Accessible parking shaming makes me so angry. As soon as I pull in, I can feel eyes on me, and I feel like I have to wave my cane around to be accepted there! I once had a guy stop and give me the evil eye as I was backing out of a spot because I had already put my visor up and he couldn't see my permit. Buddy, you didn't see me crawling up the stairs this morning. Stop judging!
I have been a stereotype breaker for a lot of people in my town. A lot of people learned from me that, even tho i have a feeding tube i can still eat. Even tho I'm in a wheelchair, i can still walk. Even tho i have a service dog, I'm not blind. I also taught a lot of people about how someone can train their owm service dog. I have taught a lot of people that "in your head" doesn't mean you can do anything about it. A lot of people still don't know these things. And i feel reliefed everytime i have taught someone something they didn't know yet (even doctors)
Thank you for mentioning that being Deaf is an invisible disability too! So many people are like "nah, it can't be an invisible disability, I can tell you're Deaf." Er, if we weren't communicating, and if you didn't see me signing, you wouldn't even know I was Deaf because I rarely use my hearing aids. There isn't a "Deaf look" apart from signing! And not every Deaf person signs.
Rogan Shannon I use my hearings aids most of the times since I never been taught sign language. Most of the times I pass as abled person but everytime I cant hear them properly and ask people to repeat it all over they get frustrated and they say I am more disabled than they expected. And they say I dont look disabled and idk what they mean bc how are disabled folks supposed to look like? anyways, nice to know there are people that know we exist
I have a friend who has as perverse and I didn't know this for litterally 4 years of knowing her. Like she just casually mentioned it Which not the weirdest conversation we've had
ha, I also rarely use my hearing aids, so I get the same reaction - I am only partially deaf, but that does not make my inability to hear less, less valid. My daughter had always helped me "translate" people, but now she her hearing is getting worse as well - so we are both learning how to sign. But, I am 45, and I am just learning ASL. Blessings
The #DisabledAndCute hashtag broke my heart. One on hand, it was so so nice to see people just celebrating themselves and each other. It was filled with so much love and positivity. But people had to ruin it with "lol that's not a disability" and "lol you're not cute". People really can't stand to see other people happy, huh? Amazing
This is so amazingly true. I'm in 9th grade, and I haven't been able to make it 6 months (actually less) in high school without being harassed by teachers. One of my teachers actually flat out refused to let me use my accommodations, you know, the ones I'm LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED WITH, then once I explained how the whole "law" thing works (which is kinda funny I had to do that since she is a social studies teacher), she then said, "Oh, so you HAVE TO HAVE TO?" as if I was a two year old. I've had teachers tell me I'm too young to be disabled. News flash, teens can be disabled too. I've also had teachers look at me in disbelief, telling me my grades are too high for me to be disabled. Surprise! Not all disabled students and children have cognitive disorders! One of the only teachers to not question my accommodations was one of my English teachers (there are two teaching my class this year). Except this teacher is a Special Ed. teacher, and she's been educated about students with disabilities while I doubt ANY of my other teachers have been. The ignorance of humanity surrounding disabilities will always astound me.
Elizabeth Mintz Do you have an IEP? They need to be following whatever is in your IEP or they are breaking the law. Also go to a trusted adult for help if you are being harassed. ❤️
Lisa M I used to have an IEP but I've been "declassified" whatever that means. My family and I have still been told by the district that my accommodations (basically I can type any written assignments and I can sit out of gym or take a break if I need) will follow me through the end of high school, and that the teachers will legally have to provide me with accommodations. I honestly do not know how it works, but when teachers have harassed me or refused to provide accommodations, I've talked to my guidance counselor and she's talked to the teachers. My district stinks with disability, it seems that no one cares about your disability unless you have cancer, have autism, or are in a wheelchair. I'm working on trying to get my school to acknowledge invisible disabilities week next year, but I don't think they'll listen to me. No one's heard of hypotonia, so it must be fake appearantly.
UGH, this IEP stuff is so district dependent. We live in a fantastic one, so my daughter's IEP is followed with enthusiasm, but I see people all around our district complaining, and I feel so sad. I wish I could bring everyone here. :/ Well, if they aren't following the guidelines, your parents can call a meeting, and complain about it, and I believe they can get taken to court. Or she can threaten to take them to court.;P
Autumn Armstrong-Berg It's great that your district does all the IEP stuff without question. As for the lawsuit thing, I've come up with the perfect response the next time someone denies me my accommodations: "If you'd like proof of my disability and accommodations, I can provide the contact information for my parents, my pediatrician, and my disability rights lawyer." ;)
As a college student with EDS and POTS who generally doesn't have to use mobility aids in class but uses them on weekends and on outings (ex. grocery shopping) I get this ALL THE FREAKING TIME. The anxiety I feel is preventing me from using my mobility aids as much as I probably should be because of some of the things that have been said, and some of the glares I've received, from young and old alike. I've gotten notes under my windshield wiper for parking in a handicap spot, shaming me for using it when someone else who was "actually disabled" might need it. Annie, thank you for talking about this. As someone who's had a rough couple of weeks, I appreciate what you had to say.
I have EDS & just got my first cane. It's taken me a long time to actually take the plunge to get one & start the process of getting the braces I need because I sort of deluded myself into thinking I was able bodied. Yanno, except for everything that's going wrong -- TOTALLY able bodied, hahah. But I don't need it all the time. Sometimes I use it when I'm in tons of pain & sometimes I use it when I'm trying to prevent being in tons of pain because I know I'll be standing/walking for a long time. And thankfully I'm just one of those people who has a very stable self-image & that I haven't gotten any nasty looks or reactions yet, but... I know there are so many people who struggle more than me. There are many people with less understanding people in their environment. And it's fucking horrible. I'm sorry to hear you struggle so bad but at least there is a solid community here on YT & other places online where we can have the validation we need.
Katy Kostich I feel the same way. I know I'm doing more damage to my body by not using my mobility aids (cane and rollator) more, but...it makes me so self-conscious. The possibility of running into somebody from work (who assumes I'm able-bodied because they see me stand/walk for a few minutes, not noticing the braces under my clothes or the fact I'm always holding onto something) terrifies me.
Hi here is what I personally would say to those people, I would say yeah I am disabled and not all disabilities are visible, but do you truly believe in your heart that someone would lie about a disability????? It doesn't make sense to me. Everyone of my disabilities people can see, so I don't understand why someone else would lie about their disability. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 I just can't imagine someone going to a doctor appointment and the doctor asked does this person have any life threatening conditions??? Clearly that doctor would be able to see that yes this person has Cerebral Palsy or is deaf. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 Sometimes someone may have Autism or Multiple Sclerosis. My point is that not every disability is visible and sometimes you need to trust what the other person is saying. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
Allie ML Yes exactly this is why we need more awareness. There are people out there that don't know that kids get arthritis. Arthritis is not just a disease that attacks adults. The disease attacks kids as well. The reason I brought this up is because the media has turned this into a debate. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 I am going to search on the Internet what is going on with you. I am also going to search everyone of your symptoms, because I truly truly want to know if you actually have this illness, or these illnesses. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 I personally hate when people say things like this. Obviously something is wrong and maybe one day I will be able to walk just fine and maybe the next 8 to 15 days I will be in severe pain.
You know the crazy thing is that some churches do not accept disability and neither does society....... so it looks like you are just going to have to deal with it. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Could you imagine........ being told you're not accepted because of disability?????? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Society does not accept disability and everyone......... may tell you to get over it. But it is more than just that, it is possibly being denied a job or it is possibly being told you cannot go on a roller coaster. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Annie does make some really good points and because of these people being verbally abusive........ no disabled person on the face of the earth is going to look at disability in a positive way.
There are times when I'm forced to bring my cane when I don't need it, just to 'show' as disabled. It pisses me off that I have to pretend, when I'm actually doing well that day. The cane is heavy, and lugging it usually means I'll actually need to use it.
Autumn Armstrong-Berg Literally me. What I've started doing is always leaving my destination using my cane because I use public transport. That way if I need to bring out my cane (collapsible), I won't feel like people are judging me for using just for sympathy, faking, or trying to get someone to give me a seat. Sucks that I've had to think it through but I've figured that out now.
Autumn Armstrong-Berg In which case, maybe you should get a collapsible one! That way if you aren't sure you'll need it you can put it in a backpack or purse or whatever, if that works for you. Collapsible tend to be lighter weight too x
I'm an intellectual disabled athlete with asd. I have an invisible disability nobody can tell I'm disabled unless I tell them or people who can tell I'm autistic. it's worse when I'm competing in sprinting because I'm the fastest on the track where people can't tell I'm disabled and that people think I'm faking it. But they don't understand that I can't compete with able bodied athletes because I will always come last and I always got these treatment at school to from students and some teachers you didn't know me.
I have a service dog, one of her tasks she does is mobility assistance due to my fibromyalgia & CFS. And so she uses a mobility harness where she is trained to "pull" me, as a way to help me conserve energy while walking. I also get idiopathic vertigo, so when one of those episodes hits I use her for counterbalance until the episode passes. Also she is trained to guide me when I am having sensory overload (due to PTSD). And yeah people can be cruel....thinking I am faking it. One accused me of faking being blind -- since I have a service dog...that has a harness that sort of looks like a guide harness I guess. I wish people will get educated.
