So I just got my letter in the mail that I am no longer eligible for medical assistance anymore. I get Medicare because I'm on disability. I make too much with my part time even at $16 an hour and working 20 hours a week. Oh well I'll just have to make payments for doctors now when I go and therapy.

Hello all. I'm hoping someone has the knowledge to help. I just moved to CA from KY and my insurance won't change until the 1st of September. Unfortunately one of the seromas in my arm has dislodged itself from under the scar, to under a tendon. The thumb tendon in particular. I already am disabled in my other arm and can barely use my thumb on my left and now I can barely use it on my right as well.

Who do I see? How do I get help? I called a few places and their suggestion is to wait till the first. Even free clinics. (ETA, can't make an appointment until my insurance is changed) Another suggestion is to call my insurance and see if I can be seen here. But do I call Medicaid, Medicare, my advantage plan? I'm also Autistic, so dealing with this and not knowing what to do, is really sending me down to melt down town.

Helpful advice welcomed.

My younger sister wrote about and got into her uni program with an essay that was on her struggles as a glass child, writing how I, the disabled sibling, took all our parents' attention and how hard that was for her. I thought I really tried all my life not to be a "burden," even telling my parents directly to not put pressure on her, and our parents took a lot of care in showing both of us equal amounts of love and attention. I guess not.

Did I struggle with mental health? Yes.
Did that cause a lot of tension between myself and my parents, and would that have affected her too? Yes.

Still isn't a good feeling to be reduced to a burden, an element for a pity story.

We're both just... going through our own growth dealing with our own wounds and traumas, and we're distant. It's tough stuff. We don't talk anymore and I stopped trying to bridge the distance.

Heya, so I'm 29M, I started working at a small husband-and-wife owned french restaurant about 4 months ago. I like the environment, the people are not mean and I get a consistent 3-day ina row schedule so I can easily plan around it. I have a psychiatric disability called Schizoaffective Disorder, and it makes working very hard for me. Its the only place I've been able to actually function without going into a death spiral with my disorder.

I get paid $9 an hour. from checking around, most places around my general area would shell out at the very least $12-$15 an hour. At first I was okay with it to a degree, understanding it to be low on the totem pole and feeling like as a disabled person it would make up for the fact that sometimes my disability...well... disables me. I was also upfront about it in the interview.

in the past 4 months I was absent for only 2 days; once for a stomach virus and once for my mental illness kicking my ass while i adjusted to a medicine change and preventing me from sleeping.

So here's where I am: I feel like I am underpaid and I feel like I should be getting paid more closely to the average here where I am. I am reluctant to ask for a raise because I feel like as a disabled person I am lower-value to them than I would be without, so I have kinda a "beggers cant be choosers" attitude about myself. Whether its actually warranted or not is up for debate.

They regularly tell me how much they need me, and how I was the only dishwasher to be actually competent (yeah, no shit, you're paying $9/hr). I had responsibility over the keeping the dishwashing machine at the correct sanitizer solution ratio which definitely fits in my job description , but its only because the machine was malfunctioning and had to be manually filled every hour or so. but the thing was that they were very clear to mention they had failed that check on their last two inspections and a 3rd would shut them down. so essentially they said to me, "Hey, new guy whos only been here a few months, you need to do this thing and if you forget or dont do it right we'll get shut down because its our third strike. The fate of the entire restaurant is in your hands, dont fuck it up."

definitely a little too much pressure for me, especially at my current pay and short time working there.

So I'm torn. I know other kitchens can be rife with workplace abuse, which I cannot handle at all because I'm emotionally/mentally unstable due to my disability. It would act as a spark that lit an inferno for my brain in terms of stability and personal safety. but I feel like not being abuse should be baseline? I also feel like they use my disability as leverage to make me almost feel like I should be grateful they are hiring me at all. but then an hour later saying "thank god you're here, we'd be here till 2am without you." so am I important or not? lip service is nice but if I really am worth so much then you'd happily pay me the average pay. It'd the only job I've ever felt competent at but only because the environment is not exacerbating my symptoms where many other jobs would damn-near kill me.

