For disability pride I'd like to talk about how people with headache disorders are failed by both doctors and insurance companies so much, it's standard to be put on meds with a known low probability of working and terrible side effects for no reason other than bc CGRP inhibitors are expensive. You often have to fail several cheaper medications before you can get on the ones that actually work long-term for the largest % of people.
We also often have headache-specific rescue meds like triptans restricted and rationed which, when we cannot access proper preventatives, puts especially those us of with chronic headaches at risk of overusing OTC painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen instead, or—depending on how bad the headaches are—folks might even resort to street drugs to numb the pain.
Migraine specially is one of the most common health conditions. Cluster headaches are considered to be the most painful chronic pain condition. Yet, most of the time, patients with these & similar conditions do not receive the medical care they'd need to properly manage their pain, and are often dismissived as overdramatic, too sensitive, "just stressed" or drug-seeking.
I whipped this doodle together so I could have a pfp for it- I like the cleaving imagery enough that I'm happy with it but I wish I could represent the other disabilities I headcanon him with(mental disorders, hypermobility, chronic fatigue, frequent illness, whatevers up with his antennas ect he has many disabilities im sure im forgetting some). Considering the fact that Tenna is one of THE most disability-coded characters in the game, I wish he was more celebrated in this fact! And as someone who is both mentally and physically disabled, I always feel the need to step up to the task.
The things I struggle with are a massive part of my life- everyone who's disabled can attest to that. Having to plan your spoon usage for your day, having to find ways around inaccessibility, falling behind, doctors refusing to listen or treat you with respect- it's a day by day process that feels like an uphill climb. When I write about Tenna, something that's important to me is that I show just how difficult it would be to get back up from what he's been through, a battle that he has to fight every day whether he wants to or not. It's tough, and it's hard to accept this part of yourself, but the sooner you do, the sooner you can take care of yourself and live a more comfortable life. Easier said than done, obviously, but I wanted to explain why writing him as disabled as he is is important.
Fellow disabled folk- it's hard, but you're doing a good job and I'm proud of you. You don't need to be an inspiration. Just surviving is enough. You are worthy of that.
Hi! Hello! Happy Disability Pride Month! Wear a mask to help keep disabled people safe from airborne diseases like Covid, flu, and RSV which we're at higher risk of hospitalization and dying from!
"Ways You Can Actually Support Disabled Folks (this month and every month!!) by @courtneyahndesign and @candy.courn of Instagram!
Image descriptions (written by original poster):
Slide 1: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. Across the top half reads in handwritten white type, “ways you can actually support disabled folks (this month and every month!)” Below and above are illustrations of different figures, a mixed race person with a mask and urostomy bag, a white woman wearing headphones, a Black woman in hijab in a wheelchair, a Black woman wearing headphones, a service dog, a masked mixed race woman with a limb difference, and a white person in a wheelchair. At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Slide 2: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. In the top right corner reads, “1” in a styled bubble. Across the top reads in handwritten white type, “make your content accessible!” In the lower half is a large piece of paper labeled, “quick checklist” that reads in different bullets: "captions + image/video descriptions, multiple communication methods (visual, audio, scannable text), capitalize multi-word hashtags, use plain direct language, high color/visual contrast, structure your content, easy to read fonts + larger font sizes, limit emoji use." To the side is an illustration of a Black man with a hearing aid looking at their phone. At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Slide 3: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. In the top right corner reads, “2” in a styled bubble. Across the top reads in handwritten white type, “wear a mask in all public spaces!” In the center is a line-up of different illustrated masks, with a cloth and surgical mask labeled as “worse” and KN95, N95, and respirator masks labeled as “better.” In the bottom half reads, “The pandemic never ended for us. Both disabled and non-disabled folks are still being killed and permanently disabled by Covid everyday. We all deserve the right to community safety - so if you can wear a mask, wear one, take precautions, keep getting vaccinations, speak up against mask bans, and require them in all spaces!” At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Slide 4: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. In the top right corner reads, “3” in a styled bubble. Across the top reads in handwritten white type, “include us in your activism!” Below are different text boxes, the first one resembling a paper reading, “tell Congress to increase the SSI asset limit so we can get married + have more than $3000 without losing benefits.” A green bubble with a pencil reads, “tell your state it’s not okay to pay us below minimum wage (it’s still legal in 37 states!)” In a black cloud reads, “supporting a free Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, Haiti (and more) is disability justice!” In the bottom left reads, "fight with us as the administration attacks Section 504, the integration mandate, and makes deadly cuts to health insurance, SNAP, and the Department of Education!" In the bottom right is an illustration of a Black woman with a colostomy bag gesturing towards the text. At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Slide 5: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. In the top right corner reads, “4” in a styled bubble. Across the top reads in handwritten white type, “respect labels! Disabled is not a bad word, but do skip euphemisms, outdated terms, and phrases with ableist roots!” Below is an assortment of speech bubbles, the first column reading, “differently-abled” “special needs” and “handicapable. The second column reads, “cripple” “handicapped” and “r*tard.” The third column reads, “that’s so lame!” “turn a blind eye” and “I’m so OCD!” Below reads, “Everyone is entitled to choose the terms that define them but respecting labels doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do anything beyond that for us!” At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Slide 6: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. In the top right corner reads, “5” in a styled bubble. Across the top reads in handwritten white type, “advocate for accessible spaces!” In the lower half is a large piece of paper labeled, “prioritize disabled folks in every space and include them in the planning!” that reads in different bullets, “ramps + elevators, wide aisles + doorways, shade + a/c, seating, interpreters, open captions, braille/audio, clear itinerary, list all available accommodations, quiet + sensory free areas, requires masks, close parking + transit access, accessible bathrooms, clear + large signage, disability trained staff, allow requests with sign-up." At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Slide 7: a multi-colored green, blue, orange, white, and black illustration on a pink background with a lighter pink wavy border. In the top right corner reads, “5” in a styled bubble. Across the top reads in handwritten white type, “amplify and support disabled businesses + org’s!” In the middle is a collection of speech bubbles labeled, “barriers” that includes, “attitudinal, physical, policy, social communication.” Below reads, “disabled folks face increased barriers to success in every space and need your continued support all year round (not just during disability pride month)!” In a black cloud reads at the bottom next to an illustration of Courn with a pink mullet, “Ps: I’m a disabled queer asian artist who sells my art + offers logo, web, + illustration services!” At the very bottom reads the artist and author credit @CourtneyAhnDesign and @candy.courn.
Applemedia for Disability Pride Month because these fellows got in my brain and I missed gay month. Also I gotta classify their categories of mental illness. ADHD Alastor, AuDHD Vox, and Autistic Lucifer. I do also think Vox has BPD, but that didn’t quite fit here.
Tbh I have a headcanons for all of them (how did they got their disability, how do they cope with this and etc) and I also wanna do sunset and starlight, so let me know if u like it (° °)
