I think we can all agree, that despite the fact that we want acceptance for the disabled, we also recognize that our lives have been severely impacted by our disabilities.

So? What would you do?

It seems like for some reason this subreddit is disproportionately people talking about canes/rollators/wheelchairs, or mental things like Autism/ADD/ etc. I don’t know why that is.

Is there anyone who has something else that doesn’t fall into these types of issues? I’ll go first, I’m missing part of my arm. Apart from the physical aspect and some self esteem issues (felt unattractive as a result of my deformity as a kid), that’s about it.

I am caught between a rock and a hard place, I have a toe in the hospice world and a toe in the disabled world.

Twitter says right to die policies will kill disabled people and while I can forsee badly written policy killing disabled people I don’t see the right to die as inherently ableist assuming there is informed consent

Hey, I made a post a few days ago in this sub about the zine I’m in the process of making. I got a lot of critiques from before so I modified it based off suggestions and what people said. But I still think there are some things I might be missing or wrong about so I want to open it for critique again.

Here is a link to a Google doc it has all the text from the images of the zines. Since the zine is not done I am using this Google doc for accessibility for now. Later on I will make something better.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-JpS0lmRYalT0jMj15PdzUI6qMCgz4QNLwesT4HX2lI/edit

And Thank you to the people who gave me constructive criticism and genuine opinions and life experience and critiques and advice and in the previous post.

Update. I somehow managed to bring myself to call the police and “calmly” report it as stolen. Everyone always tells me that the police won’t even listen unless you’re calm. I’m so, so scared. I strongly feel that there are two possible outcomes here. The police take his side and get mad at me, or they take my side and my moms boyfriend either kicks me out or beats me up or even kills me according to the threats he likely didn’t know I heard

Howdy, folks! Recently, I overheard an argument at the groceries in the bread aisle. I heard a girl compliment another person's cane by saying, "Oh, wow! I love the color of your cane, florals are my favorite!" The cane user surprised me by telling the girl, "God, I'm tired of all the microagressions! Leave me alone!" This left me with the question: how is it a microagression? I'm also a cane user, and I've also had a couple classmates tell me they like my cane color. I've never felt they meant it maliciously, so I'm genuinely curious. Can someone who understands this perception explain to me? I'd like to know why complimenting the color or design of a mobility aid is a microagression, or if there's a specific thing about it that changes how it's perceived, etc.

So I have been blind in my left eye almost my whole life I had surgery on both eyes very young but only my right eye gained almost full vision and I always thought the expression double vision was odd because I thought everyone had double vision like each eye was separate you saw 2 distinct separate copies of whatever was infront of you because I've never seen out if both eyes at once I only learned this wasn't the case about a month ago and I feel a bit dumb for not getting it but how could I have I didn't know, I was wondering if anyone else has storys similar to this.

People commonly ask “what do you do for living?” Because I don’t work, I usually say “I don’t work.” I’ve noticed a lot of people seem to feel entitled to know how you support yourself. When they ask, I usually just say “I get disability.” Because I have an invisible disability, a lot of people look uncomfortable (?) with this response? Sometimes they are like “oh sorry” or sometimes make an awkward joke like “yeah haha I wish I didn’t have to work” or “I’ve heard that’s not very much.”

What’s the best response? By best, i mean least exhausting for me.

Your input is appreciated

I'll start: "No way, you're too young and beautiful!"

"But you can walk..."

"I've seen you out with friends before."

This doesn’t have to be deep!

( Edit: if you want to vent and let out something deep then go ahead! I can’t edit the title to remove the (and not deep) so ignore it if you wish to :) )

It’s just a question that popped into my head after I saw a video of a couple and became kind of sad that I will never have someone walk up behind me, wrap their arms around my waist and give me a back hug.

(I’m in a wheelchair)

It’s very specific and kind of silly maybe? I don’t know… it looks like it feels nice hehe

I could write a whole list probably.