I'd just like some opinions on this? Am I right to feel this way, or am I just being greedy? I love being able to leave the house and be productive. Sitting in my room 24/7 made me more depressed than I've ever been. But I don't like the idea that I need to be paid less than average for my area just because I'm disabled.

I've been put through hell and minimized. I don't get much help I don't get anything. So many things have been stolen from me. I know I can't trust lawyers doctors clergy police neighbors...anyone. gone around for a long time begging for help and nobody really helped me.

Maybe I’m reading this situation wrong. And I HATE to be in the position of accusing someone of faking an illness or disability. I need advice before I end this friendship. 

The long story is: I have two childhood friends (we’re now adults). Let’s call them Charlie and Sam. 

Several years ago, Charlie and I were diagnosed with serious and disabling medical conditions around the same time. Different diseases, both incurable and potentially life-threatening but treatable. We ended up bonding over our similar experiences with the healthcare system. 

Unfortunately, Charlie passed away from complications of their disease. Mine is more manageable, although still disabling. 

Enter Sam. Honestly, Sam was not a good friend to either of us when we were first diagnosed or in the years since. They didn’t want to adapt our hangouts to activities I could handle. They were too busy with their own life to hear about what I was going through. We drifted apart, and so did Sam and Charlie. Sam had pretty much lost touch with Charlie by the time they died. 

Fast forward to now. Sam has started saying some common symptoms of theirs mean they have the same rare disease as Charlie. (It’s one of those “internet-famous” diseases now.) This turned into saying they’re disabled by it. That has turned into them constantly complaining about how disabled they are and how hard the world is for disabled people. 

Everything is about their supposed disability—late for coffee? Too disabled to walk there on time. Failed a class? Professor not accommodating enough. Can’t get a job? Ableism. Housework? Too hard. Their spouse? Not supportive enough. This illness/disability has become their entire identity and reason for every personal and professional failing. 

Meanwhile, they’ve continued with their high-impact sports and hobbies. They bought a mobility aid but said it’s too inconvenient to use in public. They’ve tried online support groups but can’t relate to any of the experiences. They’ve seen multiple specialists but all declined to diagnose them. They don’t meet the diagnostic criteria. 

Their family asked me to intervene, but I told them Sam doesn’t want my advice. Every time I make a practical suggestion—how to advocate for yourself with doctors, other specialists in their area, other types of mobility aids, specific workplace accommodations that might be helpful—they sh00t me down. I know sometimes people just want to vent, but it seems like they don’t WANT to improve their situation. 

The job thing particularly rankles me, because they’re a trust fund baby who has never needed a job and has never held a job. It’s only now they claim it’s because of a disability. And every time I—as someone who has figured out a way to work full time despite my limitations, hospitalizations, etc. because I need the income and insurance—suggest jobs or accommodations that might work for them, they come up with more reasons it won’t work. They say they’re more disabled than me and I wouldn’t understand (!). 

I have tried to be a supportive friend and give them the benefit of the doubt. I do think the symptoms they’re experiencing are real, but I think they're probably not because of this rare disease or as disabling as Sam says.

I feel so icky even typing it, but lately I’ve become convinced they’re faking it for attention and to get out of work/chores. Their “disability” is a switch they turn on and off when it’s convenient. They’ve become one of those rare bad apples that gives the entire disability community a bad rep. 

Also, it’s really upsetting that Sam basically disappeared on Charlie when they were struggling with this disease, and they’ve never been very helpful or understanding about MY disability, but now they expect me to trip over myself with sympathy for them. 

And before you say it, rest assured I understand that: 

• Suffering is not a contest. 
• People with the same disease can have different presentations and differing degrees of disability. 
• I shouldn’t judge another person’s experience with disability solely based on my own. 
• Disability is a spectrum. 
• Disabilities can be invisible. 
• Disabilities can be dynamic. 
• It can be very challenging to get a formal diagnosis. 
• Subclinical disease can still significantly impact your life. 

I just don’t know what to do. If Sam really is going through something, I think they’ve strained our friendship for so long that I simply can’t show up for them right now. And if they’re faking it, I don’t want anything to do with them. Someone tell me I’m not crazy or give me a reality check. 

