#Abled Differently

When you have a disability, you don’t always know where you belong, where you fit in and what you identify with. We’re often chasing acceptance and approval from able bodied folks around us because the world is made for them, not us. But we don’t always need to conform and grasp for approval from those who don’t understand us. However, what we can do is teach, educate, share our experiences and perspectives to help open peoples eyes, learn and connect!! ♿️

Disabled is not a dirty word. The discomfort some people feel around that word isn’t about politeness, it’s about stigma. When people say “differently abled” or “handy capable,” they usually think they’re being kind. But what they’re really doing is avoiding the word because they’ve been taught it’s negative. It isn’t. Disabled simply describes a lived reality shaped by both physical bodies and inaccessible systems. There are things I cannot do. That isn’t tragic. It isn’t shameful. It’s factual. Language matters. But pretending disability doesn’t disable us doesn’t liberate us. Changing the word won’t fix discrimination. Changing society will. #DisabledNotADirtyWord #DisabilityAdvocate #DisabledAndProud #Ableism #AccessibilityMatters

Non-disabled people often will approach a disabled person and tell us we are so pretty for being disabled because they think it's some kind of compliment. Telling a disabled person that they are pretty for being disabled is not a compliment and implies that all disabled people are ugly. If you think I am pretty, just say that, because the moment you tie my attractiveness to my disability, I am insulted. Disabled people are pretty because your disability doesn't make you less attractive than non-disabled people. Hashtags: #disabledblogger #disabilityawareness #spinabifida #physicaldisability #chronicillness #ableism #ableismawareness #Accessibility Image Description: This is a video of Sarah who a white woman with long brown hair and I am wearing a black dress with flowers while sitting talking to the camera. There is text that reads " You are so pretty for being disabled is not a compliment."

I posted this on TikTok and that why not post this on Instagram? I don’t know if this is a hot take or if people will agree with me. I feel like this is been what I’ve been feeling for a while. People need to remember there’s and or a second word or a third word. I love the word disabled, but don’t just leave it at that. Disabled and. Please. ID. Maddy with a brown headband, glasses, and green shirt talking to the camera. #disability #disabledand #accessibility #disabledandcute

* WARNING! THIS VIDEO MAY BE A LITTLE JARRING* but it needed to be shared

5 things person with disability should feel free to say NO to. Saying no protects our health, time, and dignity. We don’t owe free emotional labour, proof of being “disabled enough,” or pain just to make others comfortable. Rest is not laziness, and advocating for ourselves doesn’t make us difficult. Boundaries are care. _________________ 𝕱𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜 @Disability_Diary for more interesting content surrounding Persons with Disabilities. Credit: @chronicallyjenni #DisabilityDiary #DisabilityBlog #sayno #disabilityinclusion #explore

When it comes to understanding disability... if I had one piece of advice, it's this.. Before you need to think about it, do the work you need to do to be able to be ok with the word disabled. Here's why it matters: 💛 If you plan to live a long time, it's pretty much certain that you or someone you love will become disabled. 💛 As a Disabled person you have protections in law to allow you equal access to things non disabled people take for granted 💛 Disability is the only Protected Characteristic you can aquire overnight 💛 If you aquire a disability, it's much easier to advocate for yourself if you don't have to spend the first 6 months unpacking your own internalised ableism 💛 By not being ok with the word disabled (or by being around people who aren't) you make things 100 times harder for yourself and other disabled folks Worth mentioning here, too, that not all disabilities are visible Right. I'm off to London to watch the magnificent Cynthia Erivo in Dracula. Laters 👋 @heidimavir

I am having my own separate imagery popping up from watching that reel and felt inspired by the contrasting experiences we have with different disabilities. I couldn't help but think about how rarely people with 'invisible' disabilities are offered help (compared to how often visibly disabled people are) when a disability isn't physically apparent to people. In case anyone was wondering:This stitch is NOT meant as a dig at other disabled people - it's a gentle reminder to to non disabled people that some 'invisibly' disabled people are all around,and some of us could really use that helping hand. I know it's not easy to spot us at first, but that's because we have all been conditioned to only look for the immediately visible signs for disability. If we all could learn to look closer and listen with more patience to each other - we would all benefit greatly from that:) This stitch is not in any way critique of the original creator at all🩷🫶🏼 Peace out #invisibledisability #thespectrumgirl

Disabled people don't owe you their story! Just because we're #disabled , strangers think they can ask us all sorts of questions they'd never ask a non-disabled person but 'What happened to you?' is the one that comes up most often & it's so frustrating. When I was first diagnosed I always answered, constantly reliving my medical trauma, in the hopes of raising awareness when in reality that lady on the bus in 2018 has never thought about me or my conditions again. So now I simply say, 'oh I'm just disabled' & hope people are too flummoxed to ask a follow up. There are several reasons why it's not okay to ask a disabled person what happened to them. Firstly, many disabled people have experienced some kind of trauma which led to them becoming disabled whether it was an accident, a crime or medical trauma or negligence. And having to live through that trauma every time someone asks can be really damaging and exhausting. It’s also a question we get asked the most which is really frustrating having to explain again and again. It’s also a little ignorant to think something must have happened because many people are simply born with their disabilities so nothing happened to them. Disabled people dont owe you their medical information just like you don’t owe them the results of your last blood test. So lets stop asking this question altogether. If you really have to know about someones disability in order to assist them ask for their access needs instead. Share this to your stories to help more people realise this isn't okay & let me know how you answer this question in the comments! #DisabilityEducation #DisabilityAwareness #Disability #WhatWeWishYouSaid

Or maybe, we always talk about our disabilities so that we can change the systems and attitudes that have been against us? Or to be the representation we never had? 🤷‍♀️

Impairment + Barrier = Disability Disability isn’t just a medical condition. It happens when an impairment meets a barrier. • A Deaf person isn’t disabled by deafness alone — but by the absence of an interpreter. • A wheelchair user isn’t disabled by paralysis alone — but by stairs without ramps. • A blind person isn’t disabled by vision loss alone — but by inaccessible information. Disability is about systems. Design. Inclusion. When we remove barriers, we reduce disability. The real question isn’t, “What’s wrong with this person?” It’s, “What barriers exist — and how do we remove them?” Inclusion isn’t charity. It’s justice. Accessibility isn’t optional. It’s a right. #DisabilityInclusion #SocialModelOfDisability #Accessibility #Inclusion #LeaveNoOneBehind

ICYMI 💚 this has been one of my favorite questions to ask my community. there’s so much stigma around the word disabled for so many. so for anyone curious, or nervous — now you know. #disabilityawareness #disabledcommunity #disabilities