Greeting to the readership of Icarus' Voice. There are a few things I want to write to you about in this issue of the newsletter. The reason I dated it for May and June is because some things are still unfolding while others, I am able to write about more immediately. What is still unfolding in my life right now is the Autumn House fiction contest in which I have submitted my short story series Collected things of the world and other meanings to. The contest is in its final month and so far, I have not received a rejection letter from the publishing house. I should not expect to hear anything unless and until I have either been eliminated or made one of the finalists or the winner. I will let you know which if I am in June later on in this issue. Which brings me to what I have written about earlier in January:
The Savings Penalty Elimination act is still stuck in the Ways and Means committee along with the Senate companion. I cannot stress strongly enough what this act will do for all of us who receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) if it is passed into law. It will mean our savings accounts won't be gate-kept as much by Social Security anymore. We might not be getting those intrusive phone calls from the SSA making sure we don't have any extra income because we will be allowed to save as much as $10,000 for an individual and $20,000 for a couple. In this day and age where the cost of everything is increasing and the cost of living index which is used to determine how much of an increase we get in our SSI and SSDI checks every year is not just unfair but can't even keep up with the real life cost of living, it is imperative we are able to save money without fear of having our financial support taken from us. This is a fear which has been echoed by many people who have a disability and rely on systems such as SSI to live. This is why I continue to urge everyone to write to their states representatives and have them push for the Savings Penalty Elimination act to be passed into law. This is not a time to be helpless and complacent. Fear serves a purpose but so does anger. In fact, both these emotions have the same purpose which is to activate the fight or flight instincts when a threat or danger is present. The differences are that fear activates flight and freeze while anger activates fight. And fight is what we need to do. However, we need to fight strategically and intelligently. When people join forces and use their voices collectively those in charge have to listen. This is how change has happened throughout history. Both IDEA and the ADA came to be because people came together and used their voices to demand changes be made in public schools and the work force for people with disabilities. Now it is a time to do it again. My fellow Icarus use your anger and your voice to get the Savings Penalty Elimination act passed. It will make a world of difference for us all.
The Second thing I want to write about is my experiences on a dating app specifically designed for people with disabilities and medical conditions. The dating app in question is Dateability.
I had initially learned about it as a response to a man online who had medical issues and found that to be a hindrance to dating and having a relationship. So I told him about it and then investigated the app myself. I have been using it for a few years now.
Through the app I have temporarily matched with several individuals all of which of course have varying types of disabilities and medical conditions. This just makes it all the more obvious to me about how much more advanced I am to the others I have encountered on it. Some just like profiles but when matched don't even attempt to communicate not even when the other person initiates communication. Some communicate sparsely and minimally giving one or two word replies to my layered paragraph communications and don't even appear to respond to anything I have said. Some have love bombed me and then backed off maybe because they lose momentum. Some unmatched with me because they were too afraid to get on a bus and travel maybe a little over one hundred miles to meet me. Just the day before I started writing this issue of the newsletter a man unmatched with me as quickly as he had matched after I told him I am a demi and sapiosexual. I only revealed that about myself to him after he was expressing sexual insecurities to me. I believed he was trying to force a sexual discussion with me way too soon for one and for two I was simply trying to reassure him that he would not have to worry about that with me. Apparently, he was just wanting a simple yes or no answer. My contextual and layered ones he couldn't accept, recognize or understand. So, while there is nothing wrong with the app itself and it is a good idea to give people who have trouble dating a platform to help them find dates and relationships it has been the people on it who create the issues I have faced on it. As it has been explained to me this apps frame is just too small to fit me while it is the only app that has a web version which makes it more accessible for me as the other known dating apps require a cell or smartphone which is something I just don't have. If anyone who reads this newsletter is also on the Dateability app I hope this part of it has both enlightened, you about the issues with it and motivated you to have a more intentional and mindful approach on it. Please don't just match with me only to determine if I am able enough to support you financially because I am an author or to see if you can support yourself with writing in the event you lose your benefits. This is unfair to me and wasting time. I am one voice for people with disabilities. I am an excellent writer and have been published as you know. But it is illogical and perhaps immoral to try to latch onto someone just to try to acquire a more stable living and financial situation. These concerns are valid. Social Security treats us like we are fraud suspects. I know this and have lived in this reality for decades. That is why I write about it constantly. The system is harsh and unfair. But this doesn't mean you have the right to impose your fears and anxiety on another person such as myself. You need to direct your outrage and fear about what is going on with Social Security and the fact that bills written to make our lives better are always being stalled and prioritized last to your state's representative. I can only do what I have been doing, which is addressing issues with you in my newsletter, encourage all of you to be proactive and a little more self-actualized. Don't let the shadows of your own growth scare you into paralyzes and use your own voices to push for change!
I will update this newsletter after I hear from the publisher if I am a finalist or the winner of their fiction contest. There will be a note about it below if I have fantastic news to share. One more thing before I end this part of the newsletter, I would like to paraphrase my favorite poet Rene Maria Rilke from his letters to a young poet. Do not think that the author of Icarus' Voice who is trying to encourage you and address your concerns lives apart from the issues you face and fears which consume you. Had I not been living inside the same spaces you have for years I could not write what I do.
Update: I made it until today May 27, 2026, without receiving a rejection letter from Autumn House Press. My heart sunk when I finally received that rejection letter. I can only hope that I was at least a finalist and will be considered for publication by them outside the fiction contest or the next stop, Sarabande and their fiction contest I will enter collected things of the world and other meanings into and maybe will win that contest. Nothing to do but hope and continue moving forward. Until next year thank you all for your support and interest in my writing.
