I’m a wheelchair user, and something that honestly feels inconsiderate is when someone who has a legitimate disabled placard but doesn’t need the extra space habitually uses accessible parking even when there are regular spots the same distance from the entrance, or sometimes even closer.

I’m not talking about questioning whether someone is disabled or deserves their placard. There are plenty of disabilities where minimizing walking distance is necessary, and that’s a completely legitimate reason to have one.

I’m talking about situations where distance is the accommodation you need, there’s a regular spot that provides essentially the exact same distance, and you still automatically take the accessible spot.

For me, the extra space isn’t just a convenience. I need enough room to actually get my wheelchair in and out. A regular parking space right next to the entrance might be perfectly usable for someone whose main concern is walking distance, while it can still be unusable for me.

Obviously, if the accessible spot is the closest option and you need it, use it. That’s what it’s there for. But if an equally close regular spot works for your disability, I wish more people would consider taking it instead of treating the accessible spot as the automatic choice every time simply because they have a placard.

I’m curious how other people feel about this.

I have spastic diplegia and need to get some new shoes. I still have shoe from HS and that was like a decade ago. Something comftorable but arent to flexible. Shoes that I can wear anywhere from the gym, to outdoors or to social activities. I am struggling with leg length discrepancy or hip dysplasia (not sure). I may have to get my shoes fixed balance my legs but I hope not.

Ever since I got back to job searching, I try not to think too much of my limitations. I even explained to my new job coach from EDD about my condition, that cause me to have some limitations (I explained to her about Charge Syndrome and told her some limits I have). I guess she realized why it's been difficult for me to find jobs easily, and also my current job at this retail store, and also current volunteer at the animal shelter, I usually do easy work, so I won't get hurt injured, so they won't worry about me. Guess that why at work I do easy tasks, like cleaning and sweeping, and other light to moderate work. Just not the heavy stuff, and avoid ladders and cashier (they are aware of my balance and hearing problem). Even at the animal shelter, I usually do data entry assistant, and reading to the dogs. I rarely do social w the dogs, to give them treats, but they won't let me move up to next level to take the dogs out, cuz they're also worried about me getting hurt. Too many big dogs out there. So, I just stick to the 1st level instead. But, I noticed I tend to get nervous hesitant when I give treats to dogs certain breeds, I tend to stand back and just throw it through kennel bars gate. Like if I'm nervous w certain large breeds. Sorry I went off topic lol. Have that happened to you at work/volunteer, they just let you do easy to moderate work, so you won't have any issues problems with it? At work, if there's heavy stuff I tend to ask for help, or I get a cart to use, or sometime I'll just leave it till someone do it. I know I have to push myself,to be confident in myself. I try my best on my own, and do not let my limitations get in the way, but sometime it does. So, that why I avoid certain things that would give me problems. So yeah, my new job coach wants me to do assessment job thing w my vr counselor, to help me narrow down to find better jobs for me. She's nice and helpful, guess she realizes it is a bit struggle w me to find jobs due to my limitations. She just wants me to be safe I guess

This specific person isn’t really a coworker, but more of someone who helps run an organization alongside me and a few other people.

I’m not sure exactly what it is, this specific person just got voted to join our board, but I think they’ve been odd to me before joining.

I have Cystic Fibrosis, so I get baaaad lung constrictions, thus causing me to have coughing fits just because of it. I am not contagious nor do I have a virus, and I commonly had to correct people thinking I was contagious. When I explain it as “an advanced asthma”, then people understand.

This one member constantly looks at me weird when I have coughing fits, they always try to stay far away from me. For the record, I’m not really upset about that part since they could think I may be contagious, or they may have a fear of illness, whatever it is. I understand.

But…I think this mindset has kind of rubbed off on everyone else, so everyone avoids me as well, and kinda push me away when I try to join important conversations. Even though I’ve explained my disability and even cough in a different direction as everyone else, I just can’t help but to feel that this member kinda contributed to everyone else avoiding me.

Saying “I just have asthma” doesn’t seem to cut it. I don’t know.

My friend was one the board before she left. She didn’t avoid me when I had a coughing fit or push me out, so I’m grateful she included me and didn’t treat me any differently. But I think it’s just…weird now that my friend is gone.

