ipadfrog2000 - Tumblr blog

[ipadfrog2000]

Shout-out this stranger met for while recent, who saw we were AAC user and for whole time:

• made sure we not talked over in conversation

• stopped others from skip over us, and didn’t let them rush us either

• said any words AAC was say wrong verbally for us after we express frustration with that

• didn’t touch our device once or look at screen while using AAC (they were only person who didn’t)

• made sure we comfortable and accommodated whole time was with them

And don’t think any this was even big deal to them. This was first time they even saw AAC, but they still made sure were accommodated for it. Don’t think they realize how much meant to us, and it meant everything to us. To be include and supported so much by total stranger who we would never see again.

Gave us lot hope. Fact that there people like that out there. And wanted put all thoughts that couldn’t put into words when with person here.

Want other AAC users know that there people like that out there, and that there hope.

[ipadfrog2000]

If you need any DME/wheelchair parts/other assistive devices, enableyourlife.com has some wild prices rn!! they close at the end of March so it's all final sale, but I'm about to stock up on $5 caster wheels :)

[ipadfrog2000]

heyyyyy reminder for other cane users.

don't forget that cane tips need to be replaced.

i've been using my cane for almost two years on a near daily basis and i JUST switched out the tip and

[image IDs in alt text]

the new tip versus the old tip. i'm not sure how clear it is but, YEAH, there's like. half a millimeter of tread left on the old tip, if that

the replacement was LITERALLY 2 dollars. i bought two to justify the four dollar shipping but. TWO BUCKS.

i had noticed that i was having slipping issues on linoleum recently, but i did not realize how bad the issue had gotten until the new tips came so. PLEASE check your cane treads and if they're notably worn out PLEASE get yourself a new tip they're SO cheap and the grip i get on the new one is INSANE

please don't forget to replace your cane tips!

[ipadfrog2000]

Solid medications (pills) really do be coming in two varieties - edible plastic, and smarties (derogatory)

[ipadfrog2000]

i love you shower chairs i love you pain meds i love you canes i love you wheelchairs i love you braces i love you crutches i love you nausea meds i love you inhaler i love you weighted blanket i love you ice pack i love you heating pad i love you loose clothing i love you giant water bottle i love you help from other people i love you mobility aides i love you disability aides

[ipadfrog2000]

anyone else ever wish they could lie down harder? Like, I'm already horizonal, but I need more horizonal. I need to be absorbed by the floor. I think that would fix me

[ipadfrog2000]

can we just listen to Disabled people when they say what accommodations they need??? Like it really isn’t that hard to just take someone’s word on what is best for their own body! Whether it’s more or less or different than what you deem they need it really isn’t your place to say!!!

Sometimes, people need more than they show! Especially if they’re used to being in pain all the time, then they won’t always display that discomfort.

Sometimes the accommodations someone needs are different than what you assume. A friend who struggles with noise sensitivity may ask for you to turn on a different type of music, instead of turning it down, and if that is what they express they need you don’t have to say “oh no I can just turn it down!” and ignore them saying that that isn’t necessary because your idea of noise sensitivity is different than their own experiences and needs.

And sometimes people need less than you try to provide! Or simply don’t want that accommodation at the time! And here’s the crazy part: this applies even if what they say to do could hurt them. Obviously this isn’t a rule for every situation*, but for some it absolutely is. If your friend wants to tag along for, say, a hike, and they have joint pain it isn’t your place to add in “oh no but they can’t do [the hike]! They’ll be in pain! We have to do something else to accommodate them!” If that person expressed a desire to go, especially if offered other options prior that wouldn’t hurt them, let them live. Let them do the thing that puts them in pain, because Disabled people don’t always want to be shoved into a little box of safety. Absolutely sometimes they do, and some might always want to, but if they don’t, then let them make their own choices for their body. Just as anyone else does. You go out and get drunk, even if it gives you a hangover. You go skating even if you’re shit at it and scratch up your knees a bunch. Just because someone is Disabled doesn’t mean that they can’t do the same thing and do that fun thing that hurts them.

