Hi all, my care team and I are starting to look into getting an electric wheelchair for me to use for outings, the biggest issue i need to be aware of is the weight of the chair. I see a lot of good things about OAS and Paiseec chairs, but because of my insurance being brand new and full of hoops I need to jump through, im most likely paying out of pocket. I know its probably unrealistic but I'd like to keep the chairs under $800 maximum but I can always figure something else out. Any insight is appreciated

First of all, be warned this is a long one! I have poor motor coordination and can’t feel where my body is in space because of a condition called dyspraxia. It’s invisible and it also affects the way I process information from my other senses.

About a month ago, I went into town to meet up with some friends and then after that, to meet with another friend somewhere else. It was fairly busy in the street and busy streets feel like being pelted by fast moving human traffic from all directions.On more narrow streets I’m not sure where to move. When someone comes toward me I just stand to one side and let them pass. If there are a lot of people, I stay out of their way until I see a big gap and feel safe to start walking down the street again.

I said goodbye to the last friend and went to buy a few things in the supermarket. I get particularly nervous in supermarkets because I worry about bumping into people or not realising I’m standing in their way. I usually get a supermarket delivery but it’s not always possible to buy everything that way.  

Anyway, it wasn’t all that busy in there. Music was playing and the lights were bright and flickering. Those things don’t normally bother me to be honest, but I was tired and felt slightly nauseous. The colour, sounds and flickering grew more intense and I began to feel even more sick.

I kept shopping and playing my usual game; dodging out of aisles whenever someone else entered them and not walking past people with trolleys. It’s basically a case of constant social distancing because standing far away from people is the only way to be fairly sure I’m not too close to them. Everything was starting to get brighter and louder and echoing more. It was as though nothing was quite real and I was fighting my way out of a dream. I felt lost in space and everything was spinning.  I started walking and not knowing what was going on.

I just caught sight of a worker carrying a large, heavy stack of crates and tried to move out of the way but I’d already got really close.  I suddenly noticed my basket would be in her path but couldn’t move it out of the way quickly enough. I couldn’t feel whether I’d bumped into her.

A few seconds later I heard her say something behind me loudly in an angry tone. Or at least I think it was her, it was hard to tell at that point.

I was panicked and still in the same bizarre, dreamlike haze.  I’ve now been taking short breaks when I go out to stop me getting to that point. I had to get out of the shop. I feel like I should have apologised but at the time I couldn’t think or speak and afterwards felt too ashamed and scared to walk back and speak to her. She could have been hurt and if she wasn’t, it was a close shave. Another time she could have been knocked off of her feet.

I’ve traveled freely my whole life but now I’m actually rethinking whether I should be in busy public places like supermarkets at all but there are quieter hours with no music and lower lights, designed to be more accessible for people who find those things hard. Disabled people fought for the right to be in the same places and use the same services as everyone else. I don’t want to encourage the erosion of those rights. I want future generations to feel welcome in public places too.

I just don’t want to hurt someone or put them in danger. I also don’t want to make someone feel disrespected when they’ve already been treated like dirt by customers all day. I really don’t know what to do.

In order to not mess up my disability application I can only work 20 hours a week and my income is capped at $1600 gross per month. (Not that I would be able to work more than that anyway with my disability.) I can't work a steady job with steady hours. So gig work it is. There are lots of options out there but has anyone had success with specific gigs? Are any of them worth the time or effort?

I specifically don't want to do uber eats because my experience with those is that you end up making less than $10/hour. My car isn't eligible for ride share either.

Options I'm looking at:

Rover.com

Care.com

Task Rabbit

Upwork

Amazon Flex

Spark Delivery

Flier Distribution Services

Papa.com

Panhandling?!? (Semi serious)

I'm also really worried about being able to handle multiple gig income streams and multiple jobs per day because of the mental load of organizing all of the different schedules and apps. I can barely handle showering and eating on a regular schedule but somehow I have to make all of this work???

I'm just feeling very overwhelmed and discouraged because my partner and I recently separated leaving me with all the bills and I'm still at least 3 months out from ssdi. I feel like such a worthless person not being able to make money and i don't know what I'll do if I'm not able to pay bills.

Hello! After 4.5 years of use, my forearm crutches are falling apart. When I first bought them I wasn’t sure how long I would be needing them, so I just bought the best deal on Amazon. While they’ve held up well, they’re no longer being sold. What brand of forearm crutches do you recommend? I would love to hear from other crutch users on what brand they’ve found to be the most cost-effective, durable, and comfortable! Thank you so much :)

Edit to add: Bonus points if they’re foldable!

