I don't have a disability, and I have had very little exposure to those who do. Over the last year however I've befriended two individuals with a disability, George, who's blind from birth, and Matthew, who has cerebral palsy. I naturally have a lot of questions, and I've asked some, but I worry that my ignorance can be grating, and that they don't necessarily want to have to talk about it.

George, late 30s, seems to be fine with everything I've asked him so far, but I don't know if he has a line that'll make him say "Are you fucking kidding me?" For example, I don't know if he knows how animation works. Is that a stupid question to ask? In general, he's a laughy-joky kind of guy who enjoys self-deprecating humour so I think I can just ask him. He comes out to pub events, lives independently, has a job, etc etc.

Peter on the other hand is a very sensitive boy. He has cerebral palsy, spastic subtype. It affects his lower half and his left side. He also attempts dark humour which falls flat (not with me) because I think he's not used to having friends. He lives with his parents still, he's late 20s, and he gets easily discouraged and depressed by inaccessibility. I have many things that float around my head in regards to him, many of which are not questions but what-ifs, such as "but for the luck of the draw, he could have had the kind of cerebral palsy where people don't understand his speech". I'm his de-facto helper whenever we hang out (and George too if we're somewhere we haven't been and needs to find the toilets), and I think he derives a lot of meaning from that fact. I'm still in the dark about all the ins and outs of managing his cerebral palsy, so I still have questions, but again, tact is the issue. I'm very inquisitive and i don't want them to feel I'm interrogating them.

Thoughts, experiences? Am I wrong, right? Somewhere in the middle?

ive been using a rollator for a couple years now, so idk how it is my first. actually, i did just move to another state from california, and i noticed that folks in cali very much stare, but keep to themselves. visibly disabled californian's- im genuinely curious of your experiences and observations!
Anyway, interaction:
person that looks like theyre also in physical pain from existing: *smiles at me*

me, with Blupee the Buggy (aka a sky blue byacre rollater): :-)

them, later: you have to walk with that?

me: yes

them: why? what happened?

me, trying to think of something clever: uhhh, i was born with it. Like Maybelline.

them: well, you're very cute.

[END INTERACTION]

okayyyyyyyyy go off thank you. i feel like this is the best way its gone in the history of ever./j

Hello, I can't seem to work out this problem, and I don't know where else to go with it. I found that most of my symptoms get much better if I have a weird meal replacement concoction in a lot of water. The only problem with it is that all of the containers I have are hard to clean or not big enough so I'm not able to keep up. I have a mini table top dishwasher now but I need to find a container that, is large enough (2-3l), is dishwasher safe, fits in the dishwasher and I can get multiple versions of. The straw are necessary and easier to clean on their own.

What I have:

\- Glass 1l water bottle

\- 1.2l tumbler

\- 3l waterbladder

\- 5l water sack ×4

\- water bladder straw that can screw onto bottles/screw tops

\- I used to use ziplock sacks but they exploded

Does anyone have any solutions or know where I can post this?

