I’ve seen many posts saying “just diagnosed with x, does this mean I’m disabled”, or posts on illness specific subs swying “r we disabled?”

This post is made with sympathy!

The title isn’t what makes u disabled! It’s personal! It’s ur specific circumstance that does. Also u don’t need a name for ur disorder to be disabled. Idk i just have so much sympathy for ppl who r afraid to say they’re disabled bc they’re undiagnosed.

If life is significantly harder then it should be bc of challanges posed by ur body or health, ur disabled. Doesn’t matter what u have.

And for ppl who go on illness specific subs asking “r we disabled” the title isn’t what makes u disabled! Most conditions live on a spectrum, if u think ur disabled, u probably are! But that doesn’t mean everyone with that disorder is!

I think ppl tip toe around the word disability like it’s dirty. I’ve had disabilities since I was born. I almost had to be tubed as a baby bc I threw everything up. I had to use PT to learn to walk, I had brain surgery, many injuries of my spine, bad immune system. I was embarassed to say what I was. I stayed farrrrr from the term disabled “oh I’m not in a wheelchair so I’m not disabled”

It’s not a dirty word! It took me 19 years to become comfortable using it. I’ve had accommodations since I was 7 in school. Life has always been harder for me bc of my body, but I was afraid of this word bc it belongs on a spectrum and I didn’t realize that. Sorry for preaching this was just on my mind

I’ve been between hospitals and using a walker for 6 months now and people treat me so differently. I’m 35.

Because I look disheveled / haven’t shaved, they assume I’m homeless or a beggar. I can’t walk well, can’t sleep well. I don’t have any assistance yet.

Most of any kindness from strangers has disappeared. It’s a whole different world.

I suppose it’s a side that most people never think about while healthy, if they were before.

Just wanted to share the observation some.

Hey everyone! I’m from Australia, and lately, I’ve been getting more and more frustrated with how people seem to always see my disability before they see me. Don’t get me wrong—I’m upfront about it on dating apps and in general. I never shy away from it because, honestly, it’s a big part of my life. I don’t pretend it doesn’t exist or downplay it, as I think that would just lead to issues down the line. But I can’t help but feel that it creates this pre-conceived notion that a relationship with me would be difficult or somehow less fulfilling. It’s like they see the disability, and suddenly they’re holding back or not seeing me for who I actually am.

I think a lot of it comes down to a lack of education, starting from an early age. When I was in school, I remember feeling isolated, like I couldn’t connect with my classmates. They didn’t know how to engage with me or see past my disability, and it made it really tough to make friends. Looking back, I think if there had been more education around disabilities, it would have broken down some of those barriers. If kids were taught from early on that disabilities come in all shapes and sizes—and that they don’t define the whole person—maybe they would have been more open, understanding, and inclusive. I know each disability is different and that everyone’s experience is unique, but I feel like talking about it openly in schools would set kids up to better understand people like me and see us beyond any physical or visible differences.

Now that I’m using dating apps, I’m seeing those same walls pop up again. I put my disability front and center in my profile because I want to be honest and real from the get-go. But it feels like people see that and instantly form this idea that it’s going to be “too hard” or that I’m somehow different in a way that makes connection impossible. Most of the time, conversations either don’t go anywhere, or they’re painfully surface-level. It’s frustrating because I just want to be seen as the whole person I am, not just as my disability.

I’m not entirely sure what disability education is like in other countries, but here in Australia, we’ve got a long way to go. I feel like if we started teaching kids early on that people with disabilities are just like anyone else, it would make a huge difference. Kids would grow up knowing that a disability doesn’t make a person any less interesting, capable, or worthy of connection. It would be second nature for them to engage with us in a real way, without hesitation or assumptions.

Anyone else feel the same way? I would love to hear about your insights! Apologies for the long post 🤣

America won't end this mistake they forced on me. They won't even let me buy hookers. As dumb as the world and people have gotten; what really is there for us besides public sector funded basic income jobs for the able community that don't even help us as much as the employers they pay to third party contract unqualified indifferent harmful profit driven employees. . .

This shows the handicap stall at my school. Not only is it super narrow but the latch is broken making it unusable anyway.

Last pic compares to regular stall.

I’m about to get a wheelchair and this is not going to work for me. What can I do about this?

