#so i feel like making it function as a mobility aid is not much of a stretch

[rain-after-thunder]

Disabled Aelwyn who uses crutches.

Aelwyn who can’t go back to school to finish her wizzard studies, who starts researching different ways to bend magic to her will.

Aelwyn, who has always had a knack for creating new spells, starting to tinker at her own crutches, weaving wards into the framework.

Aelwyn, for who good is not good enough, caves and asks Gorgug for help. Who finds a way to make her crutches extend, bend and move to support her arms, elbows, shoulders. Makes them connect to her back, her hips, down her legs .

They no longer look much like crutches anymore, it’s a thin, light framework that supports her entire body, that moves her exactly the way she wants, that allows her to stand with her back straight for more than 5 minutes for the first time in two years. The exoskeleton glows with abjurative runes and the outline of a powerfull ward is visible over her body, deflecting blows like steel armor.

New spells rest in her memory, mechanical and precise if nature in a way that the arcane inks in her spelbook can’t articulate. Spare the Dying, Resistance, Cure Wounds, Sanctuary.

Her joints still ache, she tires fast and even after all this time it is still hard to control the venom in her words, still hard to accept help and kindness without it feeling like a wool blanket on freshly flayed skin. But she has found something that is wholly hers, found something to be proud of that isn’t tinged with approval from her parents.

Aelwyn still can’t walk without support, but the frame folding her up is crafted by her own hands. Maybe everything will be allright.

#to I had some ideas for a artificer multiclass for Aelwyn #she has the armorer specialty #the rules say the arcane armor can replace any missing limbs and circumvents any strength requirement #so i feel like making it function as a mobility aid is not much of a stretch #also i think the inscribed ward thing is a neat explanation for why there is no strength requirement #while still giving the mechanical bonus of armor #can you tell i thought about this a lot #feel absolutely free to use sny part of this idea in any fic you may write #please reblog with the link so i can go insane over it #aelwyn abernant #dimension 20 #fantasy high #fantasy high junior year #fantasy high sophomore year #disabled Aelwyn abernant #multiclass #dnd #also please share your thoughts on disabled Aelwyn

[innocent-until-proven-geeky]

My chronic pain seems to be getting more chronic.

#my mom asked if I meant more frequent and while that does also seem accurate it’s not what I meant #it’s that ‘flare ups’ are starting to feel less like flares and more like my constant #they last longer. I get a shorter reprieve. the pain comes back. #and it is an… infuriating kind of pain. it’s the kind that nothing helps? it’s not that bad in the grand scheme of things but it’s a solid 3 #on a pretty consistent basis at this point. I have yet to find a mobility aid that helps because my cane doesn’t seem to do much and #sitting generally makes the pain worse so wheelchairs aren’t a good option. because my cane doesn’t help I don’t know that a walker or #rollator would do much good. Tylenol doesn’t help. #but since I can and in fact to some degree Must function without mobility aids people don’t know that I’m in pain at all really #and the really big flare-ups where my pain is like a 7-9? people understand why those are exhausting #but my everyday life is also exhausting because the pain just Doesn’t Go Away and again—sitting hurts more #but people aren’t meant to stand all day #Ow.

[cripple-council]

@mundymae gave some great tips on this post about showering while physically disabled, here are some that i can think of rn! (some might be on the other list but i’m too lazy to double check lmao)

1. grab bars!!! great for ppl with balance issues and ppl who easily faint

2. low water temp, hot showers (especially with the door closed) can make u feel faint and also relaxes ur body, making it easier to dislocate/sublux shit

3. shower chair/shower table/changing table, shower chairs are great for ppl with chronic pain, ppl who can’t stand for a long time, ppl who faint easily etc. shower tables / changing tables are rarely mentioned, but are great for ppl who are severely mobility impaired who can’t use regular shower chairs/stools. there are also shower tables that function as bathtubs, which sadly is a luxury many times when u are severely disabled.

4. hand held shower heads, they are easier to use especially while sitting down, so u can make sure u clean yourself as much as possible. personal hygiene is difficult with the other ones that u can’t hold in ur hand, bc u can’t easily clean ur genitals and shit like that.

5. bring something cold to drink, water or those liquid iv’s or sport drinks, those can be very useful especially if u have hot water.

6. anti slip mats, these are great in showers AND bathtubs. what they’re for is pretty obvious based on its name, but when u are physically disabled (and these are great for ppl who aren’t as well) it is EASY to slip when loosing ur balance, when ur light headed or feel faint.

7. if it is possible for you i recommend those things/barriers on the floor that keep water from going everywhere, bc again, it is very easy to slip when getting out of the shower.

8. keep your phone close if you live alone or are alone when showering, and if possible, do not lock the bathroom door. if you have an emergency it is super important to be able to get help quickly and easily. if you live alone, it can be good to give a friend or family member your house/apartment key so they can help you. this has saved me many times after falling in general and not being able to get up by myself.

9. keep your mobility aids and disability aids close so you can use them after showering, if you use braces or compression socks it can be good to get to them quickly.

10. something i like to do is getting clean underwear and clothes out before showering so i can get dressed easily without having to dig out a bunch of clothes after showering when i’m exhausted.

11. sponges, sponges, sponges!!! especially on sticks. they are amazing when u can’t reach everywhere yourself.

12. if you are exhausted or in pain or whatever but really need to shower, only clean the most crucial areas. arm pits, skin folds, genitals, ass, where ever shit gets nasty. do not waste your energy on areas that aren’t absolutely necessary.

13. a tip for fellow fat disabled ppl, i mentioned it above but make sure to clean ur skin folds AND dry them properly after. if needed, powder or use creams. skin folds can easily get nasty with fungal infections and it hurts, it smells, and it’s not pleasant. areas to look out for: arm pits, under breasts, under stomach, groin and between toes.

14. keep everything u use to clean urself close, shampoo, conditioner, soap and whatever else u use. i have everything on a shelf right in front of me, i do not need to bend over or stretch to reach anything.

15. if your bathroom has a window it can be nice to open it to get some fresh air in there, otherwise i find that keeping the bathroom door open works fine too.

#cripple punk #crip punk #cripplepunk #physical disability #physically disabled #c punk #cpunk

[cripplecharacters]

hello! so, i currently have an oc in the works. i dont have much for his character yet, and hes kind of a blank slate at the moment, however, whilst trying to develop him i had the idea to give him a disability; its something i dont do with my characters very often, and i feel like it could give some depth and realism to his character. however, i..... dont know where to really start with it? i have the vague idea that i think id like him to have crutches, so some sort of leg disability, but just going off that its been hard for me to find any condition that feels quite right. im unsure about making him an amputee either; seemingly the "go to" for anyone who wants to make a physically disabled character. i want to try and represent a disability thats less fetishized by the general public, and looking through this blog here its definitely apparent that a lot of people are tired of seeing basic half amputee characters with overly functional prosthetics; i wanna avoid that. sorry this has gotten a bit rambly, but basically what im asking is,, do you have advice for what i could use as just. a general starting point in this? im terribly uneducated and lost at the moment and id love some help. thank you :]

Hi!

