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A lot of chumps ask me what it’s like to be in a wheelchair. I thought the #ADA30 anniversary being signed into law was a good time as any to reflect on my life in conjunction with my disability so here goes. I feel like I’m trapped in a perpetual trust fall. [1/12]
That’s what having a significant disability feels like: being caught in a terrible team-building exercise. I’m constantly having to save myself from various pitfalls because our society wasn’t built—and actively continues not to be—for people like me. [2/12]
The amount of red tape I have to sort through in order to *live* is astounding to my nondisabled friends. It used to baffle me too, but I’m accustomed to it now. Numb. I have my social worker on speed dial, not because I need his help so frequently, [3/12]
but because I need to walk him through doing his job. (Pun absolutely intended.) The notion that disabled folks are lazy or have it easy is so off base, it’s comical—at least to those of us who use humor as a coping mechanism. [4/12]
Our very existence requires extreme vigilance. It’s exhausting. It’s demoralizing. It’s debilitating. And this is coming from a white woman. I have privilege and resources that frequently aid me in navigating our ableist systems. [5/12]
When I’m waiting a long time to be seen at a government building, someone checks in on me, not the Black and brown folks who are ahead of me in line. It’s that blatant sometimes. I can’t imagine the additional hardships BIPOC disabled folks endure, but [6/12]
I vow to amplify their voices and fight for them, too. After all, solidarity is what got the ADA passed in the first place. Educate yourself on that and learn yet another example of why we need to come together to stop oppression. Lives are dependent on you caring. [7/12]
I have solidarity to thank for being able to go to the same grade school my three older siblings went to, and for being able to hop on the L with my college roommate to go see Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play. I’ve lived in a post-ADA world and I’m very grateful for that. [8/12]
The law basically states disabled people can’t be denied access to jobs, school, transportation, or public places. I am forever indebted to my disabled ancestors and allies who tirelessly fought before me. While the ADA was ultimately a win for the disability community, [9/12]
a lot more needs to be done for us to truly be considered equals in this dogshit of a society we’ve cooked up. Land of the free, my disabled ass. (Said ass is hidden by my wheelchair, but trust me, it’s a beaut.) [10/12]
The systems that were built to—get this—support us are not only significantly lacking in funding, but common sense and decency. That’s why I always feel like I’m falling; our country’s infrastructure prevents me and *millions of others* from moving away from the edge [11/12]
and onto a level playing field. So please excuse me as I take a moment today to mourn my unreached potential. [12/12] 