This was so uplifting for me! I've started becoming a lot more open and vocal about my invisible disabilities and becoming less anxious about using aid at school, and you're videos have helped me so much ❤️
Amen, Sister. I went from walking, to stumbling, to falling, to falling with a cane to a power wheelchair. I had my car in storage, the garage was condemned, and I had to get my license, get car insurance, get plates, blah blah. So now I have a power wheelchair and a car. If I take my car, I can get places quickly, but I don't last long doing much walking. If I take my wheelchair and public transportation, it takes at least 4 times longer to get to my tasks, but I'm not freaked out about finding a place to sit down or getting too tired to make it home. (It's happened.) My car and my wheelchair are my mobility, equally. If I turn up in my wheelchair a) I had time to get to where I'm going in my chair, b) my foot is dragging, I'm in pain, or I'm exhausted, c) I'm going to be out and busy for a long period of time and I'd rather have my chair. Driving my car means a) I overslept or lost track of time, b) it's a quick trip in and out, c) there will be lots of sitting involved, d) I want/need to go someplace public transportation won't take me. My medical folk often comment about when I'm using my wheelchair and when I'm not. If I'm not in my chair, I must be "having a good day." My primary doctor (who ordered the wheelchair) comments occasionally that I walk so well as though suddenly I got the chair an have no ambulation at all. I have a variety of problems that cause problems with exhaustion, balance, and endurance. Each day is a draw of cards to see which little diagnosis bugger is going to complicate my day, so it's not consistent. I've gotten spoiled with my car, but I'm pushing it. I get too tired sometimes. When I'm walking, I get asked about that big, expensive wheelchair sitting in my apartment and why aren't I using it. When I'm in my wheelchair people in public places act like I can't possibly have any real control and I may run into someone. I live in the land of Minnesota Nice. Often, if I'm moving in a crowd, someone ahead of me will notice me and grab the person next to them, which makes that person stop to ask what's wrong thus stopping me. I was at the mall and there was a family group walking ahead of me, the dad-type-person yelled "Make way, every body stand back" and he moved not only his family, but other people around. I told him to keep walking, I'll keep on going with my wheelchair. I don't want the attention, I said, and making a circus out of someone in a chair is ridiculous. He told me I was ungrateful. I told him to @#$& off. Oh NO! Disabled people can swear with confidence. It was an equalizer though. Instead of me being a fragile creature, his wife was ready to get right up on me....as I drove away. They followed me! Telling me off for a good 500 feet. If I'm trying to cross a street, people will go out of their way to break many traffic laws so I cross the street whether the traffic is in my favor or not. I won't cross against the lights (except in my neighborhood). They get mad at me that they are becoming late because they stopped so I could cross the street and I didn't cross the street. (Minnesota Nice). I had someone in the bus behind me say "you're damn lucky you're in a wheelchair." I unbuckled, stood up, turned around, and got big and serious. We weren't getting on well in the first place. She's 15 and threatening ME - 42 and in a wheelchair? I was getting off the bus, but I stopped, told the driver to either put her and her friend off the bus or call the cops because me and my wheelchair weren't getting off the ramp until something happened. The Troubled One called her grandma to say I was harassing and threatening her and calling her names. I called her a brat. Eventually the other people on the bus got them off because it was making the bus late. I don't count that as a win, though. Teenage boys playing bumper cars with the scooters at Wal-mart gave me grief when I stood up to take my purchases to the car. It's not that hard to figure out that a person in a wheelchair has to transfer somehow even if it's just a few seconds standing. Ok, venting over.
It was comforting to hear this and read the comments; thank you. I have to wear a particulate mask when I ride public transit and people aren't always the nicest. A young man came up to me once demanding to know why I wear it and asking 'What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?' while I was waiting at a bus stop. It always feels like everyone always regards me as a nuisance or something just because of the way I look with it on, and with sunglasses to protect my eyes. People also often regard me as if it's my preference, rather than a medical need - and that makes me want to stay to myself because it's a struggle to be sure no one is going to do anything to make me sick being around them. It's not because of an allergy that I wear it either, or that would be much easier to deal with. It's because I have a rare systemic infection that gets worse in my respiratory system if I breathe in very certain specific particles in the air - many things that people wear on their bodies. So I can't go anywhere really without getting worse until I can figure out a way to not have to work long enough to stay home in a completely controlled environment and do my treatment - that I'm already doing and works amazingly well until I go out into the world and breathe in things that make me worse all over again. I haven't been able to figure out a way to do that and still have a home to live in and food to eat, and be able to buy a lot of the medicine that's a part of my treatment plan. I've been trying to enlist the help of doctors the last four years too, but we all know how well that usually goes..... in circles around and around. I'm better off treating myself, and I have a universe more full of knowledge when it comes to this than any I've seen. I am still working that direction too though, but doubt it will get anywhere. It never does. So, I've basically been living like I'm on house arrest for 18 months; I don't even go to stores, just work 3 days a week. So, in the meantime, the mask. It separates me from everyone. I can't smile at anyone. I really wish more people had more kindness and understanding for all kinds of disabilities, not just the ones that are marketed in the media. Are we that far down the rabbit hole that, that many people can't understand anything anyone else tells them if they haven't heard it on T.V.? Do people think they can't pick up any knowledge that has any value at all whatsoever unless they learn it in a university or something? What is the deal? .... Thanks again for posting!
Thank you so much for making this vid! I have a video channel about living w/invisible disabilities (I have Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia) and am hoping to add energy medicine and reiki to it. I constantly hear about total strangers attacking us and accusing us of "faking it" which always blows my mind.
When reading through the comments, I really love to see how you take constructive critiscism. It always feels with your videos that there is a consistent acknowledgement that you are in a state of growth and learning, and I think that's really important.
Your mention of spectrums of disability is so important. I was diagnosed at age 2 with SMA II, walked till 5 yrs old and an electric electric wheelchair user at 12 and I'm 48 yrs old now. I've been judged for not looking disabled ENOUGH by OTHER disabled people as well as being accused by able bodied people of being lazy or faking it. It's really only been the last 5 or so years that I've actually started to "look" disabled, to pass that public shame test. Even in depending on daily care assistance thru Medicaid, I've have to fight for care because I wasn't disabled ENOUGH or TOO independent. It makes it incredibly difficult when one is judged on an "all or nothing" disability scale. It's complicated and almost a relief that as I age, I am depending more on others for things I used to be able to do for myself. ALMOST. I have in my life been both cheered for my independance and scorned for it; often by the same people.
When I was younger and before I used mobility device, I had such anxiety about using accommodations--I felt like I didn't deserve them. Invisible disabilities and illnesses need more visibility, thank you for being such a wonderful advocate!
also the idea that Access/accommodation, is some sort of 'privalege' especially in public sphere is damaging AF. Don't tell me curb cuts, elevators and accessible stalls don't become coveted by every one.
Autism can also be an invisible disability. People often mistakenly think my symptoms of autism are me being "rude" due to poor social skills or "lazy" due to my memory problems or abnormal tiredness. When I tell people I have autism I'm usually met with disbelief.
This is the first of your videos I've seen. You're lovely. I recently bought my very first mobility aid. My several conditions (lupus & friends) were denied by my mother on their onset and I was told I was faking it, and then she used my condition as an attention seeking way to beg for money from people at churches so she wouldnt have to work and just lived off of the income I generated. She was almost munchausen by proxy like in refusing to let me have meds and refusing to take me to the hospital so I would get sicker so she could get more money. Me being sick always feels to me like I'm being attention seeking and it's been a long time in accepting that I'm disabled. I work full time, I can walk just fine 3/4 of the time, but that doesn't mean I'm not disabled and that my chronic illness doesnt affect me in other ways. I've lived a black and white life of toughing it out or staying in bed all day, embarrassed of using mobility aids and feeling like doing so made me looking for attention and pretending to be disabled. This turned into a really long post, but thanks for this video.
Sorry to hear that! You may be interested in this video I put together with The Arthritis Foundation featuring about 40 people in the arthritis (one has lupus too) community for Invisible Disabilities Week happening now: ruclips.net/video/O6yIOLgW1UM/видео.html
cool video, I am Autistic with Dyspraxia and Epilepsy and have found problems of people failing to understand the hidden nature of my disability like being very loud, both people and business, with the Autism I have had a quite a few points had to develop an ability to pretend to be "normal" which is something I no longer do as it is more stressful for me to keep it up. I applied for a job recently but because of the Dyspraxia I could not do the application form my self (there was no online one for some reason) and they did not give me the job because I had not done the writing myself even though I said why.
As an Aspie, I feel similar regarding what kind of assistance I need and when. Some days I can tolerate a lot more sensory intake, other days I cannot. It's hard to explain why my sensory processing ability isn't static. Also, as an Aspie, can I use #disabledandcute? Or does that cross some kind of line?
Omg I feel this Annie!! I started losing a lot of my eyesight a year and a half ago and a teacher seriously said to me “I don’t believe you because you’re too young to lose your eyesight” like what?? I still constantly get people telling me it’s a lie for me to identify as blind because I’m partially sighted but your videos help me deal with those kinds of people so thank you so much 💕
As an ADHDer this is really heart breaking for a brief while I was considering training my dog as a service dog but there is so much stigma against using service dogs for invisible disabilities even though it would help with things like • helping calm me down or guide me out of situations as I am experiencing sensory overload • it could remind me to take my medication and complete daily tasks • I would feel a sense of responsibility to take care of it and that would help me take care of myself • reduce anxiety and depression development rates • and alert other people as to when I might need help as I am not always able/willing to ask Ect
It's sad but true, it's worse to be "less disabled" or less VISABLLY disabled people than it is to be more disabled or rather more VISABBLY " disabled .
