i-the-spoonie

[i-the-spoonie]

There's a difference between "disabled" and "legally recognized as disabled," and I just want to give a shout-out to all the other disabled people who don't have formal diagnoses, who don't have access to benefits of any kind, who don't have the ability to use even the shittiest and least-helpful resources, because the process of getting legal recognition for disability sucks ass.

And another shout-out to all the disabled people who purposely avoid getting diagnosed, because official diagnoses can be used against you, and you're unable or unwilling to risk it.

[i-the-spoonie]

[i-the-spoonie]

are you normal about disabled people. are you normal about visibly disabled people in public. are you normal about wheelchair users. can you treat them like people instead of obstacles. can you look them in the eye. can you say hi to a disabled person without making an awkward reference to their disability first thing. can you mention disabled people without acting like they're some rare endangered species. can you talk about disabled people without feeling pity, sadness, or grateful for your own life. can you open the door for a disabled person without making it a big deal. are you normal about disabled people

[i-the-spoonie]

Fun fact:

Saying ‘I don’t know how you live like that. I absolutely couldn’t live like you do. You’re so brave’ isn’t actually a compliment.

You’re essentially saying, ‘If I was in your position, I would kill myself. How have you not killed yourself yet?’

That’s a weird thing to say to someone so stop it.

Advocate for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions to improve our lives instead of just assuming we’re better off dead.

Thanks!

[i-the-spoonie]

“You can do anything you set your mind to!”

Well thanks Susan, but I’m actually disabled which literally means I can’t do certain things.

[i-the-spoonie]

hard to take care of your physical health when you're struggling with your mental health and yet most people with physical issues develop mental issues from the stress and grief

[i-the-spoonie]

This is very important...

[i-the-spoonie]

[i-the-spoonie]

you have worth beyond your appearance and productivity

[i-the-spoonie]

People eventually get diagnosed BECAUSE they are already disabled and struggling. The symptoms don't appear AFTER the diagnosis. So don't expect everyone without a professional diagnosis to be basically fine. That makes no sense.

[i-the-spoonie]

5 simple exercises to awaken dormant muscles

{source}

[i-the-spoonie]

"You're always so chipper and excited even though you're in pain, I could never."

Bethany, if I wasn't chipper and excited about the most mundane things like bees and dice, then I would literally be bedrotting all day every day, sobbing because my entire life is falling apart because I have no answers or relief to pain that doctors think is fake. So I will take joy in my trinkets and rollerskating while my body allows because one day I won't be able to.

[i-the-spoonie]

[i-the-spoonie]

[i-the-spoonie]

“You can do anything you set your mind to!”

Well thanks Susan, but I’m actually disabled which literally means I can’t do certain things.

[i-the-spoonie]

"you're so strong" "you're so resilient" "you're so brave" what if I don't want to be? what if I want to break down and cry? why do I have to be strong?

[i-the-spoonie]