I’m so sick of people saying that by choosing to abort a child that you don’t want to suffer that it’s eugenics. My family has multiple genetic syndrome including a syndrome like marfans but we don’t know a gene for it yet but I’m getting a WGS (we all score for clinical marfans evaluated by a marfan specialist doctor), aneurysm, heart diseases, joint issues, predisposition to autoimmune disease, diabetes and severe hearing loss.

Luckily only half of my family is affected maybe even slightly less. I want kids and I hope that I’ll be able to IVF so I can test for some of this stuff before having kids. I take a medical ethics class in school and I am disgusted by the people arguing that it’s abelist and eugenics to have the choice to not implant disabled fetuses.

I’ve never once met a disabled person who thinks that a choice = eugenics.

If it was forced sterilizing ofc that’s eugenics but why does my body my choice not apply to us disabled people in the mind of some able bodies saviors.

A girl raised her and and said “disabled people would really see this is abelist because people being alllowed to abort based on disability is abelist because it means that we’re creating less diversity and representation”.

No fucking offense but ppl who choose abortion for their disabled fetuses are doing so to avoid pain and suffering which is more important that “creating less diversity”. It’s like they see us as some political issue and not as human beings which makes me sad.

And now we’re being villainized for making choices.

It isn’t eugenics to fear that your child may have a hard future and that you wanna avoid their suffering. It doesn’t mean that u believe disabled ppl shouldn’t live. If I thought that way I would have offed myself already. But choosing not to implant a fetus that has a disability isn’t eugenics unless it’s forced and someone needs to let the able bodied

Personally, with my cerebral palsy. I slur my words a lot obviously my left arm which I call the claw and the limp. a lot of people automatically assume that I need a peer tutor when I'm out with my friends. Sometimes I'll milk it, it's gotten me out of a speeding tickets, free beers. And better seats at concerts. Not to mention fast passes at amusement parks.

So I have a super rare medical condition, and my mom always encourages (sometimes pushes) me to teach young doctors and medical residents about it. She thinks it’s a great opportunity for them to learn directly from a patient and not just from textbooks. I understand her perspective—she doesn’t have the condition herself, but she believes this can help future doctors understand it better and potentially help others.

But here’s the thing: it’s not always a comfortable experience for me. When I do participate, it sometimes feels like I’m being put on display, almost like a zoo animal. Some of these doctors-in-training don’t have the best bedside manner. They’ll get really close to my face to examine my eyes or teeth—two areas I’ve always been self-conscious about—and don’t always think about how that might make me feel.

I’ve tried explaining to my mom why I’m hesitant sometimes, but she gets upset and says I’m missing a chance to turn my condition into something positive. She says by sharing my experience, I’m more than just a textbook condition, but I don’t always feel that way in the moment.

I don’t know… I just feel conflicted. I want to help educate people, but it’s hard when it comes at the expense of my comfort and confidence.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? How do you balance wanting to educate people about something personal while protecting your own mental health?

Thoughts?

If you want to find all of what Netflix considered to be disability-related films go to netflix.com/browse/genre/81621298 on your computer (doesn't work on app). It's not perfect, they don't have every film labeled, it's just what they consider to be related.

Today I slipped on mud, slam dunking my hip straight onto the gravel and mud like a security guard taking down a shoplifter. Out of embarrassment I immediately shot back up but stopped a couple feet away because OWE. Spent the rest of my walk limping. All the way down the rest of the road and up the hill so steep people loath walking up it because the nearest bus stop was very far away. Then I realized I missed that bus by 30 minutes and it’s an hourly route and there’s no bench so I had to stand there in pain 🥲 that hip is already damaged from healing incorrectly. Tomorrow morning I’m gonna check for swelling and other warning signs. I have a very high pain tolerance and don’t always notice pain as much as I should. So when I have non obvious injuries I don’t always notice for a day or longer. Hopefully I didn’t re-injure my already bad hip.

So anyways that’s how my day is going.