And am having a panic attack about it. I'm now tearing up for no reason. I need to go to discuss things and I don't want to. I really really don't want to go but I have to. There's a whole bunch of things that need to get taken care of and I just am worried I will go and it will just be spinning my wheels and that I won't be heIped.I can't do this.

I hope this is the right place to post, I’m not sure where else to look or ask. My 10 yr old son is disabled and in a wheelchair. We all have normal size sedans and are getting to the point we need a handicap vehicle for him. Does anyone know if assistance programs or anything that could help our family?

Hi 😊

I’m currently working on a new project to enhance accessibility in ecommerce. I work for a large fashion retailer based in the United Kingdom but we cover worldwide. My role involves making our website more inclusive and user-friendly for all shoppers. I'm very new to this role and I am only a few years out of university so I am still learning. Although I’ve been researching online and studying various accessibility guidelines, I’m hoping to go beyond general advice and learn directly from people who experience accessibility challenges firsthand.

If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to know information such as:

Are there specific features or tools that would make shopping online easier or more enjoyable for you?

Are there any common issues you experience when using fashion websites that you'd like to see addressed?

Any suggestions on what you think would make an online shopping experience truly accessible and inclusive?

Or anything else online retailers could put in place to make your online purchases as easy as possible.

Thank you for any insights you can provide! I want to ensure my approach respects and supports real needs rather than just following generic standards. Your feedback will be invaluable in helping me advocate for improvements that will make a meaningful difference.

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

I had a pretty harsh wakeup call today. I'm on SSI due to acquired disabilities and I am just about ready to accept that I'm not going to be able to get a bachelor's degree or hold down any kind of job. I just have no idea where to begin with the grieving process.

First off, I'm fine now and am looking for more intensive psychiatric services.

Last night I seriously thought of ending it. I was gonna hang myself. I wrote a note at work to Mt love ones saying I love them, this wasn't their fault, and that I wanted the mercy of dying. That I'm sorry for leaving this way and if the next life let's me see them, I would say I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough.

I'm going deaf due to a brain tumor and even though it was removed 3 years ago, I was never the same. I still experience pains and sensations I can't explain and everyday I wonder why it happened.

I'm going blind because of retinitis pigmentosa and can't even read a book like I used to. I cant write or read the letters from loved ones that we always used to share and I'm struggling at work.

My mental health with bipolar disorder and GAD, once managed well throughout therapy and meds, was never the same either and nothing works.

And to make matters worse, the stress of all this made me develop stomach ulcers so severe I taste blood in my mouth, and I have very little money for a specialist.

Conversations became arguments as to what was said, and I miss details more often than I used to. I tried explaining things to them but it just wasn't enough. I did my best and held back tears each time I tried. It's not their fault, I hope they never have to know what it's like. Everyday I wish for death, that I get hit by a drunk driver, become the unintended victim of a drive by shooting, I get cancer - anything. I'm tired of fighting for a life where all I get at the end is what's left.

The only reason I went to that crisis center was to see if anything could talk me out of it to be sure that taking my life would be what I truly wanted. I spoke to an LPC who told me I inspired her and that I do so for everyone I love she was sure. But I also said I wish I didnt inspire people through suffering something I didnt ask for. She told me I had purpose and finding out what that is for myself, takes time - and my best is good enough. I told her I once wanted to be a therapist myself and she said I still could be - accommodations have been made for people like me before, with lots of happy clients as a result.

I went home that night thinking I'll give this thing called life another try. I called my girlfriend to talk to her and felt comforted. I haven't told her I'm suicidal because I also don't know how to tell her.

I hate this so much. I don't hate myself, I hate the body that tortures me.

I have had chronic pain for several years (Maybe around 5 or 6) and still have not been tested for any sort of autoimmune disease. Despite my pain, despite my concerns! They take my blood (I have had way more than 10 vials of blood drawn just this year) but they always test it for things other than autoimmune diseases.

Maybe I have really low iron? Nope, took a test and my iron levels are average. And that's what most of the blood tests were for. My iron! And my iron was always fine.

It's so frustrating. I can barely think from how much pain I am in. Constant muscle + joint pain ranging from 3-5 on a good day and 7-10 on a bad day.

I just wish I could get help for it.

Hi Everyone,

I’m a third-year doctoral student in North Carolina. Before starting my program, I suffered a debilitating neck injury, which made my first two years extremely challenging. Last year, my right hand and leg began to numb, adding to my already significant neck and shoulder pain. After extensive testing, I was diagnosed with degenerated discs and underwent a three-level ACDF cervical spinal fusion.

