#visible disability

[autiboards]

visible disability

please remember : I am not trying to divide disabled people . this is just an observation . if you are visibly disabled and have more to add please do .

sometimes , I think about invisible and visible disabilities . how there is often distinctions made between the 2 . but there are different types of visible disability and I think it needs acknowledging . I could be wrong , would like to know what others think .

( type order is random , not based on hierarchy )

first type is visible disability aids that do not attach to the body . things like wheelchair , adaptive equipment , AAC .

second type is disability aids that do attach to the body . things like tube , catheter , trach .

third type is physical differences in behaviour or way of moving . things like dystonia , limp , drooling .

fourth type is physical features on body . things like coarse face features , amputation , scars .

I am saying this because I think my experience as a visibly disabled person ( type 1 and 3 ) is different , often more privilege , than other people . don't have to worry about people pulling out medical devices and cause injury , don't have ' disabled look ' no matter what I do in photos ( a ) . I think there is nuance but nobody I know talks about it and can become confusing when people lump in all visible disabilities because not all experiences the same .

maybe could be nice of someone makes words for them ? not really in to coin terms but if somebody else thinks is a good idea welcome to try it ! think numbers a bit confusing , could make it sound like I am saying one is better or worse than other when I am not trying to .

if you are visibly disabled , what do you think ? is it useful for you or do you think is dividing community ? am open to criticise ( nicely please ) .

( a ) often I look disabled in photos , but is because of my behaviour and when my symptoms not as big and try really really hard can look invisibly disabled in photos . not videos though .

[satellites-halo]

yeah you're "punk" but are you normal about deformed people?

[zebulontheplanet]

Just a reminder that people who still live with their parents as adults deserve respect and for you to stop being ableist. There are multiple reasons someone could still live with their parents! From invisible to visible disabilities, finance issues, and more!

Stop using the “well they’re gonna turn into a creep living in their parents basement” punchline! It’s disgusting. STOP. BEING. ABLEIST. STOP. FORGETTING. THE. POOR.

[theamphibianmen]

"low support needs disabled people are often not believed to have a disability at all and therefore struggle to get accommodations."

"high support needs disabled people's accommodations are often seen as 'too much' and therefore are not met."

"neurodivergent people's needs are often dismissed because nothing is physically wrong with them."

"physically disabled people people often cannot physically access buildings and people refuse to do anything about it."

"invisibly disabled people are seen as lazy by society."

"visibly disabled people are ostracized from society."

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE DISABILITY

[soggedboytroutanti]

hey guys. Reminder. Disabled people who played a hand in and/or caused their disability still dont deserve any pain it causes them

[valcaira]

Look I get that we all want to relate to one another. I really do. But seeing people on my post about how shitty it is to exist as a visibly deformed & disabled person in public say things like "that's why i don't stim in public" or "that's why i'm scared to bring my cane in public" is just... You're missing the point.

Some of us cannot mask our disabilities. You can simply not stim if you can supress it in the first place. You can leave your cane at home if you're doing that already in the first place. A knee brace doesn't make you look like a "freak". You do appear abled otherwise.

I cannot. Many people I know cannot. I can't just "hide" my deformities and abnormal gait or convulsions to appear abled. I *need* my crutches everywhere I go. I can't supress my tics. Full-time wheelchair users exist. High support needs autistics exist. Schizospecs who cannot mask exist. People with William's Sydrome, Down's Syndrome and various obvious deformities exist. Little people. People with severe chemical burns or otherwise or scarring. People with Parkinson's, Tourette's, Huntington's, Cerebral Palsy, every disabled person who looks "abnormal".

We can't just "turn it off" like you. People WILL stare at us. Point their fingers at us. We have no power. They used to put us into freakshows. Not you. Not you who can hide your disability to "appear normal". That post was not for you to "relate to". I and many people are sick of many invisibly disabled people claiming they "want to look disabled" so they'd be "taken more seriously". It's not an invitation of you to declare you leaving your mobility aid at home or shit like that. It's not the damn same.

[holierthanth0u]

im kinda tired of the assumption that physical disability = visible, and non-physical disability = invisible. it is not that simple and it certainly aint the case for me.

