Who Are You When Your Old Life Is Gone? Finding Purpose in Disability with Jenna Udenberg

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb Connect with Jenna at https://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/What happens when the life you loved is no longer possible? How do you rebuild purpose after disability changes everything? And can grace meet you when your identity has to be rewritten? In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Jenna Udenberg, a disabled former music educator who had to leave the career she loved after her employer chose not to accommodate her needs—and who went on to discover a new calling she never expected. Jenna shares: The grief of losing a beloved vocation and sense of identity How disability reshaped her understanding of purpose, worth, and dependence What led her to become a nonprofit founder and accessibility educator Why accessibility, inclusion, and community support are essential—not optional They also discuss: The mindset shift from independence to interdependence How curiosity opens doors when certainty is gone And the role of grace in building a meaningful life after loss Jenna reflects on themes from her memoir, Within My Spokes, and the mission of her nonprofit, Above and Beyond With U, which works to create spaces where people of all abilities can belong and thrive. This episode is for anyone asking: “Who am I if I can’t do what I used to do?” “How do I find purpose after disability or chronic illness?” “Does my life still have value when everything has changed?” “How can we better support one another in real, tangible ways?” If you’re grieving a lost future—or learning how to walk alongside someone who is—this conversation offers a hope-filled reminder: grace doesn’t erase loss, but it can open the door to a deeper, more connected life than you imagined. 00:00 Introduction to Jenna Udenberg's Story 00:34 Jenna's Journey: From Music Educator to Disability Advocate 03:12 The Birth of Above and Beyond With U 04:53 Challenges and Reflections on Accessibility 12:34 The Importance of Community and Interdependence 15:49 Personal Growth and Vulnerability 29:30 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Jenna Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb