#ActuallyDisabled

[frecklenog]

i want you all to understand this.

insulin pens are very often used by diabetic children (or their parents, but they were very easy to use during the short time i was prescribed them when i was a child myself). they’re less cumbersome, produce less waste, and are far easier than pulling insulin from a vial with a single use syringe, as syringes are much more susceptible to air bubbles, which result in the diabetic not getting enough medication. i’m explaining this part because i know that some diabetic adults do also use them, and i’m sure that that’s true of diabetic adults in palestine with such scarce resources. when it’s life or death, you can’t really be picky.

the israeli occupation is now banning insulin pens from entering gaza.

lack of insulin results in diabetic ketoacidosis — essentially a very, very dangerous version of the effects of the keto diet. insulin is a key for the sugar from one’s food (both slow and fast acting, since all food has some carbohydrates, from nuts to potatoes to table sugar) to get from their bloodstream into their cells. without insulin, the body resorts to eating through its own fat stores rather than the sugar it cannot access and tries to flush the excess glucose that is in the blood through the urine. this results in weight loss, headaches, nausea, dehydration, blurred vision, abdominal pain, impaired mental faculties, and, if left untreated, will result in a coma, and eventually death within a matter of weeks. not “can.” it will kill you if not treated, and was largely considered a lethal diagnosis until insulin was discovered in the early 1900s and made readily available in 1922.

i’ve been in dka. admittedly, i was very young and have blocked much of it out. but i do remember that it fucking sucked. i couldn’t focus on anything, i was ravenous no matter how much i ate, and the room spinning to the point i felt like i was going to throw up became an increasingly regular occurrence. i was seven years old and wasting away like i was starved. i was dying. a few more days, and i likely would’ve gone into a coma and might not be here now.

to inflict that, willingly and knowingly, on innocent people, is nothing short of a crime against humanity, and violates the geneva conventions (item 2.a.ii. torture or inhumane treatment, including biological experiments and item 2.a.iii. willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health). not that the israeli occupation cares, of course, as south african prosecutors have already extensively detailed their crimes in the icj, and this one in particular has already been committed near-countless times.

this entire occupation is a genocide, and this is only one more nail in that coffin. but, as a diabetic — as a human being who has been in that state and was lucky enough to have the resources to live almost another fifteen years (with the anniversary of my own diagnosis about halfway through next month), i can’t find the words to express my disgust and rage anymore. maybe it’s selfish to be so deeply impacted by this particular blow. i don’t know. but these people have done nothing wrong but be disabled in gaza, and as someone with the same disability, i know that no one deserves this, even if they have committed a crime (which, again, these civilians, largely children, have not). i will not fucking stand for it.

we need a ceasefire. we need an end to the occupation. we need a free palestine. now.

here’s a masterpost of how you can help.

EDIT: here’s a post on how to help diabetics in gaza specifically

[chronicbitchsyndrome]

there's currently misinformation going around tumblr about what the SSI marriage penalty is, so this is my attempt to explain it in plain language.

when you marry someone who is not on SSI, and you are on SSI, their income is counted as your income. your SSI will be docked according to their income from then on. if their income outstrips your SSI (maximum SSI is $914 a month as of 2023), you will be ineligible for SSI from then on.

if two people on SSI get married, their maximum SSI benefits are reduced by 25%. they no longer get SSI as individuals, they get SSI as a couple, which is 25% less money than individuals are eligible for.

collectively, these two processes are known as the marriage penalty.

some news outlets are currently (September 2023) incorrectly reporting a bill as removing the marriage penalty. this is false. the bill is changing the savings cap for married couples on SSI. the savings cap is the amount of money you are allowed to save in your personal account before being kicked off SSI. this is different from the marriage penalty, and outlets referring to them as the same are conflating two different laws that apply to SSI recipients. please do not assume based on mis-worded news articles that you can get married without losing your income and health care if this bill passes. you may be putting yourself in danger by doing so.

[crippleculture]

me: yeah i have about 8 or so disorders or conditions

someone who doesn't know what the word "comorbidity" means: wrow.... what are the chances of that....

[jemineye]

i cant stress this enough, disabled people know their own limits. i fucking promise you. we are not being lazy or jerks because we won't do something YOU want us to do or something YOU THINK will make us feel better. it wont. stop.

[ethanthealien]

Things That Hurt When You Have Fibromyalgia That Should Not Hurt:

Blood pressure cuffs when doctors take your blood pressure.

A simple poke from someone else, especially on the tender points

Tripping over something - only mildly, not a bad trip. I trip over things and it hurts like a Bitch.

If I accidentally graze my arm or my body against a wall a bit or something, it also hurts like a Bitch. Again, I'm not talking about badly, I'm not being pushed into a wall or something.

