The swift punch-in-the-gut of COVID-19 has hurled our wellbeing into a state of confusion, dilemma, and reflections. No longer do we wake up early to prepare for work, but change our top and plug the laptop’s charger to conduct remote working in the kitchen. Although it seems impossible, we have found ourselves more online to replace the in-person interaction at work, school, and personal lives. Besides such a leap of change, the news has flowed in with stories about death of loved ones, despair in isolation, and desperation for breakthroughs in news and research. While the gloom hovers in the air of the everyday living, a shift in narrative pervades.

Hope may have reduced its power in today’s vocabulary, but clutching onto optimism that we will rediscover our footing brings us safe to the shore. This year has been a journey to learning about a piece of ourselves, digging deeper into who we are, and welcoming the metamorphosis.

To end our year with reflections, we asked our empowering SPORK! Community what they are grateful for this year and their most defining moment amidst the tough times.

Michelle Friedman, Writer

I am thankful for my family and friends who have all been compliant of the CDC recommendations and for the people who have made a special effort to stop by my house, bring coffee during their outdoor visits, or just walk by my place on the walks to say Hi! in person. I am also grateful for technology like Zoom and Facetime. As a blind person, these apps’ accessibility allows me to have the time to visit my grandchildren and children who live out of town and out of the country and be able to do so when I want.

The most defining moment for me was having decided that to continue my work on various boards, attend classes, and do the activities I want, I had to step up my knowledge on technology and learn what I had not needed before. I had the time and software, and learned what programs were catered to my needs. Those that I have learned since the pandemic eases up the work I love to do.

Suzy Andakyan, Narrator

Being away from all my loved ones and the people for so long made me feel alone, but I realized I am never alone. I have my family, friends, and close acquaintances. I am beyond grateful for their presence, support, and comfort throughout everything that was going on. As I have been in isolations over the course of the year, it has gotten me to review the solid foundations of my life.

I began to struggle with my mental health, but I could not avoid confronting my problems anymore. I faced them head on. Realizing that I needed to start taking care of my mental health defined my year. I have taken this time to ponder. I have learned how to handle my negative thoughts that helped me grow as a person. I have become better. 

Kasper Michaels, Narrator

I had a heart attack on 16th of March this year. I was unaware I had one. My doctor caught the symptoms and diagnosed that I was suffering the aftermath of a stress-induced heart attack. Changes occurred in my mind, body, soul, and heart.

While browsing on LinkedIn, I stumbled upon a post of the non-profit organization SPORK!, looking for volunteers to convert articles into recorded narrations. I am most thankful for answering back. Whitney was such an amazing person to talk to, and I knew I had made the right choice. The first article I recorded struck such a chord to me that I could not wait to record the next. At this phase, I began to understand my own differently-abled side. 

One story in particular has stayed with me, and I use it to highlight the importance of SPORK!. When you mention to someone that you just narrated an article about a woman who is celebrating being able to have knives in the house, like an alcoholic celebrating sobriety, you see the vastness of difference. Narrating for SPORK! has changed the way I think. I am thankful to have the honor to do so.

Lucy DuPont, Writer

This year, I gathered up my courage and began to conquer my looming mental health concerns. Although it might sound small, I was finally able to control my triggers and once again find comfort in the mundane, such as cooking again and talking to people without mini-anxiety attacks. Nothing in the world can quite compare to finally having the confidence in yourself again to just enjoy the small things in life, and be grateful for the time you have.

Katharine Jordan, Narrator

This year was rough for many reasons. I am grateful for the little sparks of joy I have experienced, and the opportunities I have received. I am thankful for my supportive partner, my snuggly dog, my friends, and my family.

In my personal life, I have started talking to a therapist after years of saying I should. I am grateful to have found someone I click with and who can give me a fresh perspective on my mental health. In my professional endeavors, I have branched out into voice over work. I am grateful to have been providing narration for an exhibit at the museum I grew up working in. 

I am most thankful for the fact that as a child, my parents introduced and foster within me a strong faith in God. Without this faith, the uncertainties of 2020 would have driven me over the edge. Now, when I find myself stressing, I meditate and with mindfulness, isolate my stressors and give each one over to the Lord. I am thankful that I am able to do this. It frees me and if needed, allows me to better be of help and support to others.

The most defining moment was when it struck me that within the clouds of 2020 have been many silver linings. Even though I am literally a thousand miles away from my loved ones, I spend much more time talking with them than before Covid-19. I do weekly video calls with family and friends. I have been able to assist the grandchildren with their schoolwork - all over the computer. Surprisingly, I've even been able to monitor my mother's doctor appointments and medications. And, I have assisted my sister, who has special needs, maneuver through the housing voucher system. A phone, computer with camera and mic, the internet, and LOTS of patience have helped to take advantage of the silver linings. There has been more time to read, to learn new skills, and to just sit and think.

