This-is-Sensory-Ableism

Banner: Alt invisible disability / neurodivergency flag made by @supermagick Avatar: Ryland Grace surrounded by the Sensory Disability & Misophonia flags

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

Welcome to This-is-Sensory-Ableism!

[PT: Welcome To This-is-Sensory-Ableism! /end PT]

This is a blog dedicated to recording and sharing acts of sensory ableism.

Sensory ableism is the discrimination against those who experience sensory disabilities / processing differences.

If I ever make a post and it doesn’t have proper plaintext, PLEASE reblog and add it or let me know!

What are Examples of Sensory Disabilities?

[PT: What are examples of sensory disabilities? /end PT]

Total blindness, partial blindness, color blindness, tunnel vision, severe low vision, VSS (Visual Snow Syndrome), nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, albinism, nystagmus, amblyopia.

Total deafness, partial hearing loss, Hyperacusis, Tinnitus.

Dual sensory loss (deafblindness).

Anosmia, Hyposmia, Parosmia, Phantosmia, Dysosmia.

SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), APD (Auditory Processing Disorder), Misophonia.

Peripheral Neuropathy, CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), CIP (Congenital Insensitivity to Pain), nerve damage, Dyspraxia.

This is not all of them.

About the Mod

[PT: About the Mod /end PT]

There is currently only one (1) mod, who is Me! Hiya all! My name is Finney, although feel free to call me Finn. My pronouns are They/Hymn/Pup. I am AroAce and Trans!

I have multiple sensory disabilities and they impact every aspect of my life. I experience Misophonia, SPD, and Hyperacusis. I require ear-defenders to cut down noise, closed-captions because I can’t process words/noises very well without text, high contrast on websites so I can read, tactile and vestibular aids.

I also run @thisis-paraphilicsocialostracism and @this-is-nutritionism

How Can I Contribute to This Blog?

[PT: How Can I Contribute to This Blog? /end PT]

You can send asks that tell your lived experiences, or things you’ve witnessed done to others, questions about sensory disabilities or disability aids, and informational websites.

Comments, sharing the blog, following, and things similar are also helpful.

Are There Other Blogs like This?

[PT: Are There Other Blogs like This? /end PT]

@this-is-audism, @this-is-physi-sensory-ableism, @thisis--ableism, @thisisableism, @this-is-saneism, and @this-is-neuropsych-ableism all cover topics similar to this blog! (Please let me know if you’d like your @/ to be removed.)

Informational Posts

[PT: Informational Posts /end PT]

What is Misophonia? [link]

Why Do Posts Need Plaintext and IDs? [link]

Am I Welcome Here?

[PT: Am I Welcome Here? /end PT]

This blog is safe for people with physical/neurological/sensory disabilities, neurodivergences, and processing difficulties of all kinds.

This blog is safe for people of any/all races and ethnicities.

This blog is safe for people of any/all religious and spiritual practices.

This blog is safe for alterhumans.

This blog is safe for sex workers.

This blog is safe for contradictory label users.

This blog is safe for intersex individuals.

Tagging System

[PT: Tagging System /end PT]

#this is sensory ableism

#this is not sensory ableism

#🦻 —> normal posts

#👓 —> questions

#🎧 —> rants

#🦯 —> informational posts

#🦽 —> reblogs

#🦼 —> random asks

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

Why Do Posts Need Plaintext and IDs?

[PT: Why Do Posts Need Plaintext and IDs? /end PT]

Let’s first get into what Plaintext and IDs are.

Plaintext only consists of the letters and numbers you can type on your keyboard. There is no size changes, font styles, colors, symbols, or bolding, italics, or underlining.

An Image description is a written text that describes what is happening in an image. There is also Alt Text.

Plaintext is used for who have low-vision / are visually impaired and struggle to read text with style formatting. That could be italics, bold, colored / gradient text, and small text. This allows for those people to be able to properly read and process what you are trying to convey without having to strain themselves.

Alt Text is built into the html of an image (in Tumblr there’s a box on an image with Alt Text) and it allows screenreaders to read what an image is instead of just saying “image”.