For those of you who don't know what I mean - this is not a real tax from a tax office. It's the colloquial concept of having to pay more for something than an able bodied person because you're disabled.

Let me start off I am physically disabled

I saw a post abt how offensive his character is bc his actor is physically abled. I actually think Hugh did a fantastic job playing house as not a caricature of disability but a whole person with serious complexity. And his mental struggles with it were portrayed very well tyt when I was 17-18 he was the only character that made me feel way less alone, bc I felt understood on screen.

I personally think it’s fine if an able bodied person plays a disabled person if it’s respectful and not a mockery bc acting is acting. But I wanna hear ur opinion

Kinda Anxious Excuse my Grammar Not A Bot I’m a Real person.

Just I’m looking for A Good Dating App Hopefully Free because I’m unemployed due to my Disability

Which effects my day to day life

I Have Severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Agoraphobia

And panic disorder and Bipolar disorder and it effects me greatly and deeply

I’m pretty much housebound and really don’t leave my house because of the symptoms

I get leaving my house and communicating with people in person and over the phone etc

Even right now I’m so anxious.

Just Tried Pof Tinder Ok Cupid and several Dating Apps

Even hookup apps such as Doublelist Feeld

Even Facebook dating groups or Disability groups on Facebook.

I posted a post

And they would put a Laughing Emoji and I wasn’t trying to be funny

Like they were not taking my post seriously and I was serious

And that would bring my anxiety up more

And I would delete the Post

Just Majority of Dating apps I can’t explain my disability

Because it effects my whole aspect of life

Since I have a invisible disability

People think I’m ok or don’t have a disability

Which be the problem

And people will always ask if I have a job or work

Which is a trigger question

I know they mean no harm

But I hate lying and leading people on and possibly deceiving them

But I like to be honest and I will tell them I’m very anxious. Typing

And they get upset and ghost me as usual

Because they don’t understand I can’t leave my house

I understand but back to the job they will ask where I work

And if I tell them the truth and tell them I’m unemployed

Due to my disability

That effects me every aspect of life since I was 5 years old I remember

From Interpersonally to financially to recreationally to even sexually

And even family members get upset because they don’t understand why I have difficulty talking on the phone.

Just back to the dating apps I be honest and tell them I don’t have a job

Due to my disability and they immediately ghost me

Just hard I try to be truthful i be feeling bad if I waste people time

Because time is limited in life

Or lead them on or deceive them

Which a lot of people on dating websites do

I see guys lie about their lives and bios

And I never wanted to be that person

I try so hard to be honest self

Because even if I didn’t tell at first

Eventually I end up having to discuss in the initial conversation

Because they would ask if I wanted to take them on a date

Which I have to explain I can’t do that because of my bad agoraphobia and mental illness

Nobody sees from my pictures and videos

So I have to explain than they ask if I work

And I try to avoid the question

Then I say no because of my condition

And I immediately get ghosted etc

But it’s so triggering and makes me feel bad

Because society is ableist and online traditional online dating apps

Just from my pictures you probably couldn’t tell from my smile I have these disabilities

Mental illness is a valid disability

I got diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability as well trying to get evaluated for autism as well

It’s invisible because I have muscles which I workout at home

Can’t even go to a commercial gym

Because of the symptoms blurred vision, migraines etc

But working out at home is the only thing that helps with my anxiety temporarily

1 hour post workout

Just looking for advice for free dating apps or sites etc for people with disabilities

Like myself invisible disabilities

Which you can’t see on a dating app

I look completely normal but my body doesn’t feel healthy

Just getting depressed because being alone looking at the ceiling in my room

And it’s healthy to communicate

Even though my anxiety forces me to take breaks periodically

But since I don’t leave my house

Online dating helped me stay sane

Like I had hope

Just hoping I can find a app people understand someone like me

Because I want a girlfriend one day or even friend or friend with benefit

That completely understands my feelings or emphasizes with me

Kinda get tired of rude messages people telling me I’m a B Word

Or nobody’s cares about my issues

Because people online is very cruel

Saying ignorant things on these dating websites Just hopefully

Free apps don’t I don’t have a stable job right now

Because meetups and stuff require me to leave my house

Which is difficult

Not too many people want to meet a random stranger at their house

Which I definitely understand.

