21 Frustrating Misconceptions You Might Relate to If You Have a Disability
When you live with a disability, people sometimes believe they have the right to comment on your lifestyle or treatment plans because they think they’re helping. They may even think they know more about your situation than you do.
You might be hailed as an inspiration for doing basic things, or your family members considered “strong” for “dealing with” you and your disability. If people aren’t using you as inspiration, they might be critical — thinking you don’t need accommodations or downplaying your symptoms and needs.
Imani Barbarin started the hashtag #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople on Twitter on Tuesday. She told The Mighty she thinks able-bodied people are busy trying to “fix” someone with a disability instead of taking the time to listen to what a disabled person actually needs, such as access to affordable healthcare and dignity in everyday interactions.
“I started the tag because I thought it might be a funny way for disabled people to relate to one another and vent their frustration with the way abled-bodied strangers approach us and try to give treatment in the middle of the street,” Barbarin said.
Here are 21 tweets inspired by Barbarin’s hashtag you might relate to if you have a disability.
1.
"Oh yeah, the building is totally accessible, there's hardly any stairs." #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Jane Nibful ♿️ (@Nibful) March 19, 2018
2.
"Don't call yourself disabled. That's so negative."#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Spoonie Warrior ♿ (@spwarriortweets) March 19, 2018
3.
Have you tried rubbing castor oil clockwise on your stomach,during the waxing quarter moon? It helped my brother's husband's brother's hamster's mother who has a condition completely unrelated to yours. #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— ???????? Aoife ♿???? (@Aoiferocksitout) March 20, 2018
4.
You're so brave, doing that perfectly normal ordinary thing. You're such an inspiration! #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Beki Jane (@bekijane) March 19, 2018
5.
"How can you take so many pills every day?"
I open my mouth, put them in and swallow.#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Maija Haavisto (@DiamonDie) March 20, 2018
6.
It’s just growing pains #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Elizabeth M (@hypo_awareness) March 19, 2018
7.
“You’re lucky. I wish *I* could stay in bed all weekend.”#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Dorian ⚧ (@sin_de_siecle) March 20, 2018
8.
"You're not asking for an accommodation, youre asking for an exception. If we make an exception for you, we'd have to do it for everyone."#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Lacey, Usurper of Men (@LipstickLacey) March 20, 2018
9.
“I would never know you had been in psych hospitals if you hadn’t told me, you seem so normal.”#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Emily Borgmann (@emborgnotcyborg) March 20, 2018
10.
“I know you’re not supposed to pet service dogs but”
*does it anyway*#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople— Evander v ♿ (@soul_into_hades) March 20, 2018
11.
Saying “Did you forget to take your medication,again?”
— Jonathan (@megajohn85) March 20, 2018
12.
Maybe you should lose weight. #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— ????Kim Acrylic ???? (@Muppetvomit) March 19, 2018
13.
‘Oh, you have that? My aunt had it and she got really bad really quickly…it was really sad.’#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople pic.twitter.com/bKZl5gOpeW
— Impossible Girl ???? (@1impossible_grl) March 20, 2018
14.
‘Your partner must be a saint’#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Sarah ????????♿️ (@fromsarahlex) March 21, 2018
15.
"You're very lucky to have your partner. They must be very strong to deal with you all the time."#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Mamá Neff (@Neffectualism) March 20, 2018
16.
"it's great how positive you are despite….your situation"#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Jasper ♿ ???????????????????????????????????????? ???? (@Wheelie_Ace) March 20, 2018
17.
You’re too pretty/young/smart to be disabled.#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Spoonie Warrior (@spwarriortweets) March 20, 2018
18.
‘Happy pills’
‘Zombie pills’Actually, psych meds are a major reason I’m still alive.
So please do continue to irritate me with your pill-shaming yap. ????
— Nutty Naturalist???????? (@NuttyNaturalist) March 22, 2018
19.
With ocd. "Oh yeah I like things clean too" ????#HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Pisces Outofwater (@piscesoutawater) March 20, 2018
20.
“Is there anything that isn’t wrong with you?!”
Something an actual real life person said to my highly pissed off face. #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— RieRieB (@MrsRieB) March 22, 2018
21.
"Mind over matter." #HowToPissOffDisabledPeople
— Dominique Vaz (@d_vaz) March 22, 2018
What would you add?
Update: While tweets are public domain, we’ve replaced a few from the original version of this story if the author of the tweet expressed they did not want to be included in this list.
Photo via @Aoiferocksitout/Twitter
Elizabeth is the reporter at The Mighty. Elizabeth also runs the Elizabeth Explains column of Mighty Brief, The Mighty's daily newsletter. Follow her on twitter @ekcassidy4 or send an email to elizabeth@themighty.com.
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