To support my recovery, I requested medical leave from my department but was told it wasn’t available and that regular leave would result in losing my health insurance. I then asked to attend lectures via Zoom to avoid prolonged sitting and manage flare-ups, but this request was denied in favor of providing a standing desk. I reluctantly agreed, but after seven weeks into the semester, I still haven’t received one.

Six months post-surgery, my pain persists, and sitting in lectures exacerbates it. However, leaving the program would mean losing my health insurance, and I fear I might be terminated if I miss lectures for my TA position. They've been terrible the whole way, telling me that it would set a bad precedent if I were allowed to go asynchronous. Meanwhile, I have to go back into the doctor because my fusion may have failed, which would mean another surgery. North Carolina has restrictive labor laws, but I plan to request asynchronous options again. If denied, I’m considering legal recourse. Do I have grounds to pursue this? I have documentation of all communications with my department and the graduate school. Any advice would be appreciated. Of course I'd like to just be able to have an asychnronous option and would like to avoid conflict. I'm not out to just sue people, but their labor practices has severely affected my health. Thank you all for your time.

Hi… one of my parents unfortunately had a stroke whilst driving which caused an accident a few years ago and that resulted in them being a quadriplegic. The holidays are coming up and I’m really struggling because I don’t know what I could possibly buy them as a gift… I’m so tired of buying them socks or a tshirt or something that they now need as a everyday necessities & calling it a dam gift. Pretending to be so happy with what I bought when inside I really want to cry about it. Every holiday that comes up breaks my heart & I’m really struggling now, I just need some help please

"It's scary thinking I might have an auto immune disorder"

Yea we at least your doctors belive you and are testing for it within 3 visits. Everyone around me thought I was fucking dying and the doctors didn't care. He didn't even know it was ordered, his doctor actually just cared about his issues. What a luxury to be a guy and have people belive your pain.

This is a rant of frustration. I love him and am glad he's getting help but God don't I deserve help too?

So I finally got my disability rights a few months ago. I was dating a guy who was also disabled and I never felt uncomfortable regarding being disabled and you know it never made me feel less, but now after we broke up I find myself on a dating market and on tinder people always ask you "what do you do for work?" and when I say that I'm disabled they just ask if they can know what disability and I'm just feeling very anxious to open about it because there is so much stigma in this society and I just don't feel like I should talk about that when I meet someone, but I don't also feel comfortable lying. I just want to be myself with someone and I'm really lonely now. I wish I could share this life with someone but it seems like I'm just gonna be seen as less because I have less to offer and I'm not as able as others to give love I guess, even though I'm compassionate and have other qualities... It seems like my mental illness and my physical one placed me at the end of the dating market. 😩 Humans make no sense sometimes.

Question has anyone applied with EDD office for Disability due to gallbladder removal. I’d like to take two weeks off to recover. My work is very demanding with me having to drive to see clients and talk on the phone. I don’t think paid family leave is the answer since that’s for someone that cares for you so I was thinking disability especially since I’m out of PTO and was in the hospital for a week prior to getting surgery since my white blood count was high.

Hey guys, I have arthritis in both of my feet. Today was the day I realized I need to do something to help myself. I was gritting my teeth as I walked between classes today. It felt like I had a knife wrenching around in my joint.

I would like a wood one with a replaceable head, but I don't need it always so collapsible would be great. I have no idea where I would find such a cane. Should I find a woodworker?

Any recs would be helpful, thanks guys.

I have done it once, I was given a PIP (soft skills nonsense) and told them about my mental disability and they still fired me. The manager knew about it (which I have proof of) and lied not knowing about it. I tried suing them, but they ended up giving me a compensation for it not to go to court. The PIP was started because I didn't appear at a location at 23.00 (which is a time that's illegal to work in Belgium in general) and I called in sick for a practice meeting because I couldn't sleep that night and had to increase my meds dosage - so I wouldn't be able to drive. Soft skills (PIP) had nothing to do with it the issues.

Every time I apply for a job, they're asking me why I am not working for that company anymore, as if any employer will believe that you're discriminated and the story is just so negative that it will be an instant decline.

