Sick In The City: why chronic illness awareness is important and how I’m changing the narrative
The topic of disability is lacking in mainstream conversation. As someone who has suffered from both visible and invisible illnesses from a young age, I know how hard and frustrating it can be for people to both take my illnesses seriously and respect them when they do. Often people with disabilities find that they are excluded from certain parts of society.
WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT CREATES DISABILITY
I am a firm believer that if our society was 100% accessible and accommodating to the needs of the disabled, there would be no such thing as a disability in the ‘limited, un-able’ sense of the definition.
There are so many factors that lead to exclusion. Whether this is because we are unable to access buildings because there is no disabled access, or that we have to ask restaurants to cater for special dietary requirements (often turned down because of restaurant policies or instead given food that they have been asked to exclude).
We have to think about access to disabled toilets everywhere we travel and having to refuse invitations if there isn't this amenity nearby. There is also impatience at the time it takes for someone with social anxiety or OCD to accomplish tasks around others - so we are just not included in the activity to begin with.
I know I am not the only person to have sat in a wheelchair being pushed by someone else and felt like you’re being flung around with little care or thought of comfort. Then there are strangers who only interact with the person pushing you, not even bothering to make eye contact.
People often treat you like a child when you’re sat in a wheelchair. It seems to be that they think you’re not going to contribute anything meaningful to conversations, or if you’re in restaurants and coffee shops, believe that you obviously don’t know your own mind well enough to know what you’re going to order.
How about the times when people inquire as to why you actually need a service dog because you look fine. (Because nothing can be wrong with you if you look healthy - right?) And can they pet it, or give it some treats? Then you’re the bad guy ruining their day for refusing.
WHAT AM I DOING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE?
It’s taken me a few years to build up the courage to start up my own platform. I’ve been running City Girl Magazine for over two years so realised I don’t really have an excuse anymore! Sick In The City is a home for chronic illness awareness, advocacy, lifestyle, FODMAP recipes, tips, tricks, and most importantly to me: accessibility.
At the moment, finding information on what shops, tourist attractions and beauty spots are accessible, what restaurants and food outlets offer allergy-free alternatives really well and how to have an accessible and fun day in your city is HARD information to find.
As an ‘able-bodied’ person, you may not think that a step up into a room is the difference between another entering or not. You may not realise that a short walk to the shops up a little hill could bedridden a seemingly outwardly looking 'healthy' person.
Often, accessibility is purely a tick in the box for many hotels, restaurants, bars and tourist attractions. But how good are they really? Do their adaptations look clinical and with little thought to real comfort? Are the staff trained? Are you made to feel ‘other’, ‘different’ or ‘time consuming’? Being able to experience all the good, bad and ugly and create guides on Sick In The City is something I am really looking forward to.
Like many people with chronic illnesses, I won’t be leaving my home for a while even after the pandemic is ‘officially’ over. My immune system is shot and the risk is too great. But accessibility doesn’t start when you leave your home.
What home adaptations are the best? Which products have helped me with chronic pain and fatigue, which cookbooks and chefs are my heroes, and what clothes are perfect for those flare-up, limited mobility days?
There is so much to consider when you have a chronic illness and disability, and some things I come across myself today and think “wow… I wish I had known about that years ago!”.
WHY RAISING AWARENESS AND PROVIDING GOOD INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO ME
I have received criticism from uneducated people calling myself disabled yet appearing at a party or other event awake and 'healthy.' What they don't know is that I have stayed in my home for the past two days beforehand making sure I don't overexert myself to prepare for the few hours of social interaction, dosed myself up on maximum painkillers and medication and will spend the next few days in bed recovering.
The sad fact is I know I am not the only one. My passion is science communication, and I am looking forward to being able to support people with their chronic illness through Sick In The City by giving them hope, solutions, education and content tailored for people like me to break down the idea that we are ‘other.’
You can find Sick In The City here! Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment on my launch photo over on Instagram!
