Hi Friends! So, WingsofLove made me aware that it is Disabilities Awareness Month this month! I had no clue! So, I wanted to take a moment to feature that and touch on some good points for this month .. and every other month! 

WingsofLove also was kind enough to share a blurb with me and allowed me to share it with y'all : 
"Treat us with respect and kindness like you would any other adult or person. We have feelings and are sensitive like anyone else.
Autistic ones may seem callous but we are really very hyper sensitive to variety of things. Some of us it is socially we are sensitive and we have social anxiety that seems paralyzing.  " 

***IMPORTANT EDIT SINCE POSTING THIS (Thank you Abeille) . I have learned that PFL is actually not the socially accepted way to speak and can be more damaging. So, when you are able - make sure to ask what people are comfortable with when labeling or speaking about them. *** 
I feel that it is important to note that people who have a disability - they are no different than the rest of us! They may need some accomodations, but they are just as capable as we are. So, I try to use People First Language. Meaning I don't refer to someone who has Autism as "The autistic girl" , I say "The girl with autism". I put the person first, because their disability does not define them! 
The Office of Disability Rights has a great page here with other examples : https://odr.dc.gov/page/people-first-language

Also remember, not all disabilities are visible! I don't go around with a sign above my head that says "caution - has anxiety and gets overwhelmed!". So, we shouldn't expect that of others. A popular example for this: You see someone park in a handicap spot but they appear physically able/are walking into the store. They may have a number of other symptoms that don't present physically. So, remember to always be kind! 

 
Here are some short and sweet Youtube video links that touch on a few disabilities and some tips for how we can help those with disabilities:
https://youtu.be/bwW6mYdJ7Xc
https://youtu.be/RLLboHQxbK8

 
Short post, I know. But the goal here is to just touch on the topic! I'll be diving in to more disabilities throughout the coming weeks. My goal is to educate, to help others understand, to be a listening ear and maybe open up your eyes to something new! As always - this is a safe space. We are here to chat and discuss and communicate! We are here to learn together! 

So this week - your challenge is to just be kind and remember to keep an open mind! ♥ 
Next week - We are doing Mental Health Monday with a Twist! I'll be a part of the Christmas in July activities, so we are doing a mental health themed coloring page! Woo! Stay tuned for that! 

♥

I just wanted to say, Sat, that you're doing brilliantly with these MHM posts; they're so well written and informative and it's no easy task to tackle topics such as those that you've covered thus far with such grace.

Also thank you to WingsofLove for a very succinct and effective description of an experience that many of us on the Autism spectrum can relate to.

🥰 Thank you so much, Utakata! MH is a passion and even if it only helps one person, then I consider that a win! I just want to help and I'm happy to do it 💕

I have a few disabilities and health issues! My main conditions are Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus and a really rare condition called Diamond-Blackfan Anemia.

I found out something really interesting today from an autism group I follow on FB about Person First Language. Something that I didn't realise many people with disabilities felt. 

As a person with a disability myself, I've never understood why either descriptor matters. I use both PFL and Disability First Language (DFL) interchangeably depending on grammar. 

I have only heard about PFL the last few years and always found it odd. I understood the general gist of it and thought it sounded reasonable. I think most people are well-meaning when they use this language. You are trying to re-humanize the person after all. However, a person with a disability told me this today:

DFL is actually the preferred method for people /actually/ with disabilities. PFL is (generally) used by non-disabled people who are on the right track with trying to use inclusive language, but what they are actually doing is ELIMINATING the word from the person and therefore devaluing the person with the disabilities experiences in life. Disability is a very big part of our lives, and to us, disability is not a dirty/derogatory word. It is a label the majority of us are proud of. If you separate us from our disability, you actually make it harder for us to be accepted in society. 

Wow! Thank you for sharing that perspective, Abeille! I had no clue! In my college SPED classes I took while getting my degree (I was an education major before switching to social work) and that taught us PFL and made us use it exclusively. So it's really interesting to see from actual people that that is truly not preferred cause I had no clue! 

Yes I have noticed in professional settings, most professionals are taught a specific way that goes entirely against how people with disabilities prefer being seen/treated. The teachings have not caught up with the current opinions/feelings of today.

Well that's why I'm glad that HP has a community like this so that I can be corrected! 

I also put an edit in my above post so that others will know that as well! 

It's one of my favorite month, I have so many wonderful friends with disabilities.  Some of the strongest, most independent people I know!

My best friend's mom has limb-gridle muscular dsytrophy, and is the most independent person I know.  She can no longer walk, and is my favorite scooter lady!  Despite having the disease, she still drives her van, goes to grocery store by herself, and does not need much assistance at home.  Occasionally she does have the fire department come rescue her from falling off of her scooter, but she says she enjoys having a muscular man pick her up like a princess😊 

https://www.mda.org/disease/limb-girdle-muscular-dystrophy 

♥ 

Saturnia, you're an amazing person and I appreciate you for understanding and changing this post! I love these posts so much. It's great to get awareness out. People with disabilities have so much to offer the world and are generally capable of the same things as anyone else, we just have to do them a different way. We're great at adapting! 

Amberellie, your friend sounds like a hoot! I love that "strong man to pick her up like a princess" part! That made me laugh! (: 

Abeille, my wife is 100% disabled through the VA. She is hard of hearing in 1 ear and has Rhematoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. She's been through a lot of other health related issues throughout our marriage as well. I have definitely learned a lot about how disabilities can be "invisible" since being with her. Of course I was aware of it before - but when it's personal, I think it adds to the understanding? If that makes sense. So, I always ALWAYS! want to learn and adapt and do better and be better! And I want to share my learning processes and my ups and downs because I think it's important to show that learning process because it may help someone else! (: 

Just want to say: Thank you, Thank you for covering this.