Standing. Just for a few seconds. I actually don't know for sure if this is really a part of my fibromyalgia or actually normal for everyone. But it really fucking hurts to stand for even a few seconds.

Walking for even just an hour hurts. And the longer I walk, the worse it hurts.

The simple act of. Cooking. It hurts to hold the pots/pans, especially with one hand. I can't really lift pans/pots because I'm weak, but also it just Hurts. It hurts to mix things in the pots/pans.

(Others can feel free to add on).

Common Descriptions Of Pain When You Have Fibromyalgia:

Feeling like your whole body is bruised, or some parts of your body.

"Feels like I was in a car crash"

Stiffness, throbbing, aching, soreness, tenderness, fatigue. Your body feels exhausted, and not even necessarily that YOU feel tired, but your body feels tired.

"Feels like being stabbed with a knife"

"Like someone has taken a hammer and hammered all over my body"

"Like I'm hungover"

"Like I ran a marathon"

"Like perpetually having the flu", "Like you have a fever constantly"

“It feels like I’ve been carrying two huge buckets of water that I can’t put down.”

"Like I did a full body workout"

(Amongst many other descriptions)

Common Habits I've Developed Throughout My Life As A Result Of Having Fibromyalgia:

Constantly leaning against walls and frequently switching which foot I'm leaning on more.

Asking people if they wanted to sit down, or if they wanted a chair to sit down somewhere, because I thought they were in pain too. Them declining and me thinking "but doesn't it hurt to stand?? You've been standing for like 15 minutes, aren't you in pain??" They are not.

Constantly sitting down, and/or wanting to sit down, wishing I had a place to sit down.

Not really a habit, but I always end up freaking out a bit when I worry that I've hurt someone. I realized that I would constantly apologize to my girlfriend because I thought I hurt her accidentally (very mild things I mean, I'm not saying I fucking punch him or some shit lmfao), only for her to be confused and say that it didn't hurt. It takes conscious effort to remember that what hurts me does not hurt most other people without fibromyalgia or a different chronic pain condition.

I've had fibromyalgia for pretty much my entire life.

I believed that these things were normal for everyone.

I would look at people and watch how they'd do things like simply lifting up a box or the ways people talk about walking for hours just for fun and just not understand why they were doing it because that hurts?

Growing up, when my brother would ""lightly"" punch me, or my dad would poke me, etc., it always hurt really bad, and my brother shamed me (my brother was severely abusive in many ways, yes) and would go "oh my God, please, you're being dramatic, I didn't even punch you/poke you hard at all." I truly don't think he WAS punching me that hard, I just had fibromyalgia so it hurt like twenty times worse (I'm not excusing his behavior, by the way, I'm just explaining that things that would hurt somebody with fibromyalgia wouldn't hurt most other people without it).

I grew up constantly wishing that I could float so that I didn't have to walk or stand.

I was always aware that I had certain spots around my body that felt much more painful than other parts of my body, such as the sides of my arms, my hips, etc. I also just figured this was how it is for everyone.

If you relate to anything this post, I definitely suggest seeing a rheumatologist or a neurologist (I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist) and finding out the cause of your pain.

None of these things are "normal."

[pots-plus-pans]

destigmatize having a body/body parts that look “gross”

destigmatize having a reoccurring rash that you can’t control

destigmatize “strange looking” veins

destigmatize “gross” scarring

destigmatize having bodies that are broken and express that

destigmatize being disabled and having “atypical” physical manifestations of said disability

disabled bodies are beautiful

[letmeliedown]

⚠️URGENT⚠️ please help me and my cat stay housed

june 12 - i need to find accessible housing by the end of june. i've been trying for a full year to get help from government agencies, social workers, nonprofits, etc with no luck. i've been promised help multiple times that has fallen through. i can't access rent subsidies until i have a new lease. if i somehow manage to find a place i will need a deposit ready to go immediately. i am chronically ill from being homeless multiple times and i won't survive another.

goal: $1500 for my half of a deposit, asap

p*yp*l: thelandofyesterday @ gmail dot com. anything helps 🩵

if you're in western canada and think you can help with my housing search, please message me.

my cat Toast is 13 and chronically ill on multiple meds. i really want to keep her with me.

[norahjakobs]

Hello! Me and my family have been homeless living in our truck in Canada for nearly two years now. Winter is coming and our truck will not make it through it. However we have an opportunity to get ourselves a basement suite, which would mean we would be able to look into employment and finishing me and my twins education, and that this two year long nightmare would be over. We've got a couple hurdles to clear, such as

First months rent & deposit

Moving expenses

Food & Gas while we wait to get into the place

Phone & storage bill, which is about 500$

I am so thankful to everyone who has been able to help us in the past, and I am so thankful to those who can help now. A boost, or even 1$, really helps build the momentum that we need to make this push.