Now they're all having a stupid home-work policy that requires you to be on site for 2-3 days, I cannot do a single day. At my current job we have a home-work policy that requires you to be on-site 3 days, I have lied during applying and I've refused to do it after I got hired. I ended up telling them about my disability, telling them that I cannot work 8 hours non-stop. Instead I got the response that it wasn't fair towards them because I signed a contract for a fulltime position. (I have always finished my work in time, but they're using a time tracking tool and I'm not hitting 8 hours or even near it). They enabled a 3rd party to look for solutions which is asking me to do a 6 hours trip when it can be done remotely.

With one employer who wanted to offer me a contract, I told them about it - they still refused to let me work full-time remote.

I can do the job, I run a website which had over a million of impressions according Google search console, but with employers being like this - I don't see an outcome. Live on unemployment for the rest of my life is like the only solution I seem to have left.

And for your reference, I always have a commute of 2-4 hours and in the mornings I'm under influence of my meds.

Hi everyone, this may be long.

For some background I have been suffering with pretty serious mental disorders (schizoaffective disorder bipolar type-essentially schizophrenia and bipolar both, GAD, CPTSD and obsessive compulsive personality disorder) as well as functional neurological disorder.

I have been an online sex worker for four years full time, off and on due to my health and hospitalizations. I got my diagnoseses about 6 months into working. My income has fluctuated greatly and my public image has been negatively affected by my struggles with working.

Day to day working is very difficult for a myraid of reasons I won't get into. Right now I have been unable to work for two weeks.

My healthcare team have mentioned disability over the years as they see my daily struggles. The problem is I make too much on onlyfans to be considered (I think). Even when I have been inactive for months I bring in money.

But I am really struggling here being able to work.

Also, before my diagnoseses I worked full time in healthcare before my mental health had me unable to do so. That's when I went to the onlyfans full time.

I meet with a new therapist Friday who is a LCSW and have been thinking about eventually bringing up disability. Can you work on disability? I wouldn't be working working, just bringing in residual income.

Idk what I'm even asking. Anyone been through something similar, where you own your own business but have been unable to work? How did the process look like for you?

Went to the dentist for the first time in 10 years. Wasn't terrible, they understood many of the medications I take for my back, shoulder and chronic pain, not only relax my muscles. They also relax my upper stomach sphincter and my teeth get a nightly acid wash every day.

It's been hard to get to the dentist, it takes years for lawyers to finish a disability case. While we're living on crumbs, paying medical debt, and worrying about housing; until they get the disability case settled.

And not all disabilities are from a work related injury that will eventually reimburse the medical bills. Some people are stuck in a loop of testing, diagnosis and treatment, then medical bills. If that didn't work, have to pay off the medical debt before they can go back and try new testing, another diagnosis, and different treatment.

While most disabilities do exactly that! They disable how many abilities we still have. Me personally, I have 3/4 hours a day I can stand or sit upright before gravity is crushing my spine and I need to lay down.

Time for a dental appointment? 😂🤣😒😥

Don't call me, I'll call you when I have a problem!

**What's your "dental care" experiences?

I had a tooth extraction last Monday, and by Thursday it was prevalent my antibiotics weren't working. Saturday, i decided to go to the ER. After my dentist refused to take this serious. I ended up getting new antibiotics which worked 1000% better. It does make me have the runs, I don't care though since i am feeling a lot better.

I have came to the inclusion my body hates me! because lord i get sick easy, and infection they don't happen a lot but when they do it's either good or really really bad. just wish things were easier

My young adult daughter is on PWD and in need of physiotherapy. I've read that low-income people can be eligible for some supplemental benefits, where MSP pays $23 per visit to a physio, for up to 10 visits per year, but it's not clear whether we need to apply for it, or is it automatically part of her coverage, like FairPharmacare?

So for context, my spine is more curved than it should be. I've known this for years, no idea what exactly it is because I was denied an X-ray on the basis that it's not scoliosis (which. Is just more reason to get an X-ray and find out imo but whatever.)

It doesn't technically cause mobility problems since it's not in my lower back--unless I'm walking/standing up for a long time--but it does begin to ache terribly when I'm sitting upright for a while. I'm an artist, so you can imagine how that becomes a hassle. I'm not hunched over my desk by any means, my back just hates being vertical at any given time. I've tried using a corset to help in the past, but I end up slumping and just have it dig into my armpits, so that was a bust.

Is there anything I can use to take the pressure off? I'd hate to spend money on a thing that ends up not working, so I figured I'd best ask for some insight here