The first thing that I want to make very clear is that I *want* the public to do a better job of making things accessible. I know that even getting ramps, captions, image descriptions, and other basic essentials meant to allow people with physical disabilities to participate in society still has a long way to…
I shed many tears to unpack these memories of my wounds that are clearly still open just to write this blog. The subject of ableism is relevant to all aspects of life yet there is very little discussion. The subject is basically unchallenged by society. While many people are recognizing and studying racism, much less…
As of July 27, 2020, I am elated to announce that I am no longer in debt to my local hospitals. I’m also very angry that it’s taken as long as it has. To give you some background: I have Functional Neurological Disorder(FND), which is a relatively common (but rarely properly diagnosed) neurological condition that…
So, it’s once more time for A Chronic Voice’s monthly linkup. This month’s words are unlocking, limiting, studying, healing, and watching. This month, it felt really appropriate to focus in on our ability, as disabled folks, to help embody the changes that could help our country heal. Covid-19 has served to highlight the inequalities and…
I’ve written about why shame is often attached to utilizing social welfare programs. This post digs more deeply into truths we can recognize and mindsets we can embrace to help protect ourselves from that shame while we use these programs designed to help us. We all use Social welfare programs It’s interesting that we often…
Having a disability is nothing to be ashamed of. Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of. Getting help from our own government is nothing to be ashamed of. And yet, I’m sure you winced a little, internally, at one or more of these statements. Our society here in the US has put a lot…
This post was written by Kay Uchi, a black friend of mine(Alison). She is also disabled, and we decided to share some of her experiences with systemic racism in medical care. What follows is her story. The day my father died I remember my mom knocking on my bedroom door and asking me to examine…
There are many conditions that are directly associated with stress. While that includes most, if not all, mental illnesses, it also includes very physical conditions such as diabetes, many forms of coronary disease, and asthma, to name a few. Functional Neurological Disorder(FND) is also considered a stress-related condition. Today, let’s talk about how stress works,…
So, it’s once more time for A Chronic Voice’s monthly linkup. This month’s words are bothering, demanding, nourishing, telecommunicating, and tolerating. This month, it flowed out as the stresses I’m acknowledging in my life and how I’m muddling through. The negative ramifications of the word ‘bothering’ The word bothering, well, bothers me. The Miriam-webster definition…
I’m not sure why anybody would argue with this statement, but people do. As a disabled person, I’m furious about how very broken it is and how hard people have to work to be treated anything resembling properly. It shouldn’t be this hard, but it is – and it’s really important that we talk about…