I have had what some people would call a disability basically my whole life. As a child I was diagnosed with medication resistant depression and anxiety. If anyone had asked me at any point during that time if I felt disabled, I would have said no. I felt like I was able to do all of the things I should be able to do, thus I was not disabled. This completely ignores the fact that I was not in fact able to do the things I should have been able to do like feed myself and attend to my own needs.

At 23 the psychiatrists figured out that I was not resistant to medication, you just can’t SSRI your way out of ADHD and a shitty home life. After finding out I had ADHD, I would still not have classified myself as disabled because I felt like I had lived this long without needing help, I can keep living the same way. Nevermind the fact I need a militia of coping strategies to get through the day.

On the first of August I went for one of my usual walks. I started feeling intense pain in my hip. I figured if I ignored it, it would go away. Eventually the pain spread and now I have 3 distinct kinds of pain, I am in enough pain to be uncomfortable all of the time, I am not sleeping, I have moments throughout the day where I feel like I am forgetting to breathe, and i have times where my legs feel weak or tremble. For the first time in my life if I were asked if I feel disabled, the answer would be absolutely. I feel useless. Every doctor I talk to thinks the problem is a different thing. I am no closer to resolving this. I just started a PhD program and I am already falling behind because my body is preventing me from getting anything done. There have been several times I have had to send up a prayer to God to help me get home without falling asleep behind the wheel. I am not capable of taking care of myself like this and it makes me so pissed off.

My primary doc said no hospital in my area is accepting referrals for patients with CP. This is really bizarre and my doctor is trying to find a solution.

So I have two lab classes this semester (microbiology and organic chemistry). I also became a forearm crutches user earlier this year (they were prescribed by my doctor after my PT’s recommendation, although I don’t have an official diagnosis yet). Today was the first day since getting the crutches that I’ve had an actual lab (since last week was basically rules/procedures and safety presentations). A few times if I needed to carry things I basically just used the chair at my space to roll myself around (although I had to use the crutches to propel myself since my legs are too short to reach the ground and the chairs aren’t height adjustable meaning that everything had to go in my lap if I did this trick). However, once we were out of the beginning phase this was no longer viable since people tended to crowd around the stations, resulting in there being no space for me to pull up a chair. This is made worse by the fact that there’s barely any surface space for me to put down my tablet to write down observations. Beforehand I had bought myself a tablet stand that’s meant for mounting a tablet to a table and put it on one of my crutches. However, this was only meant to help me carry the tablet around and turned out to be a nightmare to take notes on (I basically had to use the hand opposite of the one with the stand on it to avoid moving the tablet while taking notes, which which leaves me with zero hands available to do the actual experiment, not to mention that only using one crutch for weight bearing is quite difficult since I don’t have as much stability). It took me double the time of everyone else to finish the experiment and while it wasn’t a big deal today since it was one of the shorter experiments, I’m really concerned about the possibility of running out of time in the future (not to mention that I’d really like to preserve as much of my sanity as possible and frankly lab environments + sensory issues are not a great combination). So basically, I’m just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to make the labs less of a nightmare. For the organic lab the professor has suggested relying on my lab partner to bring over the reagents, but the concern of running out of time still stands (meanwhile the microbiology lab doesn’t have lab partners and has a mixture of group labs that you do with the people at your table and independent labs that you have to do by yourself).

Edit: I forgot to mention that the trick with the wheeled desk chair only works in microbiology lab. The organic chemistry lab doesn’t have chairs (meaning I have to stand the whole time for a 4 hour class) and all the experiments take place inside of fume hoods, which are much higher off the ground than the tables in microbiology. So even if I did get one of those same chairs for the organic lab, idk if I’d be tall enough to reach the fume hoods (especially since they’re difficult for me to reach even while standing).

So I’ve got a few concerts coming up in the next couple of months and for two of them there is no more accessible seats available. I can’t stand for the whole time as I’ll be unable to move for the next few days if I do but for one of them I’ve already booked non-refundable accommodation (I know, I should’ve sorted it out first but I emailed them and then realised I never got a response). Also these are two of my favourite artists and I’ll be devastated if I miss the shows. Any advice on what I should do? Edit: I probably should’ve mentioned I’m a cane user

2024 was rough, I had a TBI, and our kid had cancer. I don’t work most of the year and forced myself to go back to work before my doc wanted me to.

2025, love my job, coworkers are terrible. We’ve had issues and they will not do anything about rule violations, but I got written up for my conduct. I’ve been applying for at least 10+ a day, no results, but Mentally it’s becoming too much.

I find myself wishing I’d get in a car accident to prevent myself from having to go to work, I find myself waking up in a full blown panic attack, my points are racking up because I just mentally can not do it anymore. I’ve tried to find another position, talked to my boss, talked to our higher managers, and I cannot find anything else.

I have a history of depression, and am on meds for it, but at this point, I just sob the whole way to work and feel sick to my stomach constantly.

I cannot afford to just quit.

