Who else felt like this was a long month? I spent so much time at work, learning marketing and doing tasks for clients. I only had time to write one article this month. Thus, I didn’t get to read many disability articles for the January 2021 roundup. Because of this, today’s post will be a little shorter.
Do the subheadings make sense? Well… Give me a break! It’s been a long month.
All collage pictures from Pexels
Advice and Things to Re-Evaluate
Why I Celebrate Assistive Devices (My Rockin’ Disabled Life)
Life with an assistive device is far better than life without help. Here are some reasons why we should stop seeing wheelchairs and other mobility devices as sad things.
On Ghosts and Disability (Lane on Wheels)
Have you ever wondered about etiquette when it comes to people with disabilities? Here’s a big tip: don’t pretend like the person doesn’t exist.
Stress and Self-Care for People with Epilepsy (EpiFinder)
This one is by my lovely coworker, Amanda Munson! Amanda discusses self-care tips for people with epilepsy. Honestly, these tips could help anyone regardless of disability.
Understanding
You (Downright Joy)
This one probably falls into the realm of prosody. Alison Morley describes the beauty of disabled people and the language people claim for themselves.
The “waking up from a nightmare” experience (Sensitivity Is Strength)
This story is less about disability. However, many people with disabilities and mental health issues may appreciate it. Luke describes the experience of moving to a better environment. If you have trauma, then it might take time for your brain to catch up with a safer situation.
Does Occupational Therapy Desensitize My Child? (Moonlight Sensory Adventures)
This educational post highlights precisely how occupational therapy helps. If sensory processing disorder causes your body to overreact, then OT helps it calm down. I love how the article breaks things down into simple terms.*
*At least, I think it does. As an English nerd, I’m not always the best judge of that.
I hope you enjoyed the January 2021 disability roundup. I love reading what the community has to say.
What Have You Read?
What disability-related blog posts have you enjoyed this month? Share them here! Show off your own writing or share appreciation for a friend. (You don’t need to be shy!)
We’ve gotten through another month together. Let’s hope the next month is a good one!
Thank you for including my post Jenna. I was happily surprised to find you found that post one of the best in January. Your monthly reads offer a great service to the disability community. Please, keep up your great work. Peace and much love my friend, Lane ☮️💚🌀
You’re welcome! I think, for people like me who don’t use wheelchairs, there’s always a little bit of confusion about what how to act. How do you use good manners? Do you help, let them be, or do whatever you can to avoid staring? Should you help with the door, or would they rather be left alone? Sometimes it’s pretty darn clear, and sometimes it isn’t.
The obvious solution is that people who don’t need wheelchairs should be listening to people who use them. If the rest of us can understand it, that’ll fix most of the problems. Reading your thoughts was useful to me for the next time I cross paths with a wheelchair user. I want it other people to get the same learning experience.
Maybe that way, fewer people will pretend that wheelchair users aren’t there. You’re not a ghost, and people should know better.