PayPal: DM

E-transfer (Canada only): DM

Ko-fi: Here

684.85/2300$

[rainbowchihuahuabunny]

Every day I am brutally reminded in one way or another that this society isn't built with disabled people in mind

[hell-on-sticks]

This disability pride month, I think it needs to be widely acknowledged that

a fundamental principle of disability justice is being able to recognise when someone might be more disabled than you.

[plain text: a fundamental principle of disability justice is being able to recognise when someone might be more disabled than you]

It's easy to point at ableds who will refuse to acknowledge others disabilities, not notice inaccessibility, or cringe away from catheterisation, stomas, hygiene problems and all the troubles that come with disability. It's simple to recognise that that's not okay.

But sometimes within the disabled community people don't do that well. And it's hard because there are of course many people fighting the internalised ableism that demands they downplay their disability. But the answer to that is not saying "nobody is more disabled than anyone else". This is not true. This has never been true.

You will not be able to work towards disability justice if you can't recognise that not all disabilities are equal. Even two people with the same disability - two people with SCIs, two people with autism, two people with EDS, etc. - may have wildly different levels of difficulty. And if you can't recognise that, you're being ableist. I'm sorry, I know that might be hard for some people, but you cannot have any kind of real understanding of disability if you cannot acknowledge when you are more or less disabled than another person.

[fagsystem]

As an ambulatory wheelchair user I have so many thoughts about how people draw/write disabled!Scar. This is sort of a guide/insight from a disabled person about writing/drawing disabled people.

Specifically in regards to wheelchair users.

Do not get me wrong, this fandom is genuinely probably the best group of people I have ever seen when it comes to drawing wheelchairs. I do not believe I have ever seen Scar fanart where he is in a completely unusable, horrible, hospital chair. It is so clear people have taken the time and energy to research into wheelchairs and I love it. I am in no way saying stop that.

I just think people could maybe put a little bit more consideration into him being disabled beyond visual appearance.

I saw a really amazing artwork of SL!Scar and he is in a sports chair. Which is really cool, in many ways, as it shows some thought being put into the setting. If I were in combat, I would in fact like to not be knocked from my chair or have my chair tipped over.

Yet, you have very limited mobility in a sports chair. It is, by design, made to prevent you from tipping over. Which means that you are incapable of going over bumps, really, let alone natural terrain.

Just in general, there really is not any wheelchair that exists in our world that would allow wheelchair users to exist in a setting like the life series.

So, I have some ideas:

- Horses. Hands down my biggest suggestion. Especially with Secret Life they fit in very well with the setting, everyone uses them, and it fits the bill perfectly for what he would need. Especially considering Scar is an archer, it makes a lot of sense for him to be on horseback. It suits him and his style of fighting so well.

- Some sort of redstone power chair. There are all sorts of ways you could design something like this. Perhaps with pistons that push down against the ground, allowing for jumps. Perhaps just a series of pistions functioning as like a bunch of little spider legs. There are a lot of things you can do with that, you can get very creative.

- For my Vex!Scar lovers, you could have magic be used as a mobility aid. Perhaps a magic wheelchair, or perhaps a magic exoskeleton.

And with all of the ideas, considering how they fit into the setting really changes everything. What are the strengths? What are the draw backs?

With horses, they are strong and fast and agile. But they are big, it is hard to fit into small spaces, and they can be killed.

With some sort of redstone chair, I feel as though it would make sense for it to be robust and strong. Depending on how it is constructed, something fast and agile or perhaps something a bit slower and more clunky. Is it loud? How would stealth work in something like that?

When it comes to any sort of magic you do not want it to fix the disability. It is a mobility aid like any other. Not perfect, not the same as not being disabled, just another tool with its own unique draw backs. Perhaps magic is draining or it takes concentration. Would he tire quicker than others? Would he require food quicker than others? Is it possible for him to lose focus on it in a stressful situation, leaving him stuck until he can calm himself down?

Other things to consider are really specifically the setting as well as what disability you are giving him.

I feel as though on Hermitcraft an option like a redstone chair just makes a lot of sense. Multiple redstone chairs, even, all constructed differently for different uses. Such as ones for building. How does long distance travel work with the chair and how you lore your setting? Is it something he can put in his inventory? Is it something he remains in when using an elytra? Does that have any draw backs, such as being slower or needing more rockets or being less coordinated in the air?

I feel as though in the life series a mix of vex magic and horses makes a lot of sense. The magic is good for small spaces and short trips and emergencies, but it is too tiring to travel across the map with and too much effort to maintain when he needs to concentrate on battles. That would be where the horse comes into play.