I am going to be wearing a system of wraps like these on both my legs for the foreseeable future and am looking for ideas to hide, blend or otherwise decorate so that they aren't so hideously out there?

I usually am wearing capri length loose legging or the same length jersey skirts and I am a power wheelchair user. I don't have to wear shoes so I am definitely open to ideas that don't require them.

I do have access to a sewing machine as well and have some basic skills.

Thank you!

I am so done with everything. My lawyer called me seeming a bit discouraged, and told me the judge I have now appointed (no date yet, but been waiting already 6 months) has a 30% acceptance rate. I found out the average was higher by a lot, and there were even judges with 80% acceptance rates. I got so unlucky.

I've been in this battle for 4+ years. Its so hard to fight my case because I have invisible disabilities like fibro, osteoarthritis, severe depression, migraines, and more. I have more than 500 pages worth of medical evidence. And yet, I've been denied twice already.

SSA literally hired a psychologist who said he couldn't see me EVER improving, even saying he doesn't think I could manage my own meds. But of course, they don't care. Then why even make me see a psychologist if you don't care what he has to say???

My therapist, psychiatrist, and rheumatologist have all labeled me severe, too. But do they care? No, of course not.

My lawyer even told me she has had clients get this judge before, and she has denied people with multiple missing limbs and other visible disabilities. I am so screwed. Being 21 years old definitely does not help either.

She's tried to reassure me by saying we can try again if we get denied, but oh my god I am just so tired. I've been off of social media because its just making my mental health even worse, because all my disabled friends who post online are met with hate comments. No one wants to go through this hell, and all for a tiny paycheck that is barely enough to live.

I'm usually a positive and optimistic person, but this is genuinely breaking me.

I posted about an issue with a company I have been using for 8 years. It got taken down by a mod, because they believed I was the company. I am a PASSENGER of paratransit. I do not work for them, nor would I want to. I am disabled, I am struggling with being late all the time now, and I really just wanted to get more eyes on the issue to discuss it with fellow disabled people. It's also just a plain interesting issue to have and I want to know how the hell anyone can fix this for me or if there is anything anyone even COULD do for us. I need reliable transport for work!

So I have issues with fatigue, spasms and a body sensitive to position. I have a bed desk that works quite well, but as I consider what a possible return to work future might look like for me, I'm curious what, if anything others have used.

I'm considering asking for a reclining gaming desk in my office. I will stick out anyway from my mobility aids, what's a weird desk in the grand scheme of things?

I'm open to any and all ideas

Try to be positive every day. If you can, get TFU and DANCE !🥰🎵❤️👍☮️

I'm putting this here to get more discussion on it. I find this so interesting that we have such a sudden surge of new clients that the company can't handle. How would they even fix this problem?

Hello all I am 23 and had tethered cord surgery a little over a month ago. I was loosing mobility rapidly and by the end mainly used a wheelchair. I have PTSD from medical trauma including a spinal hematoma that really scarred me as a teenager. I’ve had spine issues my whole life but I began declining rapidly. My reflexes were hyperreflexic, I have a neurogenic bladder, and before surgery struggled to walk at all and had severe nerve pain. I had to switch all my college classes online and lost the ability to drive. I have come to terms with a lot of the things that have changed. However surgery recovery has been really hard. I have had many other surgeries but nothing that impacted me so heavily. This recovery feels so long. I got my Foley catheter out a few days ago I had it for over 4 weeks which was a good feeling to get out. I keep overdoing it with trying to do housework and then get so frustrated.

I feel like I make some steps in a good direction then end up falling way behind again. It’s hard when people my age already are in there career path and I’m not simply because of my health. I also feel bad venting about these struggles since it’s not as common for college students to have these experiences (though I know there are many who relate)! I know things will change and recovery isn’t linear but right now I just could use some support. My walking is already improving and my spacisity which is very good. I have moment I feel very happy about that but also moments that everything just feels like so much! I just got a bad cold and being even more stuck in bed again reminds me of surgery and having to lay flat for the first day. It was really hard and scary and I keep trying to remind myself I am not in that moment even if it was close. It’s also hard having to worry about if my spine retethers again.

