#AbledsAreWeird offers a brilliant taste of the everyday crap people with disabilities deal with.

People without disabilities may not realize how much more difficult they make life for those with them.

Folks who deal with physical or mental disabilities already face challenges in a world designed for abled people. But lack of access and accommodations are not the only difficulties they have to take on. Far too often, people with disabilities also have to battle ignorance and stigma from their fellow humans.

People with disabilities have taken to Twitter to share their personal accounts of able-bodied and able-minded people's bizarre comments and behaviors toward them. Twitter user Imani Barbarin created the hashtag #AbledsAreWeird to accompany the stories—a sarcastic jab at those among us who are oblivious to the lives of a good portion of the population.

Those with disabilities can find solidarity in these stories, and those without disabilities can get a much needed education about what folks with them deal with.

For example, not being believed or having your disability dismissed by people who don't understand it:

My childhood:

Teacher: do this thing (run, go outside in certain conditions, use cleaning products, etc.)
Me: I will have an asthma attack if I do that thing
Teacher: liar, do it
Me: *tries to do it and has asthma attack*
Teacher: 😲#AbledsAreWeird

— Christina (@raspberryotter) March 16, 2019

Got an F on paper I worked very hard on. My teacher said even though he couldn’t prove it was plagiarism he knew I had not written it because he had never seen a deaf person write in English like that. #AbledsAreWeird

— Shoshannah Stern (@Shoshannah7) March 17, 2019

Abled people: "I have difficulty hearing in loud places too!" "you're just being dramatic, your hearing can't be that bad because you can hear me" etc etc

Audiologist when I finally went: "I don't know how you've been coping. Why did you leave it this long?"#AbledsAreWeird

— Jake (@jk_tylr) March 18, 2019

Me: I have multiple mental illnesses Other people: that doesn’t make you disabled...You’re just lazy and looking for an excuse....
Me:...Do you know the definition of disabled!?! #AbledsAreWeird

— 💙Theresa🎬 (@xoTheresaLynnxo) March 18, 2019

i once was told, by someone who i thought was a friend, that: “i wish i had conditions like yours, i’d use so many excuses & get out of so much stuff!” & proceeded to laugh & joke about the things she’d say/do for a long, long ass time #AbledsAreWeird

— sarah (@smithrsarah) March 18, 2019

My wife has a type of Narcolepsy that doesn't allow her to sleep cycle to function properly, as a result she is frequently tired beyond functioning even after a normal nights rest. Her favorite response from ableds is "I wish I had an excuse to sleep all the time" #AbledsAreWeird

— SW (@AuraOfHeroism) March 18, 2019

Me: *has chronic migraines and has to wear sunglasses to avoid light when they are about to hit*
Teacher: *fucking rips them off my face* stop trying to be cool and wear sunglasses in class
Me: *TRIES TO EXPLAIN*
Teacher: *sends me to the office* #AbledsAreWeird

— Nick a sad man (@Nick_Ya_Dingus) March 18, 2019

Bringing this back for #AbledsAreWeird 😇 pic.twitter.com/3UfOO6gWHK

— Momo ✨ (@momoxmia) March 17, 2019

Neurotypical person: "Lol, I'm sorry I forgot, I'm so ADHD"
Me, a human with ADHD: No worries

Me: "Sorry, I forgot, I have been really overwhelmed and didn't put it in my calendar."
Same neurotypical person: "Stop using your ADHD as an excuse."#AbledsAreWeird

— Andrew (@lAndrewh98) March 16, 2019

Neurotypical person when theyre being nice: Just say something when you need help, I'm here for you

NT Person when its not convenient: CANT YOU STOP WITH YOUR STUPID QUIRKS#AbledsAreWeird

— phia🌻 (@mockingjaei) March 18, 2019

Stop saying "You don't look disabled"
Light travels faster than sound, so you look smart until you're heard.

Many are not visible. Unless I run around with my MRI scans stapled to my head...#AbledsAreWeird

— Dhani Rose (@DhaniRose) March 18, 2019

Or the choice encounters people who use wheelchairs have on a regular basis:

Lady on train: why is your wheelchair pink?
Me: because I like pink.
LoT: But you shouldn’t make a wheelchair pretty.
Me: why not?
LoT: Because then people might think it’s okay to have one.
#AbledsAreWeird

— Pilgrim (@PilgrimKitty) March 18, 2019

Had a pretty lady in a wheelchair flirt with me on the train and I flirted back. When she got to her stop she handed me her number. Some lady across the aisle asked me “Why would lead her on like that they can’t have sex!” #AbledsAreWeird

— Spoony Bard of Trap music (@Tastycakes17) March 18, 2019

At a grocery store, a woman made a beeline to me and, w/ no introduction, asked, "Can you have sex?"