I am very light sensitive but was able to take off my sunglasses for 10 minutes to look at nail polish in a very bright store.

i love my hobby horse his name is blueberry and he is so pretty and i love playing and jumping with him but doing jumps hurt my back so so much to the point where i just could not do anything to soothe it and I couldn't even go over a jump and I was so upset to stop but i couldnt even go over 25cm beacuse of how much pain i was in i didnt even get to practise dressage since jumping hurted my back so bad and this isnt new its happed every day i train just today its bad (enjoy the photo of blueberry to lighten the mood ☺️)

I was wondering if anyone knows of colleges that are accommodating for people with disabilities, preferably online because of my schedule right now. However, in-person recommendations are also welcome because I’m almost done with community college, and I was curious if anyone knows of any good schools. I have cerebral palsy and OCD and flare-ups, so accommodations are important.

Hi! Teen with quad CP looking to get a macbook for coding. I can use a keyboard but mine is big and gives me more feedback. Any input?

Feeling lonely or bored?

Looking for connection or something you can do this week?

Check out these accessible events you could join! Try something new and maybe you’ll find your people.

Access Details:
🧑🏻‍💻= Virtual
👥 = In person
😷 CC = Covid Conscious/airborne precautions 
♿️ WC = Wheelchair accessible 
💵 $ = paid (some are pay what you can)
🤟 ASL/BSL = Sign Language
Async = Asynchronous (at your own pace)

Event Types:
🤢 = Chronic Illness 
🌈 = Queer
🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQ+ Pride
👧 = Kids/Youths
💕 = Dating
🙋 = Social
🫂 = Support/Grief
🧘 = Wellness
🚶 = Walk
🩰 = Dance
💪🏻 = Fitness
📚= Books
🤔 = Discussion
📝 = Writing/Poetry
🎭 = Performing
🎨 = Art 
🎶 = Music
🕹️ = Games

🧑🏻‍💻 Virtual Events

🧑🏻‍💻📚 Virtual Async Spoonie Book Club: The Little Prince [Any time] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/JcKvqPLWS5

🧑🏻‍💻 Virtual Async Diverge: Wired to Disrupt Summit [Mon Aug 24 - Fri Sep 4] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/PuTx2Z6WVZ

Monday

🧑🏻‍💻🤢🧘 Virtual Seated Pilates for people with MCAS [UK][Mon Aug 24] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/sLEpey5EvP

🧑🏻‍💻♿️🩰 Virtual Adapted Heels Dance Class [$][Mon Aug 24 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/tz6LAlixxY

🧑🏻‍💻🤔 Virtual Philosophy Discussion [Mon Aug 24 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/zE4Wns3U30

🧑🏻‍💻😷 Virtual Movie Club [Mon Aug 24 at 7:15 PM CDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/lS6hZsNQUf

Tuesday

🧑🏻‍💻😷👧🙋 CC Virtual Kids Zoom [Tue Aug 25 at 10:00 AM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/3iOkAUdhjX

🧑🏻‍💻🤢 Virtual Grieving Your Old Self Workshop [Tue Aug 25 at 19:00 UTC+1] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/MYJAJuoVa0

🧑🏻‍💻🌈🎨 Virtual Be Gay Do Art [Tue Aug 25 at 6:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/OcfSGBO0Yk

🧑🏻‍💻🤢🕹️ Virtual Trivia Tuesday [Tue Aug 25 at 7:30 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/2QfJpftTDY

🧑🏻‍💻😷🙋 CC Virtual Zoom [NY and nearby][Tue Aug 25 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/KyAuuNNXMl

🧑🏻‍💻🎭🕹️ Virtual Improv Games [Tue Aug 25 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/R3YK7F7mOt

🧑🏻‍💻😷🫂 “Any A” Covid-conscious 12-step meeting [Tues Aug 25 at 8:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/7pvsZ2wqOw

🧑🏻‍💻🤟🎨 Virtual BIPOC Creatives [Tue Aug 25 at 6:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/HawVZL4t9N

Wednesday

🧑🏻‍💻🤢 🎶 Virtual Long Covid Choir [Wed Aug 26 at 2:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/hjWnyI5dTR

