eSCAping Type 1

I pride myself on being a pretty positive person (with a natural knack for alliteration). This blog gets compliments all the time on how it helps others be more optimistic.

Which is why Facebook is killing me.

I should delete it. Or go back to only using it to promote my writing. But as infuriating as it is, it’s also entertaining.

Now, the fact that a global pandemic somehow turned into a controversial issue blows my mind. You see, I try really hard not to include politics in my posts. I honestly don’t want to offend anyone. But the thing is, is that I’M offended. So are a ton of people with disabilities.

And here’s why:

A whole lot of people feel the need to daily, publicly post complaints about how shitty things are for them right now, living a lifestyle that seems all too familiar…

We get it. We’ve been living through it for decades. We know what it’s like to have your life controlled by a disease.

It’s frustrating because nearly everything people are venting about is old news for us. But no one cared. It was just accepted that life with a disability would be difficult. We didn’t need help; we’d figure it out.

But now that EVERYONE needs these accommodations, they were thrown into place without a second thought! Endless work-from-home opportunities, home food deliveries from anywhere you want, absentee ballots mailed right to your home… Sure, these services have been in place for a while, but now they’re easily accessible and acceptable.

To give you some personal perspective, I’ve been looking for a real work-from-home job for THREE YEARS to no avail. I legitimately cried tears of joy when I had a milkshake delivered to my house via an online ordering system, without having to drive or talk on the phone. And then I went on Facebook and saw this:

What??? They know people (with and without disabilities) have been “mail-in voting” for YEARS, right? But, again, no one cared until it affected them, personally.

I understand. Really. It’s difficult enough dealing with your own problems, let alone someone else’s. But empathy is a powerful tool, my friend.

So, cue my hypocritical & somewhat sarcastic rant:

Can’t leave your house? Not even to get a haircut? We know what it’s like to be isolated & quarantined.

Unemployment services slow? Their website isn’t working? Yeah, it rarely does. Anyone ever filing for Social Security Disability payments has to wait AT LEAST six months to get paid, and that’s only if you get approved right away, which hardly ever happens. And any sort of income during that time automatically disqualifies you. We know what it’s like to live without a paycheck.

Have to wear a mask in public? I bet people stare at you constantly. Wait, you weren’t allowed in somewhere without wearing one? Man, that has to suck, not being able to get in somewhere because they don’t have a ramp… I mean, because you weren’t following the rules… Who has to follow CDC guidelines, anyway? It’s not like they benefit anyone. We know what it’s like to have to use an aid, and then be discriminated against because of it.

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The government is “controlling” you? How frustrating, not being able to just do whatever you want. How dare a doctor assume they know what’s best for you, right?  Especially when so little is known about the disease in the first place. We know what it’s like to be restricted.

Suddenly have to leave your job? Because your body very suddenly can’t handle the physical requirements? We know what it’s like to be unemployed.

Mail-in voting now required? Silly me, I was excited about my absentee ballot accommodation. Little did I know my vote was being compromised this whole time. And, apparently, no one cared that it was. We know what it’s like to do things differently in order to still be able to do them.

I’m not saying your problems aren’t valid. I’m not saying you don’t have the right to complain. I’m not saying other people have it worse than you.

Circumstances ARE shitty. This sucks. We know.

Remember how I’ve said that empathy is difficult? Well, now you have first-hand experience with what our lives are like ALL THE TIME.

So, please, use this experience to be more compassionate. Eventually, your life will go back to normal. And if not, you’ll get used to it. That’s what we had to do.