It's great that you're interested in writing a disabled character (with care)! I'm always happy to see more writers/artists/creatives do that.

You mentioned wanting to give him crutches, which is cool! Mobility aid users in media make me happy. However, you mentioned crutches as meaning a leg disability, which isn't always the case — and while I don't have statistics on it, I believe that most crutch users do not use them for leg-only problems, and a lot of them have the not-so-fetishized conditions. Here are some suggestions of what you could give your character, which hopefully gives you some ideas. If you need, you can get back to us with a more specific question after you figure out what exactly your character has! :-) (smile)

Cerebral palsy — probably the most common reason for using crutches in non-elderly people, and the most common (physical) disability in younger people in general. If your character has diplegic (meaning lower limbs affected) CP, he could use crutches and if he has hemiplegic (one arm and one leg affected) CP, then he could use a single crutch or a cane. Cerebral palsy is generally extremely underrepresented when compared to how many people have it IRL! Just be aware that there is a lot of research involved just about the condition itself — multiple types (spastic/ataxic/dyskinetic), different kinds of body involvement, tons of different mobility aids and orthotics to learn about. There is also hereditary spastic paraplegia, which is not the same as CP but similar and progressive.

Spinal cord injury — the general assumption is that all people with spinal cord injuries are fully paralyzed below the neck or waist, and that's not the case. If your character has an incomplete SCI on any level or just a very low level injury, he could be using crutches or switch between a wheelchair and crutches. It's essential to research SCIs to have them be more than “legs don't work, but that's literally it”. SCI can come with severe nerve pain, spasticity, atrophy, and a lot of other things. Worth noting that spinal cord injury could be traumatic, but could also be congenital (spina bifida) or illness related (polio, transverse myelitis, spinal stroke, or cancer, for example). You could think that it's overrepresented in media, but SCI is generally just used as a “default condition” for why a character is in a wheelchair, and a lot of these representations are unfortunately very shallow.

Paralysis — in the monoplegic sense here. Much more rare than the rest of the things here, but your character could have a single paralyzed leg, largely due to nerve damage. Could be traumatic or illness-related (e.g., cancer, infection, or multiple sclerosis).

Stroke (and other traumatic/acquired brain injuries) — stroke can cause a million different symptoms and depending on what happens to your character exactly, he might need crutches! A big portion of stroke survivors deal with hemiplegia and could use a crutch on their non-affected side, for example. Some kinds of stroke might cause your character to have troubles with balance and require a mobility aid to not fall. Of course stroke will also cause other symptoms for your character (it wouldn't be too realistic to only have him have problems with his legs) for example speech issues, headaches, or seizures. Stroke can happen to anyone, and it wouldn't be weird to have a younger character with it. Very common in real life but very rarely represented in fiction.

Limb difference — you can definitely write a character with a limb difference or an amputation without fetishizing it! The main concern with the fetishization is the concept of the robotic limb that works just as well as or even better than a meat leg, and thus the character is “fixed”. But your character could just… not use a prosthetic. A lot of congenital amputees, people with limb differences, or with high level (above knee) amputations might do that. He could also have a leg length difference, which could cause him to need crutches (for example, Morteza Mehrzad has one of his legs significantly shorter after a pelvic injury, and he uses crutches among other mobility aids).

Chronic pain — very broad category for too many specific conditions to count. Neuropathy in the legs and/or lower back could be a reason for using crutches, for example. Unhealed, or poorly healed past injuries. Arthritis in knees or hips. Hypermobility that makes him unsteady or dislocate joints. Pain in bones or muscles where he can't fully weight-bear.

Gait disorders — another broad category (sorry). Your character could have problems with his gait and need aids for that. It could be caused by dyspraxia (I have it), ataxia, progressive muscular dystrophy (there is a lot of different types), Parkinson's disease, or a lot of other things! Could also be injury related.

And of course you could have multiple characters that are disabled to make sure that there is some variety :)

I hope that the above list gave you some ideas for your character :-) (smile) if you have more questions, feel free to send another ask

mod Sasza

#anonymous #mod sasza #mobility aids #crutches #disabled character ideas #writing advice #writing disabled characters

[viv-weylin]

Ram from Re:Zero has to be one of my favorite portrayals of disability, I haven't gotten to Arc 6 but my friend showed me the part where it's displayed what Ram feels all the time and holy shit. Do I feel that.

Apparently a lot of people don't even realize Ram is a diaabled character, looking it up online leads to very very little about her as disabled rep. So I'll say it here. Ram is an amputee (her horn) who has Chronic Pain & Chronic Fatigue. She is disabled.

As someone who has such dehabiltating chronic pain, I have to use mobility aids almost every single day, Ram literally displays a condition like that in spades. This might be a bit of a nonsensical 3-AM type ramble but she's on my mind.

I tend to lose patience quicker than other people because of my body aching all the time and Ram, being the sassy, kinda bitchy asshole really fits this feeling as a disabled person. When you're in constant pain of course you're grouchy and it's a lot easier to let out that grouchiness in a playful way. I don't know if this was purposeful but either way it really really works. We need more mean disabled characters tbh.

Next is her being "useless." Subaru makes fun of her for not doing anything, and she takes the teasing in good fun. However, if/when Subaru takes it too far, the people who care about her are willing to stand up for her. Ram is disabled, she has little to no energy, she literally can't clean because it's exhausting and tiring and painful. I can relate to that as well, hell, I go to a special school because I am too tired and in too much pain to do normal amounts of schoolwork. So Ram being unable to do things like clean and cook, but still being valued speaks so much to disabled people who can't function alone!

Ram needing treatment every night... god. Having to take medication every single day as a disabled person is exhausting and forgetting to take it just once completely dehabilitates you. Ram needing treatment every night is literally the equivalent to magical daily medication.

Ram also using her wand as a mobility aid... that's not even a metaphor or allegory.

Yet despite all her shortcomings, her disability, she's loved and appreciated for the things she can do. She's respected and cared for and no one really looks down on her for being unable to do magic or simple tasks. (In the Movie, she even sleeps in and is affected by the cold more than anyone else. I don't know if this was on purpose, but that's also a thing people with chronic pain/fatigue deal with...) She's intelligent, loyal, clever, witty, bitchy but in a likeable way, and most of all. She's appreciated for her steamed potatoes.

Anyways this was my ted talk. Do you all realize Ram as the disabled rep she is...

#ram #re:zero #re zero #rezero #Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World #rem #subaru #natsuki subaru

[valentineish]

What I need abled people to realize is how fucked up it is to ask strangers about our mobility devices or medical equipment. I especially need you to internalize is how much this functions like catcalling.

The harassment started the minute an abled decided to approach me. There was not an appropriate way for them to ask about my body and the equipment it needs. But because of their actions, I am given the job of figuring out what's more dangerous: disclosing intimate details about my life, health, and body, or pushing back.

