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Claimmr's avatar

Thanks for (another!) forthright and cogent post dear Ariella! I hope you have the resources, or will gradually gain them, to build in some accommodations like a dryer placed high enough...

Bravo to all carrying around pain and fatigue. I know I didn't understand my aunt's experience for years, only when she was stuck on the couch and really bitter and unhappy was it clear. Xxxx

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Masha Zager's avatar

As someone with an invisible and rare disability (MADSAM!) I so appreciate your bringing attention to this issue. you're right that it's difficult to treat it seriously ourselves, let alone ask for accommodations from others.

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muddy102's avatar

I also have an invisible disability, well unless I am dressed so that you can see my defibrillator. I have severe heart failure. The distance matters, what I have to carry matters, the temperature even matters! I have had people challenge me in parking lots, saying that it looks like my legs are ok. Then they demand my personal health details!

I tell them that amazingly there are disabilities that don't make you limp, and if they have an issue with me they are welcome to take down my license plate number and hang tag number and call the police and the DMV. And that's it. Don't feel upset and don't bother to explain!

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Joan Friedman (MA, from NY)'s avatar

Yeah, invisible and varying disabilities are hard for everyone to acknowledge. Respecting what we don't understand is key.

Typo on win one - the cutoff date is July 4, 2026.

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Ariella Elm's avatar

Yeah, I know I’ll change it in a second

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Kathryn Andrews's avatar

Thank you for speaking out about invisible disabilities! xoxo

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