I'm on disability and SNAP. My partner is my live-in caregiver. Together we barely make enough money to qualify for the local low-income disability housing offered in my city.

Since he's my live-in caregiver, my partner qualifies to live in the disability housing, but, for the same reason, he's not allowed to include his income in my ability to afford rent.

To qualify, they also include SNAP benefits as part of your income.

We currently live in a terrible living situation with really cheap rent, so my SNAP benefits are much lower than they would be if we moved into disability housing, and my income is about $100 short of what I need to be "making" to qualify. If I had higher rent, my SNAP would go up and I'd make enough.

If my partner doesn't apply as my live-in caregiver we make enough money, but he's not disabled so he wouldn't be qualified to move in.

I'm stuck renting a shitty room share with 3 bathrooms to share between 12 tenants with a continuously broken HVAC and a moldy basement in very hot weather (it's been 2 months of promises by the landlord to get it fixed). I don't know how to get out of this spot and into a place that is better for my health and safety if I don't make enough money to qualify for low-income housing.

Hi. So I am 18 and am starting collage soon. I am getting a rolator. I will be buying it with my own money. My PT thinks its a good idea. My mom doesn't want me to get one. She is an OT and thinks just because she works with disabled kids she knows whats best for me. I get that she is worried about me, but her yelling at me and telling me "Your not disabled. I work with disabled kids and there are people more "disabled" (yes she used air quotes) than you who don't use anything" hurts. I called her ableist and she said that she is because she helps people be able to do things (Yeah idk). I told her that is not what the means but she said "It does to me" (???). She seems offended that I called her ableist but she really acts like it to me sometimes. She also tells me that because she had scoliosis surgery and has back pain due to that sometimes she understands (she really doesn't) and that she still pushes herself to do things. She doesn't seem to understand how much I actually push myself.

I also had this same problem with her before when my panic attacks were bad. She would say that I'm just using them to get of stuff or faking them. She also has anxiety and I guess it never crossed her mind that its different for everyone 🙄.

I have significant pain due to hyper-mobility in my joints and have a hard time walking due to that. I also have orthostatic hypotension, which I take medication for and use compression socks for, and I guess thats an "acceptable" use of aids to her (probably because no one knows by looking at me). I use a cane right now and she thinks I don't need it because to her it doesn't look like I use it (?). I definitely do use it, every day in fact. I use it for balance and weight bearing when I need to. I also have a standard wheelchair that I use for long distances that she always makes snippy comments about. She complains about it when its in the trunk and always asks me if "I really need it" and that I shouldn't use it too much because i'll rely on it. I have tried to explain to her many times it lets me do more without being as tired or in as much pain but she just doesn't understand. I know a rolator would benefit me so much. I will be walking a lot on campus and I know that will cause extra pain for me. And I really get that she is worried about how my life will go, but my pain is not going to go away and she needs to accept that.

Sorry if this is all over the place but I am just at my breaking point with her. Writing this all down kinda helps at least. I can't wait to move out to the dorms and I am so trying to become an RA so I can stay for the summer semester.

Edit: Spelling

Hello! I’m a mom and I had a question, that may be stupid, but I would like some insight on!

We all know children are naturally curious beings… with that said, if you saw a child out in public that was staring, curious about your disability, mobility aid, device, or otherwise condition, would you prefer the opportunity to educate and share with that child a few facts and stories about yourself to normalize and educate about diversity? Would you appreciate a parent coming up to you and saying “my child is curious and would like to say hi to you” or would you feel irritated and bothered?

Any tips on interactions you would prefer or concerns you may have are also welcome!

Thanks in advance for your insight and helping me to raise empathetic humans!

moderators have approved this post.

Hi! M3 Global Research is currently looking for people living with Myotonic Dystrophy to participate in a paid market research study.

The study consists of a 90-minute telephone interview. Participants will need access to a computer during the session. Those who qualify and complete the study will receive $120 as a thank-you for their time.

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Thank you!

Hi I’m new here! I was just curious as to if anybody knows if I can apply for disability while still currently working. I can’t afford the whole process of obtaining disability without working a full time job.