🦔 I started by trying to protect a few hedgehogs. I never imagined where it would lead.
I’m from Luton, England, and my fight began because I wanted to protect the hedgehogs and wildlife at Wandon Park, a County Wildlife Site threatened by development.
Little did I know that fighting to protect a few hedgehogs would land me in this amount of shit!
But my experiences have made me think about something much bigger: what happens when ordinary people challenge institutions with power, and who holds those institutions accountable when things go wrong?
💔 Hillsborough: I remember watching it happen.
I will never forget Hillsborough. I was watching the television when the disaster unfolded on 15 April 1989.
I remember seeing the chaos, the police carrying bodies out of the ground and taking them onto the playing field. It was fucking horrific.
Ninety-seven Liverpool supporters ultimately lost their lives.
But the tragedy didn’t end that day. The families were left fighting for decades to establish the truth. Supporters were wrongly blamed, and the families had to challenge accounts given by those in authority before the full extent of the failures could be exposed.
The 2016 inquests concluded that the 96 supporters who died at the time of the disaster had been unlawfully killed. In 2021, a coroner ruled that Andrew Devine, who died from his injuries in 2021, was also unlawfully killed, bringing the total number of victims to 97.
The families’ fight for justice exposed serious failures and raised fundamental questions about truth, honesty and accountability in public institutions.
Imagine losing someone you love and then having to spend decades fighting the very institutions you expected to tell the truth.
That is why Hillsborough matters. It is not just a tragedy from the past. It is a reminder of what can happen when institutions fail and those affected struggle to obtain answers.
⚖️ What is the Hillsborough Law?
For anyone outside the UK who hasn’t heard of it, the Hillsborough Law is the commonly used name for the proposed Public Office (Accountability) Bill.
The campaign seeks to strengthen accountability when public authorities fail, including through proposals for a legal duty of candour and a duty to assist relevant investigations.
In plain English, the aim is to make it harder for public authorities and officials to conceal information or mislead investigations, and to improve the ability of bereaved families to obtain justice.
The Bill is not a magic solution to every institutional failure. But the principles behind it matter: honesty, transparency and accountability.
🌿 How does this connect to my own fight?
My campaign began with Wandon Park and the hedgehogs.
I wanted to protect a local green space and the wildlife that depends on it. I never imagined that trying to do the right thing would lead to such a difficult battle for answers.
I’ve challenged decisions and raised concerns about the council’s handling of the development. I’ve also experienced serious difficulties involving the DWP and the NHS.
On 8 April 2026, I suffered a stroke. Four days later, on 12 April, I faced a deadline relating to a judicial review concerning the DWP. I also experienced problems with the court papers.
I have serious concerns about how these matters were handled and the cumulative impact on me. I want the evidence and decisions examined properly.
I’m not comparing my personal experiences with the Hillsborough disaster. The circumstances and consequences are very different. But the underlying question of accountability resonates with me.
When people in positions of authority make decisions that affect our lives, what recourse do we have when we believe those decisions are wrong?
And what happens when the process of challenging those decisions becomes so exhausting that it affects a person’s health, finances and ability to cope?
✉️ An open letter to the Prime Minister
I’ve published an open letter to the Prime Minister, and I’m still waiting for a response.
We should not have to sacrifice our health, wellbeing or lives simply to obtain answers, exercise our legal rights or receive fair treatment.
Disabled people should not have to fight through inaccessible systems to be heard. People who raise concerns should be able to expect their complaints to be investigated fairly.
Nobody should have to exhaust themselves trying to obtain answers that public bodies should be willing to provide.
🦔 The hedgehogs still matter.
I started this because I cared about the wildlife at Wandon Park. I still do.
But this has become about something bigger: whether ordinary people can challenge those in power and expect honesty, fairness and accountability.
I’m still here, still asking questions and still determined to have my concerns properly examined.
🔗 Links
🦔 My hedgehog videos on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@hidi1577?_r=1&_t=ZG-9AkXs0HxnsG
✉️ My open letter to the Prime Minister
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1bx37aqJNd/
📢 Petition: Pass the Hillsborough Law Without Further Delay
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/pass-the-hillsborough-law-now
📜 Follow the Bill’s progress through Parliament
https://bills.parliament.uk/
What do you think?
Have you ever tried to challenge a public body and found it difficult to obtain straightforward answers?
How can we make sure that institutions are transparent, that complaints are investigated properly, and that people are not left fighting alone for years?
I’d welcome constructive discussion from people in the UK and elsewhere.
Because, whether we’re talking about Hillsborough, disability rights, environmental protection or public services, one principle should apply everywhere:
Power must come with accountability. And people deserve the truth.

Hi ,

I am fairly new to wheelchair use, I have been using it for about a year now. i am a t-12 incomplete and have great upper body function. I am 18 and just getting my car soon and now have a power assist too, im a full time student as well. Ive been talking to a girl for about 6 months now and she lives like 3 hr flight away. She doesnt know im in a wheelchair right now but she thinks im attractive and have a good personality. She is so perfect btw. It would probably be about a year before I like meet her or maybe even like 3-4 yrs when we both get our degree. I am debating wether I tell her soon and risk everything or I wait till closer to us meeting and then bring it up. At the start i didnt tell her because I had high chance of recovering a lot of function which I am still working on, so I felt like it was best not to tell just incase i didnt use the wheelchair anyways. I just dont want to ruin things if im being real. Also we arent that serious currently more like texting once a day on snapchat. If u think i should tell her now pls tell me how to because im lowk scared pls

Secondly, I want to learn how to become a gentleman while in a wheelchair, like hold doors, get flowers and all the other stuff. How would i open the doors and stuff though, I guess i could use the wheelchair button then pretend to hold it for her. My second issue is that most girls like all the romantic stuff like getting carried around or just being strong to protect, and in that case I just physically cant. I dont want her to want to do something like go to a restaurant just for me to not be able to get in because its inaccessible, especially when travelling. I dont want to ruin her dreams because I cant do them yk. Or her look at able people carrying their girls and doing all the stuff and be sad that I might not be able to do them. If im being real i thibk im scared that I wont be enough especially if she deserves better, or that she understands and i still feel bad about myself for not being able to do better or her being embarrassed of me. Like an example is the restaurant or like a punpkin patch, which is usually in inaccessible terrain. I just dont know what to do. Ik i can open car doors and building doors but i dont want her to feel like im not able to do anything because she might see other couples doing everything easily. Hopefully this made sense sorry if it didnt.

