disabled-dippy

[disabled-dippy]

Has it really been two months since my last post on here?? It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. Anyways, happy disability pride month!

[disabled-dippy]

can my body stop with the adrenaline dumps for ONE DAY. I eat a small meal and suddenly my body is like “hey :)) I know we eat food every single day :))) but I actually have no idea how to handle you eating lunch :))))” and casts spell of tachycardia and whole-body tremors.

[disabled-dippy]

not every disability is a chronic illness

not every chronic illness is a disability

you can be disabled without being chronically ill and vice versa

you can be disabled and also have (a) chronic illness(es) that do(es) not disable you

it's okay not to want your condition or disability to be seen as an "illness" when it isn't; for many people this is a form of ableism experienced throughout their lives

there is overlap between the two communities, but using these two terms as interchangeable is ignorant at best and erases the experiences of many people across the spectrum

[disabled-dippy]

rare disability win for me: I finally got approved for accommodations! I didn’t even know I was eligible for paratransit but the lady I talked to said she felt like it would really help me.

I’m approved for way more than my last school. there I just had housing accommodations, which I won’t need next year because I’m already living in centralized housing with an elevator. but next year I’m gonna apply for centralized housing, priority housing, and lowest floor housing/access to an elevator, just to be sure for senior year. but this is an amazing start and I’m genuinely so excited. now I have a MUCH better chance at being able to consistently make it to class :)

here’s the list if anyone was interested!

[disabled-dippy]

Just saw a wheelchair user get kicked off the bus to make room for a mom’s double-wide stroller that had a baby in it and a 7-8 year old who was plenty old enough to walk. Then the kid proceeded to scream and shriek and cry at max volume the entire rest of my ride.

I am filled with hate. I fucking hate abled people. I’m so sick of abled people. The world would be a better place if abled people were told to get the fuck over themselves and wait their turn more.

[disabled-dippy]

Hey just a general PSA from someone officially diagnosed and documented:

Now is not the time to seek out an autism diagnosis.

RFK's plans have been made very clear and any diagnosis you do get will get you put on this "national disease registry" they're proposing.

Trust me when I say I completely understand the need for accommodations and a better understanding of yourself, but if you have gone this long without being diagnosed, you will be better off waiting.

Furthermore, listen to and advocate for folks who are diagnosed, especially folks with higher support needs. They'll be the first ones targeted for whatever bullshit "experimental treatments" the government tries to push.

Stay safe and look out for your neighbor.

[disabled-dippy]

Uhhhhhhhh that seems bad

[disabled-dippy]

A lot of leftist accounts are suspiciously quiet on the section 504 lawsuit, proposed medicaid cuts, and the "make America healthy again" executive order.

I know other leftists are not the enemy but if we don't have able bodied allies and general population support, there's no hope of pushing back against these ableist policies. These big accounts ignoring a massive minority at risk is scary. The current admin is the problem but there's no hope of a solution without allyship.

We need visibility. We need allies.

[disabled-dippy]

what to do if someone faints ✿

fainting can be extremely scary. if you don’t know what to do, that can make it even scarier. luckily for you (though not for me), I’ve been fainting since I was 13 years old, so I’ve got quite a bit of experience in dealing with these things, and educating the people around me about how to deal with these things. so here is my guide on what to do if someone faints!

{1} how to prevent a fainting episode

first things first, let’s talk prevention. sometimes, people will experience symptoms before they actually faint. if you’re observant enough, you might be able to recognize these signs and take action before the person faints. some signs that someone might be about to faint include:

pale or ashy-looking skin

cold, clammy skin

flushed skin

sweating

slurred speech

dropping things

shakiness or tremors

complaints of a headache

appearing detached or out of it

looking or claiming they feel sick

unsteadiness (swaying, stumbling)

sensitivity to light (squinting, blocking their eyes)

if you notice someone exhibiting one or more of these signs, it's worth going up and asking if they're okay. sometimes people don't understand what's happening, or don't put the pieces together, and even asking if they are okay might be enough for them to work out that they are about to faint.

if they do say yes (or don't know but you suspect they are about to faint), it's time to take action. fainting can happen in the blink of an eye, so make sure you stand close by with your arms at the ready. if you can, help guide them down to the floor, making sure you tell them what you are doing. something like "let's get you on the floor" will work. that should be your top priority. if they cannot lay down, guide them to sit on the floor or the nearest available seat. get them as close to the ground as possible so if they do faint, they are at a lower risk of hurting themselves. guide them to place their head between their knees.

the steps for what to do next are virtually the same as in the next part, so to avoid repeating myself, I will just move on.