IDs are in the main body of the post and are more preferred to Alt Text. Some people who zoom into images to see better, d/Deaf, and those who can’t interpret visually busy pictures but have otherwise good vision might not use screenreaders due to not needing it or not being able to hear it. This helps them understand an image.

Everyone should be able to include Plaintext or IDs in there posts so you can help those who need it! It costs nothing to allow others to read.

I’ll also add here; if I come across a post without Plaintext or an ID and it’s related to this blog, I will always reblog it and add those!

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

Wanted to add onto this

Alt Text should not be used for extra information about the image. It is intended to be used for the description of what is shown, not whatever else you want to add onto the post.

[this-is-physi-sensory-ableism]

Internalised ableism is feeling like I can't call myself disabled because I have common disabilities (visual impairment, allergies and asthma).

This is internalized physisensory ableism.

Reminder to all who need to hear it - commonality doesn't make somebody less disabled! Being disabled doesn't rely on how "rare" your condition is.

[this-is-physi-sensory-ableism]

allergies count as disabilities too, right? (asking because I'm not sure)

Yes, they do! Any condition that impairs you physically, sensorially, mentally, neurologically, and/or socially counts as a disability.

[differentlylimbed]

for several years of my life i assumed (and was told by adults) the severe pain from the muscular compensation chain caused by my bilateral limb difference was just from carrying my schoolbag around all day. and like yeah, we should talk about the obvious medical negligence there and dismissal of disabled experiences by healthcare providers but can we also talk about how fucking terribly we treat 11-15 year olds? the fact that you have to carry around a bag half your weight (and punished for bringing the wrong books or equipment) for 8+ hours a day, and it's normalised that that often results in chronic back pain or injury? waking up at 7am and getting home at 5pm just to do another 2+ hours of unpaid work? i'm 21 now and i haven't forgotten how bad it was

[it-is-what-it-is-ing]

Ok, using a throwaway blog for this one like on reddit. I just didn't feel like posting this on my actual blog, but still had to ask:

Is anyone else here autistic and also has some kind of seemingly unrelated sensory disability? It's just that I'm visually impaired, and I've also been told by a mental health professional that I'm likely autistic. Makes sense, I strongly relate to it, but the issue is that both disabilities share some similar struggles (lack of eye contact, struggles with facial expressions etc) and it's a mess trying to guess what's what.

So I was wondering if anyone could relate

[berryautistic]

you cannot take away someone's necessary disability aids. it's not right. no matter what.

even if they've done something "wrong" or "bad". even if they're being an asshole. even if you don't like them. even if they're a horrible person.

it's not right to take away someone's necessary disability aids. don't do it.

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

hi, just a note on your most recent post. "id" stands for "image description" so it wouldnt be "image id"

[tone: genuine]

Always looking for ways to improve, thank you for letting me know!

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

Why Do Posts Need Plaintext and IDs?

[PT: Why Do Posts Need Plaintext and IDs? /end PT]

Let’s first get into what Plaintext and IDs are.

Plaintext only consists of the letters and numbers you can type on your keyboard. There is no size changes, font styles, colors, symbols, or bolding, italics, or underlining.

An Image description is a written text that describes what is happening in an image. There is also Alt Text.

Plaintext is used for who have low-vision / are visually impaired and struggle to read text with style formatting. That could be italics, bold, colored / gradient text, and small text. This allows for those people to be able to properly read and process what you are trying to convey without having to strain themselves.

Alt Text is built into the html of an image (in Tumblr there’s a box on an image with Alt Text) and it allows screenreaders to read what an image is instead of just saying “image”.

IDs are in the main body of the post and are more preferred to Alt Text. Some people who zoom into images to see better, d/Deaf, and those who can’t interpret visually busy pictures but have otherwise good vision might not use screenreaders due to not needing it or not being able to hear it. This helps them understand an image.

Everyone should be able to include Plaintext or IDs in there posts so you can help those who need it! It costs nothing to allow others to read.

I’ll also add here; if I come across a post without Plaintext or an ID and it’s related to this blog, I will always reblog it and add those!

[this-is-neuropsych-ableism]

Friendly reminder that sensory processing disorder and autism are two separate conditions.

[PT: Friendly reminder that sensory processing disorder and autism are two separate conditions. /End PT]

95% of autistic people have SPD, but autism can occur without SPD. Those 5% of autistic people still matter, and shouldn't be told they're "not actually autistic" because they don't have sensory issues.

