Tumgik
#mobility aid user
justabunny · 1 day
Text
I'm so tired of the expectation for disabled people to be positive. no I'm angry, I'm allowed to be upset about my progressing illnesses. let disabled people be fucking angry.
21 notes · View notes
cr-pplepunx · 4 months
Text
if youre considering using a mobility aid, youre probably thinking about getting a cane. even if it seems like youre issues arent bad enough, you should probably still consider other mobility aids. please look into the pros and cons of several different mobility aids, especially in conjunction with your specific disability/diagnosis/needs.
i got a cane at first because i thought my issues were "mild" and therefore i needed a "mild" mobility aid. but canes are moreso for stability than support. i damaged my wrist and worsened my scoliosis by deciding to use a cane without an educated opinion.
i now use forearm crutches primarily, a rollator for longer outings, and a wheelchair for worse days and longer events. dont make the same mistake as 16-year-old me. dont choose your mobility aid based on palatability, consider your needs and address your internalized ableism if need be.
8K notes · View notes
jemineye · 1 year
Text
i cant stress this enough, disabled people know their own limits. i fucking promise you. we are not being lazy or jerks because we won't do something YOU want us to do or something YOU THINK will make us feel better. it wont. stop.
23K notes · View notes
spooniestrong · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
8K notes · View notes
frankiensteinsmonster · 3 months
Text
❗CRIPPLE TIPS❗
✨ Able bodied friends edition ✨
If you are in a group that includes anybody who is using a mobility aid, if you are out and about and a Stairs Situation arises, either ask them which they'd prefer, or opt for the elevator (given your group is small enough. If not, have a couple friends use the elevator with your disabled friend, after asking if this is what they prefer (they may enjoy a moment alone, everybody is an individual with their own preferences). This means they don't lose the emotional "high" of being part of a group, conversation can continue so they won't suddenly feel lonely and excluded on the solo elevator ride, which can creep in and ruin their mood especially if they're new to their disability, and there's less of a chance of confusion once you're at your destination. Nobody likes being lost, but the inherent exhaustion and physical exertion that comes with using and mobility aid is incredibly... Unfun. And distressing! This can be easily avoided and you have the chance to be an Excellent friend! We notice these things!
This post is about being Physically Disabled, Able bodied people are encouraged to reblog, but Do Not Derail-- make your own post if you need to say something not related to being physically disabled.
2K notes · View notes
talkingattumble · 6 months
Text
Hi guys! Here’s some advice from a cane user on how to spot a fake cane user/disability faker!
YOU CANT
You can not spot a “fake disabled” cane user. You can not know if someone’s “really disabled”, much less by just looking at them. Here are some common misconceptions.
“Cane users always need their canes. If they walk without it or put it away when it’s inconvenient, they’re faking”: WRONG! Many cane users are what we call “ambulatory” cane users. This means they don’t always need their canes to walk. I’m an ambulatory cane user, and I experience really horrible leg pain on the daily. However, I don’t always use my cane, and when I don’t need to walk or stand a lot in a certain place I don’t use it. And when I do use it, I may lift it off the ground or carry it in places that are sandy, gravelly, or otherwise hinder my cane.
“Cane users walk abnormally without their canes, someone who walks normally without their cane is faking”: WRONG! Many ambulatory cane users can walk in a way that seems “normal”. This doesn’t mean they’re not in pain, or not “really disabled”. This just means that their condition doesn’t cause a noticeable difference in walking, and likely manifests in a different way.
“Cane users always need their cane, someone who doesn’t use their cane at home is faking”: WRONG! Cane users may not use their canes at home, because at home they may be able to do things like sit down wherever and whenever, regain more spoons, and use other mobility aids. Additionally, some ambulatory cane users only need or use their canes when they are doing something physically taxing, like going on a hike or standing in a long line.
“My cane user friend told me this person looks like they’re faking, so it must be true”: WRONG! Being a cane user doesn’t immediately make you an expert on all different conditions and experiences. Your friend does not know the random cane user walking down the street, they are going off looks and stereotypes. Disabled people are not immune to being ableist.
“They enjoy their cane too much/they’re too happy/they decorate their cane, so they can’t actually be in enough pain to need a cane” WRONG! We’re people like everyone else, and we experience positive emotions too, even if we go through a lot of pain. To me, customizing my cane is like getting a tattoo or putting streaks in my hair, it’s a way of self expression. And we deserve to be able to talk openly about our full experience, which include the parts we’re neutral or happy about.
“They’re one of those cringey teenagers who name themselves arson and like dsmp, so they’re probably faking” WRONG! Do I even have to explain why saying someone isn’t disabled because of their name and interests is messed up and also stupid? Or did you already know that and just wanted to make fun of a disabled teenager?
“They’re too young to be using a cane, so they must be faking” WRONG! there are lots of disabilities or injuries that can cause young people to need a mobility aid. For example, I use a cane for my fibromyalgia.
“They only use it in private places, and never in places where people recognize them, so they must be faking” WRONG! In a world where anyone can just randomly take out their phone, take a picture of a cane user, and post them online to be made fun of, it can be stressful to use a cane in public areas. Also, they may not want people to ask questions, or they may feel embarrassed about it.
“I saw them switch hands, so they must be faking” WRONG! There are different reasons a cane used might do this, but I’m going to use my experience as an example. My fibromyalgia is not consistent. Sometimes one leg hurts more then the other. But as I said, fibromyalgia is inconsistent, and sometimes my other leg will start to hurt more or need more support, which is when I switch hands. And when both my legs hurt equally, I may switch my hand if it’s getting too sore.