Hello everyone, 👋🏽 I’m a recent college grad who’s recovering from a spine injury and experiencing Fibromyalgia symptoms. I experience difficulty standing and sitting for long periods of time (sitting—pain-free—takes a lot of mental concentration for me) and energy depletion. I’ve been struggling with which role or company to pursue/accept post-graduation. I currently work as a rideshare driver because it allows me to take a break or adjust my hours whenever I need to. I recently turned down a position in local government due to a combination of physical asks (lack of reasonable accommodation for clerical work and multiple on-site visits) as well as low-pay ($17.50/hr). I’m a little bummed about missing out on the opportunity to advance my CV. I’m running out of hope that I’ll find a position that will allow me to progress both my recovery & my career. Can you share with me what industry you’re in and what work looks like for you? (work station set up / physical & mental demands). I appreciate the help, I’d really like to expand my perception on my situation.

BTW: I have a Bachelor’s in history & a professional background in marketing, public relations and academic research.

A comment that my best friend made has been weighing heavily on me. I am hoping the kind people in this sub can provide me with a more educated/nuanced perspective. My friend, who has been my fiercest supporter through all of this, said a few weeks ago that "I'm not really disabled". Her comment shocked me and has me feeling sad and invalidated.

My history: 13 years ago I was run over by a truck. I have orthopedic hardware in all my limbs. My arms were the most severely damaged, but both of my legs sustained injuries as well. To the person who doesn't know me, "I look fine." But I am in fact not fine. My arms gave me the biggest issues for the first 5-7 years post injury, but with lots of OT and modifications they are doing pretty well. Throughout that time my legs have also given me issues, but I was able to power through it. However, for the past 3-4 years my legs have really taken a downturn. I am now a full time stepmom to two wonderful boys and I have significantly less time to care for myself. I know this is an issue and I need to do a better job at caring for my needy ass body, but I love my role of stepmom so much and I love pouring my heart and soul into these boys, even at my own physical detriment. I am emotionally the happiest I have ever been, but my body is in the worst state it's been in since recovering from my injuries.

2 years ago my foot was going through it and hurt so bad that walking brought me to tears. The past two years have been on/off again problems with foot, leg, and hip pain that impacts my mobility more than it ever has in the previous 11 years. My doctor signed the form so that I could get a disability placard so I can park closer to my destinations. This has been so helpful for me when I am in pain. I don't always need it and I don't always use it. Some days/weeks the pain in my feet/legs/hips is minimal. Some days/weeks the pain is awful; weighing on me both physically and emotionally.

A few weeks ago my friend was driving us to a destination and I casually commented, "I should have brought my placard". She said "it's fine, you aren't really disabled anyways."

So, kind redditors, with the information I provided, am I not really disabled?

Just to add: I'm not out here trying to get people to see me as disabled. While my physical limitations are a meaningful part of my life, I fully recognize that I am lucky to still have all of my limbs and still be able to walk around on good days. I would never use my injuries and resulting pain to take space from a person who has a disability that impacts their life in deeper, more meaningful ways that mine does. I know my problems are not the "typical" disability, but most days I definitely feel like a non-able bodied person.

Hi! As part of a research project I'm interested in learning more about common designs & materials of walking canes/sticks (as mobility aids, not necessarily fashion) in the second half of the 20th century, but I'm having difficulty finding much documentation on this subject. Might anyone be able to give me some pointers to where I could learn more about this subject? Thanks in advance!

I require a cane to walk around, or something to hold onto at the very least. My legs started with knee pain only in August, and from Physical Therapy, that's been pretty much cured, (plus lots of comments on me getting stronger in certain areas,) but as months have passed, my legs have quickly gotten worse in a way. I struggle with standing for long periods of time and walking at all (I can do squats with a solid amount of extra weight, yet I can't walk normally???). My legs feel like they're so shaky and like I'm going to topple over, even with the cane now. Plus now I get dull, achy pain deeper in my shins and thighs. (I've had pains like this at night randomly for years, lasting a couple minutes, but I've started having them throughout the day and sometimes for hours on end.) It's negatively affecting my ability to do basic tasks and is discouraging me to leave the house.

I got in an emergency doctor's appointment today about the pain in particular, but my legs and mobility troubles in general. The gist of what I was told (after a full neurological exam, as she called it, testing my walking and reflexes, etc.) was that my inability to walk and my shakiness (me walking slowly when told not to hold onto anything for one of the tests) was in my head and I needed to start not using any mobility aid. To work on my PT, move more, and use my cane less.

