★RIVER★

19 Any Pronouns Disabled Bisexual Mobility Aid User Autistic

[chr0nically-river]

★Intro Post!★

Hi! I'm River. I'm a 19 year old gender-fluid bisexual who uses any pronouns. I'm also disabled, which is what this blog is about! I use a cane nearly everytime I leave the house

★My Disabilities/Disorders (and how they effect me)★

★FND: Pain, non-epileptic seizures, paralysis episodes, speech loss, fatigue, balance issues, and other shit

★ Autism: Sensory issues, difficulty communicating, resitance to change, speech loss.

★ ADHD: Executive function issues, low attention span, lack of motivation.

★ Bipolar: Intense emotions/mood swings. Mania, long lasting depression.

★About this blog!★

This blog focuses on disability advocacy/awareness, as well as just my own personal experiences.

★DNI★

Bigots (transphobes, ableism, homophobia, racists, ect. Essentially anyone falls under bigot)

Fakeclaimers.

Any one who fetishizes disability (fuck off my exisitence isn't for you to get off to <3)

Anti-Palestine

Trumpies (or anyone who aligns themselves with that fugly bitch)

[sunanthrope]

"But what if people will pretend to need this accessibility option so they can be lazy! People who don't need it will use it!!" I don't actually care

I dont care if 9/10 of the people who use the wheelchair ramp arent actually in wheelchairs. As long as the 1 person who needs it has access to it.

I dont care if 9/10 people who use the automatic push button on the library door can actually push the door open themselves. As long as the 1 person who the door is too heavy for gets to use it.

I dont care if 9/10 people who buy the can tab opener, or the little guitar clamp that holds the chords for you, or the hand grip that helps you hold chop sticks, don't need any of it and just get it to "be lazy". As long as the one disabled person who needs it gets access to it.

I do not care. Oh my GOD I do not care. As long as there's a disabled person on this planet who the accessibility device will benefit, the accessibility device is necessary.

Also, if you're so worried about people being "lazy" by using accessibility devices, MORE worried than you are about disabled (visibly or not) people not having access to them, you have unchecked ableism you need to work through.

[chr0nically-river]

Actually fucking bonkers that some of the most hurtful shit that has been said to me in regards to my disability has been said by my dad (someone who is ALSO disabled)

[curlyhaircripplegf]

Hot take it’s not actually accessible if I have to ask an abled body person for help or assistance

[chr0nically-river]

At my old school, the elevator had two doors (a main on and a gate inside) they *both* had to be closed inorder to work. The main door shut on its own. (Though it was heavy which could make it difficult for people who have weak arms) But the gate had to be closed for it to work. And it didn't close on its own.

This meant that students would either forget to close the gate or they would think it was closed, but a tiny ass gap meant it wasn't.

Which meant I was late to class MULTIPLE times because of having to ask a teacher to ask someone on the opposite floor to check the elevator

[chr0nically-river]

Me: *looks up crutch user tags on here cause I use one and wanna see people like me*

Tumblr: *Shows me disability fetishists posts*

[chr0nically-river]

Sometimes I forget that I can use my crutch at home and not just in public. Idk if it's some weird internalized ableism or if I just forget

I can't always play outside with my puppy because of how difficult standing is. (I usually play sitting when inside and outside, but I don't wanna sit on the wet ground)

I went outside to play with him and my legs kept trying to give out and I was like "Wait a damn minute" and got my crutch and surprise surprise it helped

(Puppy pic)

[chr0nically-river]

Me; I struggle to stand unaided

Also me when I struggle to stand unaided

[disabilityaidpositivity]

Friendly reminder to check the feet/tips on your canes and crutches; do they need to be replaced?

Also, don't forget to check the feet of your shower chair/stool occasionally ✌️

[chr0nically-river]

!!!VENT POST!!!

Over the past 4ish years of being disabled, my ability to walk/stand is slowly getting worse, and that kinda makes me feel some type of way? My mobility has suffered since getting ill, but it's just worse now.

It's the main thing preventing me from finding a job. I'm going through disability services in my state to help with that. So right now I'm doing payed volunteer work for 4 hours a day for a total of 20 hrs (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday Wednesday)

The ONLY reason I can tolerate it is cause I'm able to sit during like 99% of it. The only time I was standing was putting clothes away, and yesterday towards the end I was ALREADY in pain.

