Returning After a Pause
After a challenging month without any walking sessions, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone on Monday, December 22. I arrived just seven minutes before my appointment with a new therapist, already exhausted from an unexpectedly long trip and feeling very nauseous.
This is the part of disability that often goes unspoken. Progress is rarely linear. There are pauses, setbacks, and days when simply showing up takes everything you have. Still, I showed up.
Trusting a New Therapist and the Process
My anxiety eased quickly once the session began. My new therapist was sharp, experienced, and confident, with more than two years of hands-on experience working with the Atalante X. She had trained with Brittany, one of my earliest therapists at Wandercraft, which immediately gave me a sense of continuity and trust.
That experience mattered. It reminded me how much skilled, informed support shapes outcomes, especially when you are returning after a difficult stretch.
Measuring Progress in Real Time
We started the session at 75% robotic assistance. By the end, I was down to just 35%.
I walked continuously, without stopping. My foot did not get stuck. I did not need extra prompts or physical corrections to keep going. With more time, I know I could have pushed even further, but I am genuinely proud of where I landed that day.
The highlight came at the end of the session. 1,659 steps in 34 minutes.
Seeing that number in the app made my day. Data like this is not about comparison. It is about confirmation. It shows me that my stamina, efficiency, speed, and confidence are building session by session.
Why This Matters Beyond One Session
As both a disabled person and an accessibility professional, I pay close attention to how technology, training, and lived experience intersect. The Atalante X is not just a machine. It is a tool that responds to the user, the therapist, and the environment together.
This session reminded me why lived experience is expertise. I can feel subtle changes in my body that no metric alone can capture, while the data validates what I already sense. Progress is happening.
Closing the Year on a High Note
This turned out to be my last walking session of 2025. What a way to end the year.
I am deeply grateful to the entire Wandercraft team and to every therapist who has supported my journey. Their expertise, patience, and belief in my capacity to grow make a measurable difference.
Here’s to continued progress, continued learning, and continuing to show up, even when it is hard.
If you are a designer, technologist, or accessibility professional, I invite you to reflect on how lived experience informs better tools, better care, and better outcomes. That perspective is not optional. It is essential.
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