#handicapable

AzureDragon02_cs

Jennifer sitting at her local Tim's and enjoying a coffee.  Character and commission by Azuredragon If you like my work consider supporting me over on Patreon or on Ko-fi Coloring assistance by Tootaloo

A text about why disability is the right term

Word count: 415 words

Many people try to avoid using the term disabled and instead come up with all sorts of interesting things. In this text I want to reflect why you should indeed say disabled and why the implications of some of these other things aren't great at all.

The first term I want to talk about is "differently abled". This implies that your worth is depending on what you can provide for society. You being unable to do so "normally" takes something from your worth, so you get called differently abled to show that you can indeed be useful and therefore are worth something. It also implies that you'd get something good with your disability, and that's just not true for most disabled people. The things you "get" are trainable, so everyone could achieve them.

Secondly, let's talk about "special needs". Special needs is an euphimism for disabled. Euphimisms are words supposed to soften the meaning of the original, considered "too harsh" word, or to avoid an unpleasant and offensive word. We for example say "pass away" instead of die or use "Special military mission" instead of Invasion to wash away the harsh reality. Using an euphemism for disabled implies that there is something negative, shameful or embarrasing to cover up, which there isn't.

The term next up is "handicapped". This word stems from old war veterans being considered unable to hold down a job so they had to go beg for money with their "cap in hand". It referred to beggars and people useless to society. And disabled people aren't useless. They're far from it. Additionally, putting handicapped in front of words like "parking spot" implies that there is something wrong with the parking spot. But it isn't. It's "accessible".

"Handicapable" is an even worse euphemistic description of disabled, once again highlighting how they have something making them useless so we have to underline that they totally aren't in our perception. Because if you were disabled, you'd be useless. So we don't want to call you that.

By Georgia Lambert from bristolpost.co.uk

A disabled Bristol artistic performer, who has to lie down at regular intervals because of chronic pain, is trying to teach others how to be more aware of hidden disabilities. Raquel started challenging the etiquette of 'resting' by lying down and demonstrating her disability's access needs in public spaces all over the UK. Following the success of her advocacy work, 'Cloudspotting' became the term used by Raquel to communicate the collective needs of the thousands of people in the UK living in chronic pain who need to lie down and rest at frequent intervals, regardless of whether they are in private or not.

Read the full article here -->

I know, I read the headline too and thought -- what??? but keep reading -- she also created an immersive experience which sounds amazing! The most common thing I hear from our invisible illness community is how it often feels like no one believes them. This artist's project is such a great way to "bridge an understanding between able-bodied audiences and the lived experience of people with ‘hidden’ disabilities." 

I am eligible to open an ABLE account!!

For those that don't know what it is, an ABLE account allows some disabled individuals (currently the cut off age is 26; they are attempting to raise it to 46) to save money beyond the SSI/Medicaid asset limits for qualifying expenses related to your disability. This could be housing, transportation, even music! You may still be able to get an ABLE account if you are older than 26. This law was put into action in 2014.

SSI/SSDI are benefits that may help you get an account if you are over 26. The onset of disability here is different than the onset of disability SSA determines. My getting multiple disabling autoimmune conditions as a child means I am eligible even though SSA determined me to be disabled only a couple of years ago. You may need to do a "self declaration". Make sure there is a diagnosis, doctor's letter, something so if they ask for proof of the disabling condition you have it's available.

You can contribute whether you work or don't. Family and friends can contribute without it being considered a resource against you the beneficiary. If you somehow get off disability, the account stays open I believe. Money in the account can be used to pay back Medicaid for the resources and services you used while on Medicaid too.

There is a limit on yearly contributions (this year is $15,000) and a limit of $100,000 before it's considered an asset relating to SSI/Medicaid. If you lower the amount in the account, your services will start up again.

Please doublecheck on what I have written. As every circumstance is different, I suggest people call the Governor's Commission on Disability in your state of residence to find out more information. You may get an account in another state than the one you live in (a few years ago my state didn't have ABLE accounts), but you can only have one account.

My first goals? Housing and personal transportation for more independence.

Hope this helps some people! Don't let the system work you, make the system work for you!

I have a new coworker that is hard of hearing and I’d like to be able to communicate with him better. I know how to say “hello my name is…” in ASL (and how to say “I want tacos”). But that’s not enough to speak to him properly.

I don’t want to feel like I’m being rude when I try to speak to him by shoving a phone in his face with what I’m trying to say typed out. Because one, that is rude, and two I want to be inclusive with him.

So if there’s any resources out there could you share them? Maybe some simple signs for now as I build my confidence? I also have to be careful with my signs due to having arthritis in my hands (I really don’t want to misspell or say something rude on accident due to it).

Thanks beans!