LmK if u have any questions or any advice at all.

My nan is 72 and we've been trying to sort out home care packages for her in western Sydney. She needs personal care, domestic assistance, some nursing support because of her Parkinson's and ideally someone who speaks a bit of Mandarin because her English gets shaky when she's tired. Most providers we contacted were either too slow to respond or couldn't offer culturally appropriate aged care workers, which is kind of a dealbreaker for us. We also have a cousin on the NDIS (core support, community participation, the usual) in Melbourne so we've been looking at whether one provider could help both of them, which narrows things down fast. Does anyone have experience with aged care and disability support services in NSW or VIC that deliver on allied health too, like physio or OT at home? Happy to hear what's worked for people.

The Trump administration took away emotional support animal rights for people in HUD-funded housing.

ESAs are usually dogs/cats that require a prescription from a mental health provider and often help with loneliness and comfort with mental health symptoms.

It hurts people with disabilities who cannot afford a service dog.

Yes, he did appoint the head of HUD.

Yes, I do know the difference between an emotional support animal and a service animal.

Yes, it still is taking rights away from disabled people, though people might not often think of a dog that helps comfort a human disabled with PTSD symptoms by cuddling with them as only a "glorified" pet, and we are trying to pull a "fast one."

https://www.wilsonelser.com/publications/hud-issues-new-guidance-on-emotional-support-animals-under-the-fair-housing-act

Hi all, I'm helping my sister apply for SSI and SSDI. Can anyone recommend a lawyer in CT (preferably in the New Haven area) that handles this kind of work? Thanks!

When it comes to my disability, my fluorescent light sensitivity has turned out to be the most difficult hurdle in finding a job. I’ve used FL-41 glasses for a couple years now and they help, but they don’t prevent my symptoms completely. I get really nauseous and fatigued. I’m at a point where I can’t be under fluorescent lights for more than an hour without getting sick. I’ve been job hunting but I’m really struggling because I have no idea what I can do that wouldn’t involve being around fluorescent lights 24/7. The job market is so bad to begin with, and I can’t even work most minimum wage jobs because they are usually under those damn lights.

If you have this issue, what’s your job? Do you have any workplace accommodations? Did you find a way to work from home? I’d really love to hear suggestions. I’m kind of at a loss and don’t even know what to look for anymore.

She has the worst screaming fits and throws things. She said she can’t help it because of her adhd.

I told her that adhd just means you need to work harder to regulate your emotions and it is not a free pass.

I then told her that I am hard of hearing but had to learn to read lips because the world doesn’t revolve around me. Her learning self control is no different. Adapting to the world we are in is just part of life.