The only time anyone made a negative comment on my parking in a handicapped spot (my chair is my only mobility aid, and I wasn't using it that day), I didn't actually catch what he said - something about forgetting crutches, but that was all I heard - and I didn't even realize that he had been talking to me until several hours later, which made me even more surprised, because I know his older sister, and she has invisible disabilities that affect her mobility, so once I realized that I was the one he had made that comment to, I couldn't figure out why he even made it in the first place. I've never had anyone actually challenge me on it, but I have a couple different responses prepared in case anyone does: "You're not my doctor" (this one I can use for just about anything, not just parking) and "I don't care, call the police if you want - they'll look it up and tell you it's valid" (I have handicapped plates on my pickup truck). For reference, this is in an area (not sure if it's just county or wider) where there's a $750 fine for parking illegally in one, so a deterrent in and of itself. I had a first happen a week ago, though - I went out to dinner with my best friend, and the place we went was one of those places where they put the food together as you tell them what things you want in it (like at Subway, but it was an Italian place). I've been out to eat in my wheelchair with friends and family many times in the past at all sorts of restaurants, but this was the first time that one of the employees asked the person with me, instead of me, what I wanted in mine - I very clearly told him that the one he was asking about was mine, not hers, so hopefully he got the message that just because I might be in a wheelchair at the moment doesn't necessarily mean I'm not capable of ordering my own food: I had been placing my own order up till that point, and he was the one who'd been taking it, so I couldn't figure out why he all of a sudden thought I couldn't order for myself. I know this is something that is all too common among this community, but it was a first for me (the end of July marks 6 years of me utilizing a wheelchair part time).
This^!!!!! So much this! I have a brain disorder that makes my looking at things a lot like your walking. I can do it, not brilliantly, not for long, and I won't be reading a print copy of the complete works of Shakespeare any time soon, but I can do it for a moment or two. And I am constantly afraid, to the point that either I won't use my eyes in public, especially if I am walking with my white cane, or, if I have been using my eyes and need to rest them, I won't use my cane and instead I will put myself through pain and bumping into things to avoid being judged. It sucks, but I am scared :'(
This is so needed!!!! It’s really really good having this talk, it so needs more representation and education in the mainstream. You articulated this beautifully Thankyou so much
thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! As someone with Congenital Heart Disease, while I can walk fairly easily (which isn't true of all of us) I can't run, not far, nor for long before I run out of air, my heart starts pounding, my sides heaving, and I'm ready to collapse. This also happens when I walk long distances or if I am or have been sick recently even just from one class to another. But I'm small framed with a relatively thin build so people assume that I should have no problem. It's my internal organs that slow me down, people just don't understand that.
I have Dystonia which is a movement disorder, and at times it can be invisible. I don't care when strangers question me, but when my closest love loves like my wife thinks you're not trying enough to get fixed. Saying doctors can be wrong and said I've read articles about there is cure. Even though thousands of people have been suffering from Dystonia since they were kids. Is the hardest for me because I'm not getting the support from the most important person in my life.
this is exactly what I needed... I have me/cfs, pots, fibro, migraines, ibs and possibly lyme... about to use my mobility walker for the first time at university tomorrow. Feeling nervous but brave and ready to get out into the world! :)
I love you so much and you are one of the people who inspired me (even though it took a very long time), to finally tell my doctor about my symptoms and start my own journey of hopefully getting diagnosed with something and starting to treat my symptoms. Right now I'm waiting for bloodwork results.
Fantastic video. As an able-bodied person, I try to be really mindful and critical of what I see in my own life and in the media, and of course how I myself act around others. Videos like this are so important. We need to stop assuming the worst. It makes me think of the common welfare argument that "people abuse it!" which dramatically overcounts how often that happen and demonizes ALL people using welfare programs (well, the kinds we traditionally think of). It's such a blatant logical fallacy and hurts people that don't at allll deserve the over the top scrutiny.
Another invisible disability is epilepsy. Most of the time I am not walking around having seizures but they are a constant threat for me that I am always considering in my house and out of my house. BUT the biggest part I notice is brain difficulties. There is such a shaming ready for people who have trouble remembering and functioning properly. People assume that something is wrong with my character. They want me to just "pull it together" immediately after my seizures which I cannot do. It takes around 10 days for me to feel semi-normal after a tonic-clonic seizure but I only recently realized "how would most people feel if they just got totally sick for 10 days every 3-4 weeks?!?" I'm back to semi-normal mentally but I have 10 days of stuff to catch up with. My routine has been completely abandoned. My kids have stopped listening to me. Plus, I feel like I'm just waiting for the next seizure! But no one sees this at all and people often express their expectation that I do more. Even family members have implied that they are suspicious about me even having seizures because they've never seen one.
Both my mom and I have been shamed for using accessible parking, despite her having a permit and both of us having invisible illnesses. I've been on the fence about getting a cane for months now, but I'm already socially anxious and the idea of being confronted and demanded why I'm using a cane scares the crap out of me. I just wanna be able to walk around more!
Hey, I'm new to your channel but adore you and love your videos. You've already helped me feel better about myself, using mobility aids whilst not being confined to them and about being chronically ill without a diagnosis. So thank you so much, I'm a newbie but I'm here to stay! I saw this video earlier though and wondered if you could do a reaction video, not so much to the video itself but to the title, it was on a news channel and the video's called 'Man takes physically challenged woman to the altar' which infuriated me for many reasons, as I'm sure you can understand. One of them being this idea that someone who is in a relationship with a disabled person is some kind of martyr. This outlook on disabled relationships really upsets me and caused me a lot of grief within my own relationships so I'd really appreciate a video on this :) Thank you again xx
I have an invisible disability. Something interesting happened to me earlier this year. This summer I broke and dislocated a toe and was on double crutches for 2 months. I got treated so differently by the general public as a whole during the time it was physically seen that I needed accommodations. I find so many things hard and so many people seem to think just coz they can't "see" my issues and I am smiling then it means the struggle isn't real. Thank you for your video.
Also, in relation to this video, I've just had to start using a wheelchair part time. It's on loan and huge and heavy and I understand it's a complication but I feel guilty every time I need to use it because my mum tells me how much of an inconvenience it is. I'm scared to stand and walk when I can in public because of the looks I get and I still feel ashamed and afraid to watch videos about disability around other people without headphones because they have negative responses 'why are you watching that, YOU'RE not like that, YOU'RE not disabled' 'don't act like you are using a chair forever' 'watching this will make you think it's cool to be a wheelchair, it'll make you want to stay in the chair' 'this shows you don't have the right attitude, you should be focusing on getting out of your chair'. When am I ALLOWED to call myself disabled? Leaving college 2 years ago for medical reasons, spending 80% of my time in my house, passing out 8-20 times a day, being in too much pain to walk, when is it enough to be allowed the - quote - 'indulgence' of calling myself disabled? Reality is we don't know what the problem is, what will change, if I will get better or worse, so why is it a bad thing to want to be more educated and enlightened about wheelchair use and disability? I'm too afraid to ask to buy a wheelchair that I can use without causing me shoulder pain, back pain and is too heavy for me to use because I know it'll be rejected because 'you're not disabled, you don't need to BUY a chair, you just need to change your attitude'. Uch!
Despite having seen the gigantic difference that using one made for me from the first time I ever tried one almost 6 years ago, my mom still considers my wheelchair a big inconvenience every time that I need to bring it with me somewhere when I'm visiting them because she thinks it means we have to take the van every time instead of the small car (she cares more about gas mileage than my mobility, and my chair does fit perfectly fine in the small car, just not as easily), and she even tried to tell me what kind of chair I had to get (mind you, I was out of grad school and living on my own at that point), so I basically told her, "I don't care what you think about it, I'm going to get what will be the best one for me - deal with it!" And I did, and she has had to put up with it, and I'm not sorry about it one bit - I'm eternally grateful that I got what I got and not what my mom wanted me to get, and my next one will be even better.
my disability/ condition hydrocephalus is considered invisible. therefore when I used to take the lift to classes at secondary school.people used to think I was lazy.
It baffles me that folks think that a) they know all about a person just by looking at them, and b) they have a right to police that person based on their assumptions. I hope that better representation in both the online and offline spheres can help to combat some of this stuff. Great video!
Ive honestly cried because I had to buckle down and start looking for a walking cane and I hate how I cant get anything that matches me and my personality because canes are almost all marketed towards seniors. I have dysautonomia and POTs and recently started college and have been struggling because of an altitude change. My heart rate spikes my body fatigues faster and my legs will rapidly stop working meaning a walking cane is a big help. But I have put off getting one for YEARS for the same reasons of harassment of invisible disabilities that many people struggle with
stuff like this makes me so sad. people who are not disabled or don't have. handicap tag but still park in handicap don't ever get questions but those of us who are and even those of us who have our own custom wheelchairs and motor chairs do. like really? why would we get our own chairs or canes etc from doctors if we wasn't handicap? I haven't gotten this personally (probably cuz my mom comes with me every time but still (I have heard people whispering that I'm fat though so since I look normal I'm sure they think its just cuz I'm fat but I do have spina bifida!)
kpopfan forever77 I have Spina Bifida too. I'm also a fatty, so I get the same kind of evil eye you do probably. Yes, I just randomly got my bright yellow chair, my hand controls and lift van, just so I could go out in public and be the least anonymous person in the parking lot. Being a total introvert, I just LOVE to stick out. 😆
Lisa M exactly!!! I don't have any of that just a huge baby blue chair even though I'm "only" a little over 200lbs (not that that's small but yeah) but yeah I just love to stand out at the store and when I don't stand out I'm totally ignored which would be great but then I am always bumped into,or when I go out an aisle or something people don't watch what they're doing they just cut in front of me or keep going and nearly hit me. so frustrating like whether people think I'm faking or not I cannot win...
