Our Life Our Way tells the story of William L. Rush and Christine Robinson through alternating perspectives: Bill’s, filled with humor and activism, and Christine’s, with faith and endurance, creating a story filled with love, light, hope and inspiration. Their voices, distinct yet deeply intertwined, carry readers through decades of triumphs and tribulations as they confront a world that often mistakes difference for limitation. What emerges is not a tale of struggle alone, but one of agency, advocacy, and a relentless insistence on dignity.
He referred to it as Rush’s Rule: “My Place. My Body. My Life. My Way.” Four simple phrases that turned into a manifesto and a way of life. For William L. Rush, those words summed it all up, from how he organized his apartment, how he related to others, and even how he faced the prospect of dying.

William L. Rush was born in Nebraska with cerebral palsy, but he converted what others saw as a “limitation” into a full-force campaign for dignity; cracking jokes through a speech device and countering anyone who attempted to speak for him. He endured the fight alone for years until he met Christine Robinson, an occupational therapist from Hamilton, Ontario, in California during a conference on assistive communication. This marked a pivotal moment in both of their lives.

Bill and Chris got closer by the day, and ultimately, created a life together that was anything but conventional: a marriage built on love, faith, and constant tussling about independence and care. But they faced more than the daily logistics of disability. The local Grand Dragon of the KKK, believed Bill was “too visible,” and initiated a series of threats that undid Bill’s peace. In addition, Bill’s outspoken advocacy would often put him in line with state public officials who had no problem using people with disabilities as a bargaining tool. All these and more encounters required courage: courage to keep speaking, courage to keep writing, courage to keep believing.

Luckily, Bill and Chris would not be intimidated or silenced, and because of this, this book was born. Our Life Our Way tells their story through alternating perspectives: Bill’s, filled with humor and activism, and Christine’s, with faith and endurance, creating a story filled with love, light, hope and inspiration. Their voices, distinct yet deeply intertwined, carry readers through decades of triumphs and tribulations as they confront a world that often mistakes difference for limitation. What emerges is not a tale of struggle alone, but one of agency, advocacy, and a relentless insistence on dignity.

Stylistically, the writing moves with quiet power, balancing intimacy and clarity. Their faith, active, questioning, and embodied in service, anchors the narrative. It’s never preachy; instead, it’s lived faith, faith that rolls up its sleeves and demands a better world. Ultimately, William and Christine show that fulfillment is not about perfection, independence, or ease, but about contribution, connection, and courage. Their activism in fighting for accessible housing, healthcare, and civil rights isn’t an extension of their love story; it is their love story. The personal and the political merge seamlessly, revealing how acts of care can become acts of revolution.

If you’ve ever wondered what independence truly means, or how love can exist within limits yet feel boundless, Our Life Our Way will show you that all individuals have the right to love, live, and die on their own terms.