22 Tweets That Show Disability and Happiness Aren't Mutually Exclusive

If you have a disability, you might be used to people expecting you to be miserable all the time. If you aren’t miserable, you’re considered strong and inspirational because you couldn’t possibly be happy with your “situation.”

Experiencing joy does not mean you are “cured” or no longer in pain, but this is a misconception some people have, Andrew Farkash, creator of the #DisabledJoy hashtag, said. 

“I also wanted to show people that Disabled folks don’t live miserable lives,” he told The Mighty. “That we exist, survive, and even thrive sometimes despite our Disabilities.”

There’s a common misconception that you can’t be Disabled and happy. That you can’t express joy, and if you do, you must not be hurting or Disabled anymore.

I propose a new hashtag to empower us and show people otherwise: #DisabledJoy.

????: @myyughh pic.twitter.com/cb2C1Am8uV

— Andrew (@menajew) March 25, 2018

Farkash said he hopes people realize happiness and disability aren’t mutually exclusive.

“This isn’t to say that we don’t have a lot of hurdles as a community to overcome,” he said. “Societal ableism is harsh and literally kills, but I wanted this hashtag to empower my Disabled community and give them a space to celebrate their joy— or times where they did feel joy.”

Farkash started #DisabledJoy with photos of himself taken by his friend, Myai Jackson, and many Twitter users followed with their own photos to show their joy.

1.

LOVE this hashtag cause my middle name is Joy!♥️ But forreal love this hashtag. I may be shy but I’m full of weirdness and unicorn!!!???? and of course dogs ♥️ thank @menajew for created that hashtag to spread positive bout disabled people! ???? #DisabledJoy #DisabledAndCute pic.twitter.com/JFGIH1zjxK

— Joy Rapunzel (@blueberrycy) March 26, 2018

2.

I’ve got SO much joy and love to give the world & for the world to give back to me & my disability has never been a barrier to that #DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/0nZQHsPkOj

— dani (@anthroqveer) March 26, 2018

3.

PSA: invisible disabilities exist. I wish it didn't hold me back from certain aspects of "normal" life, but I can still be happy and cherish all of the relationships I've formed through-and because of-my "ab-normal" life!!????☀️⭐️ #DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/JlhuDp1GFb

— natalie (@natadonut) March 26, 2018

4.

#DisabledJoy autistic + dealing with (currently undiagnosed) chronic pain and currently trying to figure out how that impacts me navigating the world, but my girlfriend and all my friends have been my rock through it all ???? this is a wonderful hashtag, thank you @menajew ! pic.twitter.com/9UxaOK8dnA

— ???????? MILO! ???????? @ florida ☀️ (@topnotchtoad) March 26, 2018

5.

saw this tag #DisabledJoy and figured i’d try it! it’s meeeee a Queeer latino disabled boy living my best life ???????? Spinal Muscular Atrophy who?? don’t know her ????????‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/KjkjZ1hRzH

— Nessa’s #1 Stan ???? (@BaraTiddys) March 27, 2018

6.

Queer, HIV+, dysthymic, and cognitively impaired. Still here, still looking cute when I wanna. #DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/o3COoJBwrw

— Majin Bourgeoisie (@onebrightlight) March 26, 2018

7.

Disability and joy are not mutually exclusive ????????????#DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/Xo984K9RR1

— Lillie Lainoff (@lillielainoff) March 26, 2018

8.

#DisabledJoy ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/MmslxZsOQC

— Keah Brown (@Keah_Maria) March 26, 2018

9.

Life as a disabled babe is hard, but it's also really wonderful.

I'm so here for #DisabledJoy! pic.twitter.com/9QBnRx1Bev

— Farrah Garland (@farrahgarland) March 26, 2018

10.

Being disabled hasn't EVER stopped me from having a good time and being happy ya feel me? #DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/pAON1V7f9T

— ChristopherNotWalken♿ (@ChrisNotWalken) March 26, 2018

11.

always a bundle of #DisabledJoy ????✨???????? pic.twitter.com/EZYz2PknTb

— des (@sunflowerrdes) March 29, 2018

12.

When I first began describing myself as disabled a lot of people responded in shocked tones, trying to tell me not to, as though I was writing myself off.

I am so in love with the #DisabledJoy hashtag, for showing the beauty and richness of life with disability ???? #pwme #mecfs pic.twitter.com/2i7ivGWFZb

— Lucy Goodwill (@lucygoodwill) March 28, 2018

13.

This #DisabledJoy tag has me crying in my bed at 5am wow. So inspiring to see all of you happy cuties. Here’s my contribution I suppose ???????? pic.twitter.com/v89Y4hbHaO

— Edward Ramirez (@evoramirez) March 28, 2018

14.

Hey everybody! I'm here, I'm queer and I'm disabled #DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/1c52thAObq

— Naorée (@Naoree_) March 26, 2018

15.

Here’s the thing: my life is shaped by my disability and sometimes that sucks, but most of the time, I’m having a ???????????????????????? ball✨#DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/YDv4oYziLM

— ????ackie quinn (@llcooljackie) March 28, 2018

16.

#DisabledJoy ???????? pic.twitter.com/33SIHr9jhD

— Jay. (@Wheelchair_Papi) March 26, 2018

17.

Here are some times where I was feeling happy, because we are capable of smiling, laughing and having fun despite #ChronicPain & #chronicillness ! Thank you @menajew for #DisabledJoy! pic.twitter.com/RX9S6a3PrE

— ???????? Aoife ♿???? (@Aoiferocksitout) March 26, 2018

18.

Disabled lives aren’t always tragic. There are good moments and bad moments. But I’m always, always proud to be disabled. ???? #DisabledJoy pic.twitter.com/NHdzw14dpM

— phee (@heIenalvarez) March 27, 2018

19.

#DisabledJoy is spending time with friends who sleep just as much as I do ????

[pics: trans 20-something with two of their favorite cats] pic.twitter.com/Q9zZuk0Ksg

— a very wealthy scorched earth (@ratalope) March 26, 2018

20.

Joy may be something that's been hard to find lately, but that's not because of disability! Disability does NOT equal misery. Here's some of my #DisabledJoy #FollowDis #disabledandcute pic.twitter.com/qxtVGyVm2w

— Bekah Rhea (@bekcrhea) March 26, 2018

21.

I’m loving the #DisabledJoy hashtag, so here’s my contribution!

Pregnancy was difficult, but Elise is so worth it! pic.twitter.com/4Vt7Jq1q2f

— Tania (@whentaniatalks) March 27, 2018

22.

I just found the #DisabledJoy hash tag and am dying of all the pretty people. Dealing with dysautonomia is rough, but I still find time to try and be happy. pic.twitter.com/qPSpUNaKzs

— Sam McGehee (@Sam_A_McGehee) March 28, 2018

You can join the conversation by tweeting your photo along with the hashtag #DisabledJoy.