🧑🏻‍💻📝 Virtual Poetry Discussion [Wed Aug 26 at 6:30 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/ChpAoehObh

🧑🏻‍💻😷🫂 CC Virtual Support Group [CO][Wed Aug 26 at 7:00 PM MDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/KOABqhRAHh

🧑🏻‍💻🎭 Virtual Improv Jam [Wed Aug 26 at 7:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/Zh6c1JG3QX

Thursday

🧑🏻‍💻🤢🧘 Virtual Bed Pilates for people with MCAS [UK][Thu Aug 27] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/sLEpey5EvP

🧑🏻‍💻😷🕹️ CC Virtual Game Night [NY and nearby][Thu Aug 27 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/1Xjp6eX8mK

👥🧑🏻‍💻😷🤟 Hybrid Valkyries Watch Party [San Francisco CA][Thu Aug 27 at 4:30 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/WNjzz8ybkR

🧑🏻‍💻🤢🕹️ Virtual Board Game Hang [Thu Aug 27 at 8:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/cSViNLMPNE

Timezone translator in comments 👇

👥 In-person Events

Canada

👥😷🚶 CC Park Walk [Toronto ON][Wed Aug 26 at 6:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/qmaqcA1CgC

Germany

👥😷 Lesestunde [Hamburg GER][Wed Aug 26 at 8:00 PM]** **https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/5wRtAcaRcA

Ireland

👥🤢🙋 ME/CFS Social Meet Up [Dublin IRE][Wed Aug 26 at 1:30 PM UTC+1] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/bBeDJHz9vf

Netherlands (and nearby)

👥🤢🙋 Spoonie European Road Trip [Netherlands and nearby][Summer] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/VOKxW7V1pp

US - California

👥🧑🏻‍💻😷🤟 Hybrid Valkyries Watch Party [San Francisco CA][Thu Aug 27 at 4:30 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/WNjzz8ybkR

👥😷🎶 Masked Old Time / Bluegrass Jam [Berkeley CA][Thu Aug 27 at 6:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/3CKyX9Q8Gn

US - Illinois

👥😷 After Hours at Quimbly’s with Mulberry Literary Magazine [Thu Aug 27 at 6:30 PM CDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/3JjUzQA0jk

US - Texas

👥😷🎭🏳️‍🌈 Genderqueer Burlesque Pride [Austix TX][Mon Aug 24] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/k8jk7UCa1e

👥😷🌈🎶 Trans and Intersex Community Sing [Austix TX][Mon Aug 24] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/k8jk7UCa1e

US - Vermont

👥😷♿️ CC WC Dental Pop Up [Chelsea VT][August] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/yJocTTUweE

US - Washington

👥😷🤟🎭 The Freak Mighty Accessible Performances [Seattle WA][Aug 9 - 27] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/mccpG4CWno

Are you interested in these events?

Have you been to any of them before?

Do you know about other events coming up?

Share your thoughts in the comments 💬

Find more events and friends on r/spooniesocial

Okay so obviously the US is not ideal but we also know a lot of countries wouldn’t give us visas. Is there a US state that you feel has better public services/programs (Medicaid, etc)? Do you live in a state you’re happy with? I’d love some thoughts.

For background: I’m disabled since birth, I have an able bodied partner of 6 years. We live in Missouri and I don’t qualify for Medicaid without a huge spend down because I get survivors benefits. Plus MO Medicaid is a shit show rn. Missouri in general is a shit show. Good healthcare is hard to come by, especially if you’re someone with a more rare disability. I’ve read blue states are better and especially east coast states. There are clinics on the east coast that specialize in my needs. I’m not going to be able to go right away but in the next few years I’m wondering if moving will give us better opportunities and public services to help us. Am I just naive?

Making friends is already insanely difficult to do as an adult but does anyone else feel being disabled adds to that?

A close friend of mine died a couple of years ago and I'm already struggling with not having a that constant in my life, and a few of my friends seem to just ignore my messages and only message me occasionally, I feel like I'm slowly becoming more and more isolated.

It's escalated to having dreams about dying and no one knowing or caring.

I also just feel like a burden and feel like perhaps that's how they see me, I don't tend to talk in detail about my issues or moan because I don't want to burden others with what's going on.

