One Way To Be An Ally To Disabled Queer People:

One way to be an ally to disabled queer people:

If you want to attend a pride event, ask about their accessibility plans and policies.

Ask about their covid policies. Ask if they are accessible to mobility aid users. Ask if they will have strobe lights, if there will be bathrooms, if there is water. Make the event planners consider who they may have left out, even if the person being left out isn't you. Have your friends ask as well. Help create a demand. Help get conversations started. Help people see where things could be more accessible.

Because when we, the disabled, ask these questions? We're much more likely to get ignored, and much less likely to be heard when we raise hell.

So help us raise hell when we need it. Demand to know why your local Pride event isn't requiring masks, or is charging for water, or doesn't have wheelchair ramps, or whatever other accessibility issue you catch.

Stop leaving us behind. We need your fucking help.

Having POTS fucking sucks all the time but especially in summer omg

It’s so hot out and I feel like I’m constantly on the verge of passing out (still haven’t though so I consider myself a little lucky) it feels like I’m running a goddamn marathon

Why do abled people always fucking suggest the most basic things to “fix” disabled people’s problems/disabilities and act like they know better than we do???

If you, a person who does not live with the disability you’re trying to “fix”, can think of a solution off the top of your head without any research, experience, or even trying to actually understand what we have tried and what we’re actually dealing with don’t you think that we might’ve already or are already trying that???

For me this comes most from my mother saying that I need to change my diet (even though I have so many sensory issues surrounding food and have tried and failed so many times), that I need to lose weight (ma’am I am trying), that I should try stretching (you know what I’ve tried that for years and guess what it just stretches my ligaments because I’m fucking hypermobile and it ends up causes me more pain), that I need to exercise more (I’m trying but I’m also limited by pain. Pain that keeps me from being able to exercise most of the time. Pain that usually gets worse when I try to exercise), that I should try to not use my mobility aids because I’ll become reliant on them (ma’am they help me. They are not hurting me. They are what keeps me able to do stuff you want me to be able to do. Why should I try to not use them???), and so much fucking more

Like seriously abled people stop pretending you know our bodies better than we do I promise you you don’t. Even doctors (as shit as they might be) are supposed to listen to us before they even start to make recommendations (yeah many don’t but they’re supposed to)

Why the fuck does this dmv not have chairs (i know some dmvs do but in my experience they only gave them to seniors and people with children and those with visible disabilities and I don’t bring my mobility aids cause I’m worried probably for no reason of being some kind of denied or poorly treated or something idk ). I have been standing for an hour and I am in pain but I know if I sit on the ground I probably won’t be able to get up. gahhhh. also the accessible entrance is literally so far from the main entrance like wtf. Also also it’s hot in here cause if so many goddamn people

Why are spaces that are meant to accommodate so many different types of people so damn inaccessible

Felt like I might as well make an intro post to pin on my page so here goes…

Heyo! I’m Lia and I am a 20 year old disabled college student studying marine biology!

So some stuff about me:

- I swear A LOT so please keep that in mind it’s a big part of how I speak. I will do my best be respectful on other people’s blogs and posts when they request I not swear/curse but this is my blog and as such I will speak how I wish

- If I do ever say something offensive please please please let me know and I will adjust accordingly l want to learn and do better

- I am a saphic/lesbian/queer nonbinary/agender person (I have a wonderful girlfriend whom I love very much (they use they/them pronouns))

- I use any pronouns though people typically use she/they pronouns for me based on how I present though I do kinda want to try out ‘e/‘im/‘is pronouns as those resonate with me

- I am a mobility aid user (cane and forearm crutches)

- I am physically disabled and deal with a lot of chronic pain and hypermobility as well as POTS

- I am also autistic (relatively low support needs)

- I have a lot of special interests which I’ll list below

- I’m a massive nerd and bookworm

- I consider myself a bit of a maker (I like to recreate movie props for display and cosplay) and everything I’ve made I’ve made completely by hand (no 3D printing) out of cardboard and EVA foam and hot glue/superglue

- I am super open about a lot of things so you can ask me anything you want and of course if I don’t want to answer it I won’t and this section is always subject to change based on evolving boundaries and what not so if something ends up making me uncomfortable I will probably update this to ask that I not be asked about that

- I talk a lot about my struggles as a disabled person and a lot about accessibility but I am also very new to accepting that I am disabled so again if I misspeak or anything please correct me

The special interests I can think of right now are

- marine biology

- biology in general

- the ocean in general

- corals and jellyfish (Cnidarians)

- scuba diving and snorkeling

- stuffed animals

- books (especially fantasy and dystopian and science fiction)

- comics and graphic novels

- cartoons (specifically Scooby-Doo and Phineas and Ferb)

- TV (mythbusters and dirty jobs being the longest running ones)

- disability rights and accessibility (relatively new)

- marvel and dc movies

- recreating movie props

- Scooby-Doo again cause I feel like I need to emphasize that

- Access, equity, and equality in education

- weird facts about anything and everything (I know a little bit about a shit load of things)

- Punk music and culture (I don’t really “look” punk (to me though there isn’t really one way to look punk) but I definitely feel very aligned with it)

- D&D

Many of these interests I’ve had since I was a young child but some of my former interests include:

- construction (specifically construction equipment)

- physics (this one has been lost due to my disdain for physics classes I still find it interesting but geez I am bad at physics omg)

- Chemistry (I still like it I’m just not obsessed with it anymore)

- Baseball (I still love the sport and watch it when I can but again it’s not an active special interest)

You are not gross, or bad, if you struggle with hygenine. Its okay! Last night I brushed my teeth, which was a big achievement for me! Whatever achievement you made, I'm proud of you. And if you didnt make an achievement, I'm still proud of you. I love you so much, and your ability to take care of yourself is irrelevant to that love. /p