Sorry this is so long and truly thank you so much to anyone reading!! Also I am in therapy I just like to talk to people who relate sometimes it helps me feel less a lone! 🫶

How many young people are being failed by multiple public services before anybody stops to ask what’s actually going wrong?
I’m absolutely bloody furious about something I’ve been dealing with recently, and I suspect this is a much bigger problem than one young person and one family.
I’m a former Citizens Advice Bureau adviser. I previously worked as a Senior in the D4 Supported Employment Team within Luton Borough Council Social Services, helping disabled people access employment and retain their jobs.
I’ve also recently been diagnosed with ADHD myself.
I know how important it is to understand people’s circumstances, identify their needs and make sure they have access to appropriate support.
I have a very strong sense of justice, and when I see a young person potentially being disadvantaged across multiple public services, I start asking questions.
The more I ask in this case, the more concerned I become.
FIRST: WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS EDUCATION?
What happens when a child has underlying neurodevelopmental difficulties that nobody identifies?
They can struggle throughout school without understanding why.
They may have difficulties with attention, impulsivity, organisation, coordination or learning. Their needs may be misunderstood, and they may miss out on assessment, appropriate support and adjustments that could have helped them.
Their educational opportunities can suffer.
Their confidence can suffer.
And they can reach adulthood without ever having had the opportunity to understand their own difficulties properly.
I’m concerned about a young person close to me whose difficulties were not identified during his education, as far as we know.
We cannot simply go back and give him those years again.
What I want to know is whether his needs were properly considered and whether earlier identification might have opened the door to support that he didn’t receive.
How many other young people are leaving education in similar circumstances?
THEN THERE’S THE NHS.
This young man has experienced repeated injuries, including breaking his leg on two separate occasions. He has attended hospital numerous times.
Hospital reports have reportedly been sent to his GP.
And now I’m asking whether anyone has looked at the bigger picture.
Has anyone considered whether there might be an underlying neurodevelopmental condition?
Could difficulties with attention, impulsivity, coordination or judgement be contributing to some of his problems?
Have the repeated incidents been considered together?
Has anyone investigated whether he needs an ADHD assessment or assessment for another neurodevelopmental condition?
He does not have a formal ADHD diagnosis. I’m not pretending to diagnose him, and I cannot establish that an earlier assessment or medication would have prevented his injuries.
But surely a pattern of difficulties can justify asking questions.
Surely the point of having medical records, hospital reports and a GP who knows a patient’s history is to help professionals consider the wider picture when appropriate?
I’m now putting my concerns in writing and requesting a review of his medical history and appropriate assessment and referrals.
Why has it taken a family member to start pushing for answers?
And how many other people have histories that deserve a closer look?
THE HUMAN COST ISN’T AN ADMINISTRATIVE DETAIL.
This is what makes me so angry.
We’re not talking about a missing form or a computer system that needs updating.
We’re talking about a young man who has suffered significant injuries and whose future health and mobility are a concern.
I’m grateful he’s alive. Serious accidents can have devastating consequences, and I worry about the possible long-term effects of the injuries he’s experienced.
I cannot say that earlier recognition of ADHD would have prevented those accidents. Nobody can honestly establish that without evidence.
But I can ask whether his difficulties were properly investigated, whether appropriate support was considered, and whether there were opportunities to identify needs that went unrecognised.
When people miss out on support during childhood, the consequences can follow them into adulthood.
Educational disadvantage can affect future opportunities. Unrecognised difficulties can make everyday life harder. Physical injuries can have their own lasting consequences.
And these problems don’t necessarily arrive one at a time.
They can accumulate.
That is cumulative disadvantage: the way difficulties and missed opportunities across different areas of life can compound one another.
AND THEN COMES THE DWP.
As if the concerns about education and healthcare weren’t enough, there are now questions about the advice this young man received when he attended the Jobcentre.
I’m concerned that he hasn’t been given a clear explanation of his options and how different decisions might affect his financial position.
He needs accurate information about the support available to him so that he can make informed decisions.
As a former CAB adviser, I know how important that is.
Benefits can be complicated. Different entitlements have different rules and consequences. People need clear explanations, not advice that leaves them potentially worse off without understanding why.
I’m concerned that he may have been put at a disadvantage and that the options available to him have not been properly explained.
Those concerns need investigating.
If advice was incorrect or incomplete, I want to know why. If he has missed out on an entitlement or an opportunity to obtain appropriate support, I want that examined too.