“They told me they feel like they’re faking when they use their cane, doesn’t that mean they don’t really need it?” WRONG! Imposter syndrome is strong in a lot of disabled people, especially when for a lot of our lives we were told by doctors that we were fine and just being dramatic. Anxiety is also comorbid with a lot of physically disabilities, which only strengthens this. To add to this, something that I’ve felt and seen other disabled people talk about it, when their disability aid lessens the pain, they start thinking “well I’m not in that much pain so I don’t really need it” even though the reason they’re not in that much pain is because of the aid. I know it seems dumb, but imposter syndrome can be that strong and affects disabled people a lot.
“They don’t have a diagnosis, so they must be faking” WRONG! First of all, diagnoses are expensive. On their own they’re often already expensive, but counting the tons of tests you have to take to confirm the diagnosis? Absolutely ludicrous. Some may also choose not to get a diagnosis, so that they don’t have to deal with the prejudice and setbacks of being diagnosed. Also, some people use a cane for injuries, and for stress or fatigue related pains.
These are only a few of the things I commonly hear from fakeclaimers, and I wanted to just put out a reminder that fakeclaiming hurts the disabled community much, much more than it does ableists. Next time you see someone with a cane switch hands, or someone with a wheelchair stand up, or someone with crutches put them down, before you immediately call them out to a friend, take a picture, or write a post: does your fakeclaim rely on stereotypes? Are your reasons things that apply to ambulatory aid users?
If so, just stop. Be mindful. Please.
4K notes · View notes
drifting-bones · 5 months
Text
they should invent walking that doesn't make you feel like you're going to keel over and die
3K notes · View notes
crippledbanshee · 1 year
Text
I fucking hate it when people say I'm going to be dependent on my mobility aids. Like, hell yes, I am dependent on them because I'm disabled and their function is to help me live better, I need these aids, they are not just ornaments.
10K notes · View notes
cosmiccripple · 8 months
Text
if there's one thing i ask all parents to do, it's to teach their children about disability from an early age. i cannot leave my house without every child i come across staring at me and/or my mobility aid. as much as i understand children are curious, it's extremely humiliating to feel as though i'm an exhibition for able-bodied people to gawk at.
2K notes · View notes
yrfemmehusband · 8 months
Text
something i don't see talked about much is how people treating disabled people like we are abled can actually be harmful.
i was leaving work and had my cane, i was very tired and in pain. people outside of my store advertising for the world wildlife fund tried to stop me to talk about the environment until they saw i worked there, which is nice, but you probably shouldn’t stop anyone with a mobility aid who is walking. please don’t guilt us into taking extra time to stand in a hot sun, we actually need to go sit down, or it takes us longer to get somewhere so we really don’t have the time to.
don’t infantilize me, but also acknowledge i need extra help or rest. why is that so hard?
2K notes · View notes
duality-disability · 9 months
Text
happy disability pride month to those with degenerative/progressive disabilites:
-Those who know what their disability is and why its getting worse
-Those whos disability hasnt been diagnosed yet but the symptoms and degenerative nature of their illness is still taking effect
-and those who have to watch their bodies steadily decline while their healthcare professionals refuse to treat them (for no fault of their own)
-to the ones who are told they are too young to have their body declining
-'too young' to be using their mobility aids, or seeing certain specialists, or who notice they're the youngest patients in certain clinics by years if not decades
You deserve to be seen, and heard, and supported; You deserve kindness and respect and to be taken seriously about your medical concerns and the nature of your disability/ies
having a degenerative disease can be really fucking scary, I wish that tomorrow is kinder than today was.
2K notes · View notes
crazycatsiren · 1 year
Text
Mobility aids are freedom.
Mobility aids are not to be pitied or embarrassed about.
Mobility aids are good things.
4K notes · View notes
thecultofcupid · 6 months
Text
Elevators should be in working order and available for use. Period.
I am a Studio Art major meaning most of my work and supplies are in the campus art building. None of my classes are on the first floor, meaning that as a disabled student, I have to have full-time access to the elevator to both get to class and do work outside of class. So why is it that I find myself stuck on the first floor for the second day in a row with an elevator that won't respond with not even a notice saying it is/would be out of order and no clue when I'll be able to use it again?
Accessibility should be the standard. Not just an afterthought.
590 notes · View notes
cripplemetal · 15 days
Text
i used to love jokes about canes/crutches users referring to them as their additional legs. but THIS IS NO JOKE ANYMORE.
i almost feel every step of my cane. my wrist? i feel it's more of like my knee. what do you mean i have two legs? no, i have three. yes, third one starts at my shoulder, why?
oh, i need two free hands for something... *sarcastic thought* yeah let me just pull out my second arm. *realizing i actually do have a second arm* oh well...
sometimes i just don't realize i'm holding a cane. i don't realize i can stop holding it. my fingers are glued to the handle, thanks for asking.
today, i was sitting down and thought that i needed to re-tie my shoe laces. i made knots tighter on first shoe. second shoe. then i got puzzled because where's the third shoe.
yes it IS my third leg now. she's adopted.
242 notes · View notes
wxrmeaterz · 18 days
Text
PSA
Your mobility aid does NOT "ruin" your outfit
You look kickass !! Whack someone if they say otherwise !!
236 notes · View notes
frankiensteinsmonster · 3 months
Text
🥰Cripple tip🥰
When someone asks you an inappropriate and/or uncomfortable question about your disability,
You're allowed to give them an inappropriate and/or uncomfortable amount of information!
Hope this helps <3 remember to sparkle on!
493 notes · View notes