{2} if the person has fainted, check to make sure they aren't in immediate danger.

the first thing you should do if someone is unconscious is CHECK FOR A PULSE. if they do not have one, immediately start CPR, call for an ambulance. this should be your number one priority. everything else can come later.

once you've determined they are still alive, you can start checking for injuries. don't try to move them right away, especially if you think they may have hit their head. check for bleeding, bruising, broken bones, etc. if you see any major injuries, call for an ambulance.

also, take the time to check the environment around you. make sure they are not in a dangerous location (ex: near the top of a flight of stairs, on or very near the road, in areas with high foot traffic, etc). if they are, take the time to move them.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: if the person has a service dog, do not impede its duties!! do not try to move the dog. check for medical ID (either on the person or on the dog). if you find something that indicates something serious may be going on, or if the dog tries to alert you or get your attention, call for an ambulance.

{3} get the person conscious again.

if they are not in immediate peril, congratulations! now you get to start on the process of getting them conscious again. of course, it's very likely they will regain consciousness on their own after a few seconds, but even if they do, these are important steps to take to help them recover quicker.

here's some things you should do:

shift the person onto their back and elevate their feet above their heart. this helps get blood flowing back to the brain.

remove any excess layers and loosen any tight clothing.

get some water or a cool compress and apply it to areas like the face and the back of the neck.

make sure they have enough room to breathe. if there's a crowd, you should try to get them to back away.

if the person doesn't appear to be in any immediate danger, there is no need to call an ambulance at this point.

if the person has been unconscious for longer than a minute, call for an ambulance. this is a sign that something more serious may be going on. also, if the person has difficulty regaining consciousness, or lapses back into unconsciousness, that is also a sign you need to call for an ambulance.

if the person has a service dog, you can and should still do all of these things (without impeding the dog's tasks). do not distract the dog or assume that the dog will do everything.

{4} help the person recover after regaining consciousness.

once they have woken up, you can begin the post-fainting recovery process.

ask the person the following questions: 1) how are you feeling? 2) does anything hurt? 3) have you ever fainted before? (if they have not and there is no obvious cause for the fainting, call 911) 4) do you want me to call someone for you?

continue to have the person elevate their feet and apply a cold compress for at least ten minutes, or until they are feeling better.

once they are ready to stand, remain close by in case they lose consciousness again.

once they are upright again, offer them some water.

if they have fainted because of low blood sugar or they have a condition like POTS, try to find them something small to eat. again, only do this when they are upright again.

treat any (minor) injuries they might have sustained.

make sure they have a way to get home (or wherever they are going) safely. encourage them to rest, drink fluids, and eat.

{5} what not to do if someone faints.

do not panic. fainting is very common and usually no cause for concern. a healthy amount of worry is good, but don't get too worked up about it. that could impair your ability to help.

do not call an ambulance if the person tells you not to call an ambulance, especially if this person has a history of fainting. not every fainting episode warrants a trip to the ER, and having paramedics hovering over you can be way more stress than it's worth.

do not elevate the head. the reason you collapse is because your body is trying to get bloodflow back to the brain. elevating the head usually will either not help, or it may be actively harmful. this include placing items like pillows or folded clothing under the person's head, or placing their head in your lap.

do not get them up too quickly. ease them into standing after they have been laying down for several minutes (or when they feel ready to stand). getting them up too quickly raises the chances of having another fainting spell.

do not shake the person aggressively or try to "shock" them awake by slapping them.

do not give them anything to eat or drink while they are laying down or while they are still unconscious.

don't pour water on them, especially not on their face. get a damp cloth, a water bottle, or ice pack instead.

don't leave them alone. if you must leave, make sure someone stays with them until they are up on their feet again.

don't force treatments onto them. if they say they don't need water, food, or your further assistance, listen to them.

