What kinds of disabilities occur among Troceaths, and how are the disabled regarded in their society?
Thank you for your question!
Troceaths can be affected by the typical universal disabilities: blindness, deafness, limb abnormalities, amputees, mental disorders (autism, anxiety, depression, etc), and so on. But if you're looking for Troceath-specific disabilities, I've got you covered!
(Many thanks to the kind souls in my Discord Server who helped me bounce around some ideas for this!)
Hectocotylasia, aka the absence of head tendrils. The tendrils are a necessary part of a Troceath's respiratory system, and as such, a Troceath with no tendrils is one that cannot survive for long. This can be treated with the surgical addition of synthetic tendrils, cybernetic tendrils, or authentic tendril transplants from donors.
Tendril Dystonia, wherein a Troceath's tendrils twitch and move involuntarily, often becoming like whips and causing damage to both the Troceath who has it, and their surroundings. Muscle relaxation medicines help to treat this, but there is no permanent cure. A Troceath would have to be on the right medication for the rest of their lives in order to keep it under control. This is seen in Troceaths with tendrils that reach past a length of 3 ft/91 cm, so it is uncommon.
Abnormal Buoyancy Syndrome, in which a Troceath is unable to regulate their buoyancy normally. There is no cure for this, but those who have it can be assisted in the form of water weights, floaties, or assistance from a swim guide.
Orthostasis Dystrophy, in which a Troceath is unable to keep their shape well above water. Typically, when a Troceath goes above water, their innermost muscles are able to firm up enough to keep them upright with no conscious effort. However, some Troceaths' bodies lack this ability. And since Troceaths mostly have no bones (excepting teeth), they are unable to stand upright and move about regularly above water. (For a mental image, think of the way Octo Dad moves.) These Troceaths can be given wheelchairs or other forms of walking assistance.
Dehydration Dysautonomia, in which a Troceath is prone to drying out more quickly than usual. Troceaths are biologically similar to octopi or squids, and so need to stay hydrated by both drinking water and being submerged regularly. Those with DD may require constant submersion, including wearing glass helmets filled with water (much like when SpongeBob visits Sandy's treedome, for instance).
Acetabulaplasia, or the absence of suckers that are found on the hands and feet. Being without bones, Troceaths are able to squeeze through tight spaces and traverse through them with the use of their suckers. The absence of these suckers makes this significantly more difficult, if not impossible. Typically, these Troceaths need either an alternate route, or wearable suction tools whenever travel through narrow spaces is required.
Chelaplasia, or the absence of claws. The claws of a Troceath are mostly comprised of keratin and calcium, but are not classified as bones. They are necessary for a Troceath to be able to hunt and to fight. If these Troceaths cannot master the use of other types of weapons, they will need to be reliant on others around them for food and protection.
As for how the disabled would be regarded in society? It depends on a few factors.
👑 If your Troceath is a Siphallo, there are one of two options that could happen. Either they're so important/powerful/popular that they're able to get top-tier treatment and everyone just stays hush-hush about it; or they're not so important/powerful/popular that they're considered expendable, and they are cast out from Siphallo society.
💧 If your Troceath is an Osun, medical care is not as easily accessible (still an option, just harder to come by), but your community is strong and always willing to stick by your side and help out however possible, even if it means coming up with solutions that are outside the box.
What are the ways to Support a Deaf and/or Amputee Troceath?
Thank you for your question!
A deaf Troceath could have a couple of different options for support; implants to be able to hear, relying on their tendrils to pick up on the vibrations of sounds around them, or learning Aquallos Sign Language (AQSL).
Amputee Troceaths could be given prosthetics, mobility or other aids depending on where the amputation is, or assigned a physical support worker (whether it's an animal or another Troceath) to help them get around wherever and however needed.