I'm so glad I knew about your channel thanks to Riley Dennis. Interesting video. I didn't know allergies count as disabilities. In that case I'm disabled. I also tend to have low blood pressure and low sugar levels in my blood but I'm not sure if I can call myself a hypoglycemic or hypotensive. I also think I have dyspraxia but I'm not sure (my therapist hasn't made me tests yet). I don't know also if having anxiety or depression count as disabilities. This is the first video I've seen from you and I loved it. I don't know if you've heard of the channel of Krystal Bella-Shaw. I realized dyspraxia exists thanks to her. You should check her out if you haven't
I work with the elderly and I always feel so bad that we don't let them use heating pads when I know how great they are for muscle pain (they have some work arounds, but they're not that great) I've also had coworkers not understand when I complain about pain at the end of the day (shocker, usually the older ones) because they don't seem to understand that just cause I'm in my 20s doesn't make my pain any less real.
Thank you for making this video, it definitely needed to be said! I find it really difficult to know how much help I can access/ in what situations I 'count' as disabled because I am autistic. I know it's a disability but some people don't consider it to be and when I'm looking up resources to help me or trying to find information it's difficult to know what I'm allowed to use or relate to because I don't know if I 'count' in that context of if they were just talking about physical disabilities. I hope my videos will help spread some awareness about invisible disabilities too, and I'd really appreciate some feedback on them if you have the time :)
An issue I have is that as a conditional chair user, not all the conditions I need it for are considered justified. Like, I WANT to do cardio activity! I also know that the hyper mobility in my hips and related damage makes walking or running long enough to get that feeling a good cardio session can give you is a very very bad idea. But yet trying to convince my family that yes, I need the manual chair (shared with other extended family members because $$$) today because I want to go to the bike trail and do cardio is impossible. :-/
I’m actually terrified of admitting that I need a chair or cane sometimes because of this. My disabilities mess with me a lot and on hard days I need one, but I don’t have either because this scares me
I am glad you were able to leave the house, but oh so sorry to hear people are so rude. None of their business! I hope you are able to still try to get joy from doing as you want in public.
May I ask what power chair you got and how you got it? Do you think you could talk about how to choose one? I see a lot of videos like this for manual chairs, but not powered ones and I'm trying to get one right now, so it'd be much appreciated.
If I remember correctly it was paid for with crowdfunding, but like you I would love a video on how to choose mobility aides and get funding for them. I have to get a lot of the "elderly" mail order catalogs to find out about products and my insurance won't pay for anything so it all comes out of my pocket.
Snapple and Cats Yes ☝ There's a link to my current power chair in my previous video "January Favorites" but I'm hoping to make a video about how happy I am with it soon :)
I TOTALLY get what you're saying about media representation. if you haven't seen it yet, the documentary See What I'm Saying is great for how it portrays Deaf/HoH actors struggling in the ableist entertainment industry. -Omar
I have fibromyalgia and I am also plus size, this makes hateful people feel even more entitled to tell me things like fat is not a disability, those are for the real sick people you need to walk more among other horrible things.
I definitely understand that feeling so much. I've had so many doctors tell me that my pain would be less if I weren't overweight. Because pain in my fingers, wrists, elbows, & shoulders are SO related to clinical obesity, right? They're weight-bearing joints, obviously... Someone in chronic pain can't exercise until their pain is treated. And even then, it likely needs to be under the advisement of a physical therapist -- which they won't refer you to because "oh, you just need to get up off the couch & everything will be better, insurance doesn't need to be billed for that". :/
Wooooooow... Yeah, because causing pain by overexerting yourself TOTALLY won't make your pain worse, therefore needing more rest. Do they even know what pain is or how it works? -_-
There's a book series with a blind character who can see things on a white background and because it's a book about genetically modified children he can literally feel color he lost his vision when he was 5. Good book series and it's one thing in media that is somewhat accurate
Yea, hate how people use the word abled bodies to work. my mental condition affects my work performance. not easy to work, but my legs and arms are able to. I just have trouble mentally. the working class doesn't treat the non working class with the acknowledgement respectively.
In a way, I'm lucky that I use a cane- it makes me more acceptable as a disabled person. See, my disabilities aren't readily visible- not all the time, that is. Between arthritis, Early Onset Parkinson's disease (roughly the same as Michael J. Fox's type), and a back problem, I mostly just look like everyone else. But the cane, well, that somehow adds visibility to my disabilities...as does the disabled license plate on my SUV.
When someone tried to pull the "you're too young to have all these medical issues", I threw it back in her face by saying "Kids aren't too young to get cancer" - that made her panic, because she thought I was saying that I had cancer, to which I responded, "No, but my point still stands". That made an impression.
I don't know what happened to my fellow Hungarians, but I haven't got any stupid or offensive questions since July. I can't believe it actually. And I've been out a lot oc :D. I am not stared that much either. I don't know if people are improving here (we have a young lady in wheelchair, she writes motivational things, she is pretty popular here) or I just look like 'I'll kill you if you just thinking about asking me anything' xDD I almost shouted the last one thou. He confronted me using my Walker when I can walk. Yeah, that's why it's a walker, duh. A fellow eds girl
look at your hair!!!! its so cute!!! Congrats on your power chair!!! i have a question. does mental illness count as disabled? im not trying to be funny. also, i have alot of back pains that im trying to get sorted out so things arent diagnosed... does that count too??? i dont want it to seem like im making things up at my pain and calling it disability.
and as of recently, my back pain has been getting worse. nothing i do is helping and i got sent home from work because my back pain was really bad that day. just sitting here is painful some.
but if people have a little amount of hearing left, aren't they considered hard of hearing? At least in my language (German) there are two words, taub (deaf) which means a person can't hear anything (or certainly not enough to use their hearing somehow, even with devices), and has to use sign language to communicate. (Of course hard of hearings could do that as well, but deaf people don't have a choice) and "Schwerhörig", Hard of hearing (meaning people who have enough hearing left to be able to communicate with or without hearing aids or CI's.) I sometimes get confused if people like Rikki Poynter call themselves "deaf" if they are able to communicate even without hearing aids. In Germany no one would say that she is 'deaf'.. Maybe the word deaf is used differently in English
What? *Laughing* while being in a wheelchair? Do they think everyone with a disability should be in a constant state of morose dejection, wailing, gnashing their teeth, beating their chests and tearing their hair? Or is it "well, you can laugh, so you obviously can run a marathon, you faker"? Some people out there are walking adverts for contraception - as in: their parents really should have used some.
I really like this video and everything you're saying, but why do you leave out mental disabilities when talking about this subject? Especially since the phrase "invisible disabilities", in my experience, most commonly refers to developmental disabilities like autism or mental illnesses like psychosis. I really don't want to be rude, I get that your focus is on physical disability; but I think it's harmful to speak in a general way about less visible or invisible ways in which people can be disabled and totally neglect to mention neurodivergent people.
Aven W. No, not rude at all, you're absolutely right, those disabilities should not be erased in this conversation, thanks for commenting! People with mental/cognitive/neurodiverse disabilities are often harassed as well due to lack of understanding! In this video my mind was hard focused on harassment I'd personally experienced or brought to my attention via comments on my recent posts and I will certainly try and include mental/cognitive/neurodiverse disabilities when referring to invisible disabilities in the future. Thanks again for bringing it up. ❤
I use a motorized scooter only when I'm on campus. And I CAN walk. It's not because I can't walk that I'm using it at all. It's because I have a heart condition and walking long distances just don't do well for me. I park it in the hallway and no one has to know I have it unless they see me using it. And I don't always use it some days the same distance is just fine I always use it if I do y know where something is so I can make that call the next time. And one of my classmates we were headed to study hall after I had used t the day before Guy: why aren't you using your scooter thing?Me: because I don't need it right nowGuy: it's the same distance we went yesterday! You used it thenMe: I didn't know where we were going yesterday so I didn't know how sent would be. But so frustrating. And when I do use it the number of people that is it that I need help. Like no move get out of my damn way. Yes generally holding a door open is nice but it's way faster for me to hit the button let the door open and go through then for you to go open the door be in the way and me be afraid I'm hijabs run over your foot Though there's one building. At school that doesn't have a button and it's very confusing to me.
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Accessible parking shaming makes me so angry. As soon as I pull in, I can feel eyes on me, and I feel like I have to wave my cane around to be accepted there! I once had a guy stop and give me the evil eye as I was backing out of a spot because I had already put my visor up and he couldn't see my permit. Buddy, you didn't see me crawling up the stairs this morning. Stop judging!
I have been a stereotype breaker for a lot of people in my town. A lot of people learned from me that, even tho i have a feeding tube i can still eat. Even tho I'm in a wheelchair, i can still walk. Even tho i have a service dog, I'm not blind. I also taught a lot of people about how someone can train their owm service dog. I have taught a lot of people that "in your head" doesn't mean you can do anything about it. A lot of people still don't know these things. And i feel reliefed everytime i have taught someone something they didn't know yet (even doctors)
Thank you for mentioning that being Deaf is an invisible disability too! So many people are like "nah, it can't be an invisible disability, I can tell you're Deaf." Er, if we weren't communicating, and if you didn't see me signing, you wouldn't even know I was Deaf because I rarely use my hearing aids. There isn't a "Deaf look" apart from signing! And not every Deaf person signs.