Lorena Belcher, Narrator

This has indeed been a different year from what we were expecting. Like everyone else, I have had to learn to adjust and pivot. I have learned that facing new challenges has made me more contemplative and more apt to show grace to those around me. I have learned more about walking by faith. Becoming a volunteer narrator for SPORK! has absolutely been a positive experience. I am thankful that I have been able to continue the education and training that will make me a better Voice Artist. I am thankful for my family, my friends, and Jesus.

It would be hard to pinpoint my most defining moment this year. The whole year has been defining, right? I will just say that I am thankful each day that I wake up with air in my lungs and opportunity waiting.  

Joell Stuckey, Narrator

I am thankful for the health of my loved ones. A family member became sick with COVID-19 and recovered quickly. I am also thankful for the vaccination and am hopeful for the end of the pandemic. This year, my most defining moment is being told I am becoming a grandmother for the first time!

John Will, Writer

The thing I am most grateful for this year is that after five years of searching for answers, we finally have diagnoses for my son Isaac, and a plan of action to provide him with all of the services and accommodations that he is entitled to.

As for my defining moment this year, it came when I realized that I needed to leave corporate America to spend more time with my children and use my ability as a writer to become a voice for those with special needs, particularly non-apparent special needs and cognitive delays.


Caz, Guest Blogger (of Invisibly Me)

I am incredibly thankful that despite having likely had the virus myself, my elderly and immunocompromised parents are still safe and well. While I moan about having too much to do and being exhausted juggling everything with chronic illness as I take on more this year while my folks shield, I am happy to keep them safe and grateful I can do this. 

Two trips to A&E (Emergency Department) have been pretty memorable for all the wrong reasons. Ditto the anger I have felt at the way the government has treated people during the pandemic, and the anger I have  felt at the NHS and NICE for various reasons, such as trying to take away pain medications for chronic pain sufferers, which I have blogged about previously. I have felt levels of anger I did not know I was capable of, which I am not happy about, but the anger also drives me to keep going and keep fighting. Another defining moment was probably the fear when I realised I had the virus, not for myself but because I was so worried I might have passed it to my parents as we live together. The sheer relief when weeks went by and everyone was okay was overwhelming. I will never forget that either. 


Laura Isaacs, Writer

2020 challenged my mental health in ways it has never been before. With that, I’m thankful for my support system. I would not have survived the year without them, and the love and strength they showed me during some of my darkest, most hopeless days are things that I will carry with me for a lifetime.

Realizing that the only permission I needed to live my truth is my own defined my year. That even when no one was telling me what I should be doing, I was still living by those shoulds. This year, I have allowed myself the freedom to live as my entire weird self, and it has been both liberating and terrifying.

Whitney Hill, Spork! Founder & Director

There are never enough words to fully express personal gratitude and appreciation. Never enough syllables to embody the purity that is emotion. The trekked journey this year has personally been one of wonderment, timidity, anxiety, joy and barefaced-awe - each feeling felt to its deepest depth. 

Although I am excited to ring in a new year, I drag my feet as we begin to exit 2020. COVID aside, this has been a year where I have been able to surround myself with some of the most beautifully fascinating and cathartically encouraging people. The presence of my ever growing support system has been enough for me to stay thankful and prayerful throughout the random bouts of depression and mounting anxiety. Due to the ADA25 Advancing Leadership, for the first time in my life, I was surrounded by professionals who looked like me and had similar differences, all the while finding my inner pride for the disabilities that make me unique. Through my work at LCM Architects and the ChicagoTransit Authority (CTA), I have been gifted with impactful projects that empower the Disabled community and co-workers who have quickly embraced me. Through the phenomenal volunteers at SPORK! who have never stopped believing in our mission (and my personal life's goal), I have found new confidence in my voice and have been reminded everyday that I am connected to something much bigger than myself. I am forever connected to the dedicated souls that make up this community - this hodge-podge family. This shared path we walk, illuminates with each step we take together. 

So, as we close out the year, from the bottom of my heart and without enough words to express my love - thank you all (family, friends, volunteers and co-workers) for helping to positively define an already tumultuous year.


Matthew Burgos doesn’t talk to people. He interviews them then writes their story, peppering the narratives with descriptive words. He’s a student of Broadcast Journalism, International Relations, and Law, an English tutor, an aspiring journalist, and a die-hard, 90%-dark-chocolate glutton.

For more information about Matthew Burgos you can email him at Matthew@SporkAbility.org

Cover Photo: Josephine Rais

Audio Narration Coming Soon

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