Without fail, ableds get hostile when a cripple like me chooses the latter. There is outrage at even the most polite expression of "no thank you". Trying to express how they've violated me isn't even an option. I am already aggressive for not performing an impossible standard of grace.

And because of this stranger's choice, because of the power dynamics at play, my existence suddenly centers on a stranger. My life needs to go on pause to handhold a totally unknown abled's feelings about my hurt they caused. All the while, I still have to brace for the potential that they will overpower me, or steal my equipment, or try to institutionalize me.

This is a terrifying position to be in. And it happens so frequently, my stomach drops whenever a stranger approaches me.

There are no neutral questions you can ask about a stranger's body – and my equipment is part of my body. This is not small talk. This is not considerate or empathetic. Despite how it looks to you, these are not like comments on somebody's outfit.

Hearing any inquiry about my crutches or limp or whatever from somebody I don't know is invasive and creepy. It's like somebody asking you "what did you do to become left handed?" or "did you always smile like... that?" or "oh my god, why do you have glasses?", then being expected to give an in-depth answer. It fucking sucks, and for disabled people, it has broader implications than you can imagine.

If you want to know why that person you spotted needs medical equipment? Tough. Shut the fuck up, mind your goddamn business.

EDIT: I want to include an ask I got about this post so it doesn't get lost in a reblog. Screenshot and expansion will be under the cut.

Anon was right to point this out! I would like to better clarify the point I was trying to make.

I chose people commenting on somebody's smile, dominant hand, or eyewear on purpose. Expression can be impacted by things like facial paralysis or even neurodivergence. Paralysis or amputation can require changing one's dominant hand. And despite their normalization, prescription glasses are medical equipment.

Ablebodied people can get comments on these things. Some people just have distinctive expressions. People can be naturally left-handed (and notably, punishing left hand dominance was the standard for generations). Non-prescription glasses were a huge trend in the 2010's. Similarly, ablebodied people can temporarily require mobility aids! You or someone you've known has likely needed a cast or crutches due to an injury.

Strangers approaching an ablebodied person about these things is still bad. It's inappropriate, and the kind of thing you'd vent to friends about for being uncomfortable. Still, answering typically won't require sharing extremely personal, potentially traumatic information. It does not carry the fear of stating "my body is like this forever for a reason scary or inhuman to you".

When these questions are directed towards a disabled person, though? It does carry those heavy implications. We are being put at risk. A stranger is asking us to divulge our ability status, and give them wildly personal history. Furthermore, it confirms us as disabled – thus putting us at risk for discrimination of varying levels of severity, including institutionalization.

My point in making that comparison was not "people don't say those things". Strangers absolutely do this. My point was "comments about medical equipment count as body commentary". My crutches or bifocald do not get treated like the extensions of myself they are. The severity of this harassment, then, does not translate to those who don't need such accommodations.

Questioning somebody's body or the things supporting that body is never a good idea. Whether abled or disabled, a stranger is bothering that person simply to sate their own curiosity. Nothing of substance can be gained – but everything is at risk for disabled people.

#open mic night #disability #disability pride #cripple punk #chronic illness #ableism

[the-guilty-writer]

Cane and Shame

Request from anon: Hi love, could you possibly do a hotch x reader where they come to work with a walking stick/cane for the first time. Like they’ve known that they needed to use it but have been embarrassed to use it?

Aaron Hotchner x platonic!reader

Summary: You've been putting off using your cane at work for a while. When you finally cave, your boss makes sure you feel supported.

A/N: This was truly a joy to write and it reminded me why I put limited requests up in the first place- because I love to write, but this is the stuff I really really love to write. Garcia is featured in this as well. Hotch is the most supportive boss/friend. I love it. Thank you so much for this request.

CW: reader experiences pain, takes pain medication, uses a cane, experiences internalized ableism surrounding using mobility aids

---

You knew it was going to be bad when you woke up two hours earlier than normal feeling like your body was on fire. For a few months now, your pain had been slowly getting worse- going from an underlying and annoying constant ache to a sensation so intense you could hardly move some days. Even your emergency pain medication could only help so much. If you didn’t have to work, you probably would have taken a higher dose, but even the low dose made you feel rather spacey; anything more and you wouldn’t have been able to get things done that day. It was an awful irony that the drugs which were supposed to take the pain away so you could function sedated you to the point that you’d spend most of the day fighting to stay awake and out of bed.

Part of you wanted to call out of work, but you’d only been working at the BAU for a year and in the past six months you’d already taken three sick days due to flares worse than the one you were currently experiencing. If you could manage to get through most of the day and leave a little early then it wasn’t worth calling in sick.

You got out of bed thirty minutes before your alarm went off, knowing well that your morning routine would take you longer than you intended. Walking to the bathroom was painful- manageable, but painful. You piled some over the counter meds over your prescription, praying it would kick in before you had to leave for work, but the more you got ready- showering, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and packing lunch- the more you realized that your body just wasn’t going to cooperate with you that day.

As you got ready to leave your apartment you spotted your cane by the door and let out a heavy sigh. You knew it would help, but you really didn’t want to use it. Outside of work, you never left home without it, but at work you were an FBI agent. You’d been a part of shoot-outs and take-downs and car chases, so surely you should be able to walk without assistance. The closer you got to the door, however, the more you felt the pain as you walked and the clearer it became that you didn’t have a choice in the matter. Reluctantly, you took your cane from its place and tried to hold back tears as you got out the door.

---

You arrived at work a bit later than normal, having opted to take the metro so you wouldn’t have to drive. No one questioned you as you walked through the main lobby and got on the elevator, but the dread was building inside you; dread that would turn into shame as soon as you saw the look on the team’s faces.

The team knew you experienced chronic pain- they had to for safety reasons and protocol- but you never let it show. You always acted like you felt fine even when all you wanted to do was curl up into a ball and sob. The only one on the team who really knew about your struggles was Garcia. Months ago, after a very physically demanding case, you went home in so much agony that you had reluctantly called her and asked her to drive you to the ER, which led to you having to explain everything. At your request, she promised not to tell the rest of the team. Since then, on days that you needed to take a few deep breaths to keep yourself from crying out or simply knew your face was going to distort with every minor move you made, you would bring your work to her lair instead of sitting in the bullpen.

But today you couldn’t even bring yourself to go get your files from your desk knowing everyone was in there. Instead, you went straight to Garcia’s office, keeping your head down and hoping that no one you knew would see you. Garcia had an open door policy, but you always knocked before going in. You raised your hand, knuckles about to tap the wood, when the door swung open.

Hotch stood on the other side of the door, holding a stack of papers. You jumped when you startled, causing pain to shoot through your body, but Hotch didn’t even blink.

“(Y/L/N),” he said. “Are you alright?”

“Fine, sir,” you responded quietly. 

He scanned you, taking in every inch of your appearance, from your hair which was up because you were too fatigued to wash it, to the uneasy look on your face, to the cane that you were leaning on a little too heavily at the moment as you recovered from moving a bit too fast. You hung your head slightly, but Hotch just nodded once and left to go back to the bullpen.