I have had people tell me and my husband "but he doesn't look autistic" in regards to my son......... thats because there is no look you idiots
Rogan Shannon I use my hearings aids most of the times since I never been taught sign language. Most of the times I pass as abled person but everytime I cant hear them properly and ask people to repeat it all over they get frustrated and they say I am more disabled than they expected. And they say I dont look disabled and idk what they mean bc how are disabled folks supposed to look like?
anyways, nice to know there are people that know we exist
I have a friend who has as perverse and I didn't know this for litterally 4 years of knowing her. Like she just casually mentioned it
Which not the weirdest conversation we've had
ha, I also rarely use my hearing aids, so I get the same reaction - I am only partially deaf, but that does not make my inability to hear less, less valid. My daughter had always helped me "translate" people, but now she her hearing is getting worse as well - so we are both learning how to sign. But, I am 45, and I am just learning ASL. Blessings
The #DisabledAndCute hashtag broke my heart. One on hand, it was so so nice to see people just celebrating themselves and each other. It was filled with so much love and positivity. But people had to ruin it with "lol that's not a disability" and "lol you're not cute". People really can't stand to see other people happy, huh? Amazing
Sad...
This is so amazingly true. I'm in 9th grade, and I haven't been able to make it 6 months (actually less) in high school without being harassed by teachers. One of my teachers actually flat out refused to let me use my accommodations, you know, the ones I'm LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED WITH, then once I explained how the whole "law" thing works (which is kinda funny I had to do that since she is a social studies teacher), she then said, "Oh, so you HAVE TO HAVE TO?" as if I was a two year old. I've had teachers tell me I'm too young to be disabled. News flash, teens can be disabled too. I've also had teachers look at me in disbelief, telling me my grades are too high for me to be disabled. Surprise! Not all disabled students and children have cognitive disorders! One of the only teachers to not question my accommodations was one of my English teachers (there are two teaching my class this year). Except this teacher is a Special Ed. teacher, and she's been educated about students with disabilities while I doubt ANY of my other teachers have been. The ignorance of humanity surrounding disabilities will always astound me.
Elizabeth Mintz Do you have an IEP? They need to be following whatever is in your IEP or they are breaking the law. Also go to a trusted adult for help if you are being harassed. ❤️
I'm so sorry this is happening to you, Elizabeth.
Lisa M I used to have an IEP but I've been "declassified" whatever that means. My family and I have still been told by the district that my accommodations (basically I can type any written assignments and I can sit out of gym or take a break if I need) will follow me through the end of high school, and that the teachers will legally have to provide me with accommodations. I honestly do not know how it works, but when teachers have harassed me or refused to provide accommodations, I've talked to my guidance counselor and she's talked to the teachers. My district stinks with disability, it seems that no one cares about your disability unless you have cancer, have autism, or are in a wheelchair. I'm working on trying to get my school to acknowledge invisible disabilities week next year, but I don't think they'll listen to me. No one's heard of hypotonia, so it must be fake appearantly.
UGH, this IEP stuff is so district dependent. We live in a fantastic one, so my daughter's IEP is followed with enthusiasm, but I see people all around our district complaining, and I feel so sad. I wish I could bring everyone here. :/ Well, if they aren't following the guidelines, your parents can call a meeting, and complain about it, and I believe they can get taken to court. Or she can threaten to take them to court.;P
Autumn Armstrong-Berg It's great that your district does all the IEP stuff without question. As for the lawsuit thing, I've come up with the perfect response the next time someone denies me my accommodations: "If you'd like proof of my disability and accommodations, I can provide the contact information for my parents, my pediatrician, and my disability rights lawyer." ;)
As a college student with EDS and POTS who generally doesn't have to use mobility aids in class but uses them on weekends and on outings (ex. grocery shopping) I get this ALL THE FREAKING TIME. The anxiety I feel is preventing me from using my mobility aids as much as I probably should be because of some of the things that have been said, and some of the glares I've received, from young and old alike. I've gotten notes under my windshield wiper for parking in a handicap spot, shaming me for using it when someone else who was "actually disabled" might need it. Annie, thank you for talking about this. As someone who's had a rough couple of weeks, I appreciate what you had to say.
I have EDS & just got my first cane. It's taken me a long time to actually take the plunge to get one & start the process of getting the braces I need because I sort of deluded myself into thinking I was able bodied. Yanno, except for everything that's going wrong -- TOTALLY able bodied, hahah. But I don't need it all the time. Sometimes I use it when I'm in tons of pain & sometimes I use it when I'm trying to prevent being in tons of pain because I know I'll be standing/walking for a long time. And thankfully I'm just one of those people who has a very stable self-image & that I haven't gotten any nasty looks or reactions yet, but... I know there are so many people who struggle more than me. There are many people with less understanding people in their environment. And it's fucking horrible. I'm sorry to hear you struggle so bad but at least there is a solid community here on YT & other places online where we can have the validation we need.
Katy Kostich I feel the same way. I know I'm doing more damage to my body by not using my mobility aids (cane and rollator) more, but...it makes me so self-conscious. The possibility of running into somebody from work (who assumes I'm able-bodied because they see me stand/walk for a few minutes, not noticing the braces under my clothes or the fact I'm always holding onto something) terrifies me.
Hi here is what I personally would say to those people, I would say yeah I am disabled and not all disabilities are visible, but do you truly believe in your heart that someone would lie about a disability?????
It doesn't make sense to me. Everyone of my disabilities people can see, so I don't understand why someone else would lie about their disability.
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I just can't imagine someone going to a doctor appointment and the doctor asked does this person have any life threatening conditions???
Clearly that doctor would be able to see that yes this person has Cerebral Palsy or is deaf.
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Sometimes someone may have Autism or Multiple Sclerosis.
My point is that not every disability is visible and sometimes you need to trust what the other person is saying.
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Allie ML
Yes exactly this is why we need more awareness. There are people out there that don't know that kids get arthritis.
Arthritis is not just a disease that attacks adults. The disease attacks kids as well. The reason I brought this up is because the media has turned this into a debate.
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I am going to search on the Internet what is going on with you. I am also going to search everyone of your symptoms, because I truly truly want to know if you actually have this illness, or these illnesses.
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I personally hate when people say things like this. Obviously something is wrong and maybe one day I will be able to walk just fine and maybe the next 8 to 15 days I will be in severe pain.
You know the crazy thing is that some churches do not accept disability and neither does society....... so it looks like you are just going to have to deal with it.
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Could you imagine........ being told you're not accepted because of disability??????
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Society does not accept disability and everyone......... may tell you to get over it. But it is more than just that, it is possibly being denied a job or it is possibly being told you cannot go on a roller coaster.
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Annie does make some really good points and because of these people being verbally abusive........ no disabled person on the face of the earth is going to look at disability in a positive way.
There are times when I'm forced to bring my cane when I don't need it, just to 'show' as disabled. It pisses me off that I have to pretend, when I'm actually doing well that day. The cane is heavy, and lugging it usually means I'll actually need to use it.
Autumn Armstrong-Berg Literally me. What I've started doing is always leaving my destination using my cane because I use public transport. That way if I need to bring out my cane (collapsible), I won't feel like people are judging me for using just for sympathy, faking, or trying to get someone to give me a seat. Sucks that I've had to think it through but I've figured that out now.
Autumn Armstrong-Berg In which case, maybe you should get a collapsible one! That way if you aren't sure you'll need it you can put it in a backpack or purse or whatever, if that works for you. Collapsible tend to be lighter weight too x
HannahLouisiana this is a really good idea!
Autumn Armstrong-Berg I do the same thing.
If I don't bring my cane and I use a handicap parking i get ignorant looks.
I'm an intellectual disabled athlete with asd. I have an invisible disability nobody can tell I'm disabled unless I tell them or people who can tell I'm autistic. it's worse when I'm competing in sprinting because I'm the fastest on the track where people can't tell I'm disabled and that people think I'm faking it. But they don't understand that I can't compete with able bodied athletes because I will always come last and I always got these treatment at school to from students and some teachers you didn't know me.
I have a service dog, one of her tasks she does is mobility assistance due to my fibromyalgia & CFS. And so she uses a mobility harness where she is trained to "pull" me, as a way to help me conserve energy while walking. I also get idiopathic vertigo, so when one of those episodes hits I use her for counterbalance until the episode passes. Also she is trained to guide me when I am having sensory overload (due to PTSD). And yeah people can be cruel....thinking I am faking it. One accused me of faking being blind -- since I have a service dog...that has a harness that sort of looks like a guide harness I guess. I wish people will get educated.
This was so uplifting for me! I've started becoming a lot more open and vocal about my invisible disabilities and becoming less anxious about using aid at school, and you're videos have helped me so much ❤️
Amen, Sister. I went from walking, to stumbling, to falling, to falling with a cane to a power wheelchair.
I had my car in storage, the garage was condemned, and I had to get my license, get car insurance, get plates, blah blah. So now I have a power wheelchair and a car.
If I take my car, I can get places quickly, but I don't last long doing much walking.
If I take my wheelchair and public transportation, it takes at least 4 times longer to get to my tasks, but I'm not freaked out about finding a place to sit down or getting too tired to make it home. (It's happened.)
My car and my wheelchair are my mobility, equally. If I turn up in my wheelchair a) I had time to get to where I'm going in my chair, b) my foot is dragging, I'm in pain, or I'm exhausted, c) I'm going to be out and busy for a long period of time and I'd rather have my chair. Driving my car means a) I overslept or lost track of time, b) it's a quick trip in and out, c) there will be lots of sitting involved, d) I want/need to go someplace public transportation won't take me.