[cy-cyborg]

This is just a not-so friendly reminder to non-disabled people, especially authors, people in fandoms or in media analysis circles: Cripple/crippled is not just a fancy way of faying "badly injured". it's not an adjective you can just throw in to spice up your sentence because you used "injured" or "disabled" too many times in that paragraph, or because you feel like it gives your writing some extra "oomph".

Cripple is a slur.

A slur the physically disabled community has been asking people not to use for DECADES, since at least the 1970's (50 years). It's a slur with centuries of abuse behind it, centuries of being used to justify physically disabled people as less-than, centuries of demonisation, mistreatment, ostracization, and murder.

Some people within the physical disability community are reclaiming it, that's where movements like cripplepunk (also known as crip-punk or C-punk) come from. That's fine, I'm not talking about that. I love the cripplepunk movement and everything it stands for: being unapologetic about our disabilities and not changing ourselves for the comfort or convenience of able-bodied folks. But the people who use it in that context understand the history of the word, they know how it was used to hurt us, and they understand that not everyone in the physically disabled community is comfortable with the use of the word, especially those who were around when someone being labelled as "crippled" was seen as a valid reason to treat them as less than human. They understand the impact of the word.

But If you, as an able bodied person, casually uses "cripple" in your work, at best you are showing your disabled audience that you haven't been listening to us, at worst, you show you don't care about weather we feel safe in the spaces you have created.

And for able-bodied authors specifically, even if your character is physically disabled, I'd still recommend avoiding it unless you're prepared to do a LOT of sensitivity readings from multiple sensitivity readers. I've been physically disabled since I was 1 year old, I learned to walk for the first time in prosthetics and have been using a wheelchair since I was in school, I have no memory of life as an able-bodied person, and even I don't feel comfortable using the word cripple in my work.

It's a loaded word, with a lot of implications and a LOT of very dark, and for some people, very recent history. It's not a sentence enhancer to just throw in willy-nilly. Please.

[flowercrowncrip]

I hate how strongly able bodied people feel entitled to my personal medical information because I’m visibly disabled.

I was once interviewed over the phone by a journalist about my job and the organisation I work for and after the interview when I sent a picture of myself for the article I got a phone call back asking what my condition was because the journalist felt my picture “wouldn’t make sense” if I didn’t publicly disclose my medical history. The journalist was completely baffled when I said I wouldn’t share that information and it wasn’t necessary in the article he was writing.

Some disabled people are happy talking to anyone about their condition(s)/ injuries, and all the power to them. But it shouldn’t be socially compulsory to disclose those things every time I exist in front of other people just because I’m visibly disabled.

[briarpatch-kids]

I can't go into public without some child staring at me, horrified that I have a tube sticking out of my face. I've had grown adults tell me "bless you for going out in public" and mean it as a compliment. People have stopped me in the grocery store and said "Dont you just hate it?" and they're talking about my every day reality. Everyone feels entitled to my private life and Everyone feels like they know me because they've seen me in public before. (And sometimes those people *haven't* seen me, they've seen someone else with respiratory equipment and thought it was me)

Apparently, that means I have it easier because people can see me struggle.

[p1xelpc]

Why Life is a Tragedy

[ Plain text: Why Life is a Tragedy ]

My daily routine is usually very empty. Most days it goes like this:

My mother brings me my breakfast at 8. That consists of yogurt with berries and granola, protein shake, and a cup of strawberry milk (a small cup, so I don’t upset my stomach).

She says good morning and helps me rearrange myself if I’m awake. If I’m not, she goes to her office across the hall.

I take about 15 minutes to actually work up the energy to eat and take my meds. I play Wordle while I wait.

If I feel up to it, I go to the bathroom, change my diaper, use hand sanitizer, and wash my face. Some days I may brush my teeth with a toothbrush and water. Those are rare days.

After I finish, I stay in my bathroom chair for 5-10 minutes while I work up the energy to get back to bed.

When I do get back to bed, I decide what activities I will do that day.

If I feel up to it, I set up my activities around my legs so that I can do it when I’m ready. If I don’t, I ask mama if she can set up when she gets the chance.

I play on my phone and socialize on Tumblr and Discord. I try to do my activity.

