#anarcho disability

[joy-haver]

I hate when I bring up accessibility and people are like “well, in the hypothetical situation where something like that were to happen-“.

it’s happening. Disabled people currently exist. I’m not giving you a thought experiment, I’m asking you to have consideration for other peoples real experiences.

[joy-haver]

Something to understand that not all pain gets better by doing nothing. Sometimes laying in bed makes it worse.

Sometimes my hip fucks up and the only way to make it better is to walk on it, carefully, for like an hour.

Sometimes my back hurts in a way that means I can’t use my mobility aids without making it worse.

Sometimes my throat has issues only singing can fix.

So the whole “oh you said you were injured / in pain but then you went and did (__activity__), so clearly you were faking it” thing is entirely fucking meaningless.

You aren’t “catching fakers”, you are just fundamentally misunderstanding the human body.

[joy-haver]

Living life as a disabled person. What I’ve learned, three things really help.

1. Have projects. You need something to work on. Something self indulgent. Play an instrument, write a fic, archive something, make art. Whatever it is, it needs to be something your disability is least likely to regularly interfere with. If you are not working on something, all you have is rumination.

2. See people regularly. If you can’t do that? Call them. Talk. Send letters to each other. Sit on FaceTime and start a movie at the same time and listen to each other laugh. However you can be close to people. This shit gets lonely. Once your disability gets to a certain point, It’s very hard to make new friends. If you have them, treasure them. In my experience, Irl interaction with people who care for you is the absolute most helpful thing

3. Find joy in the simple things. For me lately? It’s been fruit. How it looks in the light, how different it tastes fresh, dried, juiced, in pie. How to dry satsuma peels for tea. How to cut an apple perfectly. Whatever it is for you, focus on something beautiful.

[joy-haver]

What’re some songs that resonate with your experiences of being disabled?

I’d really really appreciate if this is shared around. I need to see my experiences in music more. Please help me find that.

[joy-haver]

Listen to your body.

But know that it’s speaking to you in a language you have not learned.

Meet yourself where you are at, and come up with a pigeon, a trade language; so that you can make deals together, internally.

Listen to your body. It is screaming. But don’t listen with an expectation of understanding. You have to learn the vocabulary as you read.

look up the words. Ask clarifying questions. Cry yourself to sleep.

But if you don’t learn how your body speaks, you won’t be able to answer as it shouts, desperately, for what it needs.

[joy-haver]

If you ever feel the desire to say “oh but your so young” after I complain about loosing my ability, or talk about how my good years or behind me, or talk about making a will, or talk about plans for when I die, do me a favor and shut the fuck up.

I’m 24 yes, but I’m also disabled. I have tons of health issues that could shorten my life. I had a stroke at 22. I can’t do almost any of my hobbies anymore. I can barely go outside during the summer. Walking is hard. I’m in constant pain. So forgive me for thinking that I may not last another 40 years when I’m already broken after half that.

Like, I have all the trappings of old age and none of the social graces and respect that gets you. So maybe don’t act like I have it super great?

[joy-haver]

The electric carts at grocery stores are

1. Never charged. Partially because the positions to charge them are usually hard to navigate into, and the plugs are usually too high

2. Never available. Because there aren’t enough of them, and most of them are old

3. Never made for tall people. I usually have to spread my legs super wide to fit, which hurts my hips terribly.

4. Never made for holding two canes or two crutches. So I always have to lace my crutches inside the basket which cuts into my cart space

5. Never tall enough to reach all the shelves

6. Never made to turn well. Which means I get stuck in the aisles until folks move.

7. Never made for fat people. Or just like, large people in general. the seats are so fucking small.

Which mean that even when I’m provided with an accessibility device, it’s still not accessible.

[joy-haver]

“Those who can’t do, teach” should not be widely launched as an insult.

It’s actually an incredibly helpful disability narrative.