Spoon theory doesn't adequately explain my functioning. How come, even when I have the spoons, starting a task can be impossible? Why does task-switching require a monumental amount of spoons, while doing grueling work for hours may demand very few? Enter spline theory.
Tag: disability
My health has grown more complex, more difficult to support and bargain with. But my commitment to writing, to telling you these stories, has only grown. This quest may be ending, but there are untold others waiting to begin.
I had accepted the label of disability long ago. So what was I running from? Acceptance. That was my pursuer. It's one thing to claim disability and fight for my rights and the rights of others; it is another thing entirely to devote myself to building a life that nurtures my bodymind, rather than operating in spite of it.
The silent migraine is a uniquely hellish beast that, in my own experience, has proven far more resistant to taming than its more common cousin. Follow along as I break down what this type of migraine is and what it looks like for me.
Before self-diagnosis, I always felt like a piece of me was missing. I struggled with an internal sense of self because I felt I had no core to anchor myself to. I didn't respect my sensory needs, and in return they caused me mishap after mishap. Now, I just feel... happier. Calmer.
It's a lie crafted to shame nonnormative bodyminds which can't meet standards of productivity, output, and success. While it is true that you may be able to ignore symptoms for some time, they will always come back stronger than before. Disability is not something to be overcome; it demands respect and accommodation. It demands love.
It's difficult to ground teaching practice in Disability Justice when so much of the educational system is antithetical to those values. Still, I try, and I am very open with my students about that. Things are a bit easier as a mentor. My first-year college students are able to comprehend more quickly the tenets of DJ, and we can meet outside of the crushing pressures of the educational system.
Does chocolate cause migraines? Can it help them? Should you ever eat chocolate again? These questions haunt many of us who have migraines, as well as those wanting to learn more. Using my own experiences, chats I've had with others, and information from the scientific review I just linked, let's explore.
Just as an adrenaline-filled moment wrestling with a friend was my first queer awakening, Care vs. Cure was my first true disabled awakening. All at once, I learned what Disability Studies was and became confident that I belonged in it. But it was Disability Justice that made me realize that disability is a political identity as well.
This list is simply five of my favorite disabled characters across different media. Not the absolute best representation, or most reviewed, or anything else. Just my personal favorites.
Ashton Rose 