My medical folk often comment about when I'm using my wheelchair and when I'm not. If I'm not in my chair, I must be "having a good day." My primary doctor (who ordered the wheelchair) comments occasionally that I walk so well as though suddenly I got the chair an have no ambulation at all.
I have a variety of problems that cause problems with exhaustion, balance, and endurance. Each day is a draw of cards to see which little diagnosis bugger is going to complicate my day, so it's not consistent. I've gotten spoiled with my car, but I'm pushing it. I get too tired sometimes.
When I'm walking, I get asked about that big, expensive wheelchair sitting in my apartment and why aren't I using it.
When I'm in my wheelchair people in public places act like I can't possibly have any real control and I may run into someone.
I live in the land of Minnesota Nice. Often, if I'm moving in a crowd, someone ahead of me will notice me and grab the person next to them, which makes that person stop to ask what's wrong thus stopping me.
I was at the mall and there was a family group walking ahead of me, the dad-type-person yelled "Make way, every body stand back" and he moved not only his family, but other people around. I told him to keep walking, I'll keep on going with my wheelchair. I don't want the attention, I said, and making a circus out of someone in a chair is ridiculous. He told me I was ungrateful. I told him to @#$& off. Oh NO! Disabled people can swear with confidence. It was an equalizer though. Instead of me being a fragile creature, his wife was ready to get right up on me....as I drove away. They followed me! Telling me off for a good 500 feet.
If I'm trying to cross a street, people will go out of their way to break many traffic laws so I cross the street whether the traffic is in my favor or not. I won't cross against the lights (except in my neighborhood). They get mad at me that they are becoming late because they stopped so I could cross the street and I didn't cross the street. (Minnesota Nice).
I had someone in the bus behind me say "you're damn lucky you're in a wheelchair." I unbuckled, stood up, turned around, and got big and serious. We weren't getting on well in the first place. She's 15 and threatening ME - 42 and in a wheelchair? I was getting off the bus, but I stopped, told the driver to either put her and her friend off the bus or call the cops because me and my wheelchair weren't getting off the ramp until something happened. The Troubled One called her grandma to say I was harassing and threatening her and calling her names. I called her a brat. Eventually the other people on the bus got them off because it was making the bus late. I don't count that as a win, though.
Teenage boys playing bumper cars with the scooters at Wal-mart gave me grief when I stood up to take my purchases to the car.
It's not that hard to figure out that a person in a wheelchair has to transfer somehow even if it's just a few seconds standing.
Ok, venting over.
It was comforting to hear this and read the comments; thank you. I have to wear a particulate mask when I ride public transit and people aren't always the nicest. A young man came up to me once demanding to know why I wear it and asking 'What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?' while I was waiting at a bus stop. It always feels like everyone always regards me as a nuisance or something just because of the way I look with it on, and with sunglasses to protect my eyes. People also often regard me as if it's my preference, rather than a medical need - and that makes me want to stay to myself because it's a struggle to be sure no one is going to do anything to make me sick being around them. It's not because of an allergy that I wear it either, or that would be much easier to deal with. It's because I have a rare systemic infection that gets worse in my respiratory system if I breathe in very certain specific particles in the air - many things that people wear on their bodies. So I can't go anywhere really without getting worse until I can figure out a way to not have to work long enough to stay home in a completely controlled environment and do my treatment - that I'm already doing and works amazingly well until I go out into the world and breathe in things that make me worse all over again. I haven't been able to figure out a way to do that and still have a home to live in and food to eat, and be able to buy a lot of the medicine that's a part of my treatment plan. I've been trying to enlist the help of doctors the last four years too, but we all know how well that usually goes..... in circles around and around. I'm better off treating myself, and I have a universe more full of knowledge when it comes to this than any I've seen. I am still working that direction too though, but doubt it will get anywhere. It never does. So, I've basically been living like I'm on house arrest for 18 months; I don't even go to stores, just work 3 days a week. So, in the meantime, the mask. It separates me from everyone. I can't smile at anyone. I really wish more people had more kindness and understanding for all kinds of disabilities, not just the ones that are marketed in the media. Are we that far down the rabbit hole that, that many people can't understand anything anyone else tells them if they haven't heard it on T.V.? Do people think they can't pick up any knowledge that has any value at all whatsoever unless they learn it in a university or something? What is the deal? .... Thanks again for posting!
Thank you so much for making this vid! I have a video channel about living w/invisible disabilities (I have Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia) and am hoping to add energy medicine and reiki to it. I constantly hear about total strangers attacking us and accusing us of "faking it" which always blows my mind.
When reading through the comments, I really love to see how you take constructive critiscism. It always feels with your videos that there is a consistent acknowledgement that you are in a state of growth and learning, and I think that's really important.
So true- that's important!
Your mention of spectrums of disability is so important. I was diagnosed at age 2 with SMA II, walked till 5 yrs old and an electric electric wheelchair user at 12 and I'm 48 yrs old now. I've been judged for not looking disabled ENOUGH by OTHER disabled people as well as being accused by able bodied people of being lazy or faking it. It's really only been the last 5 or so years that I've actually started to "look" disabled, to pass that public shame test. Even in depending on daily care assistance thru Medicaid, I've have to fight for care because I wasn't disabled ENOUGH or TOO independent. It makes it incredibly difficult when one is judged on an "all or nothing" disability scale. It's complicated and almost a relief that as I age, I am depending more on others for things I used to be able to do for myself. ALMOST. I have in my life been both cheered for my independance and scorned for it; often by the same people.
When I was younger and before I used mobility device, I had such anxiety about using accommodations--I felt like I didn't deserve them. Invisible disabilities and illnesses need more visibility, thank you for being such a wonderful advocate!
also the idea that Access/accommodation, is some sort of 'privalege' especially in public sphere is damaging AF. Don't tell me curb cuts, elevators and accessible stalls don't become coveted by every one.
Autism can also be an invisible disability. People often mistakenly think my symptoms of autism are me being "rude" due to poor social skills or "lazy" due to my memory problems or abnormal tiredness. When I tell people I have autism I'm usually met with disbelief.
I hate it when I go to wallgreens and see walkers and wheelchairs with only seniors and it's frustrating , where are we?
Right? Maybe some of us should start being mobility aid models!! Hashtag to CVS/Walgreen's & get us out there. #disabledandcute ;)
This is the first of your videos I've seen. You're lovely.
I recently bought my very first mobility aid. My several conditions (lupus & friends) were denied by my mother on their onset and I was told I was faking it, and then she used my condition as an attention seeking way to beg for money from people at churches so she wouldnt have to work and just lived off of the income I generated. She was almost munchausen by proxy like in refusing to let me have meds and refusing to take me to the hospital so I would get sicker so she could get more money.
Me being sick always feels to me like I'm being attention seeking and it's been a long time in accepting that I'm disabled. I work full time, I can walk just fine 3/4 of the time, but that doesn't mean I'm not disabled and that my chronic illness doesnt affect me in other ways.
I've lived a black and white life of toughing it out or staying in bed all day, embarrassed of using mobility aids and feeling like doing so made me looking for attention and pretending to be disabled.
This turned into a really long post, but thanks for this video.
Sorry to hear that! You may be interested in this video I put together with The Arthritis Foundation featuring about 40 people in the arthritis (one has lupus too) community for Invisible Disabilities Week happening now: ruclips.net/video/O6yIOLgW1UM/видео.html
cool video, I am Autistic with Dyspraxia and Epilepsy and have found problems of people failing to understand the hidden nature of my disability like being very loud, both people and business, with the Autism I have had a quite a few points had to develop an ability to pretend to be "normal" which is something I no longer do as it is more stressful for me to keep it up. I applied for a job recently but because of the Dyspraxia I could not do the application form my self (there was no online one for some reason) and they did not give me the job because I had not done the writing myself even though I said why.
“Ferociously visible!” LOVE This!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
As an Aspie, I feel similar regarding what kind of assistance I need and when. Some days I can tolerate a lot more sensory intake, other days I cannot. It's hard to explain why my sensory processing ability isn't static.
Also, as an Aspie, can I use #disabledandcute? Or does that cross some kind of line?
as the mother of someone who is autistic I think it is perfectly fine and doesn't cross a line. Get that representation out there!
Kathryne Courtney Yes, of course! That's practicing visibility as well!! ❤
Aspies definitely qualify as #disabledandcute! Represent yourself. :D
I am getting used to my autism diagnosis and I was glad to see your comment and pleased to find this channel today.
Omg I feel this Annie!! I started losing a lot of my eyesight a year and a half ago and a teacher seriously said to me “I don’t believe you because you’re too young to lose your eyesight” like what?? I still constantly get people telling me it’s a lie for me to identify as blind because I’m partially sighted but your videos help me deal with those kinds of people so thank you so much 💕
As an ADHDer this is really heart breaking for a brief while I was considering training my dog as a service dog but there is so much stigma against using service dogs for invisible disabilities even though it would help with things like
• helping calm me down or guide me out of situations as I am experiencing sensory overload
• it could remind me to take my medication and complete daily tasks
• I would feel a sense of responsibility to take care of it and that would help me take care of myself
• reduce anxiety and depression development rates
• and alert other people as to when I might need help as I am not always able/willing to ask
Ect
It's sad but true, it's worse to be "less disabled" or less VISABLLY disabled people than it is to be more disabled or rather more VISABBLY " disabled .
