Shelley Peterman Schwarz and her husband, Dave, live in Madison, Wisconsin. At the time of her MS diagnosis in 1979, Shelley was working as a teacher of the deaf and mother to a 5- and 3-year old. She has received numerous awards and is an internationally acclaimed author, columnist, and TV and radio personality in the field of living well with a disability. Her "Making Life Easier" columns appear regularly in newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and on websites.