Additionally, SPD can occur without autism. SPD can be genetic, neurodevelopmental, from incidents occuring during fetal development/birth, from brain damage, and/or in response to trauma (particularly isolation or neglect, ie, tactile processing disorder can result from touch starvation.)

And SPD is an umbrella term for a lot of conditions as well - a person with SPD may only have one of these, or they may have multiple.

Types of SPD include:

-Sensory modulation disorder, in which a person has over-responsivity, under-responsivity, sensory seeking, or a mix of them. This could be tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, vestibular, proprioceptive, interoceptive, or a combination of multiple or all. -Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD), in which a person struggles to understand the details of their senses. This can have a variety of symptoms, such as mixing up senses (ie; mixing up nausea and hunger) being unable to identify something "obvious" when slightly altered (ie; unable to recognize a basketball when half of it is covered) processing senses out-of-order or without proper clarity (ie; processing the sounds of talking, but not being able to identify the words being spoken), etc. Subtypes include tactile DD, visual DD, auditory DD, olfactory DD, gustatory DD, vestibular DD, proprioceptive DD, and interoceptive DD. -Sensory-based motor disorder, in which a person struggles with movement due to sensory issues. Subtypes include postural disorder and dyspraxia.

All of these can occur in allistic (non-autistic) people. So don't automatically assume that a person with SPD is autistic, and vice versa.

[pumpkin-magpie]

Thought a bit after posting that last thing so I made this

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

[Image ID: A three-circle venn diagram on a white background compares the shared experiences of people with allergies or intolerances, phobias, and sensory issues. The top circle, outlined in pink, is labeled “Allergies/Intolerances.” The bottom-left circle, outlined in green, is labeled “Phobias.” The bottom-right circle, outlined in blue, is labeled “Sensory Issues.” Inside the Allergies/Intolerances circle is the text: “People assuming you’re just a ‘picky eater’ to excuse them crossing your important boundaries.” Inside the Phobias circle is: “People assuming you just mean ‘specific fear’ and running with it/calling you ‘dramatic’.” Inside the Sensory Issues circle is: “Getting complaints over wearing protective gear (glasses, headphones).” In the overlap between Allergies/Intolerances and Phobias: “Having your condition downplayed until it reaches the worst case scenario, then they just ‘didn’t know’.” In the overlap between Allergies/Intolerances and Sensory Issues: “Being constantly reminded how hard it is for other people to go on outings with you.” In the overlap between Phobias and Sensory Issues: “People trying ‘exposure therapy’ on you against your will.” In the center, where all three circles overlap, the text reads: “People consider it more inconvenient for them to accommodate you than it is for you to have your condition triggered.” /end ID]

[disability-shout-outs]

Shout out to folks with Age-Related Deafness/Age-Related Hearing Loss/Presbycusis!

[candyapplewinx]

Stop comparing disabilities. Stop trying to one up disabilities. Stop speaking on disabilities you yourself are not even educated on, just because you are disabled does not give you the right or the knowledge to speak on behalf of somebody else’s disability that they LIVE with. We talk and talk about abled people’s ableism and their lack of knowledge and understanding and ignorance, but it is well within the own disability community as well and I don’t know why that’s not addressed with the same seriousness we give external ableism. You are not magically granted immunity from being called out just because you too, are disabled.

[writing2changetheworld]

There's this thing people are saying going around (I've just noticed it recently, but it may not be and probably isn't new) that if you wear glasses and they fully fix your vision they're not a disability aid.

This is entirely incorrect.

To demonstrate just how absurd that is, here are a couple examples substituting glasses and vision.

An example I saw someone else say: if you're paralyzed and use a wheelchair and said chair gets you from A to B, it's not a disability aid

My example: if you're hard of hearing and hearing aids help you understand, they're not a disability aid

I also saw someone put it like this: If that person breaks their glasses or whatever and is unable to get another pair, they're screwed.

[krisrisk]

There is a graphic tablet for blind and visually impaired people?!?!!!

