I, Spastic

While society called his disability an obstacle and limitation, Neil argued that his "flourishing dystonia" allowed him to think, explore, and create art in a way most people cannot. True to his words, Neil embraced every opportunity to experience life to its fullest, from navigating the Alaskan wilderness in a wheelchair to commanding the spotlight on stage.

In this deeply personal account, Neil invites readers into his world as he remembers adventures and escapades, triumphs and disappointments. Through it all, Neil's humor and wisdom reminds us to rethink labels and look beyond the obvious.

Neil Marcus described himself as "a poet, humorist, writer, actor, and adventurer-a fantastic spastic creatively endowed with disability." He is best known for his groundbreaking autobiographical play, Storm Reading, which he performed across the nation from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to the Doolittle theater in Los Angeles. He was commissioned to write a poem on disability by the Smithsonian Institute. He has been interviewed by Maria Shriver on Sunday Today, Linda Wertheimer on NPR's All Things Considered, and multiple hosts on KPFA radio. He leaves the world a legacy of creativity, political action and community building.

S.H. Chambers is a cis-gender Euroamerican writer, cartoonist, and composer with a BA in History and an Med in Curriculum Development. Their cartoons were featured in Mouth and Liberty, a disabilities rights and libertarian magazine, respectively. Their short essays have appeared in Liberty and its successor on-line journal, Liberty Unbound. They are currently the editorial cartoonist for the Coast News. Their musical compositions have yet to be performed publicly. Originally from Washington, they now make their home in California.