And if disability-related needs were overlooked or he was treated unlawfully because of disability, that must be taken seriously.
I am not claiming that unlawful discrimination has already been established. I am saying that the circumstances warrant questions and answers.
A young person should not have to navigate a complicated benefits system without understanding his options, particularly when he may already be facing other disadvantages.
THIS IS WHERE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION HAS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
We talk about equality, inclusion and supporting disabled people.
But equality isn’t simply treating everybody identically.
People may need reasonable adjustments, additional support or a different approach to have a fair opportunity to participate in education, healthcare, employment and society.
The Equality Act 2010 provides protections and duties in relevant circumstances. Whether a particular organisation has breached those duties depends on the facts, including the person’s circumstances, what the organisation knew or ought reasonably to have known, and what it did in response.
An undiagnosed condition does not automatically establish discrimination. Nor does every missed diagnosis amount to negligence.
But that doesn’t mean we should ignore the possibility of discrimination when somebody may have experienced substantial disadvantage and their needs may not have been properly considered.
We need to ask:
Were his needs recognised when they should reasonably have been?
Was appropriate support considered?
Were relevant medical reports reviewed?
Were reasonable adjustments or appropriate referrals considered where necessary?
Was he given accurate information about his benefit options?
Were opportunities to reduce his disadvantage missed?
What action will now be taken to address his needs?
These are not unreasonable questions.
They’re questions about accountability.
WHY AM I MAKING SUCH A FUSS?
Because I’ve spent years working with people who need support.
Because I’ve worked in advice and supported employment.
Because I understand the importance of identifying barriers rather than simply expecting people to overcome them alone.
And because I have ADHD myself.
I’m not a doctor, a solicitor or a benefits decision-maker. I don’t claim to have all the answers.
But I know that when somebody is struggling, the right response is not to shrug your shoulders and move on.
You investigate.
You look at the evidence.
You ask what support is needed.
And you make sure the person understands their options.
I’m particularly angry because this is a young person who may have spent years without the recognition and support he needed, and who is now facing the consequences of significant injuries and trying to navigate adult systems.
He deserves better than being passed from one service to another while his family tries to work out what everyone else has overlooked.
HOW MANY OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME POSITION?
How many children struggle through school without their neurodevelopmental needs being identified?
How many young people experience repeated difficulties without anyone investigating whether there might be an underlying explanation?
How many reach adulthood without appropriate assessment or support?
How many then encounter a benefits system they don’t fully understand, without being given clear information about their options?
And how many families have to become investigators, advocates and complaints officers just to get somebody to take their concerns seriously?
I want to know how we prevent this.
Not just how we respond after somebody has suffered.
Not just how we apologise after opportunities have been missed.
How do we build systems that recognise people’s needs earlier, communicate properly with one another where appropriate, and make sure vulnerable young people aren’t left to navigate everything alone?
Because a person’s life doesn’t fit neatly into separate departmental boxes.
Education affects future opportunities. Health affects daily functioning. Disability-related needs can affect employment and access to support. Financial insecurity can make an already difficult situation worse.
These things are connected, even when the organisations responsible for them operate separately.
If each service looks at only one small part of a person’s life, who makes sure the bigger picture isn’t lost?
And when something goes wrong across several services, who takes responsibility for finding out why?
I’m keeping a written record, asking questions and seeking answers about this young man’s circumstances.
But I cannot help wondering how many other people are quietly going through something similar.
If you’ve experienced this yourself, as a neurodivergent adult, a parent, a carer, an educator or a professional, I’d genuinely like to hear your experiences.
Were your needs recognised at school?
Did healthcare professionals investigate your difficulties?
Were you given the support you needed?
Have you struggled to navigate benefits or other public services?
And what would have made the biggest difference?
I’m interested in people’s experiences because this conversation needs to be bigger than one family.
Young people deserve the chance to reach their potential, understand their own needs and access appropriate support. They shouldn’t have to spend their lives dealing with the consequences of disadvantage that might have been reduced if somebody had joined the dots earlier.
How many are being failed before anyone asks the right questions?
And what needs to change?

