as severe autistic, severe mentally ill, severely physically disabled and chronically ill person can confidently say dont find online spaces safe. i dont find online disabillity spaces so welcoming as be potray are, cus disabled or not, neurotypical or not, discrimination and these hierarchies exist EVERYWHERE. dont find social media so welcoming.
but some online spaces especially genuinely most utterly disgusting horrible echo chambers pure hatred and misinformation central could ever find. one major online space, or social media regard this is what tiktok is. tiktok has done and continue do awful awful nasty damage reality many disabillities, how serious and significant are and what they actually are or arent in first place.
but what motivate me make this post today apart from deep long term hurt and disgust have towards reality these online spaces and how people behave within them is what been happening tiktok recently.
this person who have many/multiple conditions include ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) who if remember right have been mostly bedbound for months months months now have made video trying explain and showcase reality got with unable do any form labour, work, due have these conditions and explain how unrealistic their needs be accomodate in any job be possible therefore trying achieve disabillity benefit.
and way everyone have receive this persons attempt at share and educate their life been beyond disgusting. from invalidation, laughing, mocking, fake claiming, to continuous death threats and dozens hatred filled uneducated videos and responses. this including people who claim of have some condition this person have but saying "i have this and this and i work" "i have this and that but i dont let my illness stop me" "i am more than my conditions so are you."
im sick and tired these false narratives. it is so prevelant in more mild severity disabillity spaces push out this mindset of pushing thru conditions have, pushing thru symptoms. pushing ideal that just because YOU are able why isnt the other person able just as you. can we all stop be horribly insensitive and ignorant? wether mild disabillity or severe disabillity, you are hurting yourself and others by pushing the support for these attitudes.
and am not talk about more mild disabillity folk who due financial, environment or otherwise factor are legitemately forced be push thru symptoms or push work in inaccessible way, that is not point so please no derail.
point be is we should not encourage these ideals. and point be we should absolutely not use ones personal circumstances which are either by choice or not, onto others, especially if said person more severe disabled.