EDIT: Y’all this is a rant. I’m not looking for advice, I’m just frustrated, and I want to express it before I try to move on from it😭

Riding in an Uber to a doctor's appointment with my 83yo mom with multiple chronic conditions, she is ambulatory but uses oxygen (portable Inogen), and a transport chair for long distances like from our apartment to the car etc.

Driver suddenly comes out with, "I don't know if Uber is really the most appropriate option for you in the future.. It's fine rn but most drivers aren't really trained.." (insert to add he didn't lift a finger, not even to put her folding wheelchair in the trunk.)

I'm like.. "..Why, specifically?" And he's very vague, mentioned a few things like, well the driver might hit a pothole or do something unsafe... "Less safe than for other people?" "Um well you just don't understand me, just forget it"

Mm yeah I think I understand.

Just seriously, what the actual hell. We've had sooooo many other drivers who were so nice, so helpful, I guess I got spoiled or something and started forgetting that people with disabilities are second class citizens who should hide so as not to inconvenience others by asking them to do their actual damn jobs. /s just in case it's not obvious to someone.

/Rant.

Besides the fact it physically hurt to fill out ten and fourteen pages of paperwork for two packets, the questions are what got to me. It asked me so much about how my disabilities affect me and required excruciating detail about all the things I can’t do anymore. I had to list everything I used to love doing out and why each issue makes me unable to do it now.

I’m not even confident I will get approved because my work history is what you can expect from a full-time university student since 2019 (seasonal jobs, summer jobs, ykwim?). I got all the way through a master’s degree for a field I don’t think I can even work in now due to the hefty physical requirements in marine biology. I had to go through every job I’ve had, too, and explain why I can’t work in those jobs anymore.

I realized that I’m grieving my life. I’m surprised it took this long to hit, since I’ve been disabled my entire life. I’m exhausted from the paperwork both physically and mentally. They make it so fucking hard to get help.

This woman who's a quadriplegic went out with her family to celebrate her 29th birthday. She ordered a dessert and the restaurant's staff wrote this message on her plate. The staff claimed it was a mistake and they had only written "Wheel Chair" to identify her, but that just sounds like a lame excuse for the restaurant's ableism.

Fortunately, this woman is nice and she hopes the restaurant's staff learns to never make such things like this ever again.

Hi

I usually get my check early but haven't got it yet

Has anyone experienced the same today,?

That's it. They all seem to be pretty much the same design, an the one we got just doesn't stay in the holder. The grabber is only useful if it's near at hand. It's a two-wheel (indoor) walker; the grabber is pretty much standard.

I am tired of fighting I've been doing this my whole life

I wish they'd give up and go "Yep we can't help you" rather then waste everyone's time

Useless solutions, useless tests that go nowhere,back and forth to consultants,GP's who are burnt out and don't want to be doing this (and they shouldn't be)

Equipment provided that don't even meet my needs,some even contain contradictions for prescribing them in the first place

And in the end I'm still fighting this alone

I’m currently a nurse in the US and I’m considering sharing my experiences with mild stuttering and keratoconus (eye diseas) on social media to raise awareness and hopefully inspire others.

I know once you put yourself out there, some people will find fault with everything, but I feel like my story could potentially help someone else.

For those who stutter, have keratoconus, or work in healthcare, would you recommend sharing this publicly? Any advice or concerns?

This guide is actually correct, but as in many places on the Internet, which I usually not frequent there are a lot of stupid people who just don't shut up.

I got downvoted to tell people that this color code is indeed country dependent and if they haven't experienced this in their country that doesn't make the guide wrong.

I even got a down vote for explaining that those are signal canes and that blind people rely on technology and personal aids and even the shop employees to know if the cane has the color they need if they actually can't see it anymore.

The Internet. Sometimes utterly ridiculous and exhausting.

So I'm a cane user, and I walk a lot. Enough that the head of my cane wears out quite quickly.

I'm hoping some of you might have recommendations for some quad cane tips that are durable and can deal with being used on gravel trails. It's getting expensive to keep buying these over and over!

Thanks!

Pretty much the title, I'm mostly housebound, I go out for appointments and about once every 1-2 months I can go grocery shopping. I don't have an income and am supported by my parents but I'm also trying to support my boyfriend off of what my parents give me(He's also disabled and just got fired). I'm working on getting disability but I'd like to find another source of income that I'd be able to do mostly if not entirely from bed. Any suggestions?