It wasn't the 1st time I've been asked this, so I said flirtatiously, "Why, you offering?"

She literally jumped back in disgust and told me I was gross. #AbledsAreWeird

— Kathryne Husk ♿🏳️‍🌈 (@KathryneHusk) March 17, 2019

People standing on the sidewalk curb ramps and just staring at the incoming wheelchair. “Excuse me!” Does not move. Keeps staring. #AbledsAREWeird

— BuckyHermit 🦆 (@BuckyHermit) March 18, 2019

Approaching a man walking toward me in a hallway. Suddenly he flattens himself along the wall, even though the hall is wide enough for 3 wheelchairs. Like I might suddenly go for his feet or something. #AbledsAreWeird

— Denise DiNoto (@deescribes) March 18, 2019

Ableds: Crowd around me in elevator. Stand in exactly the wrong place. Don't allow me to turn my chair around.
Me: Tries to maneuver my way out backwards w/o running over their feet
Ableds (patronizingly): "Don't worry sweetie, you'll get the hang of it eventually #AbledsAreWeird

— Phoenix on Wheels (@phoenixonwheels) March 18, 2019

That one time a nurse repeatedly ran into my chair, kicked it, just grabbed it and moved me, etc and finally I asked her to stop, she responded with, "If you don't like it, you should walk like everyone else." (Yes, you read correctly, this was a nurse.)#AbledsAreWeird

— Marybeth♿♀️🏳️‍🌈 (@poeticdiction) March 16, 2019

Many people without disabilities really like to tell folks with disabilities how they should feel.

Like, how can you possibly be happy with your life? But also, you're an inspiration!

Guy: I know that you dont think you have a lower quality of life bc you're disabled, but dont you think your life would be better if you could run?
Me: Do you know how many people *can* run, but dont? How's their quality of life?
Guy: I dont understand your point#AbledsAreWeird

— Stephanie Woodward (@IStepFunny) March 18, 2019

Three years ago

Nurse: *Realized that we are Deaf*
Nurse: Oh thank god your daughter is not deaf.
Me&Wife: huh? *with pissed-off looks*
Nurse: She can hear and won't have to suffer.
Me: Please leave.
Nurse: *Shocked and left the room*#AbledsAreWeird

— Frederick Miller (@FreddyMillerIII) March 18, 2019

Abled: "How long are you going to be on crutches?"
Me: "Hopefully forever."
Abled: ..? "When are you going to get better?"
Me: ..? "This is better. I can move around all day--"
Abled: "Sh! Let's not talk about it because you're inviting BAD THINGS to happen!"#AbledsAreWeird

— The Strongest Name (@RMS_Samson) March 18, 2019

Me: I’m diabetic
Acquaintance: Don’t say that! You’re a *person* with diabetes. Your illness doesn’t define you!
Me: ok
Me: I’m diabetic #AbledsAreWeird

— (◕ᴗ◕✿) (@PCRSEPHONEIA) March 18, 2019

🧡

"I'm disabled"
"Don't say that about yourself. Don't you ever say that about yourself! You are wonderful"

Cool. I'm also disabled.
#AbledsAreWeird

— The Garden (@TheGardenGroves) March 17, 2019

Me: hi i'm disabled and i need this barrier removed

Them: ur so brave

Me: What?

Them: and so strong

Me: That's not really the point--

Them: *physically reinforcing barrier* you're a flippin inspiration is what you are#AbledsAreWeird

— Pwale (@wordsofapwale) March 18, 2019

Telling a disabled person they’re an “inspiration” without any effort to get to know them, what they’re passionate about or their story is a gross micro-aggression that makes disabled people feel like a disposable commodity.

— Crutches&Spice♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) March 18, 2019

Mainstream culture frames disabled people as either compliant heroes safely contained on inaccessible pedestals, or else as villains whose presence is somehow a crime against everyone else.

It would be nice if everyone would just treat us as human.
#AbledsAreWeird

— Rabbi Ruti Regan 🏳️‍🌈♀🇺🇸 (@RutiRegan) March 18, 2019

The stories go on and on, ranging from things people without disabilities might not realize to totally baffling and insensitive behavior.

