#disability hacks

[bleachedblacksocks]

yesterday I learned that you don't have to be in the bathroom to brush your teeth.

you can just brush your teeth in bed, then either spit in a cup, or go to the bathroom.

[i-wheely-love-poodles]

Disability tip: when you have the energy to make your bed do 3 layers - sheet, mattress protector, sheet. This way when you need to strip your bedding after it’s dirtied you are able to have a clean sheet to lay on for the rest of the night without having to put on new sheets at 2am.

[disabilityaidpositivity]

Do you or any of your followers have any tips/ideas for accessibility in art? I love drawing but it feels like fibro has taken it from me the last 10 years and every attempt to get back into it just hurts. =/ I use compression gloves and they help with the finger & hand pain to an extent, but not totally, and I'm at a loss with the rest of my arm, neck & back.

So... yeah. Any tricks? Any aids that people have found?

This post by @cowsabungus has a bunch of accessibility hacks...

What other ideas/recommendations do people have?

[gaylordthethird]

Disability Life Hacks (bathroom edition)

pt: Disability Life Hacks (bathroom edition)

a collection of life hacks relating to hygiene! ive got quite a few tricks I use and thought the spoonies of tumblr may also appreciate them <3

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use a toothpick to force open the cling wrap on a bath bomb

leave your products with their lids off so you don't need to re-open them!

sit down in the shower, no rule against it

use 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner

short hair! It's just easier in every way

after a shower/bath, put a towel on your bed/floor and just sit/lie there till your mostly dry

any plastic chair can be a shower chair if it believes in itself

baby wipes, they're decently cheap and help you feel cleaner when you can't shower!

[disability-can-be]

One of the most useful disability hacks I've discovered:

I tied a handkerchief through the handle of my water bottle! It makes it much easier to pick up and carry, I can hang it over my wrist or really anywhere, and I can change out the color and pattern!

Give it a try and see if it helps you. Anything that helps carry water with you will help you stay hydrated!

I love you!

[thewanderingemporium]

Brain fog and organisation: spoonie friendly tips

Brain fog is, I would argue, a rather common occurrence for us spoonies, particularly those with chronic pain conditions. It also sucks.

For me, I find it is like trying to think through mud. My thoughts are slow, my eyes gritty, my mind barely clicking over.

This makes life rather difficult – especially when you’re trying to handle many things at once, alongside your chronic illness.

After all, how are you supposed to keep on track of things, when remembering whether you have eaten - or what you were doing this morning – feels like too much?

Here are a few simple ways to stay organised as a spoonie – without using up too many spoons.

TIP ONE – Have a physical diary that sits open on your desk (or a wall calendar)

Keeping a physical diary open in a visible spot – like a desk or bedside table – makes it easier to check appointments and plans at a glance.

You could also use a monthly calendar – but I would argue that a diary gives you more space to keep a record of key things each day.

TIP TWO – colour coding events

Sometimes our brains are so tired that it will muddle or miss things that aren’t obvious. Colour coding events either in a diary or calendar (and sticking with that colour scheme) will let your brain quickly pick up on what is happening each day, even if you need to read the specifics later.

For example:

Health = Orange

University = Yellow

General = Green

Pick colours that work for you, but make sure that they’re distinct enough that you won’t mix them up.

TIP 3 – to do lists

I know I would be lost without my trusty to do list. By having a list, it means that you don’t have to try and remember things when you are tired or struggling.

I would add here that while a physical to do list is nice – it can be very easy to lose *glances guilty around my room ignoring the probably hundred or so missing to do lists in here somewhere.*

A good alternative would be a digital to do list that you can use on your mobile/tablet. You can use google calendar (which has a to-do list function), or Notion (which lets you create tick boxes so you still get that satisfaction of ticking an item off your list).

There are also a lot of other free apps – but these are the two that I use the most. I personally use Notion for keeping track of bigger projects, creative ideas, and reminders – it’s a great way to keep things organised without relying on memory.

Overall, I would say the biggest thing to keeping organised as a spoonie is writing things down and keeping them in an obvious place where you can see them.

That way you aren’t trying to force your brain to remember lots of little tasks when it is already exhausted from managing your health.

Take care, sending spoonie hugs

[autistic-fairy]

Making my own disability comforts list cuz I thought other one was already long lol

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-Cleansing wipes when you have a hard time bathing

-Micellar cleansing water and cotton swabs if you care about washing your face but can't

-COMFORT DRINK omg i cant live without my comfort drink. It's just something yummy you can sip for awhile when you're stressed that kinda gives you a different/more pleasant sensory input when something bothering you. Mine have to be fizzy for the extra wap of distracting sensory stuff. Anyway, explore the drink mix aisle in the grocery store ig (i get raspberry lemonade drink mix, and mix it in 7-Up)

-Speaking of drinks! Protein drinks for some quick nutrients! There's A LOT of options (more if you don't need lactose free >.>) I get Soylent in vanilla or chocolate, but that one's been having supply issues so I'm not sure I'd fully recommend it if you need them a lot. It does makes me feel the most energized than other kinds of protein drinks.

-Decorate! Get your "happy eyes" on! Posters, nicknacks, whatever. Just something you like looking at to kinda calm down. I have a lot of sparkly crystals in front of my computer

-Find a craft/hobby that takes just the right about of thinking. Nothing too complicated (frustration) but not too easy (boredom) either. It's good for your brain and helps distract and calm. I knit!

[buggybunniez]

trying this new dysgraphia hack- just fucking type out the words you wanna write in your art and then trace over them so it's still handwritten lettering but like, actually legible