I think also genuinely the thing to say, particularly about physical disability, is that conditions are usually a massive spectrum, just like mental health conditions, and not just ‘wheelchair or nothing’, as I like to say. I legit have to fight every day with people saying, “OH, who did you steal that badge from?” when they see I have my ‘Please offer me a seat” badge on my coat for the Tube. I have to tell them - ‘Sorry to embarrass you, but I need it. You assumed that I didn’t because I don’t have a wheelchair or whatever, but I do - I can’t balance and my body hurts. Not all disabilities are very visable.’ It’s hard to have to constantly justify your struggles just because the media tells people they don’t exist unless they can see them. And Some days, physical disabilities don’t flare up too much and you forget you even have an issue beyond YOUR normal, but then other days, your body hurts too much for you to manage to go to work to make the money you need, or someone stares at you for the way you move or the stick or the chair, or someone doesn’t want to date you because your body doesn’t move the right way but can’t find the way to even say it, and you get thrown back into ‘OH GOD, My body doesn’t work right, so I’m not right’ all over again.
I’m here to tell you, I don’t have a quick fix for any of this, but I’m here. My CP is with me from birth until death, has given me bunions of an 80 year old and will probably result in joint replacements, but I’m trying really hard to not let it be the reason I’m unhappy. If a grown man/woman/person can’t see past a drunken looking walk, medication, a chair a stick, whatever, then fuck them, I guess. I love y’all. Keep fighting. ♥️👍🏼💪🏼 #Disabled Selfie Night