You pushed into Garcia’s lair, holding back your tears. You weren’t sure if the need to cry was coming from the humiliation of your boss seeing you at your worst or the torturous discomfort that plauged you limbs from standing too long.

“Good morn- Oh, (Y/N),” Garcia said sweetly as you sat down on one of her extra chairs. “What happened?”

You knew she wasn’t asking about the cane- Garcia was well aware of your use of mobility aids outside of work- she was worried about the look on your face.

“I ran into Hotch,” you sighed and hid your cane underneath Garcia’s desk.

“Do- do you want me to go get your files for you? There’s no case today,” she said.

You nodded, closing your eyes and leaning back, willing the emotional and physical hurt to stop.

“I'll be right back,” she said. She ran off to get your files. There was no hiding from your boss now, but maybe you could hide from the rest of the team for just a little longer.

---

With your cane hidden out of view, everyone who came into Garcia’s lair just assumed you were keeping her company for the day. The few times you did have to leave her lair, you did so without assistance. It hurt, but it didn’t hurt as much as the judgment and questions you would face. When lunch rolled around, Garcia left to go out with Morgan, Reid, Prentiss, JJ, and Rossi, leaving you alone in the den of technology by yourself.

Sometime while they were gone, you received a text message from Hotch: Meet me in my office if you can. If not, I can come to you.

Though it probably would have helped for Hotch to come to you, you didn’t want to seem incapable of walking less than 100 yards. You grabbed your cane from its hiding place- Hotch had already seen it and none of the rest of the team was around- and made your way to the bullpen, painfully walking up the small set of stairs to your boss’s office. You knocked on the open door and he looked up from his work.

“(Y/N),” he addressed you by your first name- a rarity, “take a seat.” Hotch gestured to the chair that always sat across from his desk and began to put his paperwork aside. You sat in the chair, keeping your eyes down. You didn’t want to see what kind of pity look he was giving you.

“Are you alright?” he asked. It was the same question from earlier, but it sounded different this time- more gentle, like he was talking to you as a friend instead of a Unit Chief.

“I will be.” You gathered the courage to look at him, but to your surprise he wasn’t looking at you with pity. He was looking at you with concern. “I- um-” You couldn’t get the words out.

“Take your time,” Hotch said.

You took a deep breath, gathering yourself. “I always told myself I wouldn’t bring my cane to work.”

Your boss furrowed his brow. “Why not?” He seemed genuinely confused.

You shrugged. “It’s kind of embarrassing,” you admitted. “People stare and judge.”

“(Y/N), how long have you been putting this off?” he asked.

If you weren’t so worried about looking weak, you probably would have started to cry. “Six months, but I’ve only really… needed it the past two... or three.”

“If it helps, you should use it,” Hotch said, his tone more light and reassuring. “There’s no shame in utilizing mobility aids if they make you physically more comfortable. You’re a valuable part of this team. No one is going to judge you for taking care of your health and we can’t afford for you to be damaging yourself. We need you at your best. If your best means you use your cane, then use it.”

In an effort to lighten the tone just a bit, your mouth twitched up at the corner as you said, “Is that an order?”

Hotch’s rare smile graced his face. “Not yet, but if I see you struggling I’ll make it one.”

Voices came from outside of the office. You looked to the glass doors to see the rest of the team coming back from break. Morgan and Garcia were laughing, JJ and Emily were smiling at something on a phone, and Reid and Rossi were talking enthusiastically together- probably about cars. 

They were your team- your friends- and they would never judge you.

“But,” Hotch started as he rose from his seat. “Going to the conference room with the rest of the team so we can do a consultation on a case is an order.” He left the room, going to gather the rest of the team.

You paused for a second before rising from your seat as well, gripping your cane to help you stand. You left Hotch's office and walked to the conference room with your head up, knowing now, that you had nothing to be ashamed of.

#aaron hotchner fanfiction #criminal minds fanfiction #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x platonic!reader #aaron hotchner x y/n #criminal minds x y/n #criminal minds x platonic!reader #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds x disabled!reader #criminal minds #penelope garcia x platonic!reader #aaron hotchner #penelope garcia

[rjalker]

id call myself cpunk but i am scared the disabled community wont think im disabled enough even though i have chronic pain that affects my ability to live and do basic tasks......

im in denial lol esp w/ the discourse

You are 100% welcome, the Cripplepunk community is welcoming to all physically disabled people (it's just the ableists and ablebodied jackasses anyone has a problem with), and if you have chronic pain, you're physically disabled.

I'd suggest looking through Cripplepunk blogs who post about chronic pain, or just checking out the chronic pain tag, if you want to see what people are talking about.

Chronic pain is a physical disability, even if the rest of society makes it seem like you're just being lazy or a crybaby. The normal level of pain for ablebodied people is none, and especially if it's impacting your ability to function, you're definitely physically disabled, and you'll be welcome in the Cripplepunk tag :)

The "discourse" is people who aren't physically disabled in any way by any definition, who think that they can just "loophole" their way into calling themselves physically disabled, by pretending that physical disability is like...

Like, a riddle or something, and they're trying to be Extra Clever™ in solving it in the most obnoxious way possible, so they come up with "Well, I'm autistic and ablebodied, but the brain is an organ, and autism comes from the brain, so therefore, my brain is disabled, so that means I'm technically physically disabled! Ha! Checkmate, cripples!"

And completely ignore the actual meaning of the words being used, and ignoring the fact that physically disabled people can't "Well, actually--" our disabilities away. Physical disabilities don't stop existing because of a technicality in language that's purposefully ignoring the context.

You can't tell your chronic pain, "Well, actually, you're just a product of my brain, so you can stop now". Talking about your feelings and learning coping mechanisms for when you're feeling upset isn't going to stop your chronic pain, because it's not an emotional problem, it's a physical one.

But these people think that they should get an award for "loopholing" their way into claiming they're physically disabled, while suffering none of the drawbacks of actually being physically disabled. Like chronic pain, and the kinds of systemic ableism that only impact physically disabled people, like lack of access to 90% of society via lack of ramps, no sidewalks, no elevators, doors that are too narrow, and so much more.

Physically disabled people are welcome in Cripplepunk as long as they're not ableist, and if you have chronic pain, you are welcome. No one who belongs in the Cripplepunk movement is going to judge you or tell you you're "not disabled enough" by comparing your chronic pain to theirs, or anything like that. And anyone who tries is gonna be the one who's not welcome in the community.

Here I've copied the original principles and rules of Cripplepunk:

Principles of Cripple Punk:

Cripple punk is exclusively by the physically disabled for the physically disabled

Cripple punk is about solidarity & is open to all physically disabled people

Cripple punk rejects pity, inspiration porn, & all other forms of ableism

Cripple punk rejects the “good cripple” mythos. Cripple punk is here for the bitter cripple, the uninspirational cripple, the smoking cripple, the drinking cripple, the addict cripple, the cripple who hasn’t “tried everything”

Cripple punk fights internalized ableism & fully supports those struggling  with it

Cripple punk respects intersections of race, culture, gender, sexual/romantic orientation, size, intersex status, mental illness/neuroatypical status, survivor status, etc.