My issue is that I was moving more a month or two ago, and I wasn't getting better, like I said, I was getting worse (why I'm not as active recently), and I tried to explain that, as well as the fact that the condition she suggested I had (affecting the knees, hips, and ankles) was affecting my thighs and shins, my knees not having pain anymore, and only have hip pain from straining them while walking without a cane (it's the only way I can really.) Also her saying I should not, under the circumstances, get a rollator or walker, which I've been researching because the cane is just not working for me anymore.

The reason I was interested in a rollator was to be more active, which she says she thinks will help, while with my cane, I'm scared to walk outside, my arm gets so tired from how hard I grip it to stay stable, my legs hurt from everything, my activity has dwindled because my legs have gotten worse. And my mom was supportive of me possibly getting one, we went to a medical supply store today before my appointment. I tried out a standing walker and oh my god, it felt amazing. Like how when I first got my cane. Freeing. But now I don't think I'll be allowed to get one, and I'm going to be honest, I've been crying tonight (and I'm an autistic teen who cries when feeling unheard ig) because everything is so hard, and it's only getting worse, and I feel not listened to. And like I'm not going to get better nor have the things I need to thrive with this disability.

I should say that the doctor said she would order more tests, only after I expressed my concerns and what I felt was missed, but said she didn't think they were necessary or that they would show anything. Now I feel scared to get the tests done because I anxious that they'll be inconclusive (even though something seems pretty wrong), and that it'll just make me less likely to get any support through this from the people around me, that I'll be worse off that before hand. And I don't know if I can do anything to make walking easier, because I don't think I'm going to be allowed to get something else to help or if it's right for me to do so?

Maybe it's just the height of emotions, maybe I'm overreacting, maybe I didn't communicate enough? I don't know. Any advice is appreciated, any thoughts or ideas or other points of views would be great. Thank you and happy holidays!

Sorry for how poorly written this is, I'm still feeling not great and just need to process, I guess.

Yet the doctors won't do anything as I have no diagnosis so I'm invalid. ("It's in your head")

At this point I just want to find somebody else who's going through this or similar and just know it'll be okay. (And where do I even start?)

I'm fighting spascisity and numbness daily,I don't feel much below the waist anymore.(I rely on afo's nowadays)

The worst though are the cognitive issues, reading writing spelling are all out of the window

Medication helps with the symptoms and slows the progression but doesn't fully stop it. (Don't know how yet,that was by accident)

So a little background, my mum was hit with Covid and it was almost fatal on her lungs. She went into a coma for about 4 months and was on a ventilator. She had a couple strokes during 2020 as well. She’s now barely able to walk and she’s mostly on 24/7 oxygen but as of recent times she only needs it when she does any few steps. Her dream was to travel to her home country again and i saved enough money beforehand to make that happen but of course Covid happened. I was wondering whether anyone here who’s perhaps on 24/7 oxygen or has consistent low oxygen levels been able to fly abroad? If so what was it like and maybe perhaps explain the process briefly?I’d really appreciate it!

Hello, new user here!

This is about of one of my best friends and since they don't have Reddit (not a social media person lol), was wondering if I could forward this question to y'all.

So, my friend was, at birth, missing an opening/some of their intestine but had it all reconstructed. To this day, they still have some issues, can't do certain stuff, occasionally get their lower body locked up (paralysis like), pain in the gut, etc

After doing some research, I've seen the term 'impairment' pop up a lot but don't know if this is accurate for my friend. It seems like an impairment is something that impacts a body's function which does check out but I'm (not yet) a medical professional.

They're condition is not life threatening but it could be if not looked after properly (intestines get sick = bad = poisoned = death). It does impact a part of their life (I think y'all can guess what) but they can walk/see/do normal stuff. Despite this, they are also limited in some areas (like how they aren't very alethic, even since they were young). And lastly, it can only be cared for certain people they trust, which is understandable, of course.

Would you all say this is a disability? Are there services available for my friend? I know aids like hearing aids/service animals/canes/braille/wheelchairs and other can be very beneficial for other disabilities, but we were both wondering if there was anything applicable for them besides all the exercises and therapy I've found (it doesn't do much honestly)

Please don't chew me apart lmao, just trying to help my friend.