So, basically dotpad is a tablet with a screen made of physical dots (i'll call them beads for easier writing from here), and it can be connected to a device like an ipad (appparently). It then loads whatever picture is shown and converts it into black and white and THEN it displays the image by lifting some of the beads while the others stay down.

ID: The image shows a black electronic device with a tactile display on top, then a row of buttons and a Braille line on the bottom. /End ID

This is amazing? And so simple? Yet I would have never thought of it as a concept. And I have never heard of it? And there's ony limited information out there, like, i couldn't even find it on my usual online stores?

Can we please spread those news? Please?

[vampfire1]

accessibility is not just a (usually too steep) ramp and a half working elevator you need a key for. it's also:

access to mobility aids

closed captioning, interpreters, and transcripts for those who need them OR those who prefer them

sensory safe enviroments

dim lighting

flexible seating, lights, and noise control

online forms and websites that screen readers are able to access properly

elevators that are free for everyone to use

wider doors

braille

clear signage

transit that is easy to navigate

if your "accessible" space has a ramp that doubles as a slide and a sketchy elevator you need a key for, you're fucking doing it wrong.

[sinkopation]

inconvenient vs. inaccessible: let’s talk about it.

often, i’ll find myself in scenarios that to me (and other people with physical disabilities), are inaccessible, but to others, are merely a minor inconvenience.

i have had to live with the fact that the world is not built for people like me.

once the world is accessible for disabled people, the world becomes accessible to all. the problem is, the world is typically, and majority, run by abled people.

seating options: while at college, i had to go through the Student Access Services department in order to get accommodations for a chair to sit in during class time. this is outrageous— a person should never have to go through the trouble of filling out paperwork just to have a seat. similarly, the world should NOT be limiting seating options in public either. anti-homeless architecture is not only impacting homeless populations, but disabled and fat populations as well, creating a hostile and quite frankly ableist atmosphere for society. this should NOT be a hot take; even if you are able-bodied, understanding that disabled people exist and need these seats and spaces to comfortably exist is essential to being a disability advocate.

traveling options: public transport should not be a luxury, it should be an essential aspect of everyday life for everyone. many disabled people cannot drive or transport themselves safely and rely on public transport and other ways to get around. further, the world is full of stairs, of ups and downs, of cracks in pavement and lack of sidewalks— THIS IS ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE WORLD’S INACCESSIBILITY. for you, it may be in inconvenience to step over a pot hole, for a disabled person, it’s the thing preventing them from headed into work that day.

the space between things: for an able-bodied person, walking through a doorway or having to walk a few blocks to pick up the laundry at a laundry mat are just aspects of daily life. sure, it might be inconvenient if it’s four blocks away or if the door is heavy, but these small things are HUGE roadblocks for a disabled person. that heavy door without a button to open it? is a wall to a person in a wheelchair. that four block walk is agonizing for a person using a cane.

this certainly isn’t an exhaustive list of all the daily life inaccessibilities, so please feel free to reblog or comment your own experiences and add onto my list.

the world needs to be more accessible, because once we can accommodate those who need it most, then we can say we’ve accommodated everyone. disabled people should not need to rely on able-bodied people for nearly every aspect of their lives.

so next time you’re out, i implore you to think:

“if i had a walking cane, or crutches, or a wheelchair, or a white cane, or a walker, or a body brace… would i be able to do this?”

[this-is-sensory-ableism]

[PT: seating options /end PT]

[PT: a person should never have to go through the trouble of filling out paperwork just to have a seat. /end PT]

[PT: anti-homeless architecture is not only impacting homeless populations, but disabled and fat populations as well /end PT]

[PT: this should NOT be a hot take; even if you are able-bodied, understanding that disabled people exist and need these seats and spaces to comfortably exist is essential to being a disability advocate. /end PT]

[PT: traveling options /end PT]

[PT: for you, it may be in inconvenience to step over a pot hole, for a disabled person, it’s the thing preventing them from headed into work that day. /end PT]

[PT: the space between things /end PT]

[PT: that heavy door without a button to open it? is a wall to a person in a wheelchair. that four block walk is agonizing for a person using a cane. /end PT]

[PT: disabled people should not need to rely on able-bodied people for nearly every aspect of their live /end PT]

[PT: disabled people should not need to rely on able-bodied people for nearly every aspect of their lives. /end PT]