Programs

What Is The Term IDEA?

"IDEA" stands for the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is a U.S. federal law that ensures eligible children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education and are provided with special education and related services. Not only that, but IDEA also includes provisions for students from birth through high school like guaranteeing that they have access to the support they need to succeed in school, and requiring that parents and schools collaborate together to create individualized education programs (IEPs) for each eligible child.

Traveling With A Disability
Traveling with a disability involves pre-planning, contacting providers, and being aware of your rights to ensure a smoother trip. Key steps include consulting a doctor before travel, notifying airlines of your needs in advance, using programs like TSA Cares for security screening, and preparing for potential challenges like accommodation issues. Be sure to also check medical and insurance coverage for your destination.

Hi, my name is Kylie Pollan I am a survivor of domestic violence that occurred in Ellis County, Texas. After the assault, I began experiencing severe pain, swelling, and discoloration in my right leg. I sought help repeatedly from doctors and hospitals, including Baylor Scott & White, but despite clear symptoms and imaging showing injury, my pain was often dismissed or minimized. Instead of being heard and believed, I was told that what I felt “wasn’t that bad,” or that it was something I was creating in my mind. That experience broke my trust in a system that is supposed to protect victims and help them heal.
Over time, my condition worsened, and I was later diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — a debilitating nerve disorder often triggered by trauma. This diagnosis confirmed what I had been saying for months: my pain was real. Unfortunately, by the time doctors took me seriously, the damage had already progressed, leaving me with chronic pain, mobility struggles, and emotional trauma from both the violence and the medical neglect. I’ve since relocated to Oklahoma for safety and ongoing treatment, but my heart remains with the people of Ellis County who may still be suffering in silence.
I am now working to raise awareness about how often women’s pain is dismissed, particularly among survivors of abuse. Many victims are told their pain is emotional or exaggerated, when in reality, they are living with life-changing injuries. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. I believe that by speaking out — through advocacy programs, support centers, and public awareness — we can help improve how medical professionals and systems respond to survivors.
I am reaching out in the hope that my story can be used to help others — whether through education, awareness campaigns, or local advocacy efforts. If there are opportunities to share my experience, participate in community outreach, or contribute to training programs for victim support or healthcare sensitivity, I would be honored to help. My goal is simple: to make sure that when the next woman says she’s in pain, she’s believed, treated with compassion, and given the care she deserves.

#MightyTogether #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome

Hi, my name I’m Sunday.
I’m a proud recovering addict and a mental health advocate — four years into my recovery journey. I work as an addiction recovery coach and counselor, and I’m passionate about creating safe spaces where people can share, learn, and heal together.

I joined The Mighty because it feels different — kinder, more empathetic. I came across an article here today, and the comments really touched me. Most online spaces can be harsh, but here, people seem to listen with compassion, and that’s something I deeply value.

I live with ADHD, I have a highly functioning anxiety, seasonal depression and insomnia, so I’m here not just to share, but also to learn how to manage my own challenges better. My recovery and mental health management have taught me that healing happens in community. I also run www.mwangazawasunday.co.tz — not to promote, but to share the kind of programs that have helped me and others find light in dark places.

I live by Step 12 of the AA program: to be of service to others. Every day, I try to show up with gratitude, humility, and a willingness to help and learn — because I know what it’s like to be lost and to find hope again.

I’m really looking forward to learning from all of you, sharing stories, and walking this journey together — one honest conversation at a time.
#MightyTogether

I am chronically ill and physically disabled. My spouse has been supportive physically, but it’s a different story on the mental and emotional side of the relationship. There it is dysfunctional and unhealthy at best, abusive at worst (still trying to confirm whether it’s the best case scenario or the worst.) I have not had a support system in my physical life outside of my spouse (I’m still trying to build one.)

My spouse wants us to stay together.

So, the question I’m grappling with is:
Is it stupid of me to consider leaving the relationship when I know how difficult and isolating it can be to be a chronically ill or disabled person alone in society?

I’m seriously asking. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t tell anyone to stay in an unhealthy relationship. But we do not have that ideal, do we? So what is actually the right move in this situation?

I am working towards accessing help in other ways— through organizations, programs, etc. But even if I manage to be more independent now, will that really work for the rest of my life?! Ugh, big questions. Really big and uncomfortable questions.

I have noticed that I get help through the universe, to use the New Age terminology. For instance we are having problems recording TV programs through our set top box. Last night something was being recorded okay and then it stopped. I thought that's strange and I noticed another recording had started. At this point my wife said why don't you look up about buying a smart TV? Reading up about one it said that unless they had two channels for doing so, they could only record one thing at a time. It seems our box may have reverted to this as although it had managed to record two programs at the same time before, it was old and we recently went over to digital then onto fibre, which may have messed up its functioning

Hi Mighty friends,

I’m popping in here this afternoon because I need some help. This may be an ongoing thing I need support with.

Long story short: My mom is leaving her husband and moving in with me and my boyfriend at the end of this month. Currently she lives out of state, so this will be a big move for her. She will find a job and apartment. We live in the United States (Ohio).

My mom is a senior and has never saved money and doesn’t have retirement. Currently, she doesn’t have any medical needs (she doesn’t go to the doctor, so I take that with a handful of salt). She doesn’t have a lot of skilled experience so I am concerned about cost of living, especially with cuts to social safety nets that are happening in the US.

I cannot help financially because I am on SSI. My siblings are not involved and will not help her.

This is way out of my area of expertise and there are more social safety net cuts expected in the next couple of years. Information is not yet available for what programs will be cut, making it even harder to plan for.

Does anyone have ideas of where to look for programs or resources for seniors? 😬

#MentalHealth #Disability #Trauma #Anxiety