I am not American, I am Latin American (I am Venezuelan), until now I found out that you have a few special conditions [ASD, ADHD, Bipolar-Depressive Disorder, Severe Anxiety, Borderline Agoraphobic, among others] I do not consider them diseases that make special people look different, now there is too much discrimination towards this type of people.

But I am different because I have a family member who has a special condition and that is why I don't discriminate against people who do.

Even if you have a disability (Or several) you are still a normal person and you should feel that way. Don't feel bad if you have all that, I remind you that people are not perfect.

As someone with a lot of the same issues that finally was granted disabled status earlier this year, I agree completely. We’re so behind the rest of the world when it comes to being treated with dignity. And even if we’re able to function normally because our disability is an invisible, we’re accosted because “you don’t look disabled,” or “you’re using your diagnosis as a crutch” or “it’s all in your head.”

To the last two, I’d like to say:

1. Yes, I’m using it as a crutch. Crutches let people know that there is a problem that prevents me from functioning normally, and I have something to utilize to help me appear more normal. People with an injured leg have crutches, a scooter, or wheelchair. Broken arms have a cast. Mental illness has a diagnosis that explains why I behave certain ways that I take medication for.

2. Yes, it’s all in my head. It’s called MENTAL illness because the illness happens in my brain. You know, which is inside my head.

We will stand strong though, because we are not alone, and you’re damn right we’ll advocate for one another.

I heard something recently. I am not sure I quoting it right but I will try-

"Saying mental illness is all in your head is like saying rectal cancer is all in your ass."

I am Disabled.

I suffer from chest pains that make things harder. I suffer from joint pain that make exercise and extended labor risky. I suffer from allergies that create migraines in spring and autumn that can disable my cognitive functions without medication.

I have autism (high functioning) where I cannot socialize without crutches. I make mistakes socially, I get confused and miscommunicate often.

I have depression (severe) which not just makes me feel sad on some days... But I lose motivation on things, even that which I enjoy, incredibly easy. It makes it near impossible to keep a job.

I have social anxiety which I need to take medicine to not get overwhelmed by just being in a store with more than 10 people...

I have paranoia from all the abuse I've received, making me not trust most people in my life, and even those I trust I have a grain of mistrust for because of being abused by my old best friends and spouses.

I have so much trauma in my life... That just... Doing anything is hard these days for me. I feel like Kismet wants to punch me in the nuts each time I try to do something to change...

I am disabled because I am unable to do much... But society also doesn't want me to do much. They don't want me around. They don't want someone with my problems around...

I promise you that in a better society even YOU could get by more independently. That's my point. People like us are stuck in a box because of the culture we're in.

They don't compensate for us. They don't care about us. They just want to blame everything on us.

Blaming the victim is a proud American institution.

Not being disabled, myself, I probably don't have a lot of room to talk here. But I absolutely agree that we, as a society, need to do a lot more to provide assistance for those who need it, and to remember that this extends beyond people with "obvious" disabilities, like missing limbs, etc. To remember that not everyone can live the same way, work the same way, get around the same way, for a whole host of reasons, and that everyone deserves to live as freely and independently as they can. Without attacking them for it.

And to make it so that people can ask for the help they need without making them feel lesser, or making it an upsetting or humiliating experience, too.

"And to make it so that people can ask for the help they need without making them feel lesser, or making it an upsetting or humiliating experience, too. "

This. THIS.

That shame kept me quiet for too long.

and the callous and cold hearted actions of Drumpf & co. don't help things at all. Those people either don't see or refuse to see people or acknowledge them and their inherent rights as people.

I really wish that we had a realistic system of care here.

Sadly we won't until long after everybody here is dead of age.

I don't think it's quite THAT grim, but nothing good is likely to happen in the next few years, anyway...

I'd rather you be right, but in my 38 years the country has only gotten worse. If it takes that long to make progress, we're talking centuries.

Personally, I expect that the current government is going to spur strong change in reaction to it.

A lot of things happen slowly, and then all of a sudden.

Gods I hope so...

If it wasn't for my lover I'd have offed it already.

An awful lot of people are completely fed up with this shit.

-hugs-

Going deaf, though labeled with high functioning autism (Aspergers). My ability to communicate is getting worse. But still I live on what my gf makes. Were trying to get me on disability but I feel it's too late as it falls apart from the damn autocrat in office.

I have half of one leg and no toes on the other. I don't consider myself disabled, but rather, inconvenienced...

The difference is that your disability is easy to see and understand. You're much more likely to be acknowledged and accommodated for.

True enow.

The crazy thing is, I was in a discord server that I recently left cause the people in it were so combative and abusive, but most of them were either on disability for wholly preventable reasons (one of them literally got on disability cause he injected something in his balls) or completely live off their parents despite being completely able-bodied and could have jobs.
And thinking of that really angers me knowing that people, like you, who truly do need the disability and support to help them get ahead are not getting it.