I do that until lunch. Taking breaks every 5-30 minutes depending on the activity.

Lunch is around 12. It has been hard boiled egg whites, cucumber slices, and a small cheese recently. Soon it may change to a prepackaged lunch with crackers, ham, cheese, and mini cookies. I get another (small) cup of something other than water. 

After I eat, I decide what activity I will do for the rest of the day and try to set it up. I usually do not succeed and need mama to come help.

I play on my phone and socialize on Tumblr and Discord. I try to do my activity.

I do that until mama finishes work. She comes in to take my dirty dishes and she asks what I want for dinner. I want pasta please. She goes to make pasta.

I continue my activity.

She brings me my pasta and another (small) cup of something other than water.

I eat.

I do not do an activity. I may watch TV. I play on my phone and socialize on Tumblr and Discord.

At 8:00 mama comes to help me to the bathroom. After I finish, she comes in to help me wash my hands, wash my face, brush my teeth, and put on my Testosterone gel. We talk the whole time.

I go to bed. Mama helps get me situated. She helps me take my meds.

After mama closes the curtain, I play on my phone until around 10.

I go to sleep.

On weekends my days are different. Mama has to help me shower at least once (usually Sunday). That takes about 1-2 hours total. I need a lot of help.

Some days I have doctor appointments. I take around 45 minutes to get ready. It usually takes 15 minutes to get to the office. The appointments usually last an hour, not including wait time. After I get home, I lay in bed for the rest of the day and do not use the bathroom that night (I am too tired).

I cannot leave the house most days. There are many days I can barely leave my bed. Some days I cannot leave my bed at all. My usual pain level is at minimum a 6. I cannot speak, only make funny sounds. I require at least 2 forearm crutches to walk safely. I usually need a wheelchair to move. I cannot leave the house without my ear defenders on. I take a fully packed backpack everywhere I go. I need support to sit up and to stay sitting.

My hobbies include coloring, playing video games, making disability aid designs, writing, reading, and baking. My favorite animal is a Triceratops, though I only like the cartoonish designs. I like fluffy animals. I love Bluey. I enjoy learning about disability related topics. I read children’s novels because they are what I understand. I love going to the zoo. I love going to the library. I enjoy warm weather with light wind. I enjoy dressing up and doing makeup. I love ice cream cake. On days with nice weather and good health, I like to go outside and just sit. 

I have 2 stuffed animals that I take everywhere (Jameson and Gerald). I have 1 that I take lots of places (Fred). I have 2 that usually stay on my bed, but travel if I’ll be gone for a while (Kougie and Melon). My favorite colors are yellow, pink, and green (no particular order). I use a light Bluey blanket, a light dino blanket, and a weighted blanket every night. I use at least Little Pillow every night (it has smiley faces). I have a cat shaped pillow for my neck. 

Did you decide if my life is worth living? Do you need more information? Do you think I’m tragic? Do you need to give your sympathy to my carer as if I don’t exist? Do you know my sense of humor? Do you know why I am loved? Do you know my limits? Do you know what I am capable of? Do you know what brings me joy? Do you know if I’m a person? Do you know my identity? Do you know who I am?

Do you know if I am happy? 

Do you care? 

This inspired by Unspeakable Conversations by Harriet McBride Johnson

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

visibly disabled people. often not able have same level anonymity as non visibly disabled people

[satellites-halo]

insane to me that people will drill "don't stare at people" into kids brains from the moment they can comprehend speech but then openly stare at disabled people just existing. bonus bigotry points if they have a disgusted look as well.

[autisticdreamdrop]

it's a "visible" disability for a lot of mid to high support needs autistics but same for the autistics who have it as in "invisble" disability. we are all autistic. we are all valid.

[disabilityhealth]

UNfriendly reminder to look at disabled people when you’re talking to us or asking questions about us.

Don’t look at our caregivers, don’t look at our partners. Look at us.

Even if we need a caregiver’s help to respond, we still deserve the same respect you’d offer anyone else.

[thedisablednaturalist]

Watching a seminar for disability disclosure by my university and all the panel members specialize in mental illness/neurodivergence. They only mentioned MS. Everything else they've talked about so far has been about depression or autism. Going To Explode.