See The Person Not The Disability

“See the person not the disability”

NO! SEE MY DISABILITY! IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE THAT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED! OF ALL THE ABLEIST CRAP THIS IS THE WORST ONE!

You don’t have to be on the brink of collapse to use your mobility aids.

You don’t need to be limping to use your cane. You don’t need to be staggering to use your crutches. You don’t need to be falling over to use your rollater. You don’t need to be too weak to stand to use your wheelchair.

They’re there to help you and you are never too “strong” to be using something that helps you.

Screw it.

I got dressed today and I’m fucking proud of myself. I brushed my teeth and I’m proud of myself. I got out of bed and I’m proud of myself. No achievement is insignificant. Things people so often take for granted are accomplishments on their own especially when you can’t take them for granted anymore.

People need to learn the difference between tired and fatigued.

Something that really sucks about being disabled is places say that they’re accessible but they aren’t.

I’ve been to places that claim to be accessible where

the ramp’s too steep

there are steps they didn’t mention because “it’s only two or three”

the doorways are too small

there aren’t any elevators to the top floor

the floor is too rough to easily push on

exhibits are displayed in ways that are impossible to see from a wheelchair

the doors don’t have a push button

tables/exhibits are put way too close together

the surrounding paths have no curbs

Without those things, it isn’t accessible. You can’t put a sloped piece of metal on your doorway and call that wheelchair friendly.

So you have chronic pain?

Yep

So are you in pain now?

Yep

So were you in pain yesterday?

Yes

And the day before?

Yes

And the day-

Okay let’s go over the definition of chronic again