Cripple punk recognizes that there is no one universal disabled experience

[originally italicized for emphasis] Cripple punk does not pander to the able bodied

Rules of Cripple Punk:

Cripple punk is not conditional on things like mobility aids & “functioning levels”

Always listen to those w/ different physical disabilities & different intersections than yourself. Do not speak over them

Disabled people do not need to personally identify w/ the words “cripple” or “punk” individually to be a part of cripple punk

Able bodied people wishing to spread the message may only ever amplify the voices of the disabled

Able bodied people may never use uncensored slurs themselves, but never censor our language

Able bodied people must always tag things like reblogs with “I’m able bodied”

Physically disabled people wanting to be a part of the movement who are uncomfortable using the slur may refer to it as “cpunk”

#Cripplepunk #cpunk #cripple punk #asks #replies #anonymous #chronic pain

[gremlinwithakeyboard]

Stuff I use regularly that's technically not a mobility aid but sure help me get places I otherwise wouldn't be able to

Bicycle - Fairly obvious one. Gets me to the shops fast without killing my legs like walking or driving would. I can even lean on it when I'm walking with it to still take weight off my questionable knees!

Noise cancelling headphones - Going out used to be a pain for the whole family because you can only spend so long out when you don't know where the next "safe" toilet is. The world opened up so much more to me when I no longer had to worry about extractor fans and hand dryers.

Long sleeved shirt/jacket - Contamination OCD freaking sucks but fortunately I've got it mild enough that if I cover my hand while touching stuff like buttons and door handles my brain doesn't go too crazy. So it's useful to have something with nice long sleeves I can retreat my hands into. I'd use gloves but they make my hands feel uncomfortable.

Bottle of hand sanitizer - Similar to the above one. Sometimes I'm having a bit of An Episode™ and everything is extra dirty or I dropped something on The Ground and can't just leave it somewhere until my brain forgets it's supposed to be toxic. Squirting a ton of gel onto the offending hand/object is a lot quicker and easier than retreating to the nearest bathroom to go clean it, and most of the time it's enough to keep The Thoughts at bay.

A solid pair of walking/military/safety boots - Combined with my arch supports, I can manage a bit more walking without totally killing my legs. I think it's the ankle support? With black leather military ones I can even wear them with formal wear under a long enough pair of trousers. They're not so fun when it's hot, but while I can function on a pair of trainers, walking boots are my usual everyday shoe. My latest pair even have hooks at the top instead of lace holes so I can either have them as slipon trainers with extra ankle if I'm going cycling or for a long car ride, or I can quickly lace them up all the way if I'm going walking. I was absolutely spoiled by a pair of leather safety boots I got a year or so ago. When they were new, I could walk to the morrisons on the other side of town and back and the only pain I had was from tying the laces too tight. Unfortunately the leather stretched and the boots got too big.

Not sure why I made this post, just wanted to ramble about it for a while. Feel free to add stuff!

#random thoughts with gremlin #ocd #chronic pain #contamination ocd #not gonna tag ADHD on this one since aside from the ear defenders thing none of these really apply to that? #I mean riding a bike is a lot less taxing on my brain than driving a car too #unitypunk

[tasteofgummies]

hi! i understand that it can be uncomfortable for u but if u don't mind can i ask the headcanons of p3 guys with dystrophic fem s/o? it would be cool if you also will make an nsfw part

i really enjoy your writing!!!🥺

Thank you so much!! It's not uncomfortable at all, don't worry! I tried to make this post very vague, as the experiences of people with dystrophy can be different, but as always, you can message me if you want me to change anything, enjoy (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠)

Stardust Crusaders w/ a dystrophic!fem! S/O 🌸

Cw: nsfw content ahead

Jotaro Kujo

>He'd be careful with you regardless, but I think it would take some reassurance for him to express his love physically. But again, he isn't really the most affectionate, so what's the difference?

>He knows that you can handle yourself, so he is thoughtful without actually doing anything for you

>If you require any mobility aid, the Speedwagon foundation is ready to create only the finest technology for you

>If you ever feel insecure of anything regarding your disability, Jotaro is there to hold you, he may not be good with words, but he'll try to voice his feelings in order to reassure you that there isn't a single thing he would change about you

>Carries painkillers and muscle relaxers with him in case you ever need them

>Understands that sometimes the pain can be too much to even want to interact, but he will still be there in case you need anything, you don't need to talk, you can do parallel play

>Is very gentle with you, and tries to make you do as little effort as possible during your intimate times

>Eats you out with de-vo-tion 🙏

>He's inexperienced, but it's definitely a pleasurable time

>And if you ask for, you can have Star Platinum doing it, he's got that godly precision for all your good spots

>Lets you choose the position you'd like so it's always comfortable

>Wants to take care of you but you'd end up sore regardless

>His pace is slow and deep

>6/10 aftercare, he isn't awful, but he needs some practice

Noriaki Kakyoin

>He's much more open about physical affection, as he trusts you'll tell him if he hurts you

>Enjoys "house dates" that's basically you two scrolling through your phones and showing each other those cheesy cat pictures that couples share, and you clearly don't have to move around much for that

>I headcanons he suffers from migraines, so he can relate to the pain and sometimes limits on your daily life

>Offers acts of service to help you in days that are harder, so don't worry about grocery shopping or taking out the trash while he's there

>He isn't as scared to hurt you while being intimate as others are

>He's a tease, but also a gentleman, he'd like you needy and worked up from his touch so you ask him to please you

>And how can he deny you?

>Maybe gets a bit too carried away with the overstimulation and leaves you aching

>But he'll take care of you dw

>Breakfast in bed after he wrecked you kind of romantic<3

Muhammad Avdol

>Soothes your aches with natural essential oils and massages

>Tries to smooth out the ground of his farm so you can walk on it if you use any mobility aid

>He doesn't let you get insecure ever, he's a happy wife, happy life man™

>He's really supportive and thoughtful of whatever you need

>Avdol is perfect for everything tbh

>May be a bit overprotective though, is nor that he doesn't trust you, but he know how damaging is the pressure to be "functional" rather than to live a full, happy life (damn capitalism)

>He's such a spoiling sweet lover

>He'll make sure you are comfortable, and if you need to switch positions, take a break, stop, or anything, you just have to say your safe word

>He can get rougher, but he's more slow and sensual type of man

>11/10 aftercare

Jean-Pierre Polnareff

>He's so sweet, but he sometimes forgets his strength, so warn him please

>Another one that will literally worship the ground you step on

>Insecurity? We don't know her in this house

>A huge simp

>I feel like (if you don't already use one) will heavily encourage you to use a mobility aid, he doesn't think you need to force yourself, and you shouldn't feel bad for trying to make your life easier

>"It's okay to take up space, chéri

>Or you can just let him carry you and kiss the top of your head the whole day<3

>Like Avdol, he's very passionate, he makes love, he doesn't fuck

>Soooo many praises

>Knows he's big, so takes some time prepping you, it may even look like he's teasing you, but he just doesn't want to hurt you