Are Human Rights Being Respected Worldwide? Who Holds Authorities Accountable When Vulnerable People Are Failed?
Human rights are supposed to protect every person, regardless of where they live, their disability, their financial circumstances or their need for support. But are those rights being respected in practice? And what happens when the public authorities responsible for protecting people fail to fulfil their duties?
I’m a disabled stroke survivor in England, and my experience with Luton Borough Council Adult Social Care has raised serious concerns about safeguarding, access to essential support, financial assessments and accountability.
I have questioned whether my care financial assessment was conducted fairly, whether disability-related costs and benefits were properly considered, and whether safeguarding concerns have received the appropriate response and follow-through. These issues have had a profound impact on my wellbeing and financial security.
But this is bigger than one person, one council or one country.
Across the world, people depend on public authorities and social care services for protection, support and access to their rights. Disabled people, older people and others experiencing vulnerability can face significant barriers when trying to challenge decisions, obtain essential services or make complaints.
We should be asking some fundamental questions:
Human rights: Are governments and public authorities respecting their obligations to protect human dignity, equality and freedom from discrimination?
Disability rights: Are disabled people receiving the support, reasonable adjustments and equal treatment they are entitled to?
Financial fairness: Are care charges and financial assessments transparent, accurate and fair, with disability-related needs properly considered?
Safeguarding: When concerns about someone’s safety are raised, are they investigated and followed through until appropriate action has been taken?
Accountability: Who independently investigates public authorities when they fail to act, make incorrect decisions or disregard people’s concerns?
Access to justice: Can vulnerable people realistically challenge decisions, obtain independent advocacy and secure remedies when their rights have been breached?
Systemic failures: When similar problems affect multiple people, are wider investigations undertaken, or are individuals left to fight their own battles?
International human rights standards recognise the importance of dignity, equality and protection from discrimination. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities specifically addresses the rights of disabled people to equality, accessibility, independent living and protection from abuse.
However, having rights written into laws and conventions does not automatically mean that those rights are respected in everyday life. Implementation, enforcement, independent oversight and access to effective remedies matter enormously.
In England, I am calling for independent scrutiny of adult social care financial assessments and safeguarding procedures, including whether concerns are followed up and whether vulnerable residents actually receive the support they need.
But I want this conversation to extend beyond England.
People from every country: what happens where you live when public authorities fail to protect someone’s rights?
Are there independent bodies that investigate complaints? Are financial assessments and safeguarding decisions audited? Can disabled people obtain advocacy and challenge decisions without facing insurmountable barriers? And do authorities take responsibility when their failures cause harm?
I recognise that legal systems, social care arrangements and human rights protections vary between countries. I am not suggesting that every country or authority has the same problems. I want to understand what works, what fails and what can be learned from people’s experiences worldwide.
This is not about attacking individual workers. It is about examining systems, demanding transparency and ensuring that institutions entrusted with protecting people are accountable for their actions and omissions.
Human rights should not depend on where you live, how much money you have, whether you are disabled or how effectively you can fight the system.
If rights exist only on paper but people cannot access protection, support or justice when they need it, we must ask whether those rights are being upheld in practice.
Are human rights being respected across the globe—or are vulnerable people still being left to fight for rights that should already be theirs?

Does anyone live alone? What have you done to help you feel safe, not just because of potential issue related to disability such as a fall, but in general as well. I currently live in a huge city and want to move away from a large city center. There are like 9 million people in my county and I am so tired of the constant noise!! I want to move someplace slower, calmer, much cooler, and much quieter. It is only 9 miles to work, yet takes almost an hour some days. I would love to find a place with an acre or so of land, close enough I could drive to the city for appointments, but could otherwise be largely left alone. Fear is preventing me from thinking seriously about it. Sometimes the idea of solitude feels like the very thing I need, other times it feels like a big risk. I am currently married, but my husband is unlikely to be around for too many more years with his health issues. Even though he is unable to do anything around the house, his presence makes me feel safer. I see myself living in a cute little house surrounded by trees, then it gets dark and that image of peace becomes scary. I have thoughts of building a community of people like me, who want to largely be left alone but also have a community of similar people to lean on if needed. Sort of an "introverts unite" in our own homes. Crazy? How do you live alone and not fear being alone, no one knowing if something happens or not being able to defend yourself? Brought to you today after yet another fall, leaving me like a turtle on its back, squished between the bed and table. My husband could do nothing to help me, but could have at least called for help if it was needed. What would happen if he was no longer here?

30 years in recovery, a stroke survivor, and exhausted from fighting for basic support
I AM NOT SIMPLY FIGHTING FOR ANSWERS. I AM FIGHTING TO SURVIVE.
On 8 April 2026, I suffered a stroke. My life changed dramatically, and I have been trying to rebuild it while dealing with disability, pain, exhaustion and rehabilitation.
I have more than 30 years of recovery behind me. I have worked, helped others and spent years rebuilding my own life. I know what it means to keep going when things are difficult.
But I never expected that, after a stroke, so much of my energy would be consumed by trying to get answers from the very systems that are supposed to support people.
Every complaint takes energy. Every letter requires concentration. Every unanswered question creates another task. When you are already dealing with disability and limited energy, the process itself becomes exhausting.
I should be concentrating on rehabilitation and finding a way forward. Instead, I often feel that I am fighting simply to have my experiences acknowledged and my concerns taken seriously.
I’m not asking for special treatment. I want fairness, transparency, reasonable adjustments and accountability. Above all, I want to be treated as a human being rather than another file or complaint number.
I know I cannot be the only person who has experienced this.
Has anyone else found that trying to obtain support while disabled has become a battle in itself? How do you cope with the emotional and physical exhaustion of constantly having to explain your circumstances and pursue answers?
I would genuinely like to hear about other people’s experiences.

Hiya!

Just a regular English speaking guy here looking for someone to speak with and socialise with!!

Lmk if you wanna be friends! :p

My interests : Aviation and F1

I’m a new amputee and was wondering how dating has been from this perspective. How’s it working out any pointers? Also what are doters or dotes? They’re so many new terms and things I’m learning I can’t keep up.