The only time anyone made a negative comment on my parking in a handicapped spot (my chair is my only mobility aid, and I wasn't using it that day), I didn't actually catch what he said - something about forgetting crutches, but that was all I heard - and I didn't even realize that he had been talking to me until several hours later, which made me even more surprised, because I know his older sister, and she has invisible disabilities that affect her mobility, so once I realized that I was the one he had made that comment to, I couldn't figure out why he even made it in the first place.
I've never had anyone actually challenge me on it, but I have a couple different responses prepared in case anyone does: "You're not my doctor" (this one I can use for just about anything, not just parking) and "I don't care, call the police if you want - they'll look it up and tell you it's valid" (I have handicapped plates on my pickup truck). For reference, this is in an area (not sure if it's just county or wider) where there's a $750 fine for parking illegally in one, so a deterrent in and of itself.
I had a first happen a week ago, though - I went out to dinner with my best friend, and the place we went was one of those places where they put the food together as you tell them what things you want in it (like at Subway, but it was an Italian place). I've been out to eat in my wheelchair with friends and family many times in the past at all sorts of restaurants, but this was the first time that one of the employees asked the person with me, instead of me, what I wanted in mine - I very clearly told him that the one he was asking about was mine, not hers, so hopefully he got the message that just because I might be in a wheelchair at the moment doesn't necessarily mean I'm not capable of ordering my own food: I had been placing my own order up till that point, and he was the one who'd been taking it, so I couldn't figure out why he all of a sudden thought I couldn't order for myself. I know this is something that is all too common among this community, but it was a first for me (the end of July marks 6 years of me utilizing a wheelchair part time).
This^!!!!! So much this! I have a brain disorder that makes my looking at things a lot like your walking. I can do it, not brilliantly, not for long, and I won't be reading a print copy of the complete works of Shakespeare any time soon, but I can do it for a moment or two. And I am constantly afraid, to the point that either I won't use my eyes in public, especially if I am walking with my white cane, or, if I have been using my eyes and need to rest them, I won't use my cane and instead I will put myself through pain and bumping into things to avoid being judged. It sucks, but I am scared :'(
This is so needed!!!! It’s really really good having this talk, it so needs more representation and education in the mainstream. You articulated this beautifully Thankyou so much
thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! As someone with Congenital Heart Disease, while I can walk fairly easily (which isn't true of all of us) I can't run, not far, nor for long before I run out of air, my heart starts pounding, my sides heaving, and I'm ready to collapse. This also happens when I walk long distances or if I am or have been sick recently even just from one class to another. But I'm small framed with a relatively thin build so people assume that I should have no problem. It's my internal organs that slow me down, people just don't understand that.
💙 this! More please. There needs to be more time put into getting information to the public about invisible disabilities.
I have Dystonia which is a movement disorder, and at times it can be invisible. I don't care when strangers question me, but when my closest love loves like my wife thinks you're not trying enough to get fixed. Saying doctors can be wrong and said I've read articles about there is cure. Even though thousands of people have been suffering from Dystonia since they were kids. Is the hardest for me because I'm not getting the support from the most important person in my life.
this is exactly what I needed... I have me/cfs, pots, fibro, migraines, ibs and possibly lyme... about to use my mobility walker for the first time at university tomorrow. Feeling nervous but brave and ready to get out into the world! :)
Great point about advertising. I'm able to walk but use a cane or wheelchair or scooter depending on my need at the time. 🧡
I love you so much and you are one of the people who inspired me (even though it took a very long time), to finally tell my doctor about my symptoms and start my own journey of hopefully getting diagnosed with something and starting to treat my symptoms. Right now I'm waiting for bloodwork results.
Fantastic video. As an able-bodied person, I try to be really mindful and critical of what I see in my own life and in the media, and of course how I myself act around others. Videos like this are so important. We need to stop assuming the worst. It makes me think of the common welfare argument that "people abuse it!" which dramatically overcounts how often that happen and demonizes ALL people using welfare programs (well, the kinds we traditionally think of). It's such a blatant logical fallacy and hurts people that don't at allll deserve the over the top scrutiny.
Another invisible disability is epilepsy. Most of the time I am not walking around having seizures but they are a constant threat for me that I am always considering in my house and out of my house. BUT the biggest part I notice is brain difficulties. There is such a shaming ready for people who have trouble remembering and functioning properly. People assume that something is wrong with my character. They want me to just "pull it together" immediately after my seizures which I cannot do. It takes around 10 days for me to feel semi-normal after a tonic-clonic seizure but I only recently realized "how would most people feel if they just got totally sick for 10 days every 3-4 weeks?!?" I'm back to semi-normal mentally but I have 10 days of stuff to catch up with. My routine has been completely abandoned. My kids have stopped listening to me. Plus, I feel like I'm just waiting for the next seizure! But no one sees this at all and people often express their expectation that I do more. Even family members have implied that they are suspicious about me even having seizures because they've never seen one.
Both my mom and I have been shamed for using accessible parking, despite her having a permit and both of us having invisible illnesses. I've been on the fence about getting a cane for months now, but I'm already socially anxious and the idea of being confronted and demanded why I'm using a cane scares the crap out of me. I just wanna be able to walk around more!
Hey, I'm new to your channel but adore you and love your videos. You've already helped me feel better about myself, using mobility aids whilst not being confined to them and about being chronically ill without a diagnosis. So thank you so much, I'm a newbie but I'm here to stay!
I saw this video earlier though and wondered if you could do a reaction video, not so much to the video itself but to the title, it was on a news channel and the video's called 'Man takes physically challenged woman to the altar' which infuriated me for many reasons, as I'm sure you can understand. One of them being this idea that someone who is in a relationship with a disabled person is some kind of martyr. This outlook on disabled relationships really upsets me and caused me a lot of grief within my own relationships so I'd really appreciate a video on this :) Thank you again xx
I have an invisible disability. Something interesting happened to me earlier this year.
This summer I broke and dislocated a toe and was on double crutches for 2 months. I got treated so differently by the general public as a whole during the time it was physically seen that I needed accommodations. I find so many things hard and so many people seem to think just coz they can't "see" my issues and I am smiling then it means the struggle isn't real. Thank you for your video.
Also, in relation to this video, I've just had to start using a wheelchair part time. It's on loan and huge and heavy and I understand it's a complication but I feel guilty every time I need to use it because my mum tells me how much of an inconvenience it is. I'm scared to stand and walk when I can in public because of the looks I get and I still feel ashamed and afraid to watch videos about disability around other people without headphones because they have negative responses 'why are you watching that, YOU'RE not like that, YOU'RE not disabled' 'don't act like you are using a chair forever' 'watching this will make you think it's cool to be a wheelchair, it'll make you want to stay in the chair' 'this shows you don't have the right attitude, you should be focusing on getting out of your chair'. When am I ALLOWED to call myself disabled? Leaving college 2 years ago for medical reasons, spending 80% of my time in my house, passing out 8-20 times a day, being in too much pain to walk, when is it enough to be allowed the - quote - 'indulgence' of calling myself disabled?
Reality is we don't know what the problem is, what will change, if I will get better or worse, so why is it a bad thing to want to be more educated and enlightened about wheelchair use and disability?
I'm too afraid to ask to buy a wheelchair that I can use without causing me shoulder pain, back pain and is too heavy for me to use because I know it'll be rejected because 'you're not disabled, you don't need to BUY a chair, you just need to change your attitude'. Uch!
Despite having seen the gigantic difference that using one made for me from the first time I ever tried one almost 6 years ago, my mom still considers my wheelchair a big inconvenience every time that I need to bring it with me somewhere when I'm visiting them because she thinks it means we have to take the van every time instead of the small car (she cares more about gas mileage than my mobility, and my chair does fit perfectly fine in the small car, just not as easily), and she even tried to tell me what kind of chair I had to get (mind you, I was out of grad school and living on my own at that point), so I basically told her, "I don't care what you think about it, I'm going to get what will be the best one for me - deal with it!" And I did, and she has had to put up with it, and I'm not sorry about it one bit - I'm eternally grateful that I got what I got and not what my mom wanted me to get, and my next one will be even better.
This is so true. I go from stuck to chair and can get up and down and it fluctuations and I get a lot of S*** from random people
my disability/ condition hydrocephalus is considered invisible. therefore when I used to take the lift to classes at secondary school.people used to think I was lazy.
Thank you for this video, it´s such an important issue. I love your channel!
It baffles me that folks think that a) they know all about a person just by looking at them, and b) they have a right to police that person based on their assumptions. I hope that better representation in both the online and offline spheres can help to combat some of this stuff. Great video!
Ive honestly cried because I had to buckle down and start looking for a walking cane and I hate how I cant get anything that matches me and my personality because canes are almost all marketed towards seniors. I have dysautonomia and POTs and recently started college and have been struggling because of an altitude change. My heart rate spikes my body fatigues faster and my legs will rapidly stop working meaning a walking cane is a big help. But I have put off getting one for YEARS for the same reasons of harassment of invisible disabilities that many people struggle with
stuff like this makes me so sad. people who are not disabled or don't have. handicap tag but still park in handicap don't ever get questions but those of us who are and even those of us who have our own custom wheelchairs and motor chairs do. like really? why would we get our own chairs or canes etc from doctors if we wasn't handicap? I haven't gotten this personally (probably cuz my mom comes with me every time but still (I have heard people whispering that I'm fat though so since I look normal I'm sure they think its just cuz I'm fat but I do have spina bifida!)
kpopfan forever77 I have Spina Bifida too. I'm also a fatty, so I get the same kind of evil eye you do probably. Yes, I just randomly got my bright yellow chair, my hand controls and lift van, just so I could go out in public and be the least anonymous person in the parking lot. Being a total introvert, I just LOVE to stick out. 😆
Lisa M exactly!!! I don't have any of that just a huge baby blue chair even though I'm "only" a little over 200lbs (not that that's small but yeah) but yeah I just love to stand out at the store and when I don't stand out I'm totally ignored which would be great but then I am always bumped into,or when I go out an aisle or something people don't watch what they're doing they just cut in front of me or keep going and nearly hit me. so frustrating like whether people think I'm faking or not I cannot win...
