disabilityreminders

[disabilityreminders]

disabled people don't owe you their medical history :)

[disabilityreminders]

shout out to anyone who is just learning how to listen to their bodies!

you are not selfish, or lazy. 

you’re strong for listening to your needs in a society that encourages us to just push through.

take that break. take that rest day. have a nap. eat that comfort food. have a bath. spend that time with your friend/partner/pet. whatever it is you and your body needs.

and not because you deserve it (although you do)

because your body is telling you that’s what it needs. and bodies are generally right about these things. 

because you are a human being, and your needs are always a priority. 

[disabilityreminders]

If the right way is too hard, fuck it. Do it the wrong way.

Folding clothes keeps you from getting the laundry done? Stop folding clothes. Put a basket in your room and throw your unfolded clean stuff into it right out of the dryer, it's fine.

Rinsing dishes off keeps you from loading the dishwasher? Load them dirty and run it twice.

Chopping onions keeps you from making yourself dinner? Buy the freezer bags of chopped onions.

You forget to take your meds and don't want to get out of bed to get them? Start putting them next to the bed.

Can't keep up with the dishes? Get paper plates. Worried about environment impact? Order biodegradable ones online if your local store doesn't have one.

Make the task easier. Put things where you use them instead of where they "go." Eliminate the steps that keep you from finishing the task. Eliminate the task that is stressing you out.

Do it the "wrong" way. It's literally fine.

#diced frozen onions are the best invention ever

[disabilityreminders]

This post is for everyone who sees disability positivity posts and feels their heart sink when you feel those posts don’t include you. Whether that’s because of the symptoms you have, or the level of support you need or any number of things.

I want to say that I mean you. Your symptoms and/or needs aren’t shameful. You aren’t less deserving than others. You are worthy, lovable and enough as you are right now. You are valid and deserving of love, compassion and acceptance.

#my post

[disabilityreminders]

remind that no matter how 'severe' or 'mild' your tics are, its normal for them to sometimes be worse and other times barely noticeable!

its apart of the tics/tourettes phenomenon called "waxing and waning" and if anything, should make you feel more validated in your diagnosis <3

[disabilityreminders]

Local PSA: invisible disability does NOT mean you can live your life like a "normal person" invisible disability meant that if a stranger looks at you in public they wouldn't know what's going on.

Like if a wheelchair user were to decide to run into a corner store to grab a candy bar because they know that their legs can last that long without, the cashier wouldn't know.

Or someone with "mild" scoliosis walking upright through their shoulder leans slightly to the left. Maybe they just have bad posture. The lady in the next isle thinks to herself.

The person with EDS or POTS or whatever sort of condition wearing compression gloves out and about. Perhaps it's a fashion statement?

Or what about the people with intestinal issues? They can look like "normal people" too.

You never know what someone is going through.

You never know what they might need to survive or if they're on the edge of a flare up or even if they are currently going through one just by one look.

I think both disabled and non disabled need to realize this. You're not "no longer disabled" because you can "live without" disability aids. They're there to help you. To make your life easier. If living without a cane is going to make it more likely you'll fall over and hurt yourself, use the cane.

If you need to sit down to do dishes or cut vegetables because you need to save your legs for taking out the trash, sit down.

If you need a shower chair because you don't know if you'll pass out, use the shower chair.

People are going to judge you regardless for multiple reasons out of your control.

I'd rather they judge you while you're being safe.

You don't need to struggle to be "normal."

You can just be you.

However that looks for you.

Use your disability aids.

[disabilityreminders]

Don’t just wait until you’re at your worst to use accommodations or aids. Use them before it gets that bad. If they can help you, use them now! You don’t need to be at the worst suffering to be valid in using them.

And also, it can also help things not get so bad!

#my post

[disabilityreminders]

stop villanizing disabled people. stop assuming we're just being lazy. stop assuming we could be trying harder. stop assuming that we'll "feel better" in a few weeks. stop assuming that we have the same energy levels as everyone else. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

[disabilityreminders]

Hot take but canes are not a limited resource. Most mobility aids aren’t but canes especially. Canes are $20 at a lot of stores like CVS, Walmart, etc. You aren’t taking that resource away from “real” disabled people (hint: you ARE a real disabled person) in fact buying more canes creates more demand and works to make more stores carry them for better prices. You aren’t faking being disabled or hurting disabled people, you’re working to make canes more accessible which is helping disabled people.

Get the cane.

[disabilityreminders]

I fucking hate it when people say I'm going to be dependent on my mobility aids. Like, hell yes, I am dependent on them because I'm disabled and their function is to help me live better, I need these aids, they are not just ornaments.

[disabilityreminders]

Reminding myself that the reason my ankle hurts less when I use my cane is because it's SUPPOSED TO and not because I'm faking being in pain somehow

[disabilityreminders]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but reminder that you didn’t choose to play life on hard mode. You didn’t choose for “simple” or “small” things to be so excruciating or overwhelming to you: No one would choose that. You are doing what you can, all while bearing a tremendous burden on your back. You are so strong, and I’m proud of you for making it this far.

[disabilityreminders]

Remember that every time you use your mobility aid in public, there is very likely another person there who is too apprehensive to use their own mobility aid and feels braver from seeing you use yours.

[disabilityreminders]

[disabilityreminders]

[Image id:

Crossstitched art, on the right there's a sunflower and on the left the text "Just because I could yesterday, doesn't mean I can today. But, just because I can't today, doesn't mean I won't be able to tommorow"

End id]

[disabilityreminders]

When someone has a chronic illness or is disabled and can't work, they say a few common things.

It must be nice to sit around all day/sleep all day.

I wish I could sit around all day and not work.

I wish I could sleep all the time.

They don't want to sleep as much as we have to. They'd feel sick and sluggish.

They don't want to sit around the house all day not doing anything. They'd be bored out of their fucking skull.

It's so unbelievably fucking frustrating, but there's a fundamental lack of understanding.

They liken our lives to a vacation, imagining that it's fun and relaxing and we can do whatever fun things we want to all the time.

In reality, it should be likened to an extended hospital stay. You can't do anything and you feel like shit.

#so true #I get so depressed when I have my really bad days #and can’t do anything #it’s miserable

[disabilityreminders]

It’s good to encourage people sometimes if they want encouragement. But sometimes, if someone says they can’t do something, it’s better to say “that’s okay” and take them at their word. Sometimes we really can’t do something because of our mental illness, physical condition or just the day we’ve had. And we need to learn that sometimes what people need is acceptance and a reminder that they’re worthy, regardless of whatever they can and can’t do.

#my post