Hey all, I (15) struggle with losing my vision when I’m up for awhile or doing certain things, I become dizzy and sometimes lose balance, I also have problems with asthma, and low low entry and stamina making walking in specific footwear or situations difficult. I was wondering if it is socially acceptable to get walking stick that I can unfold whenever I experience this, just to regain my balance or to walk on. I don’t want to buy one if it makes me look like I’m faking something, or doing it for social “clout.” I partly understand what it’s like to be disabled as I have many members on my family who are, and struggle immensely and I just don’t want to see disrespectful.

Honest opinions please
Thanks in advance,
Willow.

i went my whole life being perfectly abled with no health issues. these past few years ive been struggling with endometriosis and now have to use a wheelchair and am constantly in bed. im having a hard time with shame, embarrassment, social anxiety being in the chair in public. i know i shouldnt but i cant help it. does anyone have any tips for accepting this fate? ive lost so much to my health issues and i just cant seem to cope. any advice is appreciated.

Been talking to my sister about becoming a new double amputee. She keeps saying to me “at least your not paralyzed or have a spinal cord injury.” I find it very disgusting that she would even say that but she keeps saying what she said was meant to make me feel better just because I can get prosthetics I’m supposed to feel better like what I went through isn’t that bad. Smh my family is the fcking worst and they make me feel shittier than I already do. I guess I just wanna know is she being an ah or should I be thankful that I do have a second chance to walk even though the legs aren’t mine idk.

Disabled no car told to get a car and. A job when I can’t I need a ride for. A 30 minute appointment told I’m lazy ruin their entire day I’m selfish made to feel like a loser

I need some advice, I have been an on/off wheelchair user for several years now. I’ve recently hit a wall with my stamina, my body feels weak, my legs like jello, and I’m out of breath walking from the bedroom to my living room which is on the same level.

I’ve asked for an upgrade to my prior chair which was hospital/nursing home type chair.

I am still waiting to get an updated version after they tried to give me a newer model of the exact same chair. (It’s too heavy for me to self propel and my arms are too short to reach the wheels to push.

My husband wants to travel this upcoming week but without a chair I don’t think I can.

What should I do? Help with the chair and my husbands travel ideas

I love popsicles, but unfortunately my hands do not. I'd love to have a handle that I could just slide the stick into and use my whole hand to hold it and that I can wash and reuse, but I can't seem to find anything online with a thick enough handle! Does anyone happen to have any recommendations? Thanks!

Fucked up both knees and my back while working. Contract work, so no workers comp. Went from the best shape of my life to barely being able to walk. Now I require mobility aids to get around outside the house, and even sitting for too long causes pain, so a desk job isn't possible. I would have to be allowed frequent lie-down breaks.

I filed for SSDI through a company called Turnout (no clue whether that was a good idea). I filled out all the paperwork that SS sent and mailed in the documents they requested. Haven't heard much since. I don't see my case getting any sort of priority due to my age (30s).

I would be on the streets right now if it weren't for my mom supporting me financially, and I realize that I am incredibly privileged. Still, I am a burden, and I have my own bills and debt racking up. I've been leaving so many things unpaid because I have exhausted all options. My credit card just went to collections, and I've already sold every valuable thing I own, besides my car. Not to mention that my mom is older, so I cannot be dependent upon her indefinitely.

I need income. I'm tired of living this way, being a burden and not being able to contribute to household expenses. I'm tired of not being able to buy myself food or clothes. But I have no idea how to generate income when I struggle to walk or take care of my basic needs. Are there any options I'm missing?

"Hi everyone, I am a 17-year-old high school student with a physical disability/IEP, and I receive outpatient occupational therapy services at a major children's hospital. Lately, my appointments have become incredibly draining and feel totally forced because of how my therapist treats me.

She constantly doubts my thinking capabilities, puts down my input, and gets visibly irritated or sighs heavily if she has to repeat instructions. To make matters worse, she completely ignores my busy high school schedule and told my sister, 'I will take your word' over mine, basically letting my sister make things up and dictate my care while treating me like I’m not even in the room.

I used to just act like a 'quiet puppy' and say 'ok' to keep the peace, but I’ve completely lost respect for her because she doesn't respect me as a patient or a young adult.

• Has anyone else dealt with a therapist who infantilizes you or completely shuts you out like this?
• What are the best boundary-setting phrases I can use in the moment when she gets annoyed or talks over me?
• If you are an OT, how would you want a teenage client to call you out on this behavior?"