America Tonight with Kate Delaney: Linda Dezenski, “Persistence: Living an Authentic Life with a Disability”

by ReadersMagnet | October 13, 2025 | radio interview | 0 Comments

The guest author for this installment of “America Tonight with Kate Delaney” is yet another advocate for individuals with disability. Her name is Linda Dezenski, and the title of her book is Persistence: Living an Authentic Life with a Disability.

Born with cerebral palsy, she shares her story with full honesty and zero whitewashing. And despite all the obstacles thrown her way, she has two master’s degrees as well as a successful career in non-profit work and advocacy. She shares a bit more about her life in this interview, and a few very inspiring messages, both for other people with disabilities and those who are dedicated to their integration.

Confronting a World Not Designed for Disabilities

Like a good number of people born with cerebral palsy, Linda grew up confronting a wide range of mobility issues. The condition made it difficult for her to walk until she was eight, and even then, she moved mostly with crutches.

However, she found herself more impacted by the way the system focused heavily on providing physical therapy for her condition, while being unable to support her development academically.

There was a silver lining, though. She had grown up at about the same time the practice of ‘mainstreaming’ persons with disability was being implemented in public schools. And while integration remained an uphill battle, it opened her eyes to the potential of people like her if only they were given more due consideration.

Integration and the Success of Being a Regular Citizen

The opportunity to pursue academics was a real turning point for Linda, and she was very proud to have been able to finish school, go to college, and start a career.

This was amidst a culture and environment where people just had no idea how to interact with her. Likewise, the public school environment was one that she spent a few years getting accustomed to. Most people were unable to set any expectation simply because they lacked the perspective and knowledge with regard to life with disability.

But for Linda, it was just her everyday life, and she didn’t hide the joy she felt when it came to living the life of a regular citizen, contributing to society, and eventually establishing her own advocacy. She has worked with the Center for Independent Living (a non-profit organization aimed towards helping other people with disabilities adopt independent living skills). She was part of the political movement that saw the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For, despite whatever praise or contempt thrown her way, her physical condition was always in the ‘rear-view.’ Her mind, like everybody else, was simply focused on living each day, pursuing the same kind of hopes and dreams as everyone else.

Accepting the Reality of Flaws (Disability or Not)

Perhaps the most powerful message Linda has to listeners is that flaws are a part of the human condition, no matter whether one is officially labelled disabled or not.

For her, it was cerebral palsy. But even for those who are “normal,” they will always have something that will be perceived as a liability. It could be a skin color, a culture, a biological sex, or a different form of sexual attraction.

People may try to ‘fix’ such things, or learn to live with them. But in reality, there is never truly a way to be rid of them completely. It just so happens that those with disabilities know this with more certainty than the rest.

That is why, with her book, she hopes to keep fueling the conversation that authentically presents the perspective of living with disabilities. It is a book that needs no oversimplification and shares the nuanced reality of having a life.For those eager to read about Linda’s whole life story, Persistence: Living an Authentic Life with a Disability is already available at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She also shares life updates and news about her other book projects over on her website at https://www.persistenceliving.com/.