Tara Moss Profile picture
Nov 12 9 tweets 4 min read
Popular culture does not prepare us for the reality of #disability and illness. Here are 7 facts and personal observations from me (ie: not applicable to everyone): 🧵

1) Illness and disability are common human experiences. ie: Not rare, and not because someone is cursed or bad
2) #ChronicIllness is defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Chronic illness is very common and effects an estimated 40% or more of the population. Again, not rare.
3) 'Most' disabilities and chronic illnesses can be improved in terms of symptoms and quality of life, but won’t be ‘cured’. ie: You will most likely have to live with it for a long time. This is true even though you're doing ‘the right things’. See: positive thinking, kale, etc
4) The idea that there's *one perfect thing* that will cure someone is a myth. Most people who experience remission or significant improvements do so through multiple treatment modalities, many of which may not be available in the public health system or covered by insurance.
5) Just because a #HealthCare treatment exists doesn’t mean you'll get access to it. Many possible treatments won’t be available to you even though they exist. To explain this another way, just because that Gucci dress/car/whatever exists doesn’t mean you get to have it.
6) The new treatments you saw on the news are often not available to people yet, and possibly can’t or won’t be made available to many because not everyone is rich. Further to this point, just because an effective or even miraculous technology exists doesn’t mean you will get it
6.5) Related: that robot walking device is not the answer. Make things more #accessible for real people NOW, the way people really exist, and with the technology that exists and that they can use. Care about this issue now, even if it isn’t you yet. You may find yourself there.
7) Many #MobilityAids and #HealthCare treatments are paid out of pocket, in part, or totally. And no, #wheelchairs aren't just handed out. They are freedom machines. And they can cost more than your car.

👉Respect and listen to disabled and #ChronicallyIll folks. Thanks. x We see author Tara Moss using her wheelchair Hera.
PS It’s vital to agitate for the things that need to improve in #HealthCare, from better funding and access, to better research and public health policies. Health care needs to be for everyone. There are champions in your region. 🙌🏼 Find & support them!

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Tara Moss

Tara Moss Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @Tara_Moss

Nov 11
Quick reminder: Not all #wheelchair users have paralysis.

♿️

**Warning: The slo-mo may make the lights appear to flicker.**

#AmbulatoryWheelchairUsersExist
Every. Time.

Do yourself a favor and Google #AmbulatoryWheelchairUsers. It takes as long as it does to write this #ableist garbage to a wheelchair user. Message to Tara says: Move ...
They say that like they think I think it's a bad thing.

Trans cripples rock, but only they get to call themselves 'cripples', if they want to. Otherwise, get that word out of your mouth. It's a message to Tara that...
Read 5 tweets
Nov 6, 2021
Engracia said in multiple interviews: “Mobility devices are an extension of our bodies. When they are damaged or destroyed, we become re-disabled. Until the airlines learn how to treat our devices with the care and respect they deserve, flying remains inaccessible.”
So few non-disabled people seem to understand that #wheelchairs are not simply interchangeable. It's not like a kitchen chair or even a car you can just go out and buy off the lot. They are customized to the disabled person's body, an extension of the person, like a prosthetic.
If my wheelchair is ever damaged or stolen, I can't just go out and pick up another at some shop. I would need to make another custom order with the right specs for my body and condition, pay thousands, and wait for months for the replacement to arrive.
Read 4 tweets
Apr 27, 2021
The #Oscars would not permit winner Anthony Hopkins, 83, to participate remotely from overseas during a deadly pandemic with a heavy death toll - particularly for people over 60? Forgive me if I feel this does not reflect well on their commitment to #accessibility.
Let me be clear: That is some #ableist garbage right there.
Not allowing Anthony Hopkins to participate remotely in the #Oscars is literally #ableism. 'We are powerful and well-funded, and have the technology for you to participate safely and be heard, but we don't feel like using it.' This is what disabled folks have heard for years.
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(