The Author’s Mic™: Michelle Lee Steiner on Writing, Disability, and Finding Her Voice
Michelle Lee Steiner did not always want to write publicly about her learning disability. Writing had helped her through difficult school years, but sharing that part of her life felt too personal.
On The Author’s Mic™, Michelle joined me to talk about what changed, how she developed Michelle’s Mission, and why writing and photography have become part of her advocacy.
Watch the full episode:
Recognizing a Strength When Everything Felt Difficult
Michelle was diagnosed with a learning disability in kindergarten after her teacher noticed difficulties with writing her name, tying her shoes, and math-related tasks.
She described school as a struggle, academically and socially. She repeated a grade, experienced bullying, and began to believe that life would always be difficult because of her disability.
Her father helped her see something different.
When she was in second or third grade, he found a story she had written about a dinosaur and recognized that it was good. Michelle remembered how important that moment was. She had not thought she was good at anything.
Reading and writing became a place where she could recognize her abilities and get through difficult experiences.
Finding People Who Knew Her Through Her Writing
As Michelle moved through school, academics became more manageable, but connecting socially remained difficult.
An arts group outside her school district gave her an opportunity to meet people her age who shared her interests. She could participate without carrying the reputation she felt had followed her at school.
Later, she joined an adult writing group. More than 30 years later, she said, the group still meets monthly.
Those writers saw her grow as a writer and as a person. They also encouraged her to write about having a learning disability.
She wasn’t ready.
That part of her story still felt too private to put on the page for other people.
The Article That Changed What She Was Willing to Share
Michelle described hearing people question whether she could attend college, earn her bachelor’s degree, marry, or have the job she wanted.
She accomplished those things. But becoming comfortable advocating for herself took time, even after reaching milestones other people had doubted.
One turning point came after she and her husband bought a house.
Michelle has limited hand dexterity and difficulty with fine motor skills. She found herself unable to unlock her own front door, an experience that left her frustrated.
Then she saw a call for submissions from The Mighty asking about tasks that seem easy to others but are difficult because of a disability.
She wrote about the door.
Michelle described writing that article as healing. Readers responded by recognizing their own experiences in hers. Some had thought they were the only ones struggling with something similar.
That response encouraged her to keep writing and eventually develop Michelle’s Mission.
Photography and a Different Perspective
Michelle also shares photography on her blog, particularly images from her walks.
She explained that she cannot drive because of her disability. Walking gives her opportunities to notice flowers, trees, and details that other people may pass without seeing.
Her interest in photography also has a connection to encouragement she received when she was younger.
After taking a photograph of a tree at her prom venue, she heard questions from peers about why she would photograph it. An older woman in her writing group saw something else: perspective.
Years later, Michelle returned to photography and began sharing what she noticed.
Her blog brings those photographs together with writing about her life. She uses nature analogies to help explain experiences that may be unfamiliar to readers.
Advocacy in Her Work and Her Life
Michelle works as a paraeducator, supporting students in a school setting. She described helping with reading and other subjects while being open about the area where she struggles: math.
She also helps students learn to advocate for themselves.
During our conversation, she discussed participating in a disability policy program focused on self-advocacy and policies that could help others.
As a parent of a child with a disability, I appreciated this part of the conversation. Advocacy matters, whether you are speaking for yourself or supporting your child.
When I asked Michelle what she would tell somebody who was struggling, she encouraged them to identify what they enjoy and what they do well.
She cannot change having a disability or control how other people react. She can choose how she responds and which activities she makes room for in her life.
Guest Links
Michelle’s Mission — website, blog, and photography:
https://www.michellesmission.com/
Key Takeaways
Encouragement around her writing helped Michelle recognize a strength during difficult school years.
Writing groups gave her relationships built around shared interests.
Sharing one specific experience helped her connect with readers facing similar difficulties.
Photography gives her another way to communicate what she notices and experiences.
Self-advocacy and recognizing individual strengths are central to her work.
Publishing With Bright Headed Publishing
Michelle and I talked about the possibility of bringing her writing together into a book. That conversation begins with understanding the work, its purpose, and the people it could serve.
Bright Headed Publishing provides hands-on publishing support for selected authors with completed or nearly completed manuscripts. Depending on the project, that can include interior formatting, production preparation, ISBN assignment, distribution setup, and supporting materials.
If you have a manuscript and want to discuss professional publishing support, contact Bright Headed Publishing to learn whether we could be a fit.
https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Finley’s Journey Spotlight
An author’s particular experience can shape the stories and resources they create.
Finley’s Journey by Jeff Hepner, published under the Bright Headed Publishing imprint, is part of the Classroom Creatures Chronicles series. Connected to authentic conservation experiences, it follows a young trout from a classroom tank toward open water.
The companion Finley’s Journey Student Workbook extends the story into learning about trout life cycles, watersheds, and river stewardship. The project is an example of the publishing and resource-development work Bright Headed Publishing provides.
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/new-releases
The Author’s Mic™ — Be a Guest
If you are an author, editor, publishing professional, or creative doing meaningful work in the literary space, apply to be a guest on The Author’s Mic™:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/be-a-guest
TrustBridge™
**TrustBridge™ connects indie authors with bookstores, book clubs, podcasts, and other literary platforms