As for what disability, well, it truly depends. Most of my rambles here have been based upon paraplegia, because I often times see people making him an ambulatory wheelchair user just because they do not know what to do otherwise.

Not that making him an ambulatory wheelchair user is a bad thing by any means. I am one and I adore reading stories like that. It is just a bit clear that a lot of you are quite lost as to how to navigate hurdles disabled people face, so you make it so he can walk over those hurdles. Which, once again, I am not shaming you for! This post is just to show there are other options

But in the case of him being an ambulatory wheelchair user: why is he one?

Mobilities aids are disabling unless you need them. You cannot access spaces or you do not have hands free or any number of things. What to the Scar you are writing makes using mobility aids helpful instead of a hindrance? What times are they more trouble than help, and what cost is there for not using it?

A good example is if Scar can walk around short distances with minimal difficulty/drawback, but long distances are painful or physically not possible.

Look into different disabilities and consider it. A lot of people tend to default to chronic pain because that tends to be quite a common one across a lot of disabled people, but there are a lot more different reasons why.

It could also be that he is very slow because of his disabilities. I have muscle weakness sometimes because of my FND, and it is like moving through sludge whenever I try and move.

It could also be that the mobility aids are a preventative measure. He does not need to use his wheelchair, unless he has done too much walking and then his body refuses to support his weight. He does not need to use his wheelchair, but when he does not he is a lot more likely to dislocate something and then yeah he can't walk. He does not need to use his wheelchair, but he is a fall risk especially after a lot of walking or running. Him being in his wheelchair prevents him from falling! (And if he's a fall risk, maybe he's strapped in too!)

I just have so many thoughts and I wanted to share them.

I see so many of you putting in effort already and it warms my heart. It is why I feel comfortable enough to make this post, because clearly you all care a lot about representing disabled people well.

:]

If you have read this far thank you so much. Let me know what you think or if you have any questions.

Edit: I made a rough redstone wheelchair design. It is one of the few reblogs that has comments, if you filter for that you should be able to find it. If not, reply to the post and I can send you the link to it. :]

[aux-array]

Hey! Would you like to get 3 custom bracelets, bead fidgets, and/or 1-inch pins, while helping an afro-indiginous very disabled trans person survive?

[image description: a bunch of different bracelets and simple fidgets made out of pony beads, as well as some 1-inch pins. end ID]

My friend Aster @hopewash is unable to work due to his disabilities (he his housebound most days and often bedbound and/or in the ER) and was finally able to get an apartment last month after being unhoused for 10 months! He needs help paying for living expenses, including the extra expenses that come with having multiple severe chronic illnesses. More details in his posts.

So, if you contribute at least $5 to any of his links or wishlist, send me proof either here or on discord (alyxutonium), and let me know what you would like your 3 custom items to be, and where I should mail them to! This is super important to me, so if you would like to send him more than that in exchange for a bigger more complicated bracelet or fidget, or a crochet creature, or something else, send me a message! And please please just help him out if you have the means. He deserves to be able to fucking survive without having to fight tooth and nail at every turn.

[chronicbitchsyndrome]

seeing a lot of discussion of upcoming food safety deregulation that doesn't provide any options beyond "don't eat pre-prepared food and buy from local farms."

therefore, i want this thread to be for tips, advice, resources, etc, for disabled people specifically to get through the upcoming food safety deregulation in the USA. please reblog and add on advice for minimizing upcoming risk when you can only eat pre-prepared and frozen meals, rely solely on SNAP/EBT for groceries, etc.

(i'll admit this is a bit selfish; i don't have any advice to start us off because i am a disabled person who relies almost exclusively on pre-prepared meals to survive and can't buy groceries if they're not SNAP eligible, so i would really, really personally benefit from tips and advice.)

stay safe and take care of each other!

[crippleculture]

Saying AI art is good cause it means disabled people can make art is an insult to disabled people, disabled people who can't hold a pencil can make art in so many different ways including mouth styluses and eye-tracking and theres alternative art forms and youre saying that's not as good or as valid as using a machine to steal other people's work and chop and screw it? Art is so much more than just making pretty drawings and disabled people of all types have been making art since the beginning of humanity.

[xautisticsunitex]

For adults on the Autistic spectrum

- it’s okay to still have meltdowns/sensory overloads

- it’s okay to still watch cartoons

- it’s okay if you can’t cope with a full time job

- it’s if you have learning difficulties and do things at slower pace

- it’s okay to be in your 30’s and still live with your mom and dad or one parent

- it’s okay to not have many friends or none at all

- it’s okay to live a life Neurotypicals don’t appreciate

[forevermore-lost-in-space]

Feeling better after using an aid/accomodation/treatment does NOT mean you're better and should stop using it. That is the DEVIL talking.