Defying distance and disorder

A chance meeting 13 years ago led to a lasting friendship for Ashley Moulin and Ebony Washington.

At age 11, both girls were at Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville, South Carolina. While roommates in the same hospital room for a week, they became fast friends. They soon realized they had more in common than just having surgery on their legs: They both had cerebral palsy as well.

Their friendship has remained strong through the years, and the duo, now 25, has teamed up for a new project: Friends on Wheelz, a blog they write for people with CP in order to share their stories and advice and have a place where they can just be themselves.

The idea for the project came when Washington was talking to her boss about her struggles.

“He told me I had something to share and should start writing about it,” she said. “I asked Ashley if she wanted to get on board with it, and she said yes.”

Moulin, who lives in Highland Lakes, and Washington, a resident of Monroe, North Carolina, haven’t seen each other in person in five years, but they keep in touch via Skype on a weekly basis.

“We’ve gone from [AOL Instant Messenger] to Skype, so that shows you how long our friendship has been,” Moulin said. “We like all the same things and are basically the same person. We’re like sisters. Blood doesn’t make you sisters, the bond does. This shows if you work at it, you can keep a friendship as long as you want it. It doesn’t matter the distance.”

After making plans to meet up earlier this year, their plans were derailed by a snowstorm. However, the friends planned to meet in June in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, at an event by Life Rolls On, an organization that brings together those in wheelchairs — along with their families and volunteers — for an epic day in the ocean.

Moulin said they were looking forward to updating their pictures, since the last one of them together was taken five years ago.  

Both women said they are also excited to embark on their career paths. Washington graduated from Wingate University in May 2015 with a degree in journalism/public relations. She is interested in modeling and acting and has worked as an extra in two television shows. She also works at the Children’s Film Academy in Monroe, North Carolina. The academy teaches script writing and acting to children ages 10-14.

Moulin took classes on campus at Faulkner University in Birmingham and is finishing up her math courses at Jefferson State Community College. She has one additional class remaining and plans to start on a public relations degree at Auburn University. Her goal is to do PR for a nonprofit, and she volunteers at VFS Dads, a nonprofit organization in Pelham, which helps feed and counsel families in need.

“I want to use this major to raise money for organizations that have touched me and helped me and to be a voice for people with disabilities,” Moulin said.

The friends said they hope this community they have created will give others the opportunity to share their stories and experiences and to open up about people with disabilities.

“We want to spread awareness about cerebral palsy,” Washington said. “We want to show people that there is more to us than our wheelchairs, walkers and crutches. We have a lot to offer the world. We may be limited physically, but with our minds we are limitless.”

The women said they write what comes to them whenever they feel inspired, and recently began doing one joint blog post per week.

“We want to show that anyone can do anything they want to if they believe that they can,” Washington said. “You can live a normal life, but don’t have to be confined to what people tell you that you have to do. We deserve to be treated as equals whether it be workforce, in school or even the entertainment industry. We want people to look at the person, not the disability.”

Moulin and Washington said they credit their families’ encouragement and also their faith for helping them remain positive.

“We believe that we met for a reason: to tell our stories,” Moulin said. “We want to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves. We intend to leave this world better than when we came into it.”

Friends on Wheelz

WEB: friendsonwheelz.wordpress.com and facebook.com/cpbuddies