I applied at the beginning of May. This is the updates. But no real movement. Is this normal? Who do I talk to to find out what in the heck is going on

i need advice dealing with her now and in the future should i hide her hand with clothes or should i raise her like anyone the problem is dealing with strangers and other kids iam afraid with their harmful strange look to her, should i raise her not caring about them and thanks in advance

I'm a guy with a physical disability and I'm looking to date a woman and it's been so tough.

I need help figuring out a way to best help myself in the situation I am in currently. I am a 38 year old disabled woman living in FL who has become homeless and I am having a really hard time finding help with this. I am in serious need of indoor shelter/housing all that is available in the area shelters is outdoor living and I medically cannot be in the heat. I also need to figure out the best lawyer option for me to contact for help. I was in a DV situation and am having my illnesses and disabilities used against me in criminal court so I have been trying to find a place indoors for me to stay that’s safe and to try and find an attorney to help me out with this situation. I would greatly appreciate any advice and thank you for reading.

I booked a flight for a friend of mine last month and requested pre-board ahead of time, which was granted. I was on the phone with my friend while they were at the Southwest ticketing counter. During their conversation with the ticketing agent, they specifically requested pre-boarding and gate transfer assistance when they arrived at Las Vegas.

Upon arriving to the Las Vegas airport with a multiple hour layover, they were not greeted with any agent that would provide assistance, nor was she provided with any sort of instruction on how to make contact with an agent upon arrival at LAS. Initially they were set at a nearby B gate. The gate changed without notice to a gate in the C terminal and eventually switched back to a B gate without notice, and then to, I believe, another B gate, again without notice, though it could have very briefly went to a C gate again before that. During this time, I had to direct her, using an online map, the exact directions to take to get to each gate. She took the wrong turn on at least two occasions.

They could not locate a gate agent anywhere during this situation, and once she did, the agent was extremely rude and refused to speak with me on the phone so I could communicate needs related to her disability, as she was unable to effectively communicate for herself, being overwhelmed by the environment of a large airport and under extreme stress. Friend in question literally started having a pnaic attack because of this agent. I put her on the phone with a friend to help calm her, and called the Southwest customer service number, who advised me they could not assist and that she should find another gate agent. I called her back. After 10-15 minutes of wandering to other gates, she finally located a different Southwest agent; they were extremely hesitant to talk to them after being traumatized by the first agent. This gate agent also refused to speak to me directly, but I had her put me on speaker phone. They were able to get some sort of supervisor. They, fortunately, stumbled upon the new correct gate.

What did Southwest offer for this breach of contract and extremely traumatizing experience for everyone involved? A travel voucher for $150 and no promise of future accessibility training.

Tl;dr, don't fly Southwest if you have a disability and require accommodation. The July 2025 Air Travel Consumer Report shows five civil rights complaints for Southwest in April alone. Since they're switching their model to be like every other airline and are now running more expensive in some cases, there's not really a reason to use them anyways, but particularly if you have a disability, don't use them.

Edit: I was reading the wrong section; twenty-eight disability complaints in May. Second in disability complaint volume and the fourth largest domestic airline.

When you look at people of color, women, trans, and homosexual, they stand as one and protect each other.

Not so much with those who have disabilities. Being born with a facial deformity has brought many challenges, from school to social life and even workplaces. I've tried talking with other groups about how the treatment myself and many others get is uncalled for and needs to be fought, many agree, but say its a battle we won't win or, even worse, is they don't see a problem with it and are OK with the corner the rest of society has put them in.

Until we are one. Our voice will never be heard.

I 26f have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, autism, PTSD, PCOS, HS, endometriosis, chronic migraines, depression, anxiety, POTS symptoms. I got denied for disability through the state, and now we are having to speak with a lawyer to appeal it. I’m just getting so frustrated. They deny people who really need it and make them fight. I am so sick and tired of fighting. The state thinks I can work, which I cannot. Thanks for listening.

TLDR: i know a little but dont know where to research, any resource is accepted and thank you!!

I always research and read things but most of the resources that search motors put is mostly from hospitals doctors and parents' websites so i directly wanted to ask you! (If thats ok)

Even though i know some things (a little) i wanna start as a beginner, but every level is ok because i will write it down and read when i need to (I wanna learn as a beginner because my fundamentals may be wrong so i need a strong foundation)

I accept everything for example key words that i can use when searching, articles, peoples experiences, books (audio or e book), videos, documentaries, resources lists like where they put links about subjects, etc etc.

Thank you!!

Throwaway to protect my kid’s privacy. 

I am the parent of a young child with a disability. They are enrolled in an American public school and we are setting up a 504 for them for the first time. They do not quality for an IEP, and so cannot receive the funding set aside for IEPs.Every conversation I have with my kid’s teachers or the assistant principal, who is handling the 504s, leaves me feeling like a pain in the ass for advocating for my kid. Yes, the adaptive equipment they need to participate equitably and safely isn’t cheap and I am sorry about that. I know they don’t understand my kid’s needs and abilities; it takes a shit-ton of time to do so. I too wish we had a more accessible world with easier access to affordable, accessible equipment. I too wish I could just buy the equipment myself, but I don’t have the money because, surprise, living with a disability in America is expensive.

