It's awareness month for multiple medical issues that I have, and I've got to say, it's incredibly hard and demoralizing to participate in these campaigns. Disabled individuals are constantly asked to make their issues palatable to society. 1/7
We're expected to say "oh it's ok if you don't know about x." We're the ones making infographics and recommending readings and recounting tough personal narratives. We're expected to discord our stories of medical neglect and issues with diagnosis and time to care. 2/7
But in the background, as an academic, I know that these awareness months don't change anything in medicine. At my home institution, for example, disability related issues are barely covered in the med school curriculum. 3/7
And patient ethics regarding disability are mostly covered by disabled individuals, themselves, volunteering to give feedback during demos and mock medical exams. And honestly I'm so tired of begging medical professionals. 4/7
Begging schools to teach palliative care strategies. Begging physicians to acknowledge that my knowledge of my disorder improves my quality of life more than their care does. Begging to be seen as an equal in the relationship. 5/7
Begging for my symptoms to be validated. Begging for doctors to admit "I don't know." Begging for doctors to take me seriously when I bring in research from PubMed and talk about treatment options. 6/7
Awareness months aren't enough. We have to break the cycle of disability discrimination. And it starts in our med programs. 7/7 #DisabilityTwitter #MedEd #MedTwitter #HigherEd
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