Teri Siri and her twin sister were born prematurely in Portland, Oregon in September 1964. Doctors determined that Teri had cerebral palsy (CP), a physical condition affecting her legs and feet, and limiting her mobility. They predicted she would be a "vegetable" and better off institutionalized. Instead, Teri's family kept her with the family.

As a young adult, Teri moved to Portland, Oregon, attended college, and eventually worked for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), buying and selling electrical power in the Northwest.

Teri is an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities, and not afraid to speak up, whether it's job discrimination, pay inequity, or physical barriers. She is also adventurous and takes long cross-country motorcycle trips. Her memoir speaks to the prejudices disabled people face daily, whether from the media, oblivious individuals, or the public at large.Teri rejects biases and limited stereotypical thinking about disabled people. "What can people with disabilities do?" Teri asks in her memoir. "Read on, I'll tell you what I can do."