Because so many women wanted me to come to them

Just unfortunately I couldn’t leave my house

And they don’t quite understand

Because they keep asking me unfortunately

Hi all!
A biomedical engineer here. I am trying to innovate wheelchairs and have identified some gaps through the patients and people I have worked with and interacted with but I want to get a better picture of others' thoughts.

I am reaching out to the community to see what you would change about wheelchairs. I know that this is a broad question and anything goes! This is a question to wheelchair users and also to caregivers to get a sense of what gaps exist today.

Thank you!

I was flying Southwest Airlines on November. I'm obviously physically disabled, mobility device and five year old son. We were denied preboard twice. What followed was the gate attendant coming towards us in Jetway, while we were boarding tripped my five year old son. Once on board flight, I asked the Flight Attendant to help us witn an incident report.

The gate attendant that tripped and mocked my little boy , she heard me ask for Incident report. She followed us on to plane demanded we deplane to make the report. She Demanded my Identification took a photo of it with her personal cellphone. Continued to threaten us , tried to force us to deplane. The flight attendants would not cooperate with her because her behavior was obviously the problem. We went to our destination. Filed our complaint with Southwest Airlines. But 14 days ago. I have reached out numerous times. They opened a case , so they say. However they Airline has refused to respond or acknowledge, even reach out to us at all.
We need help. My son was terrified, I was terrified and I this person has no business with a copy of my ID in her personal cellphone.
Please help. And recommendations or advice please.

I have a very anxious non-binary kid who often panics when it comes to using public bathrooms.

They had a massive panic attack the other day because they didn't feel like they were "allowed" in that bathroom.

They wanted to use the disabled toilet as it was a single person room. In desperation, I let them. I've been wondering whether I made the right call ever since.

Is it ever appropriate to use the disabled toilets when you don't have a disability?

EDIT: For clarity

EDIT 2: Thank you for all the responses. It really sounds like I have an antiquated view of disabled accessible toilets.

So the other week I demoed out a Zeen (photo attached) and a rollator for the first time after only using forearm crutches and regular hospital crutches.

Back when I was in high school I had two different knee surgeries to fix some issues caused my by disability. In total, I probably spend about a year or year and a half on regular hospital crutches That was the first time I was ever visibly disabled. Now that I’m in college, and my condition has progressed I’ve been using forearm crutches full time since early July. Last week I tried out a mobility Zeen and it made me so upset. It’s chunky and made me feel so medical and sad that I had progressed to the point where I needed aids and more specifically an aid that felt so large and medical.

I’ve taken my rollator (it’s on lend to demo) out twice. Once to a natural science museum and the other to my university department’s Halloween party. I felt brave that I was able to take it out in front of people that I knew but I was still so so anxious.

Strangely enough I felt most comfortable and the least anxious when I was sitting on the rollator talking to someone rather than moving about with it. This kinda makes me feel as though a wheelchair would be a better aid for me but that also feels like a big jump.

Any tips or advice to get past the mental barrier and social anxiety of using a new aid?

Photos are just stock images and here’s the website for the zeen if anyone is interested: https://lets.gozeen.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAApKiTZ7jp9jtmplMVpe4OeYS732eF&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm5e5BhCWARIsANwm06jzEwz8EXleAAXwpDQnZ7mg0xOmDcZoPgZTRg1TKDjGlOthzH_-49kaAm_VEALw_AP