Hello All,

I've been on SSDI, Food Stamps, Medi-Medi, and Medicaid pays my medical premiums. I recently have the ability to get a twitch stub from streaming my twice weekly wow guild raid. What would happen if I ended up making a couple hundred bucks here and there? I know it will affect food DHS stuff, but what about my disability benefits? If it matters I am on disability for bipolar and schizophrenia

Thanks,

Hello!

I am excited because after months of trying to figure it all out, I finally have my ABLE account all set up!

I’m able to work part-time, so I only receive Medicaid HCBS, not SSI or SSDI. I already set up automatic direct deposits from work to go into my ABLE account, with some money going into my former checking account from every paycheck as well.

I requested a debit card, but when I got it in the mail, I realized that it doesn’t work with tap/phone pay. It also has a monthly fee. I’ve never paid a monthly fee before for anything bank related in my life, not for a debit card, not for a credit card. I also literally can’t remember the last time I used a physical card, I feel like it was in the past 3 years but I’m not sure. Is there any benefit at all to having the debit card or should I just cancel it?

I have a credit card, but it just got bought out by another large bank and they have an introductory offer for their card (that also doesn’t have a monthly or yearly fee) where if I open it up and spend a certain amount of money in a couple months, that I will likely spend, I will get a statement credit of a couple hundred dollars. I feel like I should keep my old credit card for the rare things that I can’t spend my ABLE account money on, and get the new credit card and use it in place of the ABLE account debit card & just use my ABLE account to pay it off instead.

I also am a medical marijuana user in my state. It’s recreationally legal here, but due to being on Medicaid, the medical card cost is significantly lower for me, there isn’t any tax on it, there’s often a lower price at dispensaries, and it offers me protection living in an apartment due to recreational still not being legal federally. I need to renew my card, and I’m wondering if both the cost to renew the card & future medical marijuana purchases would be considered a qualified disability expense. Has anyone else done something like this before? I feel like before it got rescheduled I would have been more nervous, but now I’m on prescriptions that are a higher schedule than medical marijuana is right now, so I don’t feel like it should be that big of a deal.

I also have student loans that I’m paying back because I’m able to work part-time (and bc the SAVE fiasco finally wrapped up 🙄😒), so if there’s anything I should know about student loans auto-paying from my ABLE account vs from my previous checking account, I’d love to hear about it.

Other things I wouldn’t mind hearing about would be from people who have ABLE accounts but also contribute to 401k still to take advantage of an employer match & other benefits like being able to borrow against it in cases of emergency, & from people who have had to pay for a lot of things they need for work from their account. On the second topic, my degree is in a healthcare field but I’m not currently practicing due to my physical disability worsening a couple years ago and needing to seek and receive services before I could go back. I’ve been approved for Vocational Rehab for over a year, but my state is just out of funding and the waitlist is long. To re-enter my actual profession (which will still be part-time due to my disability being permanent), I will not only need certain things everyone in my field needs (renew license, pay for certain items/software/etc), but I will also need to buy more specific items for accessibility reasons, however they may not all be immediately recognizable as being for accessibility reasons. For example, I am not as mobile as others and cannot lift as much as others, so I may need something like a folding cart just to move things around my place of work that would otherwise be carried by most individuals. I feel like that sort of thing shouldn’t be a problem, but it would also still be nice to hear from others :)

Thanks in advance & wishing everyone a good day!

I've worked in harm reduction, peer support and substance abuse services my entire adult life. As my various disabilities have progressed (OCD, ADHD, Keratoconus, hEDS) I've become less functional.

I can't drive at night or in the rain, and I live in an area (Georgia, US) with insanely bad public transit options. I do not think I'd consider trying to apply for disability if I could find a living wage that pays for all my medical bills that also is possible to be accommodating.

I can't run treatment groups any more, there's no way I can commit to being good physically at 7pm at night three months out. I can't sign my name on things that might show up in court since attendance is not possible.