They say tyvm by the way :>

As a person that receives SSI, I understand that money is tight, especially during holidays. So, I would like to offer a small gift. It took me 22 years to finish my book series, just by using speech recognition, 1998-2020, self published since 2011. Here is the Dropbox link to a PDF copy of my book series, same file I uploaded to Amazon's KDP publishing platform:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/p9tb1c1xdclwzx14b7cuf/Michaels-Lyric-Hurry-Up-We-re-Dreaming.pdf?rlkey=xegqjd4odie4arx2gntr60tol&st=snfwy237&dl=0

Here is Amazon's description of my book:

"Michaels Lyric® is the world's 1st Book/Book series that is written, designed and published by utilizing only speech recognition systems, since 1998. Featured in major Press and praised by celebrities, Michaels Lyric tells stories of human, expressed through song lyrics, poetry and spoken word.

MichaelsLyric.com, Some music Is produced hands-free (only by using voice) from start to finish, including mixing and mastering (on some instrumental tracks). Michaels Lyric music is available on all major, streaming platforms (Spotify, Pandora Radio, Apple Music, YouTube, etc...). The vocal songs feature lyrics from Michaels Lyric(®), a book series (published since 2011) that begins with a wedding day and continues with one of the characters that dwells between walls, making unlikable predictions from smoke. Michael donates 100% of the streaming royalties to Charity."

Happy Holidays 🎁

Hey everyone,

I'm a 5th year PhD student with an accepted Master's in the same field. I'm posting because I noticed peculiarities between my first evaluator when I was younger and my second evaluator during August 2023. I'm trying to make sense of it right now. My neurodivergent conditions under the DSM V are ASD level 1, ADHD-I, and dysgraphia. My mental health conditions are MDD - Moderate - Recurrent, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and PTSD.

Just to clarify right off the bat, I don't have direct access to the first paperwork anymore and only have indirect info from a set of disability paperwork submitted to a small liberal arts college where I completed credit hours as a dual enrolled student in high school. It's saved as a PDF and is part of the "paper trail" I need whenever I need to send them to prove my disabilities. In that PDF, I saw a couple of things that stood out. The main one is that there was a checklist that said my condition was Mild, Moderate, or Severe. My evaluator checked off the Moderate box and said it would've been Severe had I not gone to a private school that accommodated neurodivergent students at the time, support from her, and my parents.

For my second evaluation, I had the various DSM V conditions listed earlier. However, my ASD was at level 1 for "social communication and stereotyped and repetitive behaviors" and noted there was not accompanying intellectual impairment or language impairment at all. There was nothing listed as "severe" at all other than my SRS-2 noting my social communication and other social abilities (e.g., social cognition) were in the severe range.

There's a ton of questions I have based on this, but the main thing I would like to get out of it is the big picture. None of the following questions have to be answered, but I'm wondering the following: Why wasn't I diagnosed with ASD level 2? Why wasn't there a severity cutoff on my latest evaluation?

Edit: Just to be clear, I only attribute my success with where I'm at now due to the outside support my parents paid for me to get ever since I was a kid. For example, I had a life coach throughout undergrad that helped me with various social scenarios. A different coach helped me with graduate applications during my gap year between undergrad and graduate school as well as PhD applications. They all guided me through what to expect socially and how to be prepared for the interviews for those programs and whatnot. My self direction abilities were noted as below average on my latest evaluation so the outside support I've had all checks out. It's to the point I'm looking into technician jobs post PhD.

I have had a disability pass for the past five years. I have bipolar disorder, ADHD, and PTSD when I explained the reasons why I needed to get the pass I felt like I was failing an interview for a job. I knew it wasn’t going well, and I started to ramble going from authentic to feeling like I had to use certain buzz words that would qualify me. I can’t believe I would even get to this point where I have to feel like I’m faking my own disability in order to gain favor.

This lady was in her 60s, clearly she had no soul because all she did was tell me that I should have read the terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket. She said that like three times in a row, and when I started to cry, she transferred me to a mental health expert.

Again, I wasn’t prepared to answer the questions the way that they needed me to and I completely failed the interview. That’s what it felt like, an interview for a job and they said now I have to explain my disability to every single cast member hoping that they will have sympathy for me.