{6} times when you should and shouldn't call an ambulance.

you should call an ambulance if:

the person has been unconscious for more than one minute.

the person is not breathing and/or does not have a pulse.

the person has a serious injury, or there is a risk they may have hit their head.

the person is pregnant.

the person is having difficulty waking, or appears extremely confused upon waking up.

the person faints multiple times.

it is the person's first time fainting.

you suspect there may be a more dangerous reason that the person has fainted (ex: stroke, heart attack, etc.)

the person has a seizure or begins exhibiting symptoms not associated with normal fainting (ex: shortness of breath, chest pains, arrythmia, difficulty moving).

you probably don't need to call an ambulance if none of the above are true, but especially so if:

the person has a history of fainting.

the person fainted for a known and non-serious reason (ex: low blood sugar, dehydration, heat, stress, etc).

the person is alert, talking, and improving afterward.

the person is young, healthy, and has no other symptoms.

there are no signs of major injury.

the person regains consciousness quickly.

hopefully you'll never have to use any of this, but if you do, now you know! feel free to drop more suggestions.

[disabled-dippy]

things to put in a dysautonomia emergency bag/cart ✿

having one place (near your bed preferably) where you can keep all the essentials for bad symptom days has been absolutely key in getting me through those bad days. these are some ideas for what you can put in yours, if you want to make one as well!

prescription medications

painkillers

antacids

anti-diarrheals or laxatives (maybe both)

salt pills or packets

electrolyte drink packets (the powdered stuff)

disposable water bottles

salty snacks

compression socks

pulse oximeter

blood pressure monitor

mini electric fan

ice pack

heating pad

hand warmers

change of clothes

sweatshirt

gum or mints

alcohol wipes or hand sanitizer

disposable toothbrushes

floss

mini hairbrush

dry shampoo

wet wipes

sunglasses

noise-cancelling headphones

[disabled-dippy]

Also, I kind of want to point out that the person on that TikTok said they "have a physical disability" and like... are you a wheelchair user??? Or just physically disabled in general? Because if you're not a wheelchair user you don't get to say a wheelchair based insult is justifiable. The discussion table has no seats because everyone who has a say brings their own.

Actually, there's a lot of people saying they have a disability and its justifyable without specifying whether or not they're a wheelchair user and the word "wheelchair" never shows up in their post history. Gonna tag this as cripplepunk so maybe people will see it and realize they don't have a fucking seat at the table on this.

[disabled-dippy]

triggers for dysautonomia flare-ups ✿

these are some things I have noticed, either in myself or in other people, which tend to make symptoms of dysautonomia worse or even cause a flare.

environmental / external:

heat

cold

humidity

changes in barometric pressure

not meeting body's needs:

dehydration

hunger / low blood sugar

sleep deprivation

poor quality sleep

not taking breaks

other bodily-related stressors:

stress

exercise

being upright for too long

drugs / certain medications

raising arms above head

lifting heavy objects

squatting / bending over

strong emotions

standing up too fast

period / menstrual cycle

dietary:

caffeine

sugar

carbs

dairy

alcohol

fatty foods

artificial sweeteners

eating too much / too little

eating too quickly

[disabled-dippy]

symptoms of dysautonomia ✿

these are all of the symptoms of dysautonomia I could find. two disclaimers: 1) please don't use this to diagnose yourself, lots of these symptoms overlap with other disorders, and 2) some of these symptoms may only apply to certain dysautonomias and not to others, in which case I will attempt to specify.

also these categories are very nonspecific and kinda weirdly ordered. I just needed to have the symptoms vaguely organized, lol.

