#Disability Living Aids

[giantkillerjack]

You shouldn't get a wheelchair, walker, cane, shower chair, or any kind of assistive technology mobility aid because then you might become dependent on them. Just like how you also shouldn't get glasses if you have bad eyesight because then you might become dependent on those.

For instance, if you end up stuck using corrective eyewear, you could actually lose your ability to tell what things are even when they are extremely blurry! You need to get used to having migraines from seeing unclearly because if you wear glasses all the time, you are basically giving up!! You don't need to see things coming at you from far away! You just need to get good at dodging, and if you can't, then you have no one to blame but yourself!!

For example, I read a really heart-worming article recently about a girl who was stuck using glasses - just absolutely, tragically trapped in her eyewear from dawn to dusk, even though she was good and never ever complained; and I heard she trained herself to discern the blurry faces of her loved ones with 60% accuracy! - she was even able to walk down the aisle at her wedding WITHOUT forcing the discomfort of seeing a woman in glasses on all her guests!!

Sure, she had to give her vows with a splitting headache, and she couldn't see her husband's expression when he said "I do," but overall, SO inspi-ration-al!!! So up-lifting!!

(She didn't even have to use a seeing eye cane, which would have been the worst-case scenario, obviously, because she worked hard to make sure she looked LESS disabled, not MORE disabled!!! Everyone knows blind people exist solely to be a cautionary tale to sighted people!!)

Also, did you know some people get glasses when they only need them a little bit?? How selfish of them! Sure, there's not a shortage, and an increase in demand would result in overall increased accessibility to glasses--but emotionally it's like taking glasses away from someone who needs them more! After all, if everyone who needed glasses got them, then...... um...... more people would have glasses! Which is probably bad!!!!

I also had a friend who was trapped in glasses who saved up all her money for laser eye surgery, and I don't know why everyone doesn't just do that! Sure, some doctors say some people don't "qualify" and it "won't help" those people, but that's why you can't give up!! You don't want to be one of those people!

After all, what's the worst thing that could happen with an unnecessary laser surgery to the face that comes with crippling debt??? It's worth the risk to gain your FREEDOM back, and I'm so proud of my friend!!

Tragically, she did die later that year while driving Uber and squinting at street signs, but at least now I know my friend is finally free from the shackles of her terrible eyesight. #ripAshley #rippedAshley #justripit 😌😌😌❤😇😇😇

And that's why you shouldn't get used to using a mobility aid!! Because, like glasses, they are inherently embarrassing to be seen with; and - like glasses - it is more noble to suffer silently than to depend on unnatural technologies that force you to rely on them; AND - just like glasses - by abstaining from using them, you DEFINITELY benefit SO many people in tangible life-changing ways!!! (Besides, everyone else will be so much more comfortable if you just look normal! 😊)

I hope you learned something today. 💖

[chronicallycouchbound]

I feel like people often don’t talk about the experiences of disabled people who have caretakers because so much of the conversation is about us—not including us.

I receive in home care for 30 hours a week (+ 4 hours/week for respite). This is paid for by Medicaid (state insurance). Outside of paid hours, my primary caretakers care for me unpaid and assist me most of the time. I’m very rarely left alone due to my high support needs. Often, when I am left alone, I am completely bedridden or at minimum housebound. I have frequent emergency life threatening health problems, falls, and serious injuries even with support in place, and these things significantly increase when I’m on my own.

I’m extremely lucky that my paid caretakers are my partner, my sister (the only family member I have regular contact with, I’m estranged from the rest of my immediate family and most of my extended family) and my best friend.

I used to have agency staffing which was horrible for me and borderline traumatic. At several points, before doing the self directed care option (which allows me to choose my own staff, hire and train them myself and dictate hours for them), I opted to not have any staffing. I was regularly in the emergency room. I can’t drive, so I was having to walk and if I was lucky enough to be able to take the bus on occasion or get a ride from a Facebook acquaintance, they were few and far in between. I don’t have family support, and even my sister who is supportive wasn’t living in the state at the time and doesn’t have a car most of the time.

And before I could even choose which staffing option, even though medically it had been deemed essential for me to have in home care, even though my insurance covered it, I had to wait several years (I was 18 when I was approved) until I was 21 to qualify to start. The reason why: I was legally an “adult disabled child” because of my high support needs (which is funny because I STILL don’t have SSI at age 24) and thus legally unable to consent to my own care plan. I needed a blood relative to consent, and that same blood relative (who had to have proof of such!) couldn’t care for me. At the time, my sister was the only person who could’ve been my caregiver and also she is the only verifiable blood relative I have contact with for safety reasons, and my only relative on this side of the USA.

