#disabled problems

[crazycatsiren]

I'm here, I'm queer, my joint pain is moderate to severe.

[fallenstarcat]

sure there’s a ramp, but is it steep? is there a curb at the top? is the ground uneven? do i need a key for the elevator? are the aisles and doorways wide enough? do i have room to turn? is there furniture and clutter in my way? is the carpet difficult to wheel on? can i open the doors myself?

accessibility to wheelchairs is more than just a ramp.

[onlytiktoks]

[dexnthacripple420]

Today in Ableist Microaggressions at Dollar Tree

Just had one of those “wow, disability in public” moments that’s still sitting with me. While looking for a sewing kit at Dollar Tree, a kid (maybe 12?) rushed up, super excited to talk about the Ren fest tail they got today. (Cute! Love sharing joyful little nerd moments with people) Their mom came over, asked what was up, and when she heard us both say “Ren fest,” she just… yanked her child away and hurried off. The child still waved bye, though.

A few minutes later, I’m at checkout and the mom/child are in line behind me. The mom holds up a ‘Thankful’ house decor bulb thing and straight-up says, “When I seen you and then seen this, I thought of you rolling by and thought about how thankful I’m not like you.” Her kid giggled, embarrassed.

I just told her, as calmly as I could: “That wasn’t funny, ma’am. That was ableist for being thankful you’re not disabled like me. But don’t worry, you probably will be, one day. Everyone finds out eventually. I’m not trying to hurt you, just… this is how to be an ally. Please try to do better.”

She gets huffy and says, “Well, I have autism, so I can’t be ableist.” I respond, “I have autism too, ma’am. I’m just telling you how it was received so you can do better.” Her child nodded silently, and the mom stormed into a different checkout lane.

People need to hear this: Having a marginalized identity does NOT make anyone immune from perpetuating harm toward other marginalized groups. The urge some folks have to make others' existence a punchline? To teach their kids that pity or “thankfulness” for being able-bodied is kindness? Enough.

If this makes anyone squirm or feel defensive then good, Sit with it & Learn from it. Disabled people get used as teaching moments, sources of “inspiration” or “gratitude,” or just objects of awkwardness or hostility in public all the time. It’s exhausting.

To that kid: you were just excited about your tail. Keep that energy. I hope you find kinder grown-ups soon.

[only-knives]

social isolation from COVID didn't end when lockdown ended.

COVID never ended for me but bc it fucked me up physically and mentally and now it's ykno, stlll going around, no one cares, everyone pretends it never happened, and that people who are still impacted by it are just collateral damage instead of. victims of a pandemic.

you all had fun playing Animal Crossing while you waited to return the world and yet here i sit playing games like Tomodachi Life and watching anime all day every day... im unable to do much else, partly because i have no friends left... which is partly because of COVID and my disabilities/ableism...

and i shame myself for it. i hate myself for the way i live my life. i dont want this, and i still feel ive done it to myself. but every way i look to try and change it, there's always a huge wall in my way. a wall that could be overcome if i just had a helping hand, strong support, and more resources.

but i guess the reason there's next to no where for a disabled nonworking queer person to go that's accessible and socially open is because. well. most people, or at least most people with resources and ability to create spaces, simply dont care about us.

(my thoughts are messy so under the cut this part goes)

they dont want us outside. they want to be able to enjoy their lives and whatever luxuries or opportunities await them without us inconveniencing them, or reminding them of human fragility, mortality, vulnerability - and ultimately, human need and empathy.

and for what? just because you were tired of a pandemic? or because you're tired of helping people? or because you're tired of the issues we carry with us? or because we're not able to contribute to your liking?

people who are often in need of assistance or help aren't burdens. people who are often the one needing help, rather than the one helping others... also aren't burdens. they're not selfish. they're not lazy. they're not inherently anything.

they're just a fucking person with a problem that needs another person to solve it. that's all support needs really are. disabled people just have problems that require humans to collaborate more. that's fucking it.

we're not. expendable. we're not worthless. we have so much to give and share with the world but at every corner disabled people, especially those with severe disabilities, are just treated like we don't matter enough. is it really too much to ask other human beings, who have the gift of abilities we don't (for now), to just share them with us? for the sake of being alive at the same time as each other nothing else?

honestly. if abled people are so much more valuable, productive, and important to society - enough for the modern western* world to be physically molded for them - why can't they just spare the effort of accomodating us once in a while? it shouldn't be so hard if we're so lazy and whiny for complaining about our issues, hm?

don't you want to congratulate yourself once the good work is done? pat yourself on the back as if you didn't contribute to the problem in the first place? i'd rather be at the stage where we're dealing with that bullshit attitude than the stage where if you need public transportation to survive or thrive, you're just kinda fucked.

*i hate this god forsaken country (US). i hope it burns and all the con-temporarily marginalized people within and their allies are able to live long and fulfilling lives. i hope i live long enough to see even just a glimpse of that. and sometimes i see those glimpses but.

there's still a long way to go. none of it's over. =/

[dogfoodvendingmachine]

[azztiph]

Sometimes u just need to sob and scream and cry and bitch about ur disability

I think a lot of people feel like they need to be at completely at peace with their disability

And you don’t!

Be mad be sad be pissed off!

[stars-x-and-x-cats]

BE ACCESSIBLE THIS PRIDE MONTH!

as of posting this, pride month starts tomorrow, and PLEASE keep your disabled community members in mind!

physically disabled people, mentally disabled people, the Deaf community, those with chronic illness, the blind community, all queer people should have the choice to be able to celebrate pride just like anyone else! ☆

(thank you for the reply reminding me about D vs d!)