Disability Awareness
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An Open Letter to Katie Price
Hi Katie, Firstly, I want to say that I am really sorry about your accident, what you are going through and the strain that has also put on your mental health. I personally don’t think it matters how it all came about because the pain and trauma you have felt/ will feel are your experiences. I read your interview with OK! Magazine as many within the Disability Community were sharing it. I’ll be honest when I first read your interview I was angry because you have painted disability in a way that only supports and fuels societal beliefs of Disabled People. However, as I processed this I remembered the pain…
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Why I Add Alt Text/Image Descriptions to My Posts
I’ve been asked by a few people lately why I add an image description to the bottom of my Instagram posts. So I thought I would answer that question today. I didn’t fully understand Alt Text/Image Descriptions (ID) until about a year ago and it wasn’t until more recently that I knew how they worked or how to add them to my social media/blog. What is Alt Text Alt Text short for Alternative Text is a written description of an image that is read by screen readers and voiceover so someone with a visual impairment can also access the image. Where Do I Place Alt Text Alt Text can usually…
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The Letter I Wish I Could Send The Hospital Health Board
To , I have to ask, your email is a joke, right? I contacted the concerns team and health board to discuss how poorly I was treated by one of your doctors. His views on me and lack of understanding for my other health conditions has meant that I have no support in managing this condition. I live with multiple chronic illnesses and have done for most of my life. I know how to handle deteriorations, I know how to advocate for myself and I know all too well when a doctor is unwilling to treat me or help me manage my conditions for…
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My Disability is None of Your Damn Business
Today I went to a local high-street to collect an order I had placed. Once I came out of the shop I stopped to put my bags on the back of my chair. Whilst I was doing this a man probably in his fifties walked up to me and asked ‘why are you in a wheelchair’. I am 100% aware that I don’t owe anyone a single thing regarding my health and my disability however, the easiest way around this situation is to just reply with ‘I have a disability’. For me, that was the end of the conversation and I carried on organising my things. This was clearly not…
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What is EDS/HSD?
May is EDS/HSD Awareness Month. Thank you if you are reading this, I hugely appreciate your support in raising awareness for these conditions, please help us by sharing this post on your social media platforms. *Disclaimer, I am not a medical professional. I also speak primarily about hEDS/HSD as I have a diagnosis of Hypermobility Syndrome and have more experience discussing this* What is EDS/HSD? The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a group of genetic conditions which affect the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue is like the glue that holds our bodies together, similar to the mortar between bricks. There are 13 different types of EDS including Hypermobile-EDS (hEDS), Vascular-EDS (vEDS) Classical-EDS (cEDS)…
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The World in my Words – A New Look
Where it All Began The World in my Words began on the 2nd of September 2017. I had something to say and I didn’t have the patience to wait. I created a new look for The World in my Words in an hour which had existed for a few years unused and I published my first piece. Since then The World in my Words has stayed the same and I have been finding my feet and my voice within the disability community as a advocate and a blogger. My Goals My aim with blogging has been and will always be about giving our community a voice, being the person and…
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PoTS Awareness Day 2019 – What is PoTS?
Yesterday, 25th October 2019 was the first annual #PotsAwarenessDay! PoTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome also comes under the term Dysautonomia. PoTS is an abnormality of the functioning of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is in charge of all our bodily functions that we don’t have to think about including: heart rate regulation, blood pressure regulation, digestion, bladder control, sweating and stress response. A part of the autonomic nervous system is the sympathetic nervous system. This produces the ‘fight or flight’ response. When this occurs the chemical called norepinephrine is released. It can cause many symptoms including an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. When someone…
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Out and About in my Wheelchair
I am 19 years old and love my independence. However, health problems can quite often take this away from me. Therefore where possible I demand to have it back. My health problems can vary and I am classed as having a disability although some people do not see it this way. As I can stand and I can walk but some days – most days now I can’t because it is too difficult and too painful. Due to my health problems I am spending more and more time in a wheelchair as it helps me to get out and about. I thought by becoming a more able wheelchair user it…