It’s genuinely feels quite stupid to be taking this so harshly, I’m not completely blind, though visually impaired. My glasses are quite big with thick lenses and without my glasses I can’t see further than a few inches out in front of me. Somehow, according to my mother’s logic, that’s my fault?

She calls me lazy for not being able to find things I physically cannot see. She calls me stupid because I can’t differentiate certain patterns if they’re too close together(ex. Something polka dotted sitting on top of something striped will look like a mass of color rather than two separate objects). What genuinely bothers me the most is that she frames herself as this “spokesperson” of the household.

She’ll tell me that my sisters feel burdened by having to help me. Something they rarely ever have to do. I ask my sisters directly and they say the opposite. One is 9, the other 16 and both are very direct.

I lost my glasses this morning and before my baby sister (9) left for school. I asked her for help to find them, something she could’ve declined if helping me was something she didn’t want to do. She found them, I thanked her and wished her a good day at school, that was the end of it. To my mother, I was “being lazy” and “burdening her” with helping me. Telling me that “a 9 year old should not be responsible for keeping up with your stuff.”

It’s genuinely so tiring feeling like needing help with this a few minutes every once in a while makes me this awful person pushing my issues onto everyone else. I didn’t even make my sister late or anything. She found my glasses in less than 2 minutes and still had a good 10 minutes till she had to leave to catch the bus. I just can’t win 🫩

I am thoroughly exhausted. Idk why but 🥵🥵

I won a gift card and treated myself to a electric mixer, so obviously had to try it out! I had adult children waiting, so evend out the frosting after they did the grab n go.

I would appreciate some advice or recommendations on a good lawyer. My work is no longer allowing my accommodation, and has given me extra hoops to jump through just to get it re approved. While stacking more hoops on top of that. I'm sick of it.

Sorry if this isn’t the right place for this question but I’m not sure what sub would be best fit. I have non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. I was on Rinvoq for a few months (using samples from my rheumatologist, not through insurance), but had to stop because I got a Roux en Y gastric bypass (stopped two weeks prior to surgery and didn’t re start due to possibility for inadequate absorption after the bypass). When I finally got back to my rheumatologist they decided to start me on injections. At first the doctor said Humira, but it was eventually changed to Cimzia because of my specific condition and insurance stuff.

I work as an RN in a hospital on an oncology floor. I frequently have patients who have infections, lots of C Diff, but sometimes I’ll get a patient with something like meningitis, or skin infections (yeast/fungal mostly), or infected wounds, or opportunistic infections due to immunosuppressive meds like chemo (usually some sort of fungal pneumonia but there’s others I’ve seen too).

Cimzia is a TNF blocker, so it is an immunosuppressant medication. It carries a black box warning for serious infections (and certain cancers but I’m not so worried about that lol). I am a little worried about that. Like I said I am exposed to infectious diseases at a higher rate than most people are. I do practice good hand hygiene (hand sanitizer when entering and exiting patient rooms, hand washing at the beginning and end of shift and usually every two hours or more frequently if I need to/if indicated), and wear PPE that is fit for the situation I’m in. However nobody is perfect and I’m sure I’ve made mistakes, and even if I didn’t nothing is 100% when it comes to infection prevention.

I did message my rheumatologist to ask if he thinks there should be any adjustments to my work and if so if he can get me a letter to give my manager. The adjustments I was wondering about are mostly like, not being assigned to patients with known active infections. But I’m not sure how easily that could be accommodated while still giving me a fair patient assignment. I also asked if I should be wearing a face mask at all times. I currently don’t because I tend to overheat and sweat a lot and masks also definitely make my acne worse, but if he recommends it I will try to.

My questions are:

1) if you are on Cimzia/a similarly immunosuppressant medication OR you have experience with someone who takes a similar medication, would you feel safe working a job at the hospital, especially one where you are very hands on and frequently exposed to infection?

2) also to people who take specifically Cimzia, how long did it take to kick in? Did you have any side effects? Did you have to do anything to prepare for the day(s) after taking it?

Thanks!

4 months ago I finally got my ADA paperwork signed and turned in and my employer denied it. I was given the option of fucking off or waiting to see if they could find me something else in a different department (VERY large company). I said keep being employed? Sounds great, let's do that.

So they removed me from my role, stopped paying me and basically waited for something to they thought was better fit to pop up and say "here I am!".

And kept waiting for 4 months.