>Your legs may end up just a bit sore, but he won't leave you as bad as the others

>He also has a voyeurism kink, so just watching you touch yourself is enough

Joseph Joestar

>"You know the Speedwagon foundati-" shut up Joseph, you can't use your nepo baby privilege to try to find a cure for it 💀

>No, but fr, he gets you all the best of everything, the best physicians, the best technology, the best specialist, just anything that can help you

>Respects you, and knows that you can handle yourself, but is also in his nature to spoil you

>He's very understanding, but sometimes you have to explain to him that pain is a part of your life, and him dating you means that he's gonna see you in pain sometimes

>He's there to gently stroke your hair and sing you praises

>Horny jail? This one scaped

>You have to tell him your legs get sore if he just pushes you against a wall and starts to get at it

>He'll be a good boy and get you to a nice comfortable bed

>And when I say nice, I mean, top tier mattress and silky sheets

>Loves when you ride him

>When he gets horny he forgets that you may need breaks, so you have to stay firm and be clear to him

>Of course won't react badly, he just gets too excited

>He's really good with his fingers, but that robotic hand has more than one perk

>Goes for quickies, usually, but always makes sure to examine you and massage your sore muscles, he also uses hamon to help you

Merli Anne [platonic]

>Anne's a bit of a pushover, but she just wants to protect you!

>You're a big sister to her, and she wants to prove to you what a useful person she can be, specially to you

>Tries to help the aches by giving you a soup recipe or something like that

>She thinks you're so strong and cool

#jjba headcanons #jojo headcanons #jjba x reader #stardust crusaders x reader #jotaro kujo x reader #Jotaro Kujo smut #disabled reader #kakyoin noriaki x reader #noriaki kakyoin x reader #kakyoin smut #muhammad avdol #avdol x reader #Avdol smut #jean pierre Polnareff x reader #polnareff x reader #Polnareff smut #joseph joestar x reader #oldseph x reader #joseph joestar smut

[wolfythewitch]

i see we're talking about canes! local cane user here, a couple things to keep in mind:

- phil would likely use a 3 or 4 ended foot as theyre best for mobility in rough terrain and are best for balance and mobility

- i think phil would also possibly benefit from a walker at times, and also its okay for one person to use multiple disability aids interchangeably depending on the circumstances!

- phil having a collapsible cane would be cool (note i have one and theyre funky)

- usually with canes you use them on the opposite side of the body needed to be assisted, as you use them like if you walked with both sides at once thus helping balance/relieve pain on that side (ex if your left leg hurts when you went to take a step, youd use your cane on the right side at the same time). so if phil were to use the cane its likely hed be an ambulatory cane user (someone who uses canes on both sides)

- using a cane alone requires a lot of arm and shoulder strength, so thats important to keep in mind he'll have to build that strength

generally id say find cane users/wheelchair users/amputees etc to check with because a lot of the time these things can get! deeply offensive in aspects people might not even realise (ableism is within us all, even the disabled)

Funky funky I am taking down notes

It's kinda funny cause I'm not even planning to draw dsmp Phil that much LMAO I draw hc!Phil fanart more, but also this is really interesting to learn about and I love character details

About the collapsible cane, that is funky yeah! I'll have to look into that, but I'm also thinking of hiding a weapon within the cane? Like a little reference to urahara's cane in the anime haha, so that might make the collapsible part. Uh. Difficult

I have two close friends who are cane users so I'm definitely gonna slide into their dms at some point lmao, but I'll also look into wheelchair and walker stuff if I decide to go further into drawing anything for this (I haven't drawn dsmp in weeks I just realized that wowie)

But also if you have some trivia/info about disability aids feel free to just drop them in my inbox too! I don't answer all of them cause I don't want to clog up my blog but I do read them all :D also gonna be asking questions here if I try doing research and get confusing answers haha

Also I found a pic of this cane with like an ice pick at the end and I don't know how functional it would be but it looks neat if you guys want to see lol

#wolfy tedtalks #anon #mobility aids

[gotta-pet-em-all]

(@wingsofachampion) What are human mobility aids like? -Tropius

HI HI HI OKAY SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AN INTEREST OF MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

okay okay i'm gonna be normal about this i am going to be soooo normal yeah no that's a lie i love this so much

so!!! first off we have canes. canes my absolute fucking beloved! you got wooden ones and metal ones, plus a smattering of funky materials, but it's mostly the first two. There are different types of handle, depending on what you use it for. Some people like decorative handles that are carved in the shape of pokemon! Here, I'll grab some fancy ones so you can see.

My first cane was a black aluminum folding cane, with a functional wooden grip somewhere in the derby range. It was adjustable for different heights, which is helpful because if you use mobility aids wrong, they can actually hurt you! It's designed specifically to alleviate the strain from certain areas of the body, and if it's not ergonomically sound, it will put unexpected strain on you.

If your cane is too short, it forces you to lean over, which throws your entire body alignment out of wack. If it's too tall, your elbow is forced to take on the extra strain, which is bad for it. Always get your cane properly fitted! You may need to adjust it if you're wearing shoes with any kind of heel.

Here's an example! This cane has a derby handle, is probably metal, and comes with a carrying case. I love the flowers on it! It's sort of a disabled community thing that a lot of us like to customize our mobility aids, because they're a part of us. When I dream, my cane is with me. Because I would feel naked without it, you know? It's part of me.

Another reason to customize your aids is to emphasize that your disability is permanent. You don't waste holographic stickers on something that you'll only be using for six months as you recover from an injury; it's a way of saying "I'm here and my condition is here to stay, and I'm making the most out of life." And I think that's extremely c-punk.

....i am realizing i'm running out of steam here. oops. i really really just love canes, but i promise there are other mobility aids!

There are forearm crutches! they require both hands, but they give more support than a cane, and on both sides! they're also arguably better than underarm crutches in the long term, but the trade off is that they take longer to use.

Sometimes, leg amputees will use these instead of a prosthetic! Prosthetics are cool and all, but they can chafe or put pressure on the stump, and sometimes they're just not worth it. A lot of amputees actually choose not to use a prosthetic because they manage just fine with the limbs they have, and that's fine!

Next category up is walkers and rollators, which admittedly I'm not as knowledgeable about? But I've seen people attach really cute quilted bags to theirs, and they're very good for long periods indoors.

Next up is wheelchairs-- oh gosh there is so much variation in wheelchairs. At the bottom tier is hospital wheelchairs, which are designed to be pushed by someone else, and then you've got self propelled chairs where the user pushes the wheels using their hands to move forward. and then there's electric wheelchairs, which are for people who don't have the physical strength/coordination/whatever to push themselves manually, and so they just steer!

There's a specific brand of sports made for people in wheelchairs! Like power soccer, or wheelchair basketball! Disabled people can be athletes, or just enjoy the fun of playing a sport for self improvement. There's even a guy I watch on Mewtube who does some pretty sick skateboarding tricks on his chair!