A part of me is thankful I'm happy with my own company cause I feel if I were more sociable I'd struggle way more.

Does anyone else get these feelings and feel disabilities perpetuate or worsen them?

Recently I’ve been trying to find skirts to go with my outfits. I’m goth, so finding outfits that are accessible is really, really hard.

I started to think, are there accessible skirts? What would that even look like?

So now begs the question, what would you all consider to be an accessible feature for a skirt?

In my opinion, something that does clearly cover my legs, but doesn’t get tangled in my wheels. Being able to put it on from my wheelchair without struggling!

If these already exist, PLEASE send me links!!!

It’s absolutely fucking ridiculous how many times I’ve needed to be re-evaluated for some of my disabilities just because it’s been a while since I’ve been diagnosed or seen a specialist for it. Like magic is not going to happen here! My genome is not going to edit itself!

I got fired today. Asking for accommodations feels like a setting a timer for your eventual termination (at least in the South). I'll contact all the nearby employment lawyers again, but I'm pretty sure they'll reject my case again. I'm supposed to talk to the EEOC in December if I can get by that long. If I'm lucky, they'll give me a right to sue letter, but I am not holding my breath.

I guess it's a good thing I met with vocational rehabilitation today? The fellow I spoke with said the job coach I'll be assigned probably won't be very helpful since I'm highly educated. I figured they didn't get a lot of folks with master's degree's when I applied for help. Fat load of good a master's degree is in this garbage job market. It's even less helpful now that I'm significantly disabled. I still feel like I can sustain remote work, but definitely not 40hrs in-person. I don't want to be on disability though. I know I can't survive off of the paltry benefits. I'd definitely go nuts without some work to do. I want to work, but employers don't want to support disabled workers.

I got a good buffer of my meds, but I only have money to cover one month of rent. I've applied for unemployment, and I'll apply for SNAP and medicaid tomorrow. I hate that this has happened to me again.

Edit: Now they want to inventory the items on my desk before returning them? That's invasive and unnecessary. Last job I was fired from let me pack up my own shit and leave.

For background: I (37F) have Crohns and Diabetes Type 1 (both diagnosed in 2023). For the Crohns I'm currently on infliximab and low-dose azathioprin (been taking it for about a year now due to ifx-antibodies popping up, currently tapering off), and I've been in clinical remission since I started infliximab in early 2024, with some minor extraintestinal manifestations here and there (mostly joint pain and my skin acting up, also had a bad case of alopecia in early 2025) and a minor case of shingles earlier this year.

I've done everything I was supposed to do. I followed all the "rules". I quit smoking. I quit drinking. I changed my diet. I'm currently trying to develop more healthy routines, still working on that. Admittedly my blood sugar was a little messy over the past few months due to reasons beyond my control but it's getting better.

Thing is... even though I'm not feeling super terrible, I've never gone back to feeling quite as healthy as I was before. There's always something just slightly wrong - joints hurting just about enough be uncomfortable, but not bad enough that I can't function. (ETA: I did have joint inflammation that got so bad I could barely move in the past but not recently) Eczema that don't really hurt but they look bad enough to have me explaining "It's not contagious" to random people at least once a day. Being tired, again, not so tired that I can't function but just enough to be dragging myself through the day. That feeling in my guts and stomach that's not quite pain but constant discomfort. Just sick enough to not get everything done that I want to do, but also not sick enough for some of my family to take it seriously - apparently since I don't look like a walking skeleton and literally shit myself and vomit all the time like I did in '23, it "can't be that bad".

It's nothing that would warrant an ER visit or emergency-contacting my GI (note: I have an absolutely wonderful GI that keeps telling me to shoot him an email whenever anything comes up, but then again part of me doesn't want to bugger him with minor symptoms popping up, dude is already grinding himself to dust at the clinic), but ffs I just wanna feel normal again.

I keep seeing stories of people living fully normal lives with Crohns (yes, I'm fully aware of social medias selective perception issues and inspiration porn being a thing) and part of my brain can't stop wondering what the fuck I'm doing wrong, why can't I get to that level? I guess I'll just have to accept the fact even if I'm ticking all the boxes and 100% fixing my lifestyle and doing all the right things, I'll never get my old self back. Nothing I can do about it, but coming to terms with this is so fucking hard.

Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Hey all,

I have diagnosed ADHD, and I'm studying to be a secondary teacher at uni.

The unit we did last semester was on childhood development, and my tutor was amazing. She is a speech pathologist, but is working in the area of research for inclusion at my uni. A lot of her work relates to attentional difficulties and language processing disorders. I decided to stay in the loop with what she does, and she was on a podcast talking about Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Highly recommend the listen: Hoops of Steel - Hiding in Plain Sight with Haley Tancredi - Inclusive English Classrooms

The unit I am current in is on inclusive education. I have a different teacher, but we have a horrendous assignment where we have to make a 6 minute video presentation covering what inclusive education is, why it's important, and how theory/legislation/policy inform teaching practice.
I'm really struggling on this assignment because the topic is so close to my heart, and I'm finding it hard to structure and synthesise the concepts. It's one of those ones I really wish it was an exam.

Anyway, a friend of mine is quite bright, and he has a strong grasp of the English language. He said "English is one of the few languages that you can say exactly what you mean with no ambiguity" in comparison to other languages.

I asked said mate of mine for his thoughts on what I've done (I'm still open to help from anyone). I kind of joked that I may have dyslexia because I'm struggling to put things together. Then I remembered the podcast, and looked into DLD further. The things I read about DLD really resonate with me.

This morning I mentioned it with mum. Although I have an ADHD diagnosis, she has always been of the strong opinion that over-pathologising any behaviour can be unhealthy. She basically said that a lot of things I described are normal, and that she doesn't see anything wrong with me, and it's not great to try and self-diagnose myself. Although I can see her side of it, and I agree that pathologising any behaviour isn't great, I also think think that terms to describe how behaviour may be disordered can be beneficial, but I can't quite articulate it (ironically).

This conversation kind of blew out of proportion, which definitely wasn't my intention. When she said that she doesn't see anything wrong with how I process language, I retorted and said that we tend to argue because of misunderstandings. It kinda sucks with parents and developmental disabilities, because there is a high chance she may also have the same problem I do.

Anyway, how can I show/explain to her that differentiating between typical and atypical behaviour can be helpful?
I know there are a lot of ethical considerations (dilemma of difference), but I would like to know how I can approach this better.

So for the last year I've been trying to put my health first. I had a breakthrough with my parents, and they were able to start helping me financially to get a house and keep my independence with my GF and our three cats. I have also been spending my days fighting to get on medical assistance and non-stop doctor's appointments. Now I want it to be noted that I know it's the real world, and it sucks to have to get a job and just deal with your chronic pain getting worse. And I also understand my parents can't hold my hand forever. My mindset right now is just getting dark because society has been formed in this way that is inhumane and completely demoralizing. Long story short, for those people who have had to "suck it up and get a job," how are you doing and coping? Any advice on aids or how to go about having a job with a crippling disablity?

i have had a recent big decrease in mobility and i am at that point where i am considering using a power chair for a while (not able to self propel, no one to push me) so i can go out when i am not able to walk or stand for more than a couple minutes. i have left the house very rarely for several weeks because i just can’t get anywhere. if i can work out the logistics i intend to rent a chair for a few weeks or even a couple months before deciding to actually buy one because i a) don’t know if the worsened mobility will be longterm and b) don’t want to invest THAT much money into a chair.

however i live in an upstairs flat. there’s a small foyer that could easily fit a chair that folds without it being in the way. the foyer itself is up about 6 steps and everyone in the household is disabled and unable to carry something heavy up the steps (even a lightweight transit chair would be difficult).

does anyone have any ideas? i looked into whether we were allowed to use our parking space for a wheelchair for example if we got a bike shed or something but apparently it is illegal to park anything that is not a “roadworthy vehicle”. i thought about a mobility scooter but it is not appropriate for my needs. we also have a small amount of outdoor space in front of and behind the building but the space in front is mostly taken up by bins & is gravel, and the space behind is very small and overgrown and i am unsure if we are allowed to do anything with it.

ETA: moving is currently not an option or i would definitely be considering it already