Understanding Disability: What Abled-Bodied People Need to Know

That I’m not saying I’m disabled just to say it/be quirky etc I have several conditions that are considered disabilities on their own and every day is a struggle even if it doesn’t look like it from the outside

That’s it’s not a phenomenon for a young person to have pain. And that it’s incredibly rude to stare at me because I have a cane and am not 100 years old.

When you’re depressed and anxious doing the bare minimum to try to take care of yourself pulls so much energy from you that it’s hard to maintain relationships

I wish they understand not all brains work the same, we know so little about our nervous system and brain functions that it’s almost scary. I wish they understood that everyone is doing their best in their own way

The fact that you can't infantalize us

That just because they can do something no problem, doesn't mean everyone else can. I hate the condescending "it's not even that heavy" or "this is so easy". Sure, it's easy for you, congratulations 🎉, but did I ask?

The fact that just because I look young doesn't mean that my body doesn't hurt 24/7 and that I wish people would just stop saying that I'm too young to be in pain like I say I am. Yes I know I'm too young but my body has other plans

Aside from the seizures I’m mostly abled, but I just really wish when myself or someone else says they can’t do something that seems simple/easy people would believe it. Sometimes I genuinely can’t hold breakables or anything more than a pound and people don’t get it until it’s on the ground because my arm gave out.

I wish they understand that we are not in control of our disabilities and it is harder on us than they think it is.