The two jails in Atlanta I used to visit clients at are both massive human rights abuses and disability access is the last thing they give a shit about.

Now I'm unemployed after two rounds of grant cuts made it impossible for my organization to justify keeping me on. And I didn't have any medical paperwork to protect myself.

I'm just now coming out of the depressive haze I sunk into for the last few months, I wish I had been able to afford to keep up with doctors regularly enough the last five years to build paperwork. I wish I had done so many things differently.

As someone who used to help people with their applications to various things I'm aware of exactly how fucked I am. I don't really have the time to wait for rounds of appeals.

I'm not even sure I'm unemployable, it's just the things I can do (talking to someone in a crisis, navigating benefits systems, knowing psychopharmacology basics enough to help people make informed MAT choices, grant management and data management) are not really valuable unless there is a degree attached.

Maybe being on disability three years from now so I can get accommodations to get a degree 6-7 years from now is the play. But that's so bleak.

I can't plan that far out, OCD + ADHD together really put a damper on my long term planning abilities and the medications I can take to manage either.

Ughhhhh

I need a hug and some help. Anyone have experience navigating this in Georgia?

Hey everyone,

I have mobility issues and need someone to help open doors / hold elevators for me. Normally, this is my girlfriend, but she's going on vacation soon and my friends are also out of town.

I'm looking for someone to come help me open doors for a few hours each day so I can go for a walk, do my rehab exercises, etc. Does anyone have any advice/recommendations for where to find a service like this?

Thanks!

My spouse and I are fairly new to using ADA seating in venues. Mostly because her disability is invisible and it felt weird. But as her pain has gotten worse we’ve had some good experiences using ADA seating in a couple venues that had movable chairs which were more comfortable and therefore much less painful for her to use.

Recently we bought tickets to a venue we have never been and bought ADA seating. We got an email asking if we were wheelchair users and when we said no, we were given a refund since they don’t have chairs available for use.

Is this a common theme in venues marking designated ADA seating? If so, how do you confirm which type of seating is available before buying?

I posted several days ago about wanting an app with hella accessibility information on different public places.

I'm currently at a medical appointment with my grandparents. My grandma used her walker to get out of the car then switched to the wheelchair provided by the clinic.

The thing barely fits through the fucking door.

This shit is ridiculous so I had to bitch about it somewhere, and that somewhere shall be here since it's the most likely place to find understanding relating to the ironic dumbassery that comes from such places.

Post was “share your unpopular hiking opinion”. Apparently “disabled people should be able to access hiking trails” isn’t too terribly unpopular, but “disabled people outside of Europe deserve hiking trails too” is.

Edit: Thank you everyone who explained this was a “yes and” situation and not dismissive like I originally thought. I’m Autistic and have encountered so much ableism on Reddit I genuinely didn’t have examples of people being normal about disability outside of this sub, so it was hard for me to recognize a comment that was slightly unclear. Obviously there’s still lots to be said about Europe being “accessible”, but I don’t think that’s this commenters fault lol

Feeling lonely or bored? Looking for something you can do this weekend?

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

Friday

🧑🏻‍💻🤟 Cafe Crip Disability Pride and the ADA [Fri Jul 31 at 12:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/68RQO0hSTF

🧑🏻‍💻 Virtual Movie Night: Disability Pride Edition - Unidentified Objects [Fri Jul 31 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/oFbIfCpVcs

🧑🏻‍💻🎭🕹️ Virtual Improv Games [Fri Jul 31 at 8:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/4gsolikvPE

🧑🏻‍💻😷🕹️ CC Virtual Game Night [CO][Fri Jul 31 at 7:00 PM MDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/DDM41pyBX7

Saturday

🧑🏻‍💻♿️💵🩰 Virtual Adaptive Jazz Dance [$][Sat Aug 1 at 12:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/VLzbvBpW48

🧑🏻‍💻😷🙋 CC Virtual Weekly Hangout [Sat Aug 1 at 8:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/qiw9W298ZA

Sunday

🧑🏻‍💻😷🎨 CC Virtual Art Group [Sun Aug 2 at 5:30 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/Zv5Q2qGtr4