I sometimes struggle to walk around MY OWN HOUSE for 10 minutes. I use a cane when I leave the house, which I'm grateful to have access to. But it's not always enough. If I walk too long (the specific time varies), I pay for it.

I'll be in pain, my walking will deteriorate, and sometimes I'll literally be paralyzed for an undetermined amount of time!!

I hate being stuck inside, so I'll go to the store with my mom JUST so I don't have to. (Even though walking for extended periods of time is difficult, and I'm always struggling towards the end,) Which probably makes things worse

Tbh I probably need a wheelchair, but the idea of actually saying that to a doctor is scary. (Though at this point I'm seriously considering at least talking about my mobility)

[chr0nically-river]

Guess who got a job :3

[chr0nically-river]

Besides my crutch, my converse are my fave disability aid.

They aren't technically a disability aid in the sense that they weren't made with that intention, but they provide my ankles with support that makes it easier for me to walk

[theamphibianmen]

"low support needs disabled people are often not believed to have a disability at all and therefore struggle to get accommodations."

"high support needs disabled people's accommodations are often seen as 'too much' and therefore are not met."

"neurodivergent people's needs are often dismissed because nothing is physically wrong with them."

"physically disabled people people often cannot physically access buildings and people refuse to do anything about it."

"invisibly disabled people are seen as lazy by society."

"visibly disabled people are ostracized from society."

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE DISABILITY

[chr0nically-river]

If your love and compassion for disabled people stops when someone "gross" because of their disability, spoiler alert: you don't care about disabled people

[chr0nically-river]

Before I bought my crutch, I told my mom I was thinking about getting one. And she told me that she thought I was "giving in to my disability" and I needed to "push through" (even though pushing through makes me worse)

At the time I was mad (a part of me still is ngl) but now a larger part of me is just sad. Because that came from her personal experience. She's got fibromyalgia and has often had no choice but to push through.

She still shouldn't have said that, because it was ableist. But I still feel sad that she feels that pushing through is the only "valid" choice.

[lupusbaby]

Hey, if you’re not as mentally quick as you used to be because of your illness- that’s okay. If you’re can’t think as fast or handle as many tasks that’s okay. You aren’t stupid, you aren’t unintelligent, and you aren’t less worthy of love or respect. It’s okay that your brain won’t or can’t go back to how it used to be. It’s different now, but it’s okay.

[chr0nically-river]

As someone who's usually hyper-verbal, one of my least fave symptoms I get is speech loss/verbal shut downs.

For me I get these because of my FND as well as my autism. The way it presents/feels is slightly different depending on which disorder caused it (I might make a post on that in the future?)

I'm someone who NEEDS to be able to describe my experiences in detail. I love words and having the means to communicate to that extent, so when I can't. It's frustrating

[chr0nically-river]

Things people say about getting a mobility aid/My response

(because getting a new aid can be scary. Esp if it's your first time)

Am I "disabled enough" to need an aid?

There's no threshold for how disabled you need to be to use an aid. If you have symptoms that you think would be helped by using an aid/the aid you have does help, then you're disabled enough.

What if I get an aid and it doesn't help?

Then it doesn't help. You can always donate that aid. You aren't taking resources away from someone who actually needs it just because it turns out you didn't benefit from that specific aid.

What if people ask questions?

Tell them whatever you want. Your medical history, the symptoms you use it for, make up something, or tell them you don't give out medical information. It's up to you how much you want to share.

What if people stare?

Let them. Let people make untrue assumptions about out. That doesn't matter. Your safety is more important than the opinions of others. Plus, after a bit you won't notice the staring as much

I don't think I'll need it all the time

Valid. Alot of mobility aid users have dynamic disabilities, meaning their symptoms fluctuate. It's totally normal to use an aid one day and not another.

How will I know if I should bring it somewhere or not?

It'll take some time, but eventually you'll get a feel for what situations will make you need it. For me personally, if I'm going to spend most of the time standing/walking OR I'm not sure how much I'll be standing/walking I'll bring my aid

How do I use it?

If you're in the position to, consult a physical therapist. They can tell you how to properly use your aid/recommended which aid(s) will be beneficial to your needs. If you don't have access to PT, then there are plenty of resources online that will show you how to. Just make sure to use credible sources.

[chr0nically-river]

Kinda wish people would stop going "We don't want you to become dependent on it" when you use a mobility aid. Cause like— did ya ever think that me being dependent on my crutch is WHY I can go places?

If I didn't use my crutch/cane, then I'd be stuck inside way more!!!