The first business day after my 21st birthday I immediately got things set up to get in home care.

This is out of date, I get assistance with more than just these highlighted ADL (activities of daily living) tasks now.

In short: my day-to-day life is entirely dependent on others.

And there’s power imbalances that exist between me and my caregivers, even with my current caregivers being amazing and anti-ableist. They will always exist. We talk about the power dynamics of me being dependent on them for my survival, and how heavy that weight can be for each of us.

Having caregivers often means that accessibility is extra difficult— I’ve been told straight up multiple times that I can’t have assistance from my caregivers to help me change in a changing room when we’re out shopping. That they can’t go into the bathroom with me, that they can’t help me get un/dressed during appointments, that they can’t come into spaces with me.

I’ve been denied access to psychiatric care because I can’t do my daily living tasks (ADLs- the highlighted items) independently. And when I’m in a hospital or emergency room, I can’t have my in home workers be paid to care for me, there’s an expectation that the nursing staff at the hospital will do it. Even though my caregivers were specifically trained to learn my body and needs for weeks and have been working with me for years. I have severe cPTSD and showering in front of a stranger is something I cannot do. I would rather fall or faint or get injured or just not shower than deal with that. But I’m expected to just let anyone have access to my body just because I’m physically disabled and need support.

When I faint/fall/get injured/have life threatening health issues arise while I’m not clothed, or when I’m otherwise vulnerable, I’m supposed to let strangers just touch me however they want to. I have to show them my chest (for my cardiac care) and let them poke and examine me. I can’t object without losing access to vital care.

I have agency. I have rights. I have autonomy. I deserve to be able to exercise these things.

[mxmorbidmidnight]

I’ve never seen younger people using canes. That is why I use my cane with pride so that I may be the person that assures another that they have a right to stability. They have the right to the independence and support of a mobility aid. I hope that by living my life as I choose I may be able to drown out some of the rampant ableism being fired at the youth of our community.

[transmasccofee]

really hes an icon

[thoradvice]

HELP A DISABLED YOUNG PERSON GET A SERVICE DOG DURING DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH

If anybody can donate, the link is here

Hi, my name is Evan, I'm a 20yr old lesbian and I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder that is slowly taking my mobility. I am desperately seeking funds to purchase a fully-trained service dog, which run the cost of £9,000-15,000. I am student, too disabled to work and reliant on my small disability benefit, and simply cannot afford this. I have £5,000 in savings I can put towards, but I am asking for support to cover the rest.

This dog would be life-changing for me, as a mobility service animal can provide balance and stability when walking, meaning I can be more physically active and preserve my mobility. They can also help me with chores around the house, remind me of medication, and alert someone in an emergency; all of this would mean that I could finally have the independence to move out of my parents' house, something that has always been out of reach for me, due to my inability to take care of myself and household tasks, as well as fear of what may occur in an emergency

I know times are tough for everyone, but I would be forever grateful to anybody who could spare a little, or even share this <3

[cjoat-boost]

This all happened rather suddenly; I apologize, I’m at the crisis center as of late last night.

Please support me through here.During this process.

My Website Social Links: https://cjoatbysamwise.com/cjoats-links

My Website Paylinks: https://cjoatbysamwise.com/donate-to-cjoat

Throne: https://throne.com/cjoat

Benable: https://benable.com/CJOAT

Creative Dumpster: https://cjoatbysamwise.com/creative-dumpster

Wanted to let folks know where I am in case something happens…Living situation update.

Where I’ll go…no body knows…

@a-captions-blog

Just need to…function

I’m keeping things up to date while during this situation. I have a lot of videos scheduled ahead of time, but this was rather sudden.

[froggiethelesbian]

There’s something so intimate with seeing another disabled person in public. I was walking down the street with a friend to a cafe, my red cane in hand. Coming down from the opposite street was a young women with her friend. I saw her bedazzled cane, covered in stickers and art then looked up to her eyes. She had been looking at my cane, covered head to toe in stickers, before looking up to me. We both smiled and kept walking.But with no words spoken there was a message.

“You’re just like me. We are both here, living our lives, walking with a friend like everyone else. We exist, not just online but here in person, we are not alone.”

[dabblingreturns]

“Alcohol is a crutch.”

“Useful things, crutches,” drawled the Cobra. “Ever see anyone using a crutch they didn’t need?”

[spookietrex]

I got new compression gloves and ankle sleeves and I actually slept through the night for the first time in months.

