Today we’d like to introduce you to Sorayda ‘Sory’ Rivera.
Hi Sorayda ‘Sory’, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As far as I can remember, life has always felt like a beautiful, fun, and sometimes terrifying rollercoaster ride.
When I was three, I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and my parents were told I wouldn’t live past seven. Now, at 38, every day feels like a gift. I use a power chair full-time, but I’m grateful because each year I grow older, I’ve been given more life than expected.
I live at home in a small city in East Texas called Tyler, TX, with my family and my pets, who are family too. My mom is my rock, and her love and support have meant everything to me. My pets are also such a big part of my support system. My dog, Fish, and my cat, Minina, bring me so much comfort and joy.
Sharing my story, as an adult, is part of my purpose. I’ve earned my degrees and am currently the co-host of the Access Granted Podcast with my best friend, Maylan, where we have real, meaningful conversations about life, disability, growth, and finding your voice. I also run Sory Speaks, a speaking platform where I share my journey and use my voice to encourage others to embrace who they are and live fully despite challenges. In addition, I founded a nonprofit in East Texas focused on creating community and connection, and on finding resources and opportunities for individuals with disabilities, especially those who use mobility devices like me.
Some days feel heavy, others feel easy, but every morning I wake up excited to see what surprise the day will bring. Life will always have its ups and downs. Every day I get to experience another day is a blessing, and I’m here for every part of the ride.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting to my age has been a fun and rocky road. I remember being in first grade, sitting at the end of the lunch table, watching the other kids walk to the food line and get their own food. Because of my diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy, I had to use a wheelchair at a young age, and I didn’t understand why I had to be different. I remember feeling so awkward and left out because I was the only one in a wheelchair. As time passed and lessons were learned, I realized being the only one isn’t such a bad thing. Also, kids were kind and inclusive.
Now, as an adult Latina woman in a wheelchair, when I’m the only one in the room, I embrace it. It’s an opportunity to carve out space in a world that wasn’t meant for me, and representation is important. I get to do that when I am the only one. I get to shift perspectives, educate, and inspire. I wasn’t always this resilient, though. When I was younger, I used to think that everyone’s life was easy and only mine was hard because I used a wheelchair. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter if you have a physical disability; life is hard, and everyone goes through it.
That doesn’t mean life is always easy or that things will always go exactly as planned. In 2019, I thought I had everything together, and then I totaled my van. While wrecking my expensive accessible van felt like one of the worst things that could have happened to me, it turned out to be one of my biggest blessings. Thanks to that wreck, I got a newer and nicer van. The aftermath of the accident also led me to go back to school. After 13 years, I completed my associate’s degree in PR and Advertising in the spring of 2021, and later I received my bachelor’s in Mass Communication with a minor in Graphic Design.
One thing I enjoy about getting older is this: I used to think my life was hard because I was in a wheelchair! Now I know everyone’s life has challenges, and everyone goes through tough times. Every time a hard moment comes, I remind myself that I’ve done hard things before, and I can do them again. I also remember to be kinder to myself throughout those moments. I’ve been in therapy for years. Today, I am super grateful for therapy and a tight and supportive circle of friends and family, as they’ve helped me manage my stress and get through those difficult times. Now, when I face an obstacle, I take the time to work through it, allow myself some grace, and embrace it with a resilient heart.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
One of the skills I’ve learned is how to tell my story through storytelling. It’s helped me connect with people and build community. The flow of communication is an art, and that’s where my creativity shows up in the way I communicate, express myself, and bring people together.
I share my lived experience as someone with spinal muscular atrophy through public speaking, social media, and advocacy work. I also co-host the Access Granted podcast, where we discuss perspectives and lived experiences.
I have my speaking platform, Sory Speaks, and I’ve also launched a nonprofit in East Texas focused on building community and providing resources for people with disabilities. A big part of what I do is simply showing up as myself and being open about my life, the challenges, and the growth that comes with it.
What I’m most proud of is finding my voice. I used to get bullied and told that I talked too much growing up, and now that’s become one of my greatest strengths. I get to use my voice to connect with people, share my story, and hopefully make someone feel seen or understood.
What makes my work special is that it’s rooted in my lived experience and the way I connect with people through it. Living with a disability has taught me resilience, patience, and how to find meaning in both the hard and the beautiful moments. I bring that into everything I do, and I think people can feel that it comes from a real place.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
A big part of my success comes from having a heart for others. Everything I do is centered around what I can give and how I can help people through the hard moments that come with being human. Life isn’t always easy, and I know that we all go through our own struggles. That understanding has shaped how I show up for others and the way I lead in my work and in my life.
Another big part of my success comes from the love and support I’ve received from my family, especially my mom. The relationship I have with her is incredibly important to me, and the way she has supported and believed in me has helped me get to where I am today.
Life has its murky moments, but it’s also full of bright and beautiful moments. Every day I wake up feeling grateful and excited for the opportunity to live, grow, and connect with others. That perspective is what continues to guide me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sorys.story/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/sorys.story/
