disability and inclusion
- Encouraging everyone to laugh a little more—even when life gets tough
They have already given away over a million dollars in equipment and tens of thousands in scholarships. That is a lot of lives changed!
Shane, Sarah, and Hannah show us that disability does not mean limitation, it means adaptation, creativity, and community. Their work reminds us that everyone deserves joy, independence, and a chance to thrive, every day and especially during the holidays.
To learn more about LAMN, to donate, or apply for assistance you can check out Adaptive Devices | Laughing At My Nightmare, Inc.
In this article: Images courtesy of Laughing At My Nightmare, Inc. | Photo credits: Jeremy Cohen and Firerock Productions.