(Side note: I'm not usually a huge stickler for language? Like, I know people who have reclaimed the word cripple, and that's fine. I know people who say differently abled like it's a curse. However! Please note that "wheelchair user" is considered vastly preferable to "wheelchair bound." It's a mobility aid! it's freedom! It can be cool as hell!)

Anyways. Don't take my word as gospel, this is nowhere near comprehensive, but there you have it! my big old ramble on mobility aids! ehehehehehheh i love them so much, such a huge fan of technology invented to make people's lives easier. anyways ough i'm stimming so hard right now but also i am fresh out of spoons from this rant so gnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#pokemon irl #pokeblogging #rotomblr #fluff and the disabled agenda

[technovillain]

What do you think the interns would be up to after the events of psychonauts 2?

Okay soooo I think they all (under the new "Junior Psychonaut" titles) are given big projects to work on.

There is a little bit of discrepancy between different media sources regarding Adam, but I'm pretty sure something in the artbook was saying he was intended to be on a higher level than the other interns. Which makes sense because he not only comes off as the oldest but it's kind of evident that he's on a slightly higher level, what with his big public view project and his mentor being the head of the entire organization. So while I think in canon he is still referred to as an intern as part of the intern program, he was sort of functionally already a "Junior Psychonaut"..... which is something I feel like Hollis and Truman sort of made up to promote them for their hard work.

I also like to hc that their mentors told them to brainstorm good ideas over the summer, things that they were passionate about. That was what sparked the recent creation of Morris' pirate radio (also something that Milla would find cool and encourage as a music fan)

So I choose to believe they have these projects to work on as Junior Psychonauts:

Morris wants to get his pirate radio off the ground and (though it would make it less cool) maybe make it less .... pirate-y. In the sense that he could get more than one song for it. And more employees than just the one random 5 year old who climbed into his treehouse. It could also be a sort of psychic-station, broadcasting to brainwaves for study time.

Gisu wants to work with Otto to improve the status of psychic mobility, especially around the motherlobe. Creating levboards, safe apparatuses for brain balls, streamlining psychic mobility aids, etc.

Sam wants to get the Lumberstack Diner operational again, and is determined to employ animals as servers. Give them an opportunity to "better themselves". I honestly do not think that Coach would care much about this project. He's not a great mentor lol....but as a fellow cook, Compton would appreciate the project and probably pitch in, maybe as an excuse to get away from Lizzie and her project.

Norma is trying to....help balance the budget. And work on finances with Hollis. Scintillating. On the more interesting side, it would require a little government help, which would mean learning how to lay it on thick to try and get some government money....professional schmoozing skills.

After Lori's "exciting" new haircut comes out of Ford's barbershop, some of the agents are looking for some more modern styles. Lizzie decides the place is extremely outdated and needs a facelift to keep up with the times. She's right but her noncomformist, somewhat anarchist decor choices and style really stress Compton out. He's just sure she's going to do a bunch of stuff that Truman will hate, and he could get stuck cleaning up a big mess.

I don't think Raz and Lili are expected to take on big projects just yet. First of all because of all the personal intense family drama they just went through. Second of all because of their age.

I also think they all are permitted more field work with their mentors, and more mentor work time in general. Really "locking in" so to say on the idea of them actually becoming Psychonauts someday and not just hanging around the facility.

#hcs #psychonauts 2 #interns #ask #anonymous #.txt

[itsawhumpsideblog]

Character sketches

Francis was the first of the Safehouse boxboys to make himself known, although Mikey was not far behind. The thing I'm finding most fascinating about writing Francis is finding ways to convey his worldview, which I feel like I'm doing to a greater extent than with Mikey or Nathan. Because he was living with another person who had very definite ideas about what he should be like, Francis had his worldview sort of forged for him in really odd ways.

There will eventually be an installment where he learns to count higher than ten, for example, but right now he thinks everyone gets to ten and starts over and therefore functionally can't conceptualize of quantities greater than 100 (ten tens, as he would think of it).

He also speaks in third person, which obviously the other two do not, and has developed a very flowery, formal way of speaking as a result of being a living showpiece and as much an accessory in his former owner's home as the art on the walls. I imagine that his owner worked on training him to speak in a highly artistic style and move as if everything is a ballet.

Francis gets really good at interpreting for Mikey when Mikey learns to sign and ultimately decides to pursue interpreting as a career. It's a good fit for him because he doesn't have to speak for himself or produce original utterances unless they're really simple; he can just interpret from one language to another what somebody else is saying. He also prefers not being the focus of the conversation in any way and interpreting lets him fade comfortably into the background.

I imagine that he uses a wheelchair or crutches depending on how he's feeling, but because of the nerve damage in his feet, has a lot of difficult walking without a mobility aid.

When I write Mikey, I kind of can't help but make him sound small and waifish, because he's so sad and scared all the time- at least until yesterday's short story, which gives a brief glimpse of Mikey in the future. In fact, Mikey is a pretty big guy, which is likely what you'd want for a guy who lives as somebody's personal bouncer. He's probably six inches taller than Francis, although Nathan is closer to Mikey's height.

And as I elaborated on a little in yesterday's backstory, he's very muscular from a combination of enforced workouts and a low dose of steroids. Incidentally, I don't think the WRU publicizes their use of steroids but I would bet everyone knows they do it. Owners presumably make the choice to continue that practice or not, but I think Mikey's owners don't. There's probably a story about withdrawal in there, actually.

I don't know much about Mikey or Francis before they were boxboys, but I do have some idea what happens to Mikey after he's been at the Safehouse a while. As you can guess if you're caught up, he is going to be able to use his hands and arms fairly normally (although he hates when it rains because he gets so sore) and he becomes a fluent signer over time.

I think he goes from resignation at the loss of his voice to having a lot of anger about it. He experiences bouts of depression as he learns to cope with knowing how things could have been vs. how they are, but he finds strength and fulfillment in becoming an activist against the Pet trade. It's the kind of outlet for his anger that Mikey really appreciates- he abhors violence, but he feels a strong need to "get back at" the people who took so much from him. He probably does, or tries to do, research to find out who he used to be. I'm not yet sure what amount of success he has.

Poor Nathan was the last of the three to come along and I feel like he sometimes get short shrift. His backstory is the only one I have much of a handle on, and he talks about it in one chapter. He aged out of the foster care system and basically didn't have the counsel or a parent or mentor to give him a realistic perspective on what volunteering to become a Pet entailed. I think he was very briefly working a soul-sucking job somewhere he hated and was recruited on the basis of his looks and the recruiter's desire for a commission check.

Obviously, when he got to the WRU facility, it was nothing like he had imagined. I don't think he knew about the memory-wiping process, although I think most adults in his society are aware that something like that goes on. In my created world, as in many other peoples', I think, Pets are a luxury and generally only affordable by people who are wealthy or willing to save up. So Nathan went in with just the information he had from the recruiter, which obviously wouldn't reflect reality.

