DISABILITY ISN’T A FLEX AND NEITHER IS THE DAS…a vent

It isn’t fun. It isn’t easy.

We don’t magically become not disabled when no one is looking.

We are not werewolves or other magical creatures.

Many of us were born into this and many were not.

Those of us not born into it like to point out to those who are “normal” and free of disability that it only takes a moment in time for your situation to change drastically and permanently. It can also happen when we age.

Unfortunately many refuse to accept this reality and instead show us anger instead of compassion. Show us that they think we are making it up so we can “live the easy life” and not work and to get “special treatment” they are somehow being robbed of.

Being disabled isn’t a “get rich quick” scam. We lose up to three quarters of our income or more when we go on government assistance. I lost more. I’m not afraid to say my last job in the real world paid me $60k annually. Why would anyone want to give that up just to “stay home and watch tv all day”? I much rather have a job. I much rather be back at that insane pace, bringing work home, and running around an office to get/deliver projects than sit home and watch tv all day.

I’m doing what I do now because I couldn’t stop my brain from wanting to do things, even though my body refused all forms of encouragement. Now, after my aneurysm (TBI), my short term memory is failing in addition to it robbing me of precious memories…I am 56 so there’s probably a little bit of that but the combined impact of brain damage from neuro-lesions and brain death from the annie don’t help.

I was once a ‘normal’ person. I was not born into my current and permanent reality. I once could run up hills and stairs and walk all day with no issues but maybe sore feet at the end of the day. I could see and hear perfectly and remember everything. I did yoga and the gym almost daily. But you see, I am no longer that person.

I now can’t hear as well as I did before. I have lost significant chunks of memories. I have lost sight. I’ve required major surgery to save my life and my sight. I am fighting using my hearing aids because…well…I’m tired of losing things.

Many feel Disneyland gives us too much. That we are undeserving of any help. That we shouldn’t be going to a theme park of any kind if we need any assistance. That we are infringing on their rights as normals to have happy visits without seeing us sad people in their way.

WHAT THE DAS REALLY HELPS US WITH…

The DAS is NOT a front of the line service. We do not get a velvet rope and instant access. The DAS allows us to manage our disability AND enjoy some of the parks. Many of us (me included) can’t do a full day and can only go on a few things before we have to leave to fully recover from the few hours we spend at the parks.

You say we get to go shopping, ride other rides, and eat. Like that is an easy going thing for us. But your jealousy shows here of an imagined life we live in your heads. Those that get the service fraudulently do this with ease. We do not. That is a fantasy you have created for us. That’s not to say we don’t enjoy things at the parks and sometimes we have good days where we are less focused on the disability but to say that is always the case is ignorant of what we live with day to day.

We do not magically become NOT disabled while we wait our turn virtually for the next load in. Many of us also don’t just get on after we return. Many of us require additional assistance to load in thus doubling and even tripling our total wait times.

OUR REALITY…

Our time spent virtually waiting isn’t free from pain. It isn’t free from needing to manage our issues. Our time spent whilst waiting for our return time for most of us is filled with handling things that would best be kept out of the regular queue with you…managing an ostomy system or tracheal system (do you really want to see that?), taking medications that require injections and calm, or calming emotional dysregulation for adults and children alike. It can include caregiving for another person who is the disabled person who needs all these many things managed away from the queues.

You forget we are 100% disabled all the time. Many of us take lots of medicines just to survive each day and just to live for many. I take mine to keep me alive, manage my constant pain, and to help me walk.

Our lives may not be easy but I’m not asking for pity.

I’m asking for empathy and compassion but sadly, those things are not usually found around us from regular people…and from large global corporations.

We are not going to hide because it makes you feel uncomfortable. We are here to stay and we deserve a photo in front of the castle as much as a healthy person does.