I don’t know if I’m displaying my point how I want, so here’s my own example: I am allergic to the cold. Anything below 60 degrees (f) I get hives. Any water cooler than a fucking warm shower I get hives. My joints don’t do great when it’s cold out. This does not mean that when I say I want to go swimming, you can say “oh but you can’t you’ll get hives!” Or “no you can’t do that you’ll be in pain!” Because. I know that. I know that. I know my Disability better than anyone else can, and I can ask for accommodations I need. I am not a child to be wrapped in bubble wrap so I don’t get hurt. My body is my body and I can do with it what I want, and face the consequences. Likewise, just because I said I wanted to go swimming doesn’t mean that when I don’t want to go out and muck around in the snow it is anyone’s right to say “oh but you wanted to swim earlier, so obviously it isn’t that bad for you!” Or “oh it’s fine it’s not that cold! Just wear a sweater!” Because at that time I need and want different accommodations and that should be listened to and considered accordingly, as far as it can be in that situation.

Seriously. Just listen to us. We are in our own bodies. We know ourselves. It really isn’t that hard

*a situation where this point would be null is, for example, a situation where the person has been peer pressured into doing something, or one where you know the person well and know that the endurance of pain is a self-harming behavior

[ipadfrog2000]

As a medium/lower support needs autistic who works with young higher support needs autistic:

We all matter. We all have the same diagnosis. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

But we are not the same.

I can mask and might be seen as 'odd' or 'weird' in public. The students I work with are seen as 'dangerous' and 'practically little kids'.

I can go to university and work with accommodations. The students I work with likely will never live independently and a few might find jobs that support them but still pay them less than an abled worker.

I have full control of my finances. The students I work with aren't allowed to make independent financial decisions, even if capable.

If I say 'no,' I'm making a choice. The students I work with can't say 'no' without being labeled as defiant and difficult.

I can feed myself, bathe myself, and take care of myself with extreme challenges. The students I work with are unable to take care of themselves without high levels of support/one on one support.

I had an IEP in high school but was mainstreamed in classes. The students I work with take separate classes and some rarely get to interact with their abled peers.

Our experiences are fundamentally different. Higher support needs autistics will experience a specific type of ableism I never will, and can never fully understand.

Lower support needs autistics need to stop saying we understand what higher support needs autistics are going through and then present autism as only being disabling because of society/lack of acceptance because that is dangerous. We need to stop saying every autistic person is capable of everything if given the right support because that leaves out huge parts of our community who will never be able to do certain things, regardless of support.

We are worthy of existence regardless of our abilities.

Autism is a spectrum. It is not the same for every autistic person. Autism acceptance and advocacy has to come with accepting, acknowledging, and listening to our higher support needs peers.

[ipadfrog2000]

shoutout to offputting autistic people

[ipadfrog2000]

It makes me so upset when I see posts that are like “I just got tested and I’m so surprised I don’t have an intellectual disability because I’m SOOO dumb.” Or “How’s it possible that I don’t have an intellectual disability? I’m really stupid” all these comments just further the stigmatization of intellectual disability. There are some of us, me including. Who do say we’re dumb. Who do agree that we aren’t smart. However, that’s for ourselves.

Why would you further the stigmatization of intellectual disability? Why would you see your weaknesses that probably have nothing to do with intellectual disability as that? There are multiple reasons and answers for problems that aren’t a intellectual disability.

Please stop saying these things. Please stop furthering the stigmatization of intellectual disability. We’re allowed to call ourselves dumb, we’re allowed to call ourselves stupid. But do you see all intellectually disabled people that way? Are you saying you see us nothing but dumb people? What does that say about you.

[ipadfrog2000]

anyway um. shoutout to disabled people who move their bodies in ways that are considered "wrong" or "abnormal" regardless of the cause or how it's classified. and this isn't limited to just ambulation.

paralysis. dystonia. gait abnormalities. people with muscle weakness and/or atrophy. people with brain damage. rotational differences. clubfoot. knocked knees. other limb and bodily differences. functional deformities that affect movement. tissue contracture. muscular dystrophies. spasticity. impaired proprioception, balance, and/or coordination. chronic pain. spinal disorders. dyspraxia/DCD. apraxia. ataxia. dystaxia. tourette's syndrome and other tic disorders. conversion symptoms. tremors. neurodegenerative disease. degenerative bone diseases. joint instability. myoclonus. parkinsonism. tardive dyskenisia. various other neurological problems.