Other parents of young kids I’ve talked to emphasize that it is the school’s legal responsibility and that they have to just get over the “inconvenience.” But I don’t want my kid feeling like they’re inconveniencing everyone if the grownups around them aren’t good at being professional. And I don’t want to be seen as the parent administration avoids working with. I don’t know how to advocate for my kid while still maintaining a positive relationship with their teachers. And if that just might not be possible in my school or district, I don’t know how to accept it and move forward. I mean, I will. Nothing will keep me from advocating for my kid, but I want to know if there is a way to try and make it feel like we’re all on the same side, because right now, it really really doesn’t.

FWIW, I also try to be as gracious and grateful as possible. I volunteer as often as I can. I donate snacks and supplies and buy teacher gifts as often as I’m able.

You could probably guess this, but we’re in a rural part of a red state that dramatically underfunds education, and my kid’s teachers have had an especially hard time not letting their conservative politics slip. I can’t help but think, despite being educators, they kind of don’t actually give a shit about providing my kid–or any other kids–equal access to an education, and they are champing at the bit for legal protections for kids with disabilities to be eviscerated so they don’t have to deal with situations like ours anymore.

So is there a way to not have an adversarial-feeling relationship with school administration? And if there isn’t, is there a route to acceptance of that fact?

I feel like celebrities sharing their struggles (like Christina with multiple sclerosis) helps people talk more openly about illness. Do you agree?

My son has DMD (muscular dystrophy) and we are looking to make his independent life easier, I've searched everywhere for a front door that automatically opens with a fob, not just unlocks but actually physically opens. I've found automatically closing, automatically unlocking but none that will automatically unlock and open. Has anyone got a door like this or heard of/know where we could look for a door like this?

I go to a small-ish university, and over the summer they removed a lot of handicapped parking spots. Went from about 15 to 6 on about a 400 yard street. Some of the spots were over the ADA incline requirement. They also restructured the student parking lots and removed about 5 more spots.

My problem is that the only parking available for me to use is far away and only has very limited handicapped parking. I have extremely muscle weaknesses and cannot walk further than about 20 yards. They took away the handicapped spots without supplying other parking solutions for disabled students. I am only 2 days in and I already had to sit down on the sidewalk because I was unable to walk the distance to my class.

There is a faculty lot that is right behind the building I spend all my time in & also is close to the entrance with the elevator. (It is never full)

Is there anything I can do about the parking situation? Any ADA regulations I can reference? Or how would I go about asking for access to the faculty parking lots?

Hi everyone,

My mom is 75 years old and has several vision problems: in one eye, she has a retinal detachment, in the other, macular degeneration, and she was also diagnosed with glaucoma in one of them (I don’t remember which). She underwent surgery and a series of eye injections for a few months. According to the doctor, it stabilized her condition, but didn’t improve her vision much.

The thing is, she has always been very active and loves cooking, but now she’s struggling with simple tasks. The other day she told me crying that she can’t even see the thin skin of garlic when she peels it. She also can’t use her phone properly, the glasses she got didn’t help, and she’s stopped using WhatsApp, which makes communication very difficult. I live in another city, so my older siblings are the ones taking care of her in person.

I’m very worried, especially about her emotional well-being: she’s told me she’s afraid of losing her vision completely, and I’m afraid this could lead to isolation, depression, and a loss of purpose in her daily life.

I gave her my Alexa, which helps with some things (music, medication reminders, timers in the kitchen, weather updates, etc.), but clearly it’s not enough.

My questions: • How can I support her in this situation without making her feel isolated or incapable? • Does anyone recommend phones or tablets that are more accessible for elderly people with low vision? (I’m currently unemployed, but I plan to buy one for her as soon as possible.) • Any resources or adaptations for the kitchen or hobbies? (She loves cooking… she was a pastry chef for over 50 years.) • How do you care for the emotional well-being of an elderly person facing this fear of blindness? • Has anyone gone through something similar, and what worked for you?

Honestly, it hurts me so much, and I find myself crying out of sadness, frustration, and despair more often than I’d like. I wish I could do more for her… if it were possible, I would have given her at least one of my eyes. We don’t have anyone with visual impairment in the family, so this is all new to us. Any advice or shared experiences would help a lot. Thank you in advance 🙏

My dear cat has picked up on when I flare up as well as when I need to sit down (she usually brings me to the sofa)or face consequences and she pesters me until I sit and then watchs me like a hawk to make sure I do get up until my body has recovered enough to stand but if im having a flare she brings me to bed to sleep/rest and checks up on me throughout the day aswell as harassing me to get back to bed if im up to long; none of this behavior is trained but I'm happy that she cares so much about me that she's willing to stop playing with me (even though I'm her favorite person to play with) just to get to me sit down when I start to get uncomfortable. I love my baby soooo much she's so smart and sweet.

Let me know if you guys want a picture of my "service" cat lol her name is mittens :)

tl:dr my cat has figured out when I don't feel well and makes sure I sit/rest when I over do it and I love her for it because it means she cares about me alot

I was homeless but not unhoused as my sister’s aunt took me in.