neurological

headaches

migraines

dizziness

tinnitus

tremors

vertigo

brain fog

syncope

presyncope

motor / body

weakness/loss of muscle strength

muscle tension

lack of coordination

unsteady gait

stiffness (in MSA)

hypermobility

absence of tendon reflexes

spasms

low tone (in FD)

body/joint pain

sensation / neuropathic

abnormal sensation

neuropathy (numbness/tingling)

insensitivity to pain

diminished sense of temperature

diminished sense of touch

skin

extreme itching

skin reactions/rashes

dry skin

flushing

pale pallor

eyes

dry eye

eye pain

excessive tearing

blurred vision

tunnel vision

vision loss

impaired pupillary response

light sensitivity

ears / mouth

sound sensitivity

dry mouth

tooth decay

difficulty swallowing

abnormal saliva production

circulatory / heart

tachycardia

bradycardia

heart palpitations

irregular heart rate

poor circulation

cold extremities

discolored skin

blood pooling

low blood pressure

high blood pressure

low blood volume

pulmonary / chest

chest pain

shortness of breath

pain while breathing

air hunger

stomach / digestion

general nausea

postprandial nausea

vomiting

indigestion

bloating

abdominal pain

loss of appetite

weight loss

impaired motility/gastric emptying

food intolerances

constipation

diarrhea

frequent urination

painful urination

painful bowel movements

irregular bowel movements

reproductive

irregular periods

painful periods

sexual dysfunction

psychological

anxiety

depression

sense of impending doom

mood swings

poor memory

irritability

sleep

insomnia

night sweats

circadian rhythm disorders

unrestful sleep

general / miscellaneous (aka idk where to put this)

adrenaline dumps

"coat hanger" neck/shoulder pain

temperature intolerance/dysregulation

low body temperature

exercise intolerance

caffeine intolerance

excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)

lack of sweating (hypohidrosis)

inflammation

galbladder inflammation

galbladder pain

low blood sugar

excessive thirst

[disabled-dippy]

my favorite disabled creators - a masterlist ✿

this will be periodically updated as I discover/am reminded of more! feel free to suggest anyone I haven't listed here.

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Para Tara - @/paratara on YouTube

From her YT description: "I’m a T11/T12 paraplegic & my goal is to spread awareness of Spinal Cord Injury and my way of life as a wheelchair user :)"

Tara makes some really informative videos on what it's like being a paraplegic and a wheelchair user. She tries to combat a lot of the misconceptions and stereotypes people have surrounding it.

She also has a GoFundMe, so if you are able, go show her some support on there!

✿ ~ ✿ ~ ✿ ~ ✿

Sarah Todd Hammer - @/SarahToddHammer on YouTube

From her YT description: "Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Todd Hammer (I go by "Sarah Todd" as a double name) and I'm 23 years old. When I was 8, I became paralyzed from the neck down. I recovered the ability to walk, but I still have paralysis in my arms and hands. I'm a 3-time published author, speaker, and disability advocate. I use my channel to inform you all of what my life is like living with a disability and educate on disability inclusion and accessibility! Subscribe to learn more about my life and disability justice 😊"

I watch Sarah Todd mostly for her videos on accessibility and how she navigates the world with arm/hand paralysis. She really does a great job outlining the different types of supports that can be implemented for disabled people.

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S. Lylo L. - @/disgaybledlylo on TikTok (formerly @/selfiereptiles)

Lylo makes content about their life with FND, EDS, and endometriosis (as well as various other disabilities). They post a lot of tip videos for disabled folks, including on how to use mobility aids. They also post a ton of awareness content, and they have a series reviewing disabled characters in media! Their FND comes with symptoms like vision loss, which isn't often talked about. Lylo also talks about their experiences being intersex, which is possibly another incentive to check them out!

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Pippa Stacey - @/LifeOfPippa on YouTube

Pippa is a "writer, blogger and communications consultant" who makes content about living with chronic illness, mostly ME/CFS. She posts content like vlogs, tutorials for disabled people (such as how to budget, book access theater tickets, and share your story), and informational content. Her videos, especially her Q&A's, are very informative and a great resource for if you struggle with ME/CFS!