Once I wrote the bit where Mikey remembers another Pet who was kind to him and who was the closest thing he ever remembers having to a friend, I knew I wanted them to be re-united. I wasn't quite sure what Nathan's defining feature would be until I was writing it and sort of discovered in the process that although he had signed the papers and been sold and lived as a Pet, the memory wipe had never taken.

I was pretty fascinated with the implications, which I'll definitely want to explore at greater length. One thing it means is that Nathan knows exactly who he is and what his life was like before, although he was pretty lonely to begin with, so nobody's looking too hard for him. It also means that he knows exactly what happens at WRU facilities and can be a whistleblower, if and when anyone's ready to hear the truth.

But the effect of all this on his mental health is hard to overstate, because it's so traumatic to go through training and living as someone's possession without ever giving away that you're the same person you always were before. (Side note- Nathan is dyslexic, which is how he gets by without admitting he can read. He definitely can, but it's enough work that he doesn't see words and visibly process them without meaning to.)

The almost endless mental stress of pretending to have no memory, on top of the same stress other Pets experience, like trying to please a person who may be impossible to please, never having time to themselves, and being under constant physical strain, really takes its toll on Nathan. I think he has a sort of permanent thousand-yard stare, even when he's looking directly at someone or something. A part of his brain is just always a little stunned and distracted and he usually looks sad, even when he isn't. Meeting Mikey again, though, gives him a bit of a new lease on life, because he's so relieved and happy to know that Mikey has a chance at a happy ending.

NB: originally written for a BBU Community Days prompt that I was informed I misunderstood. I’m not able to rework the post but I hate to waste the work so I’ll leave it in case anyone is interested.

#the safehouse

[cripplecharacters]

In general, how would you approach writing nonhuman/feral characters with disabilities? How would you balance the symptoms animals usually show vs human symptoms, experiences and available accomodations?

I'm considering giving my Warrior Cats character with TBI-induced blindness (yes, I know, these books are awful about disability rep and yet I can't help but get attached) a guide animal of some sort, but... in real life blind cats can get by just fine using their whiskers, and though realism isn't a concern here, I'm worried that'll come across as nonsensical. However, I'm personally uncomfortable with writing yet another blind character that doesn't need mobility aids despite not being able to distinguish objects from one another "properly". He may not be totally blind, but I feel like I'd be contributing to the misconceptions surrounding my own condition that way. Thoughts?

Thank you for your ask! In real life animals, including cats, have been known to assign themselves as a guide for a blind packmate, usually walking on the side with less vision to help with navigation. Sometimes an animal of another species will act as a guide, but only if they’re bonded. This also occurs more often in domesticated animals, so if you don’t want the guide to be another cat you could do something like a dog, chicken or rat (though I’d imagine the last two would be hard to keep in a cat pack!).

You could also have your character able to move around unassisted in familiar areas that he is often in, but need assistance in unfamiliar areas.

As for writing your character, I’d say research how his injury affects his other senses. Touch, smell, hearing and limb movement can be affected by a traumatic brain injury, and it would definitely affect your character's ability to get around.

As of now, this blog unfortunately doesn’t have any blind mods (applications are still open as of posting this). However, you can check out other blogs for more information on blindness, such as BlindBeta, AskABlindPerson, and Mimzy-Writing-Online.

Have a lovely day!

Mod Rot

Hi!

When talking about TBI induced blindness, you have to keep in mind that it's different from ocular blindness. The brain-based type of blindness is called CVI, or Cortical Visual Impairment, and it's very common!

(Note: I have done a lot of research on CVI, but I don't have it myself. I heavily encourage you to check the blogs that Rot mentioned!)

A CVI will often have different symptoms than ocular blindness. For example, the character's field of view could be severely limited - the left (or right, or top, or bottom...) half of their vision could be non-existent, and the other half could be what is sometimes described as "incomprehensible". It could also present in infinitely different ways from that, as it can be very diverse!

CVI is often fluid and the person (or cat) can function very differently depending on the circumstances like fatigue or stress or even the weather. If he's having a horrible day he will be able to understand the visual input less than when he's doing fantastic.

With CVI, it's important to remember that visual acuity generally won't be the main problem, but the brain's comprehension of the image is. This is where cat-available accommodations can hopefully come in.

Showing him experiencing visual fatigue and how he deals with it could be one of them! During his kitty activities he could prefer to have them spaced out so that he only sees one at a time and makes it easier for his brain to comprehend without tiring him out. A cluttered environment would probably only make it worse, so you can have him make sure that everything is nice and in its place. He could also take longer to recognize new objects or cats.

If he has, for example, very limited field of vision, then he could have his kitty house (I don't know how warrior cats work I'm trying my best here) arranged so that it would work for him; i.e. everything being on a specific height.

I also very much agree with Rot that he should have more symptoms than just blindness! One example of a brain-based cat disability could be cerebellar hypoplasia; it can't be caused by a TBI, but it causes ataxia which can be a result of a TBI (mildly complicated, sorry). Either way you can use it as a reference to visualize how your character could move!

I hope this helps! I really appreciate the effort of trying to include disability accommodations in a character who's a forest cat.

mod Sasza

#mod Rot #mod sasza #blindness #brain damage representation #fantasy species #<- i know cats are real but IDK i think it fits there. four legged fantasy species and all

[azztiph]

Mobility aid slander

I recently got a mobility aid and I wanna talk about it a bit.

So I got very basic fore arm crutches, they like metallic hospital looking ones.

I have POTS EDS and rheumatoid arthritis

I have ra in my hands and feet so I was very worried when looking for mobility aids.

I know that with almost all of them they put pressure on your wrists

So far I have not been having much wrist pain from my crutches

Although its not all perfect some cons I've been are experiencing are

The handles hurt like hell to hold onto for rlly long periods of time (I recommend getting foam covers or grippy gloves)

Crutches make it VERY hard to open up doors

It is also really hard to carry stuff

When use them for a while it hurts my shoulders

because of my ra sometimes I need to decide which pain is worse and spare my hands by not using the crutches

ra in my hands makes it hard to grip the handles sometimes

If i'm not careful my elbows will hyper extend while I'm using them

Everyone on earth will ask you what happened to you when you start using them

If the crutches are not at the right settings for your body you will not be stable while using them

It is a nightmare to find places to put them when you are in class or on public transport or a restaurant

Ok now for things I like about them

They offer a lot of support for both sides of my body

waiting in lines has become something I can do without insane pain or feeling like I'm going to pass out

I have bad hips and these make walking hurt them less

There are a lot of different ways to walk with them

If I do not feel like using both I can just use one and it functions almost like a cane with extra arm support

The ones I have are very easy to adjust

If one of my feet is really bothering me I can use them like regular crutches and not put pressure on that foot

the cuffs add extra support that keeps my wrists from killing me

I can swing with them to go faster if I need to

The ones I have are shockingly lightweight

Thats all for now.

#disabled #disability #ehlers danlos syndrome #rheumarthritis #chronic illness #rheumatoid arthritis #mobility aid #forearm crutches #Mobility aid slander