Challenging Societal Views on Disability It’s pretty frustrating how society tends to look down on people with disabilities, right? We often get labeled as a burden or a leech, like we’re just sitting around and taking advantage of the system, getting “something for nothing.” It’s all based on these ridiculous standards of productivity that come straight from a capitalist mindset, where your worth is tied to how much you can produce or contribute economically. But honestly,

Ableism is basically when everything around us is designed with the idea that there's just one "normal" way to have a body, mind, or brain, and anyone who doesn't fit that mold is seen as less capable, less valuable, or needing to be "fixed." It's not just one thing; it pops up in all sorts of ways, from the systems we deal with every day to the stories we hear and the messages we end up believing. Systemic Ableism Let’s dive into systemic ableism. This is all about the big p

There's this thing going around in neurodiverse communities where people say, "I wouldn't change anything about myself because then I wouldn't be me." I have a bit of a problem with that. Considering all the heartache and struggles I've been through, and what my parents had to deal with because of it, I'd definitely want to change some things. Reflecting on Life with ACC You know, I often find myself daydreaming about how different my life might have been if I hadn’t been bo

I found out about masking just a few years back. It totally took over my personality and is a huge source of anxiety for me. Masking is when someone, either on purpose or without even realizing it, hides their neurodivergent traits. This could mean covering up things like feeling overwhelmed by sensory stuff, trying hard to make eye contact, or even planning out what to say in conversations. It’s all about trying to fit in and look like everyone else to meet what society expe

Understanding Meltdowns: A Closer Look So, let's talk about meltdowns for a minute. They're something that a lot of us with a DCC and/or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) deal with, but honestly, they can be pretty misunderstood by folks who haven't experienced them firsthand. Low Stress Tolerance First off, many of us have a low stress tolerance. It’s like we’re walking around with a tiny little stress bucket that fills up way quicker than it does for most people. When life t