My mobility aids now include:

- a purple foldable cane

-a blue walker with a glow in the dark dinosaur basket I made (2 wheels in front)

- a blue rollator (4 wheels)

- a blue wheelchair

Hell yeah! I can leave my house. I got a disability lawyer. My PCP confirmed she understands I can't work and is willing to help me get disability.

[moe-d-puff]

GUESS WHO'S BEING DICKED OVER BY HEALTHCARE AGAIN

THAT'S RIGHT IT'S MEEEEE

So obviously my income has not changed since the last time I did this but the price of my glucose monitors went up AND they went ahead and decided I can only get them in three month supplies. Which is about 210 dollaridoos I don't have. Thus, once again, I ask for help. Goal is set to 300 to cover any extra shenanigans insurance might toss at me. Please signal boost and reblog. Oh my god. 0/300

ko-fi paypal: kajichan AT gmail DOT com

[mxmorbidmidnight]

I was out the other day when this spiritual group approached me. They had this stand set up and were offering “divine healing” and such. One of them saw me and that I had a mobility aid and started questioning me and asking me if I was in pain plus similar shit like that. I wasn’t even walking walking towards the stand, I was walking away from it and one of them went out of their way to chase me down. Can you just fucking leave me alone?!!? Is it that hard?

Grown ass adults approaching me (a minor) on the street so they can take advantage of my pain for the sake of financial gain. In their minds, whether they be Christian, spiritual or any other religion, I am misguided and “cursed”. My entire existence is a story for them to put on their Facebook page, flaunting me about to say “look how nice we are to disabled people!” or manipulate people in pain to think that they can be healed by buying into these scams. A douchebag in a fedora with a crystal isn’t going to heal me of my disabilities.

I’m not your advertisement, not your inspiration and not your money making scheme. Dehumanising me and touching me, giving me unwanted help doesn’t make you an angel just a piece of shit. I’m done letting people treat me like an accessory. If that makes me a “bad disabled” then so fucking be it. If people aren’t going to treat me like a person I don’t think I should be forced to accomodate to them . They are grown ass adults and they are making my life hell.

[possession1981fan]

[everythingwasnormalhere]

weirdly, one of my favorite things about my chronic pain hc is how kenny will never get better

there is no magic cure

there is no way he can heal

the closest thing to a remedy would be painkillers, nothing permanent

there is not a moment in which it just, poof, goes away

he will just get progressively worse and worse, no way to fix it

he will never get better

the only thing he can do is learn how to cope with it, find his own strategies and get through life at his own pace

and his friends will obviously feel helpless - who wouldn't? but they'll have to get used to it, and help kenny be as comfortable as he can

and i think that's beautiful

[bfpnola]

Did you know that Giving Tuesday is a holiday where you can give back to your favorite organizations to help fulfill their missions of bettering this world? This year, we’d like you to consider Better Future Program (BFP) for your donations! Founded in 2016 @reaux07, BFP is a 501(c)(3) youth-run nonprofit headquartered in Bulbancha, also known as New Orleans, Louisiana. Our mission is to globally expand peer-led political education, support, and imagination for marginalized youth!

You still have 12 hours TODAY to donate to Better Future Program! Tap the link in our bio or attached below for more [emoji] 🔗

And if you can’t donate? Share this post as well as our volunteer application, attached below:

[alwaysinbetweeninsaneandinsecure]

This family has survived being trans in a US state hostile to trans people, fleeing their previous home as political refugees, and being unhoused as a result. They have finally found a safe(r) place to live and a home to live in, but that home is MAJORLY inaccessible for the parent, Tae. This fundraiser is to help raise funds to install a stairlift to give Tae access to their basic needs. Please give what you can & and reblog!

[thornsent]

thats me ^ + my pet sword

I'm morgan and I'm an it/its transfag w/ chronic physical & mental health issues! I only make $200/month from my state's disability bux & am in the process of applying for SSI but it sucks and takes forever in our ableist system.

I barely scrape by after rent + bills, and I'm abt to receive another bill because my phone plan renews at the end of the month, meaning I would effectively have $30 after all of my necessary living expenses to cover food that food stamps won't, hygienic supplies, and anything else I need for myself/my apartment

in addition to all of that I've been dealing w/ the fun process of taking my landlord to court over a roach infestation! currently it looks like I'm going to be able to leave this place and live somewhere without an infestation. all I want is to be somewhere safe + stable lol

kofi

venmo is alumirust

paypal is alumirust@gmail.com