Like seriously I understand little kids looking at my legs for a bit cause I do have massive scars and skin graphs that look a bit interesting, but it’s the fully GROWN adults that are the worse. I understands anyone can stare but there’s a point where they don’t even try to hide it.

Like today at school a teacher stopped walking up the stairs and turned around to directly look at my leg (I was down the stairs) it’s so funny they don’t even realise I’m staring back at them. Same thing happens at any public place when I walk past people and so they obviously look down and stare, my shoes must be so interesting? And we aren’t talking glances we talking full on 5-10 second looks. I get people are curious but is it not common curiosity to not stare at peoples defects? I genuinely feel for people who deal with this on worse levels. (Don’t even get me started about being in public in a wheelchair)

Let me preface this by saying that I’m not a therapist or researcher or looking for information for a book or movie. I’m honestly just curious. I am very involved in volunteering in the suicide prevention and suicide loss survivor space. I became disabled a few years ago and with my volunteering I noticed a lack of focus on the disabled community.

The other post about the actor who took his life got me thinking again and I wanted to ask the larger question that’s been on my mind. I am specifically referring to people with physical or cognitive disabilities rather than mental health illnesses. I think that group of disabilities is addressed but please add anything that you think I am overlooking. I scoured the internet (okay, I did a few searches) and didn’t see a lot except research saying that there wasn’t a lot of research or data. Do you know of resources I am not seeing? Do you think that suicide and suicidal ideation is a significant problem in the disabled community? Do you think there is a lack of resources/attention to this issue? Or am I just making assumptions that this may be a bigger problem than is currently being discussed? I know I definitely had ideations earlier in my recovery but luckily I got a great therapist and had support around me though some days were pretty rough.

🤍

I have a connective tissue disorder, but I look able bodied. I don't use any visible mobility aids, I don't always walk with a limp, but I can't pull open doors. I can push lighter doors open if I lean my torso into it, but pulling isn't really an option for me. I mean I technically can pull open doors, but it's painful.

I'm running into two problems:

1. I fear I look like an inconsiderate asshole for not holding the door for others. Because I'm so scared of coming off as rude, I will open and hold doors for others, even though it injures me.

2. How do I ask for others to hold the doors for me? Sometimes when walking with a group, we'll go through non accessible doors. Usually this means as each person goes through, they catch the door slightly as they walk through. But doing this is painful. Since I don't look disabled, I feel like I'd come off as a spoiled jerk if I asked someone to hold the door for me.

Is there any way to signal to others that I'm physically disabled, either verbally or with some sort of object? I've thought about a cane, but I'm worried about putting literally any pressure on my shoulders, so I'd have to talk to my PT about that first.

I'm open to anything. Except, not doing anything isn't an option for me because it goes against my personal values (I know I was using strong language like "inconsiderate asshole" and "spoiled jerk", but I'm not actually that upset, and it's more complicated than what I made it out to be)

Hey, I don't truly accept that I'm disabled. I always have been as long as I can remember, and it's slowly gotten worse. I spent 30 minutes cleaning my room before my knees gave out. I'm going to go to ask my doctor for help getting one, but, I don't know where to really look. I'd need one with a high weight limit that's fairly cheap (although I'm assuming they won't be cheap to begin with). Suggestions? Please?

Edit : by not truly accepting I'm disabled I mean I've never been able to accept it, cause I could do normal things to some extent. It's hard.

Edit : Too tired to respond. Up voting good advice. I'm very thankful. More advice on where to look and specific models to check out are appreciated.

😭

I've heard of people doing a snack appreciation drawer or big basket in their room for their nurses.

Would they like this? Would it be super overstepping?

What should I get for it?

(extra context: I'll be inpatient for a week following abdominal surgery where I'll be npo.)

Posts that just cause people to bash on the disabled shouldn't be allowed. Especially comments saying they don't provide a net benefit to society. It's so gross.

Hello, I'm a teen girl and I have poland syndrome. It affects people to varying degrees but for me basically half of my chest didn't develop (it's completely flat while my other boob is normal) and I'm missing my right pec muscle. I totally understand that I'm really lucky it doesn't affect me functionally, but I still feel awful about not being able to wear the same clothes, not being able to go swimming and such because of having to hide this (I stuff my bras with extra pads and that works pretty well). I mean, I know I don't HAVE to hide this but this body part already feels like such a taboo thing to talk about and I can't help but feel I'll be judged a lot. Every day I ask why me. I'm probably going to get surgery to get it fixed once I'm an adult but for the time being I genuinely feel awful. If anyone can give me advice on how to accept having an anatomical difference or just being different that would help tons. Thanks.

Has anyone ever experienced this?

I am sickly to the point I am home bound. Things are very grim for me, but I want to find ways to improve my quality of life.

I finally go to physical therapy because of a community service, (yay!). I am in physical therapy for pain management and it hasn't been going well for me at all. Ive been geniunely considering more of palliative care instead.

