My name is Jennifer Gasner. My FA diagnosis came nearly 30 years ago, at 17. It was genetically confirmed when the test became available. I have a BA in English and a Masters in Recreation. I grew up in Wisconsin. In 1999 I started using a wheelchair and began working with Independent Living Centers, (ILC's), an important resource for people with disabilities that I knew nothing about. That experience changed my perspective on disability so much. It led to being proud to be disabled, which I had been avoiding referring to myself as. I also felt comradery with my disabled friends, regardless of their diagnosis. I had only briefly met one other FA'er and felt very alone. It was great to discover commonalities and people who had experienced things I hadn't as FA progressed.

Hi, my name is Freda Butler-Bohn. I'm 52, and I'm from Pauline SC and live in Arden, NC.

I have Friedreich's Ataxia. I was diagnosed around age 32 when I was going to have my 3rd child. I have three children now, two boys and one girl. Aged 20, 23, and 30 years old plus I have two grandkids. For pets, I have three cats and a bird. I went to college and am a Registered Nurse. I worked up till 2012 when I first became an RN I wanted to be a Missionary midwife, but I can't do that so I may go back to get BSN so I can work somewhere as a nurse sitting down.

My name is Elizabeth Bowen. I was born and raised on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. I was first diagnosed in 1998 when I was 14. I am the oldest of four and no one else in my family has had FA.

When I was 12, I wanted to be on the basketball team at school, so I went to get a sports physical and the doctor told me that I had scoliosis. My parents then took me to a doctor to address the scoliosis and due to reports of my lifelong lack of coordination and balance, what they thought was simply clumsiness, and movements the doctor noticed that I made, lead the doctors to think that there might be something else wrong and ended up testing my DNA and finding out that I had Friedreich's Ataxia. I played soccer at the time and for a while after. I also did join the basketball team when I was 12, but I turned out to be terrible at being on the court, lol.

My name is Sophia. I'm a 29-year-old artist living in Northern California with my partner and our two young sons.

I was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia at 13, though I noticed I couldn't keep up with the physical activities of my peers early in life. At 14, having just entered high school and the most awkward time of life, I struggled to maintain focus and calm in navigating through crowded hallways. I remember how much mental power it took to keep my gait steady. This was the point when I convinced my best friend to get her nose pierced with me; I wanted something I could concentrate on while I walked. No, it didn't make me cross-eyed- just being able to see its faint sparkle in front of my face gave me confidence and a sense of safety. It still does.