Celebrate Disability Pride Month by learning how to be a better ally featuring Minuamu from Dirge for Broken Men on #WEBTOONCANVAS!
I made a little project with @webtoon on Twitter and Instagram !
(go give a like/RT on their account if you can!)
It was a tremendous amount of fun to make and everyone has been so sweet when planning this! A very big thank you to them for this opportunity!
How to be a Disability Ally! Special Edition: Autoimmune Conditions by @joshua-beeking
The information found on this post is for educational purposes only, & is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
What is an autoimmune disease?
It occurs when a dysfunctional immune system mistakes the body's own cells for harmful invaders. It produces cells & antibodies that attack, & damage healthy cells, tissues, & organs.
This results in a wide spectrum of possible symptoms & severity. There are 80-100 known autoimmune diseases & many more conditions are autoimmune-related. Some autoimmune diseases are organ-specific while others are systemic.
Source: http://autoimmuneinstitute.org
A lot of these conditions are what you would call "Invisible." Their symptoms are often internal & not visible from the outside. Two examples are Crohn's Disease & Rheumatoid Arthritis!
"My creators have these conditions!" - Minamu, Dirge for Broken Men
Possible symptoms of Crohn's Disease include: fatigue, severe diarrhea or constipation, fever, weight loss, malnutrition, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding/blood in stool, mouth sores, anemia, Inflammation of the skin, eyes, joints, liver or bile ducts, kidney stones, delayed physical/sexual development.
Possible symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include: fatigue, joint pain, morning stiffness, swelling of the joints, weight loss, fever, weakness, anemia, inflammation of the skin, eyes, lungs, heart or nerves loss of appetite, periodontitis, local osteoporosis.
It's worth noting that someone can have multiple autoimmune diseases at the same time!
Conditions that affect the digestive tract - Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome are often seen as the "black sheep" of awareness coverage for their "embarrassing symptoms."
This causes these conditions to receive poor coverage, support, & understanding caused by social stigmas. Being a better ally starts with gathering information. If a family member or a friend has an autoimmune condition, do your research! Learn as much about it as you can!
You can start to gain a better scope about how that illness affects their daily life. Not only will this help make you more prepared, it'll also help this person be more at ease around you w/out them feeling like they have to share things about their illness they'd rather not.
A lot of people with chronic illnesses are afraid to talk about their condition, or admit that they're in pain for fear of shame or feeling like they're "Bringing down the mood." Please refrain from giving unsolicited advice regarding the medical management of their illness.
Not only is most 'alternative medicine' not scientifically proven & their sources dubious at best, some can prove to be potentially dangerous mixed with other medications or lead to a sudden worsening of the condition or "Flare up."
The people dealing with those illnesses know what's best for them. Another important aspect of autoimmune diseases is symptoms management. Most autoimmune conditions have no definitive cure.
The goal of medical treatment is to reduce symptoms, manage inflammation, maintain remission and improve long-term prognosis by limiting complications.
Keep in mind that no single treatment works for everyone and a lot of people dealing with these conditions have met individuals with "Good intentions" forcefully advising them on how they should manage their illness.
[behaviour to avoid listed below]
[x] "If you were more positive the symptoms would improve!"
[x] "You just aren't trying hard enough to get better."
[x] "But you were fine yesterday!"
[x] "I had stomach pain yesterday and you don't see me cancelling plans for it."
Becoming a better ally means knowing such conditions aren't easy to deal with for the sufferer.
When planning an event, look up bathroom placement for friend with digestive ad and ask what diet restrictions they have.
For ad with movement impairment, plan outings with easy access, mobility assistance or rest areas.
Offer a helping hand with chores or an ear on days when symptoms flare up.
...However! Don't assume someone who appears to be struggling wants the help! Ask before assisting! Being a better ally also means not getting annoyed or angry when your assistance is refused.
While the intention is of course appreciated, some prefer their independence. The loss of autonomy is difficult to accept, and imposing help can be seen as pushy or selfish. In summary: the best thing you can do as an ally is listen, learn, and be understanding of our condition!
Enjoyed this? Take a look at @joshua-beeking webcomic "Dirge for broken men" available on WEBTOON!
You can also support the project on Patreon!
http://Patreon.Com/joshuabeeking