Yeah, I've been... fighting really hard for the scraps of the scraps... and to make matters worse, if the right authority decides I am lying I go to jail.

That's absolutely fucked... I'm so sorry puppy I just can't understand how not only a government, but a large amount of people can think this is ok

A LOT of people do not seem to realize how distressingly easy it is to be sent to jail or prison in this country...

ESPECIALLY if you are poor. ESPECIALLY x2 if you are black.

I'm starting to wonder if we're going the route of North Korea now, tilting towards an encased military state...

I hear you on ALL of this. I've been told a number of times that, with my mental issues, I could get disability. I've always shot that down because "there's not enough wrong with me for that, and I know it". Plus I was told from multiple official sources you can no longer claim mental disability UNLESS you have severe schizophrenia. BUT, I'm beginning to wonder...

I've been officially diagnosed with BPD, depression, PTSD, and I think anxiety as well as "gender dysphoria" (I'm enby). I also have some major physical issues that crop up. Unofficially, the more I learn about ADHD, the more I'm convinced I have it; maybe with a touch of autism. If these were true, soooooo, so much would make sense. I already claim the ADHD unofficially. I can't get tested for it though, because it takes $$$ that I don't have...

If I work TOO hard, I start gasping for breath in these big whoop-like noises; I can't help that. Worse, my PTSD from a certain someone has me trying to force through it. The fuck are you sitting down for?? GET UP OFF YOUR ASS--... I feel anxious and like shit even when I MUST sit down. When I don't have a choice.

Then there's my lower back. I threw it out about three, four years ago. I lifted something heavy too fast and in the exact wrong way (was being aggressively hurried up by someone who was being angry and impatient), and my lower back cricked like rice crispies. It's been fucked up ever since, and can only take so much no matter how hard I try. My knees don't like me much, either. Between my back and my knees, watching me stand up is... something else.

I have to stand up slowly, arms back a little, then once I'm all the way up, I have to arch my back slowly to unlock my lower back. Even then I might still pull this stiff, jerky stumble for a few steps. It's REALLY bad if I don't stand up slowly, first. On the positive side, everyone who knows me knows better than to think I'm faking. Let's not get started on what the PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disoreder) does to my moods... I want so badly to have that shit taken out, but... $$$

I hear you on the driving, too. I HATE to drive. I know how, but even with glasses, my vision is horrible and my left eye is severely turned inward. I have ZERO depth perception, and even a small little four-door sedan feels like a big boat to me. My mom knows this. The only thing I'd feel comfortable with is a motorcycle. But again, $$$.

People don't realize just how deeply pervasive the ableist attitude of "if I can, you can" actually is. "well, if someone like THAT/ME with THEIR/MY issues can do that job, so can you!" How the fuck would you know?? I've heard that many times. The last few I fired back, and so far, haven't heard that again. Running a register? Nope. My brain freezes, and I have to go very slowly. Phones? No. Too much anxiety. People just can't fathom that not everyone is capable of the same things they are, and it drives me up a wall.

My mental issues give me both memory and motivation issues. I can be staring right at something, and either have no will (or not be ABLE) to do it, or forget it completely not five minutes later. People just don't get this.

Long rant is long. 😅😅😅

I remembered when I mentioned online on Youtube that I actually have high functioning autism and the person said to me that I should stop using it as a crutch.

Remember, it's like this because the oligarchy wants it this way simply because it benefits them to keep the general population as divided as possible in order for them to stay in power.

It all boils down to greed from the top. No wonder that Luigi guy became so popular.

Wait, really? Now I understand what oligarchy means.

I saw a post the other day that said something like "we need about 500 more Luigis in this country", and honestly... I couldn't agree more

For a country that claims to embrace diversity, America instead embraces sameness. I'm an introvert who dodges social events and would rather push my clay around rather than deal with other people.
I got my anger issues from my father, so it's been a struggle to keep my temper. I also struggle with depression.
The cold way this country treats the people like you is appalling, but it's not something that can't be fought. Never forget that you are not alone. Change will come, but only if enough people fight for it.

i am disabled... arthritis .. bad head to toes. plus past very traumatic head injury. plus minor branch bundle block that and im on the spectrum. (the last kinda gets countered some by high IQ and good masking... im low land gorilla strong for a short amount of time... this means my disability is rather invisible. and therforth i despise the system

folks with relatively easy to maintain shit (diabetes comes first to mind) piss me completely off when they neglect it to the point of amputation or blindness.

No offense intended, but have you considered trying to move to another country, assuming you have the money to do so?

... Why would I need to worry about disability if I had money.

I know I'm late to the party, but just the fact that we in America just ... don't allow chairs for cashiers despite the evidence that not shifting positions can do hell on the human body is a great example of how America is messed up. Other countries allow chairs.