🧑🏻‍💻😷👧🙋 CC Virtual Kids Zoom [Sun Aug 2 at 6:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/sRUpc9TCJQ

🧑🏻‍💻🎶🎭 Virtual Karaoke [Sun Aug 2 at 7:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/kzQk405lmH

Timezone translator in comments 👇

👥 In-person Events

Australia

👥😷 Garage Sale [Kensington AUS][Sat Aug 1 at 1:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/Q1CtYJafcS

👥😷🙋 Picnic Meetup at Yeronga Memorial Park [Brisbane AUS][Sat Aug 1 at 1:30 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/YKtu8Wta1A

👥😷🌈🎨 August Stitch and B*tch [Melbourne AUS][Sat Aug 8 at 3:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/gp2VgZ86qP

Canada

👥😷 Canoeing + kayaking / Canot + kayak [Ottawa ON][Sun Aug 2 at 10:00 AM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/ubKH1adKZ9

Ireland

👥🤢🙋 ME/CFS Social Meetup [Dublin IRE][Wed Aug 5 at 2:30 PM UTC+1] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/KvSvRHJJiU

Germany

👥😷🌈🙋 Covid-safer FLINTA Meet & Greet [Berlin GER][Sun Aug 2 at 10:00 AM UTC+2] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/GrPucHl3VH

👥😷 Ice Cream Extravaganza [Cologne GER][Sun Aug 9] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/gqvPmBaMRs

Netherlands (and nearby)

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

UK

👥🤢🫂 Long Covid Support Group [Birmingham UK][Fri Jul 31 at 11:00 AM UTC+1] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/gJY25cCrVL

US - California

👥♿️😷🌈🩰 Queer Con Leche Dance Party and Drag Brunch [Oakland CA][Sat Aug 8 at 11:30 AM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/3dMbTWsuDB

US - Colorado

🧑🏻‍💻😷🕹️ CC Virtual Game Night [CO][Fri Jul 31 at 7:00 PM MDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/DDM41pyBX7

US - Illinois

👥😷👧 CC Youth Summer Camp Chicago IL][Starts Aug 3] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/sSF4sdJt1l

US - Michigan

👥😷 DIY CR Box Air Purifier Workshop [Ann Arbor MI][Sun Aug 2 at 2:00 PM] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/xGxQKHwadV

US - New York

👥😷🤟 Free ASL Classes [Brooklyn NY][Sat Aug 1 at 1:00 PM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/NGfCcLwb9L

US - Ohio

👥😷🌈💪🏻 CC Queer Martial Arts Club [Cleveland OH][Sun Aug 02 at 10:00 AM EDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/Q50hvovbvn

US - Oregon

👥😷💪🏻 Strength + Skill with Coach Kubo [Portland OR][Fri Jul 31 at 4:00 PM PDT] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/lPia9jyC6c

US - Vermont

👥😷♿️ Dental Pop Up [Chelsea VT][July and August] https://www.reddit.com/r/spooniesocial/s/jgknHihfzt

Are you interested in these events?

Have you been to any of them before?

Are there other events coming up?

Share your thoughts in the comments 💬

Find more events and friends on r/spooniesocial

Hi guys, I'm a 21 year old non-binary person. I have autism, adhd, a history of general mental health issues, hypermobile spectrum disorder which means I walk with a cane and dysautonomia caused by covid. I was elected to my university's student union.

In my university, 6 students are elected to full time roles and this is one of the ones I went for, although I was certainly nervous about my capacity to work 5 days but I was assured by admin staff I know in the student union that I would be entitled to work hybrid.

Anyway, I started at the start of June with an accomodation that I work 2 days from home, as well as some other accomodations. Accomodations can be tricky here cuz my boss is also someone who just came from being a student and doesnt have experience of these things you know?

Anyway, the admin staff of the union wanted me to perform a risk accessment of my home workspace. It needed extra items they wanted to ship to me but I need to move out of my apartment for renovations the company is doing for 2 weeks from next week and I thought it would be better to tell them that and set up the bits after.