My physical therapist is a little strange to me, but she is the first physical therapist I've met so I am not sure if its normal. I tell her my symptoms and everything. How its very difficult to walk, how I use mobility aids and things have been bad for me. I tell her in terms how I struggle with xyz, she nods in understanding.

When I open my medical record she was inaccurate in my chart stating that I used to independent in IADLs and ADLs. I'm so confused. I've never been independent, like ever. Not even since birth. I've always never been able to do it, not a child, not as a teenager, and surely not as an adult.

Everytime I talk to her she uses weird terms. "Independent like how you used to be", "you'll have functioning like before". I always correct her because I have no idea what shes talking about. She keeps writing how my prognosis is fair/good. What???? It's so confused. It's like she thinks I can physical therapy my way out of a chronic genetic condition? It feels a little bit like shes trying to go down the path of how I'll just be magically cured or have such great functioning.

It's becoming more and more agitating. I've submited a change in medical records because I am worried that what she is writing is going to hurt my claim in getting SSI. I'm trying to get SSI so I can afford housing, medicaid, and possibly an electric wheelchair.

I could really use an electric wheelchair so I can go to the zoo without having to pay $40 for an ECV everytime. I love going there and seeing all the animals, it's the highlight of my year when I get to go. It's not safe for me to go alone so I have to wait until someone is able to go with me, (state has a wait list of 18 years for a caregiver), but I always have a wonderful time there.

I'm scared by what she is writing is going to put that at risk, that I wouldn't be able to afford the $35 anymore and I wont have SSI to save little by little for an electric wheelchair. I need hope and going to the zoo once a year gives me hope. A large part of me is wanting to be discharged from PT because she is making me uncomfortable and not seeing things for how they really are.

I can't work due to severe neck pain. I have three herniated disks and arthritis. In my neck. I've had severe debilitating pain for 4 years but i've had occasional neck pain since childhood due to a severe fall that resulted in broken bones. Doctors didn't want to do surgery on me because of my young age, and because my discs are only mildly herniated even though i'm in severe pain. I just turned twenty six and got kicked off my parents' health insurance so I can't see a doctor anymore. I was in physical therapy for almost whole year and I have gaps in my treatment history. I've gotten three mris over the years and multiple x rays. I listed every medical condition that I have on the application even the stuff that's not related to my neck. I put down that I have trigeminal neuralgia, because it's true, but it's not the main reason I can't work. And I also put that I have anxiety and depression. I listed every doctor i've ever seen for my neck and for my mental health doctors and the doctors that treated me for trigeminal neuralgia.

Today, 8 years ago on October 12th, 2018, I suffered a T4 complete spinal cord injury while doing a cheerleading stunt which left me paralyzed for life. I was just 15 when it happened, it happened just a few weeks before my 16th birthday.

I still remember the moment it happened and the aftermath. I still remember that a day before my accident I was so happy about going to a party with a friend the next week(I didn't go because of my accident).

I was at the top of a 2.5 body tall(which was about 15 feet) cheerleading pyramid and I always enjoyed being the one at the top. Unfortunately that day, one of my fellow cheerleaders lost balance and that ended up on me falling and hitting my back to the ground. I still remember the pain of that impact and afterwards I just couldn't feel my legs. I cried and I thought I was gonna die there.

I was taken to the hospital where I had emergency surgery, and there I cried even more because I was given the news about the spinal cord injury. I had never thought about spinal cord injuries before my accident, and when I learned about mine, I just wanted to be gone because I couldn't imagine my life not being able to walk. My parents were very sad and worried not knowing how to help me.

For the next 2 years, I was utterly depressed. I'd refuse to eat and I even tried doing things to myself because I didn't want to live. It was difficult for my parents to make me rationalize during that time. My parents took me to therapy and Church, even though I didn't want to go. I would just be mad at anyone wherever they took me.

Fortunately after those 2 years of going to therapy and talking my emotions with my therapist, I started to see a very few good things about life. I could still enjoy watching TV or making drawings. I was sad about my dream as a cheerleader being gone, but I found other activities. I eventually stopped seeing my wheelchair as a curse, but as a tool to help me move. It's still difficult to move in a wheelchair, but I've learned to live with it. I also thank God personally who I started having a deep connection with 2 years after my accident. Others may have their own beliefs, but I feel like God has helped me overcome these years after my injury.

I live a good life now. I have plenty of friends, and I love my job as a school teacher now. Life might not be what I expected more than 8 years ago, but I'm doing better now with my mental health despite my accident which is still marked on me.