10 Things Under $100 That Changed My Disabled Life

Living with a disability can be expensive and aids such as wheelchairs or bathroom renovations can really break the bank to make life livable. Here are ten of the most useful tools and services I use to make my life with functional neurological disorder, sensory issues, and a disorder of the corpus callosum easier to cope with.

1. Spotify and Audible Subscriptions

These might seem like obvious answers to this question, but when my body refuses to co-operate and my fine motor skills go out the window? Spotify and Audible have saved the day, grounded me, and distracted me from the tics and grunts that fill my days. As an added bonus, living in regional Australia means I have to travel for specialist appointments quite often and these apps are an excellent companion on those long drives to the nearest big city.

2. Earplugs (and learning how to put them in properly)

Earplugs made of either silicone or foam have been a disabled girl EDC staple for me for a long time. Cheap and effective, these earplugs cushion the blow of loud, overwhelming spaces and make trips to the grocery store possible. An important note though is that proper insertion of earplugs makes a world of difference! Check out the short clip below from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for a step-by-step guide to getting a proper seal with your earplugs.

3. Laminated Emergency Card

This one is essential for giving me the confidence to go out in public knowing I will be taken care of during a pseudo-seizure — and it’s practically free!

I have written out a short set of need-to-know facts on a business card for strangers to read if I am unable to communicate with them properly. I used some clear sticky tape to cover the card completely and make it more durable. You could also laminate the card. This item gets tucked in my phone wallet or on a lanyard with sunflowers on it (a common signal at airports internationally that a person has additional needs when traveling.) Now, when I leave the house I know that my day won’t end with an unnecessary hospital visit!

4. Medical ID Band

In this same vein, a Medical ID band gives me the confidence to leave the house, knowing that in a true emergency, paramedics will understand my health conditions and treat me in the most effective way possible. This one is especially important.

Mostly though I wear this band to assure myself that even if the worst case scenario really does come to pass, I have the best chance of surviving it.

5. Medication Container for Keyring

I have PRN. That stands for Pro Re Nata which is some medical Latin for “take as needed medication.” As another self-assuring measure, I like to have these medications on me at all times while in the stress-inducing environment which is the outside world. So I found a small metal container with an O-ring seal that attaches to my house keys. This small item keeps my pills dry while also being conveniently unforgettable when combined with my house keys.

6. Stuffed Toy Heat Pack

Weighted soft toys that double as reusable heat packs? Yes, please! These toys come in a variety of sizes and species (including unicorns!). snuggly and comforting as well as soothing for sore joints or aching innards. This is an upgrade from your favorite teddy that is well worth the investment. Add a few drops of essential oils to the microwaveable pouch and you’re got a scrumptious sensory experience!

7. Pop-Up Flower Cards

One of the benefits of connecting with disabled friends is that you meet a lot of people who are going through the same struggles as you. However, this also might also mean more visits to those friends in hospital wards. I like to have a stack of cards that I can send or hand-deliver to flower-free wards that open up and become a vase of sunflowers or a jacaranda tree. This gift takes up next to no space in your drawer and can really make someone’s day while they’re stuck in the hospital. As an added benefit? You’ll make friends with the nurses too who will appreciate not having to go find a vase for you during hand-over!

8. Harmonica

This is a bit of an odd one, especially since I can’t actually play the harmonica, but hear me out. If you struggle to “focus on your breath” to ground yourself and have found that you never really seem to get much comfort from deep breathing? Try getting an inexpensive harmonica. Since harmonicas make a sound both on the in breath and the out breath, it’s a sensory cue of how your breath is going. I try to pucker my lips to include two or three notes, and breathe as quietly and consistently as I can. This auditory cue really helped me to distinguish between fast, shallow breaths and deeper ones. You can even get harmonica necklaces for a portable reminder to pause and open your lungs every once in a while.

9. Webster-Paks or Pill Organizer

I used to go to the cheapest, franchise pharmacy I could find and resigned myself to the judgmental looks from clerks and customers. Why does such a young person have so many medications? I bet she is selling them. How sad… and on and on. That was until I swapped to a family-owned pharmacy with the added benefit of Webster packs.

Now, every month, the pharmacist portions out my medication into one convenient sheet. This is especially useful for the tiny pills when my fine motor skills are being tested by FND. Rather than popping out four, tiny tablets, I know to just press open the bubble labeled “BEDTIME” and we are off to the races. Another benefit of this system is if you have carers dispensing your medication, you need not worry about getting the wrong doses! The transition to your local, family pharmacy, despite the increased cost, is extremely worth it in my opinion.

10. Flowers for Someone Who Helps

My mum is an unpaid carer for me. She is an absolute saint who makes my life liveable in a very real sense. For this reason, when I learned that Mum really appreciates fresh flowers in the home, they became a must-have item for keeping the peace. Keeping Mum happy and letting her know I appreciate everything she does for me through flowers is my small way of giving back to a woman who gives me so much.