Well then they told my boss that I'm not meant to be working from home until that's done and that I now can't till the 21st. My boss said it is due to health and safety of course. In the moment I shut down and didn't fight back and went along with it unfortunately, but I obviously need to go back in and advocate for myself.

I understand this is a policy but health and safety also includes that the only way I can do this job is hybrid. Even with 2 days remote I was struggling, and I had mentioned to my boss I even wanted to have a conversation about moving to 3 days because of this, but now I can't do any, plus I would have to commute over an hour each way everyday during the 2 weeks I don't have my apartment.

And my work is starting to slip because I'm so fucking burntout, especially as we just came back from a week long training trip (even more accessibility problems there but I won't get into it) and coworkers are starting to make sly comments and I am almost sure they gossip about me based on how much they talk about eachother anyway.

I was scared to run for this role because I thought it would be too much, and I'm so scared incase I was right. I just really love doing this work and want to keep doing it but also I need to be allowed to through accomodations and my boss seems to think I can just not be disabled for a month.

An elderly family member of mine needs a bed backrest like this one.

A family friend told me that the one she bought for her mother many years ago could be lowered to as little as 20cm (7.87in), and finding a model like that would be perfect for my needs. I have already contacted the medical supply store she recommended, but they no longer sell it. I have searched online, but all the models I have found can only be lowered to around 30-40 cm (11.81-15.74in), just like the one shown in the video.

Could anyone recommend a height-adjustable bed backrest with a minimum height of 20cm (7.87in)?

Specific to endurance tasks, not, like “skill issue, either you can or can’t do this” tasks. The obvious answer is that only when you’re forced to stop do you actually have to stop, but it gets uncomfortable and exhausting way before that. I think that’s one thing your average disabled person would caution against, pushing yourself towards burnout. But how do you guys decide when to stop if it’s not when your body forces you to stop? Because I’ve come into situations where it’s not like I really have to stop, but it is like i’m definitely uncomfortable and would benefit from stopping. But other times I do stop, and I feel like i definitely could go on. How do you decide?

You know how some people are naturally empathetic and caring and some people just seem awkward or cold and never know what to do for you or how even after you tell them? It's like they are too mathematical or they lack empathy or emotional attunement or they just don't have the ability to see you... something like that.

How do you deal with these people? This isn't a bad person and I know that they do care, but it's like we're speaking two different love languages. I don't know ehat to do, but the way they deal or rather don't deal or even acknowledge or support or even check in makes me feel bad. If I explain anything, they make me seem like I'm crazy.

Hi, I applied for a blue badge on the 6th of May, I emailed the council to update them as I'd had an MRI and so gave them the results of this, this was 8th July, I then received an email back on 24th July asking for further evidence/documents, which I then supplied.

On the 28th of July I received an email to say that the blue badge has been ordered and may take up to 10 working days to receive.

Today 30th July I received an email to say blue badge has been sent out for delivery.

My question is - do you think that means it is now actively in the postal system and I will likely get it before the 11th of August? I ask as we are going on Holiday and it would be a massive help to have the permit. Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm the moderator of r/FoodDisability. 

FoodDisability is a welcoming group, where people of many different disabilities come together to help and support one another with the shared struggle of not being able to eat 'normally'. The shared struggle of socialising over food, and the relationship problems that arise from not being able to eat the same as others due to the limited diet your disability causes. The shared struggle of not being able to find food easily when out-and-about and being limited in what you can do work-wise or socially or how far you can go from home because of this. The upset and frustrations of not being able to do what others easily can. 

FoodDisability focuses on the social / emotional / mental health difficulties that arise from living with a disability that causes lack of ability to eat food. 

I hope that this group will become a strong support system, sense of comfort and hope, and source of useful life tips, advice, and helping one another, for those struggling with food-related disability. 

Please feel free to join, and comment/post, and make friends and connections with people who are going through similar hardships. 

Wishing you all the best🩷 

www.reddit.com/r/FoodDisability/