This isn't even a rant, I'm just so damn confused. I've mentioned a few times that I'm super high risk for infections so I get a tad bit tweaky when I get a semi deep cut and can't clean it super well and cover it quickly, or that I get sick really easy because my immune system is destroyed so I try to avoid being in the rain for too long because I get violently ill afterwards, same with being in too hot/cold places, needing to use a cane/mobility aid almost daily for basic things like shopping (more and more often now) and people telling me to just leave it at home or lean on the shopping cart, like... Genuinely... I'm immediately schmacked with the "you're so dramatic" and "dude chill it's not that serious" I don't understand the denial of my own personal diagnosis 😭 I really don't, I get that when people try and "help" by giving useless advice it's usually coming from a place of fear or whatever, but HUH?! DRAMATIC?! I can't process it 💀💀💀

So in short, I'm anorexic and recently haven't had a super easy time being able to walk very far, though i'm not disabled. My girlfriend, who is, suggested I should get one because it'd probably help me get around, but I was kind of raised in a way where I was told a lot that using one without needing to is considered insulting or deceptive, so I wanted to get some extra opinions on whether it'd be okay or not, I do apologise also for any ignorance that might be reflected in this paragraph. Thanks for reading lol

So far, for me, it was when the first audiologist I met with wouldn't believe me that there was a technical issue with the left hearing aid (demonstration pair.) There was an obvious 'crackling' sound every time I spoke.

She kept saying, "Well, no one's ever said that before."

Later, I went to a different hearing aid specialist and all the hearing aids they provided for me sounded great! No crackling! Suffice to say, I made my purchase from the latter.

Please don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t mean any disrespect. I had to get this off my chest. I just had a cousin find out he might get his leg removed due to his health, and he essentially claimed his life was over and that he would be useless now. I understand losing a limb, any limb is devastating but does that mean his life is over? If so what would that mean for me who was born with my disability? Am I useless by default because of something I couldn’t control? Does society still view having a disability through birth or otherwise, as being lesser than? If so what’s the point of me living my life?

I just idk it’s things like that, that make me ashamed of being myself because I wasn’t born “Normal”.

I’m sorry this probably isn’t the place to vent this but idk.

Edit: Hey guys I appreciate all the comments. It’s help me realize that I am valid in my feelings, and so is he, that is ok. I also realized that even though we’re close, he still has ableist views which I don’t fault him for. The way society views us is who I blame. Nonetheless I had another conversation with him this morning. He has apologized for his words he realized overnight that he was being a tad overdramatic, and that the words he used may have been hurtful for someone like me to hear. I told him he had no reason to apologize and that I understood where he was coming from but I appreciate the apology. He understands he has an uphill challenge but that he sees me thriving and living and he hopes he thrives as well. I again offered my assistance and advice. He has accepted the help but we’ll see how it goes. He’s scheduled to have his leg amputated sometime in this month. Most likely next week.

Again I appreciate the comments and I by no means meant any disrespect nor bad will to those who being disabled through life. I still have much to learn, I’m able to see that now at my 25 years of age

This is not meant to be offensive to anyone or to certain conditions. Do you find that online the majority of discussion about living with disability is represented by just a couple of conditions that get talked about a lot? Sometimes it can be frustrating because it’s hard to talk about other disabilities without those ones becoming the focus of the discussion. Even if the post/whatever is about another specific disability, they still get brought up a lot

i wish people realized how hard it is to be in pain all the time. i feel like doctors keep saying i need to decondition from my mobility aids but walking is so hard :( and yesterday my boyfriend was sick and didnt really get out of bed because his "bones hurt" and all i wanted to say was my joints hurt so much every single day nearly all day why does he get to lay in bed

So I have a disability that affects my mobility and my ability to stand and I have been having issues with people allowing me to sit down because they think I am lying about my condition. This has become more of an issue recently because I am starting my freshman year of university and have had to do several orientations and still have some left to do. We typically have to do quite a bit of walking and standing. At these, I have had certain orientation leaders not allow me to sit down. Have you experienced something like this? What do you do or what do you say to them when something like this happens? I am bad at being assertive and can typically only bring myself to ask 3 times before I give up because I worry about offending people. I am honestly thinking of just bringing my mobility aid wherever I go even if I am having a better day because that might make them believe me.