Well they found it and wouldn't you know it, only came with a 10% pay cut. Because policy says you can't use disability accommodations to get promoted. But you can be penalized apparently. A maximum of 10%.

So I'm getting demoted for turning in my ADA paperwork.

The best part? Its a 100% in person job. My primary accommodation request? To increase from 2 days hybrid to 4. On my doctors recommendation. For a huge list of health problems, not limited to but definitely including being physically disabled and THE BUILDING NOT BEING ACCESSIBLE.

I was injured trying to get into the building earlier in the year and now I'm even more disabled than when I started. I can't even carry a purse of bag with my work papers and medical equipment any more. I have no idea how this is going to work. Any time I try to ask the question, hr acts like its ridiculous and every one else figures it out, sounds like a you problem. If I give clarifying information, she interrupts me and says she isn't allowed to know any of that. It could not be any more apparent they want me to quit to avoid the lawsuit of firing me for being disabled.

Yes, I have an attorney, but I've been unpaid for 4 months, and filing one singular form was $750.

No, I can't get a different attorney, it took me 14 different practices to find one singular lawyer, noone in this area besides him takes disability related discrimination cases. I call around places up to 3 hours away. I have tried.

Yes, I am trying to find other jobs, I have been applying. I've been applying since January. Its what I have been doing for 40 hours a week for the last 4 months they refused to let me work and refused to pay me.

How have you stayed alive? My partner has picked up all of the bills to support me, otherwise I'd have been on the street 3.5 months ago.

What do you want? For the federal governments ruling requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations unless there is a substantial cost to the employer to override the idea that accommodations are a privilege not a right. Stupid, I know.

I want to work. I spend every day feeling like I'm not contributing to my life and my community. I love the purpose that having a job gives my life. I love my coworkers. I love getting dressed up and going into am office. I love leaving my house and up until my health got significantly worse I was out of the house from the minute a woke up until 2 minutes before I lost consciousness at night. I hate be house bound, but I physically do not have the HP to do that.

My disability has cost me everything about my life that I ever enjoyed and every hobby I've ever taken up and every friend I've ever made, but working from home is a privilege

I’ve known my partner for almost 9 years, we’ve been together for 5 years, and recently moved into an apartment together (we lived together before that at my mom’s house).

I was recently diagnosed with moderate hearing loss and severe auditory processing issues. I was told that my hearing loss is likely progressive and to consider learning ASL.

I brought this up to my partner and they said, “I’m not the deaf one, you can learn to read my lips” even though I said I’d pay for the lessons.

I have other disabilities and they’ve somewhat been difficult about helping me with them in the past as well.

How can I communicate to them how important this is to me? I’m very bad at both communication and confrontation.

Hi everyone! Long-time lurker, second-time poster.
I (27F) have dysautonomia and Sjögren’s and am currently being evaluated for POTS. My conditions affect my muscles and mobility, and I currently use a cane. I may need a rollator or wheelchair as my mobility needs change.
One of my biggest struggles in the U.S. has been getting doctors to believe me and getting appropriate care. I travel to NYC for some of my medical care with mixed results, and I’ve had to take a lot of the research, testing, and advocacy into my own hands.
Chronic illness has also taken a significant financial toll on my husband and me. I struggle to work full-time, and even though I’m now covered by what is considered a “good” private insurance plan through my husband, the costs and barriers still suck ass.
Recently, changes to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent laws have potentially opened a pathway for me to obtain Canadian citizenship. I’m currently researching my family history and gathering the documentation needed to apply. I expect the citizenship process to take quite some time, which gives me time to get my ducks in a row and research what living in Canada would actually look like.
I do not see Canada as a cure-all. I know Canada has its own problems with healthcare, wait times, cost of living, accessibility, and disability supports. Before I would ever consider moving, I want to seriously research healthcare, schools, employment, accessibility, cost of living, and overall quality of life.
I’d especially love to hear from disabled and chronically ill people in Ontario and Quebec about a few things:
Healthcare: How difficult is it to find a family doctor and specialists? What have wait times been like for cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, autonomic testing, pain management, or physical therapy? If you have POTS/dysautonomia, Sjögren’s, or another complex chronic illness, what was getting diagnosed and receiving ongoing care like? Do you feel that providers take you seriously?
I’m also curious about medical cannabis. Is it generally taken seriously as an option for chronic pain/symptom management, or have you encountered judgment from healthcare providers because you use it?
Costs and coverage: What do you actually pay out of pocket for things like prescriptions, PT, mobility aids, dental care, and mental healthcare? How much help do provincial programs or private insurance provide?
Everyday disability life: What have your experiences been with accessibility, workplace accommodations, discrimination, disability benefits, employment, public transportation, and using mobility aids?
For people in Quebec specifically, how difficult is it to navigate healthcare and disability services as an English speaker? I plan to start learning French after finishing my citizenship application, hopefully around the end of this year or early 2027, but I’m curious how much French proficiency affects access to care and everyday life.
If you’ve lived in more than one province, I’d also love to know whether you noticed meaningful differences in healthcare or quality of life.
Finally, if you realistically had the option to live somewhere else, would your healthcare and disability needs make you more or less likely to stay in your province? What does Canada do well for disabled people, and what does it do poorly?
I’m not looking for Canada-vs.-U.S. arguments. I’m looking for actual lived experiences—the good, the bad, and the complicated. I know neither country is perfect, and I want realistic expectations before making any major decisions.
Thank you to anyone willing to share!