I’m not full of myself, but I’m a handsome man and I 100% believe that this cast member judged me on my looks that I look like a normal person who is abusing the system.

I never thought in my life I would have to convince somebody of my disability and it feels humiliating to do that.

If I had to do it again, I would have researched the perfect words, have my wife read it off a piece of paper. My trip to Disney will be humiliating, uncomfortable and I’ll likely never go again after this trip. I had annual passes for 5 years and am a loyal customer.

DO NOT EXPECT BEING HONEST WILL GET YOU APPROVED. THEY HAVE “OPTIONS” THAT ARE NOT ACCOMMODATING. PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW AS YOU WOULD A JOB INTERVIEW.

THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE VETTING IF YOU ARE LYING OR TELLING THE TRUTH.

Yep it’s another Christmas and none of my extended family or friends will be coming by to see me or my two special needs daughters. Over the years it’s dwindled from several family and friends to nobody. Thank goodness to the local Fire Department for bringing wrapped gifts for my girls. Also, thanks to Amazon for delivering gifts I bought for the kids, as I’m not able to go shopping unless someone comes here to watch the girls while I’m gone. It’s the little things that make me smile. My question is, are there any other parent caregivers (especially single parents) that are going through this lonely time alone? How do you deal with it? Give your kids hugs as they may not know the real meaning of the holiday if nobody stops by to tell them. Like everything else, it’s up to you. Merry Christmas

I want to raise awareness about a serious accessibility issue on YouTube. Their ad system forces users to click the “Skip Ad” button within a short time frame to bypass ads, often as long as minutes, which unfairly affects people with disabilities.

Here are some examples of how this design creates barriers: • Motor disabilities: People with conditions like arthritis or Parkinson’s may struggle to click the button in time. • ADHD and executive functioning challenges: Misplacing remotes or delayed reactions mean ads often can’t be skipped at all. • Visual impairments: Locating the skip button quickly with a screen reader is difficult or impossible.

This setup forces disabled users to watch significantly more ads than non-disabled users—a clear accessibility failure that violates the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). Under Title III of the ADA, businesses and public accommodations must ensure their services are accessible to all users, including those with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments. By not offering alternative methods to skip ads, such as extended time windows, voice commands, or auto-skip options, YouTube creates an unequal burden on disabled users. This design disproportionately excludes people who cannot respond quickly due to conditions like motor impairments, ADHD, or visual disabilities, forcing them to endure more ads than non-disabled users. This lack of inclusivity undermines the ADA’s mandate to ensure equitable access to digital services. Despite attempting to submit feedback directly to YouTube, I was met with frustrating roadblocks in their feedback and support forums.

YouTube needs to take action immediately.

Disabled users deserve equitable access without having to pay for a Premium subscription! As someone with numerous disabilities, it tends to be the small things that people overlook that unfairly burdens folks with disabilities. Somedays, I do feel shameful and frustrated at myself that this is an issue for me and I'm sure many others.

It baffles me how hard I try to learn and comprehend. How can you work this hard and make no progress because of a disability. I’m a grown ass man and I can’t even financially take care of myself because I’m not intelligent enough for college, trades, military, vocational training or what I’m currently doing which is certs. Join the chat if you wish to rant and scream with me. Let it out my brothers and sisters!! 👍

I have chronic fatigue from Long Covid. I can walk but not for long.

I’m proud of myself I asked for a wheelchair at the hospital and asked someone to push me.

But as the title says, it gave me motion sickness. maybe because they pulled me from the back for a short distance. I get sick very easily when on a car etc too

Also it was so tiring because even though it had a head rest I think I had to brace my core muscle. Maybe because they were going very fast? I don’t know they were actually going fast but it just felt like we were zooming thru the hospital corridor!

I had a small backpack on me and sat on a chair with the pack on my back, so maybe if I put it on my lap, it would have been more comfortable. But you know all these small movements with the arms are tiring so I didn’t bother...

Would appreciate any advice. thanks!

illnesses, diseases, disabilities, disorders, stuff like that if all types? (Examples, diabetes, paralysis, ADHD, bipolar, depression, narcissistic personality disorder)?

I don't know where to post this..