...and the list goes on.

personally i feel a bit surreal when my body not doesn't always move in the ways i want it to because that straightforward connection that's there for abled people has been disrupted in a myriad of ways. but no one is gross, ugly, or scary for being unable to move their body in ways that society considers "normal" and "healthy." no one deserves to be gawked/stared at or treated like they're subhuman because of the way their body moves.

it's okay for us to exist.

[ipadfrog2000]

"Justice"

Image: The personification of justice, Lady Justice, in a metallic, slightly greenish colour. She has a sword in one hand, and is holding up a pair of scales. She has a blindfold on, and curly hair tied behind her neck.

The second image also has the word "Justice" written beneath Lady Justice, in black text.

[ipadfrog2000]

I am once again explaining that in order for walkable cities and public transit to work for disabled people, there also need to be more public bathrooms available in and around those areas. Not just places to sit down or rest. Bathrooms. We need accessible, clean bathrooms. With sharps bins. With multiple wheelchair accessible stalls. With an area to set down supplies needed to maintain one’s body. Even if it’s not being used to get rid of bodily waste, bathrooms are one of the few spaces disabled people have to maintain some sort of privacy when they’re in the middle of a flare up or they need to take medication or what have you. Designing a public space? Include bathrooms.

[ipadfrog2000]

TW: emotional abuse from parent, ableism, mentions of "mental age"

So my mom did and said a lot of weird/mean things while I was growing up.

One thing on my mind right now is when she would tell nearly complete strangers that I'm mentally ill. While I'm standing right there.

I guess to try and I explain why I'm "like this."

I remember several instances of her telling people that I'm "mentally (insert age)"

Like when I was 18 she often said I was mentally 14. Which is a very ableist thing to say.

She never said I was autistic, cause she didn't believe that. Just that I was mentally ill, mentally a younger age, and just *acted* autistic. My dad and brother were allowed to be autistic in her eyes though!

[ipadfrog2000]

im gonna say something thats gonna make people uncomfortable: its not lateral ableism to acknowledge that even in the disability community some people have privilege.

It's not ableist to say that being able to control your body and have your physical body systems and mind work together is a privilege even if you are mentally ill or neurodivergent. Just like its not ableist to say as a part time rollator user I have privilege in that I can walk without assistance most of the time and when I need assistance I don't use a wheelchair. Doesn't make wheelchair users better than me, but it means they're treated differently than me when we go out together. I know this because my ex was a powerchair user and full time crutch user and people treated her differently.

I have a lot of privilege even in my severity as a psychotic chronic pain patient with many issues because I'm white - my pain is treated more sympathetically.

We can and should acknowledge intersection and privilege, inside and outside the community. thats not bad. I'm not saying I'm better than someone with adhd and a bad knee, nor am I worse than a full time wheelchair user with a catheter and strabismus. It's not "oppression olympics" or clicking identities on a form. But these identities cause you to be treated differently. That's all i've been saying.

[ipadfrog2000]

autism/autistic things 61-70

[ipadfrog2000]

I have determined that an AAC software isn't what I need to help communicate. At some point it was very useful, but my needs have changed/improved. My speech loss episodes have greatly improved in the past 6 months, probably due to occupational therapy and the removal of some stressors.

Now my speech loss episodes resemble more stumbling and repeating of my words. Like I'm saying words but they're out of order and I'm piecing them together over and over as I say them. I eventually get the thought out, but it takes a bit and is frustrating.

This doesn't happen all the time. Only when I'm overwhelmed (which is easy for me to be lol). So mostly in public, where sensory input is at it's most extreme for me. It's still very hard to interact with strangers without my boyfriend.

I do quite fine at my university (where I live for the fall and spring semesters). Because I typically only interact with people who are aware of my speech and social difficulties. Such as my professors and a few classmates. They've learned how to understand me and are patient. Plus I have many accommodations in place that make attending my university accessible and more comfortable.

I think another form of AAC would be helpful. Like index cards that have pre-written phrases on it for important needs. Like needing water, the bathroom, etc. For times when I can't get my words out in order, I can just show a card.