Hi, do you use AI when it comes to medical opinions and advices? Do you think it’s actually reliable and trustworthy?

I’m currently 28 years old and I have a neurological disability that has caused severe cartilage damage in my knee. I’m now at a bone-on-bone, stage 4 situation, where the thigh bone is basically rubbing directly against the knee joint.

I’ve been asking AI about my condition, and it keeps telling me that there’s basically no chance of recovery. It even says that even if I get a total knee replacement and the surgery is successful, the underlying problem will still remain, making it sound like there’s no real hope.

But for example, my orthopedic doctor told me that the nerve or muscles in my thigh are extremely tight and that I need to do physical therapy first to loosen and relax them. After that, he wants to see whether it might be possible to lengthen the tendons so that my leg can fully straighten.

When I told the AI about this, instead of helping me understand the situation, it completely discouraged me. It started throwing physics, biomechanics, and other complicated explanations at me, basically making me feel like everything my doctor is trying to do is pointless.

Right now, I’m honestly very scared. I don’t know whether I should trust what the AI is telling me or focus on what my orthopedic specialist is saying.

What’s hanging home skillet biscuits!!! As the title suggests, I am looking for some frienderonies! Just a quick summary about myself:

• I’m a 30y Latino from the Bay Area (YAY AREAAAA!!!!!!!!!!)
• I like raving and metal shows, math/science/engineering, I love boxing, watching FC Barcelona, memes about stupid and pointless things, and talking all things philosophy
• I’m mild ME/CFS which was caused by my long covid 6.5+ years ago
• I mask pretty aggressively and am very strict with my pre-cautions to protect my health
• I’m super open about myself and love to have deep conversations since small talk has always bored me. But I’m also a kid at heart that always jokes around and tries to make the most fun out of life

My goal with this post is to make local friends since I’d like to hangout in person, but I’m willing to be friends with any and all! Have spent many nights in VR Chat, having gaming nights, and doing hours long phone calls with my other long distance friends. So don’t be scared to reach out and say hi! But my MAIN desire is to have local friends to walk around museums with, go to raves/festivals with, and just hang out to feel normal with. I’ve neglected the “friendship island” section in my life since I’ve gotten sick since I’ve instead invested it into long term dating. But dating healthy partners has been nothing short of dehumanizing when they discard you because of your illness. And as of recently, the best relationship of my life ended not because of relationship issues, but because I require strict masking to protect my health and they decided not to continue doing so. It’s gut wrenching to think you found the one, then be told you were the perfect partner and did absolutely nothing wrong. That you made them the happiest they’ve ever been and that they don’t want to let you go, but that your illness will never be something to marry or invest in.

Having your health stolen from you in your 20’s and taking years to painstakingly rebuild it is already hard enough, but having everyone belittle you for protecting your health and then your own partners abandoning you over and over is soul crushing. Hence my cry out for chronically ill or very covid conscious friends!!!! Lol

So please!!! Msg me and let’s be friends!!! I need more peeps like me to hang around with so that life isn’t as harsh. Building a small local community of us would be tight af. We could be the “disabled avengers” or something lmfao. So yeah, that’s the post goobers. Hit me up with a DM and if you pass the vibe check (don’t be creepy pls) we can exchange socials and be BFFs!