I'm so glad I knew about your channel thanks to Riley Dennis. Interesting video. I didn't know allergies count as disabilities. In that case I'm disabled. I also tend to have low blood pressure and low sugar levels in my blood but I'm not sure if I can call myself a hypoglycemic or hypotensive. I also think I have dyspraxia but I'm not sure (my therapist hasn't made me tests yet). I don't know also if having anxiety or depression count as disabilities. This is the first video I've seen from you and I loved it. I don't know if you've heard of the channel of Krystal Bella-Shaw. I realized dyspraxia exists thanks to her. You should check her out if you haven't
good video! also just wanted to say that you look absolutely gorgeous in this video!
Sarah Russett I agree!
I also agree.:)
I work with the elderly and I always feel so bad that we don't let them use heating pads when I know how great they are for muscle pain (they have some work arounds, but they're not that great) I've also had coworkers not understand when I complain about pain at the end of the day (shocker, usually the older ones) because they don't seem to understand that just cause I'm in my 20s doesn't make my pain any less real.
Thank you for making this video, it definitely needed to be said! I find it really difficult to know how much help I can access/ in what situations I 'count' as disabled because I am autistic. I know it's a disability but some people don't consider it to be and when I'm looking up resources to help me or trying to find information it's difficult to know what I'm allowed to use or relate to because I don't know if I 'count' in that context of if they were just talking about physical disabilities. I hope my videos will help spread some awareness about invisible disabilities too, and I'd really appreciate some feedback on them if you have the time :)
An issue I have is that as a conditional chair user, not all the conditions I need it for are considered justified. Like, I WANT to do cardio activity! I also know that the hyper mobility in my hips and related damage makes walking or running long enough to get that feeling a good cardio session can give you is a very very bad idea. But yet trying to convince my family that yes, I need the manual chair (shared with other extended family members because $$$) today because I want to go to the bike trail and do cardio is impossible. :-/
I’m actually terrified of admitting that I need a chair or cane sometimes because of this. My disabilities mess with me a lot and on hard days I need one, but I don’t have either because this scares me
I am glad you were able to leave the house, but oh so sorry to hear people are so rude. None of their business! I hope you are able to still try to get joy from doing as you want in public.
May I ask what power chair you got and how you got it? Do you think you could talk about how to choose one? I see a lot of videos like this for manual chairs, but not powered ones and I'm trying to get one right now, so it'd be much appreciated.
If I remember correctly it was paid for with crowdfunding, but like you I would love a video on how to choose mobility aides and get funding for them. I have to get a lot of the "elderly" mail order catalogs to find out about products and my insurance won't pay for anything so it all comes out of my pocket.
Snapple and Cats Yes ☝ There's a link to my current power chair in my previous video "January Favorites" but I'm hoping to make a video about how happy I am with it soon :)
Well done . right on .david
I TOTALLY get what you're saying about media representation. if you haven't seen it yet, the documentary See What I'm Saying is great for how it portrays Deaf/HoH actors struggling in the ableist entertainment industry. -Omar
I have fibromyalgia and I am also plus size, this makes hateful people feel even more entitled to tell me things like fat is not a disability, those are for the real sick people you need to walk more among other horrible things.
or just exercise more......... because pushing my body and putting it in pain all the time will cure my pain?
I definitely understand that feeling so much. I've had so many doctors tell me that my pain would be less if I weren't overweight. Because pain in my fingers, wrists, elbows, & shoulders are SO related to clinical obesity, right? They're weight-bearing joints, obviously... Someone in chronic pain can't exercise until their pain is treated. And even then, it likely needs to be under the advisement of a physical therapist -- which they won't refer you to because "oh, you just need to get up off the couch & everything will be better, insurance doesn't need to be billed for that". :/
yeah, I try and be active when my pain will let me and I dont push myself but one dr told me I need to do an hour of cardio a day!
Wooooooow... Yeah, because causing pain by overexerting yourself TOTALLY won't make your pain worse, therefore needing more rest. Do they even know what pain is or how it works? -_-
There's a book series with a blind character who can see things on a white background and because it's a book about genetically modified children he can literally feel color he lost his vision when he was 5. Good book series and it's one thing in media that is somewhat accurate
I am a mentally ill, sick 13 year old spoonie with autism and I can relate to this so much.
So on!
on the money as usual!
Yea, hate how people use the word abled bodies to work. my mental condition affects my work performance. not easy to work, but my legs and arms are able to. I just have trouble mentally. the working class doesn't treat the non working class with the acknowledgement respectively.
So right.
In a way, I'm lucky that I use a cane- it makes me more acceptable as a disabled person. See, my disabilities aren't readily visible- not all the time, that is. Between arthritis, Early Onset Parkinson's disease (roughly the same as Michael J. Fox's type), and a back problem, I mostly just look like everyone else. But the cane, well, that somehow adds visibility to my disabilities...as does the disabled license plate on my SUV.
yep im visually impaired and i dont use my cane because of judgment and "im just too young to have something wrong with me" -_- im 26
When someone tried to pull the "you're too young to have all these medical issues", I threw it back in her face by saying "Kids aren't too young to get cancer" - that made her panic, because she thought I was saying that I had cancer, to which I responded, "No, but my point still stands". That made an impression.
I don't know what happened to my fellow Hungarians, but I haven't got any stupid or offensive questions since July. I can't believe it actually. And I've been out a lot oc :D. I am not stared that much either. I don't know if people are improving here (we have a young lady in wheelchair, she writes motivational things, she is pretty popular here) or I just look like 'I'll kill you if you just thinking about asking me anything' xDD I almost shouted the last one thou. He confronted me using my Walker when I can walk. Yeah, that's why it's a walker, duh.
A fellow eds girl
Just because my disabilities are invisible it doesn’t make them non-existent or easy to deal with!
look at your hair!!!! its so cute!!! Congrats on your power chair!!!
i have a question. does mental illness count as disabled? im not trying to be funny. also, i have alot of back pains that im trying to get sorted out so things arent diagnosed... does that count too??? i dont want it to seem like im making things up at my pain and calling it disability.
and as of recently, my back pain has been getting worse. nothing i do is helping and i got sent home from work because my back pain was really bad that day. just sitting here is painful some.
but if people have a little amount of hearing left, aren't they considered hard of hearing?
At least in my language (German) there are two words, taub (deaf) which means a person can't hear anything (or certainly not enough to use their hearing somehow, even with devices), and has to use sign language to communicate. (Of course hard of hearings could do that as well, but deaf people don't have a choice) and "Schwerhörig", Hard of hearing (meaning people who have enough hearing left to be able to communicate with or without hearing aids or CI's.)
I sometimes get confused if people like Rikki Poynter call themselves "deaf" if they are able to communicate even without hearing aids. In Germany no one would say that she is 'deaf'..
Maybe the word deaf is used differently in English
Aman sister it the same with the VIP we may use are cane and some day we don't use our cane
What? *Laughing* while being in a wheelchair?
Do they think everyone with a disability should be in a constant state of morose dejection, wailing, gnashing their teeth, beating their chests and tearing their hair?
Or is it "well, you can laugh, so you obviously can run a marathon, you faker"?
Some people out there are walking adverts for contraception - as in: their parents really should have used some.
🙇T h a n k s ! ⚘
I really like this video and everything you're saying, but why do you leave out mental disabilities when talking about this subject? Especially since the phrase "invisible disabilities", in my experience, most commonly refers to developmental disabilities like autism or mental illnesses like psychosis. I really don't want to be rude, I get that your focus is on physical disability; but I think it's harmful to speak in a general way about less visible or invisible ways in which people can be disabled and totally neglect to mention neurodivergent people.
Aven W. No, not rude at all, you're absolutely right, those disabilities should not be erased in this conversation, thanks for commenting! People with mental/cognitive/neurodiverse disabilities are often harassed as well due to lack of understanding! In this video my mind was hard focused on harassment I'd personally experienced or brought to my attention via comments on my recent posts and I will certainly try and include mental/cognitive/neurodiverse disabilities when referring to invisible disabilities in the future. Thanks again for bringing it up. ❤
*Some disabilities are invisible, your reaction to them is not.*
Disability police!! 😆
I use a motorized scooter only when I'm on campus. And I CAN walk. It's not because I can't walk that I'm using it at all. It's because I have a heart condition and walking long distances just don't do well for me. I park it in the hallway and no one has to know I have it unless they see me using it. And I don't always use it some days the same distance is just fine I always use it if I do y know where something is so I can make that call the next time. And one of my classmates we were headed to study hall after I had used t the day before
Guy: why aren't you using your scooter thing?Me: because I don't need it right nowGuy: it's the same distance we went yesterday! You used it thenMe: I didn't know where we were going yesterday so I didn't know how sent would be.
But so frustrating. And when I do use it the number of people that is it that I need help. Like no move get out of my damn way. Yes generally holding a door open is nice but it's way faster for me to hit the button let the door open and go through then for you to go open the door be in the way and me be afraid I'm hijabs run over your foot
Though there's one building. At school that doesn't have a button and it's very confusing to me.