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Elinor Brown - @/ElinorBrown on YouTube

Elinor makes videos about her life having ME/CFS, especially surrounding her use of mobility aids. She shares a lot about the ups and downs of having ME/CFS through her vlogs, Q&As, and informational/instructional videos. She has a very cutesy and girly aesthetic, which I love given that I also have a cutesy and girly aesthetic.

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Elizabeth Harris - @/L1zHarris on YouTube

Liz makes videos about her life being Deaf/HOH. She does a lot to combat stigma surrounding Deafness and emphasizes it as its own culture, encouraging people to seek out Deaf/HOH teachers if they want to learn Sign Language. I personally enjoy her song covers, and I appreciate (and aspire to have) the no-nonsense attitude she has when correcting people.

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Jessica Kellgren-Fozard - @/jessicaoutofthecloset on YouTube

From her YT description: "Adding vintage lesbian fabulousness to a life with disabilities and chronic illnesses, aided by my beautiful wife Claudia, our son Rupert and our adorable pups. I make fun, uplifting and educational content about LGBTQ+ and disability culture and history that should help you get through tough times and not feel alone."

I love Jessica's content! She really does a lot to raise awareness about disability (especially ME/CFS, POTS, and being Deaf/HOH) and educate people. I really enjoy her chronic illness playlist (linked here) and all the work she does to inform people about the different aspects of disability.

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Gem Hubbarb - @/Wheelsnoheels on YouTube

From her YT description: "Hi, I’m Gem, and after my spinal cord injury at the age of 9, https://youtu.be/JDX5md1qbd4 my life has taken me on many twists and turns, and finally led me to combine my passions of media and disability advocacy, and poof! Wheelsnoheels was born."

Gem makes videos discussing disability hot topics, choosing a mobility aid, traveling as a wheelchair user, making homes accessible, and wheelchair access at Disney (all according to her). Her videos around hot topic discussions and choosing mobility aids have been the most interesting for me. She really helped with my decision to get mobility aids, so I highly recommend checking her out!

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Cassidy Huff - @/CassidyHuff on YouTube

From her YT description: "I’m Cassidy Huff (she/her) and I’m a disabled, disability rights activist who is sharing my life in all aspects! I’m so excited to take you all through this life that I live and all of my ups and downs! I’m so glad you’re here! :)"

Cassidy posts a lot of content around disability activism, education, and dismantling stigma, especially surrounding things like mobility aid use, prosthetics, and service dogs. She posts a lot about her life with Conradi-Hünermann syndrome, including things like her former surgeries and her experiences with being partially blind.

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Cienna - @/chronicallyperservering on YouTube

Cienna makes content about her life having ROHHAD, a rare terminal illness which causes things like central hypoventilation. She talks a lot about having a diaphragmatic pacemaker and how she navigates the world as someone whose body doesn't tell her to breathe. I personally really enjoy her sense of humor and the content she makes about accessibility.

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Molly Burke - @/MollyBurkeOfficial on YouTube

From her YT description: "HEY! I'm Molly, a typical sushi and makeup loving millennial girl who just so happens to be blind! I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at just 4 years old and began public speaking at age 5. Even though I can’t see, I know that there are bright spots in everything we face. Let’s find them together!"

Molly makes a lot of educational content, especially dismantling stigma around blindness and educating people on how blind folks navigate the world.

[disabled-dippy]

blog intro ✿

heya! my name is dippy, and welcome to my blog! I'm going to use this blog to talk about things like accessibility, signs/symptoms of certain disabilities, tips for navigating said disabilities, and sharing my own personal story.

I am diagnosed with a few conditions. currently my primary dx is acquired dysautonomia (NOT POTS). I have a few associated conditions that probably won’t come up too much so I won’t list them. my other major condition is asthma, which I may talk about a bit, especially when I discuss things like insurance or prescriptions.

I am very passionate about disability rights and activism. this page is exclusively dedicated to all topics surrounding disability. I will not be discussing other things here. this is also a side blog — if you would like to hear me rambling about fandoms, feel free to check out @true-serendipityy

more info below the cut :)

tag guide:

#disability politics - posts about the politics surrounding disability, including disability rights

#disability discussions - posts with discussions pertaining to disability