Living in New England, it’s fun how every time it snows the handicapped spots are where they conveniently pile all the snow. Because apparently ableds think people with assistive mobility needs have no problem scaling ten foot snow banks. #AbledsAreWeird

— April Resists ♿️ (@AprilDelRario) March 16, 2019

When I was a first year student, my head resident advisor called me to dinner. During our conversation, he told me that he didn't occur to him that deaf people could go to school, work, drive, talk, have children, and etc. Hmm "Deaf" and "dead" spell differently. #AbledsAreWeird

— Joseph Hill (@jaceyhill) March 17, 2019

One time at Moe's, when the restaurant was completely empty except for my table, a worker came up and, without interruption or eye contact, took my walker and rolled it behind a door. #AbledsAreWeird

— Cassie Strickland (@cpwithcp) March 15, 2019

One time I talked to a guy at a party about my chronic pain and he asked me “wow how do you deal with it?” And I said “to some degree I just have to tolerate the pain” and he was like “you must be into some KINKY SHIT ;)” Yes. My chronic pain is my kink. NOT. #AbledsAreWeird

— PunkPizzaCat 💀🍕🐱🏳️‍🌈 (@punkpizzacat) March 16, 2019

"Jesus will heal you!" has got to be weirdest one. It's always a little bit different, depending on the denomination of the person saying it.

I have a childhood brain injury. I've been a Christian for 9 years. Clearly healing hasn't happened yet.#AbledsAreWeird

— C. August McMullen (@caugustmcmullen) March 16, 2019

#AbledsAreWeird when they think their desire to "pet every dog" means they can just go up to a stranger's service dog and touch it without asking

— 🌻Elle 🐈 Gato🌻 (@ellle_em) March 16, 2019

@Imani_Barbarin Once I was at the grocery store with my service dog, buying frozen broccoli, and a woman came up to me and asked if I needed help “Finding my adult...” because clearly disabled people can’t select vegetables on our own? She also called me brave. #AbledsAreWeird

— Annesley Clark (@AnnesleyClark) March 16, 2019

Once a woman from a pro-life group grabbed me off the path I was walking and shouted to the universe: “what if her mom had aborted her.?!?!”

I was just trying to get to class...

Also, vehemently pro-choice. #AbledsAreWeird

— Crutches&Spice♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) March 16, 2019

Many of the stories highlighted the surprising challenges people with disabilities face in getting the medical care they need.

Ableds: You can’t expect doctors to be familiar with your medical conditions.
Also ableds: You shouldn’t Google that.
Also ableds: If your doctor said that, they must have their reasons. They went to medical school and you didn’t.
How are we supposed to get care?
#AbledsAreWeird

— Rabbi Ruti Regan 🏳️‍🌈♀🇺🇸 (@RutiRegan) March 18, 2019

Another #AbledsAreWeird thing is that I can make appointments and email any of my doctors and departments in my health system EXCEPT for the audiologists or audiology center. And when I try to contact them through email they respond by LEAVING VOICE MAIL.

— Benjamin Tallmadge is a Ravenclaw (@the42towels) March 18, 2019

Today I had to rearrange my appointment to get my hearing aids fitted. The appointment letter only gave a number to call - no text/email/etc options - despite it being the audiology department. I can do a phone call but I'm sure a fair # of their patients can't. #AbledsAreWeird

— Jake (@jk_tylr) March 18, 2019

one thing that never fails to horrify me is the fact that in many places, doctors refuse to give disabled trans people access to hrt because of the widespread idea that disabled people don't know what's best for us#AbledsAreWeird (and dangerous!)

— jack of all genders, master of none (@profanesnare) March 18, 2019

Medically fragile patient: needs med to survive
Insurance company: no, it’s too expensive
MFP: millions of $$ in hospital bills, then dies
IC: 😱 Who could have predicted?
#AbledsAreWeird

— Phoenix on Wheels (@phoenixonwheels) March 18, 2019

It’s horrifying how many of the stories in #AbledsAreWeird are about educational or medical professionals.

And then they wonder why disabled people don’t trust them.

— Ms Jay Rattray (@MsJayTeeRattray) March 16, 2019

And that's just a handful of the personal experiences people shared. Though some of the stories may seem shocking, they are sadly not uncommon. Hopefully seeing them will help understanding and empathy for those whose lives are affected by visible and invisible disabilities.

Oh, and a little P.S. for those who feel the need to complain about the word "ableds" or "weird" in the hashtag:

To the abled folks out here “correcting” the language in this hashtag to “able-bodied”:

The hashtag is “Abled” for a reason. Not all disabilities are physical, you can be able-bodied and still disabled as heck. #AbledsAreWeird

— morticia ❄️ (@VolatilePeony) March 17, 2019

Mildly rude hashtags like #AbledsAreWeird are important. Disabled people tend to learn young that we’re not allowed to have or express feelings that upset nondisabled people.

There’s liberation in learning that it is possible to express views that displease ableds without dying.

— Rabbi Ruti Regan 🏳️‍🌈♀🇺🇸 (@RutiRegan) March 18, 2019

Most of the people shitting on the #AbledsAreWeird hashtag are the exact reason the hashtag was made.

— Duhlayna (@AlaynaDuh) March 18, 2019

I’m winding down, but I want to leave you with one last thought on #AbledsAreWeird:

If you’re abled and offended. Good.

Somewhere you identify with the othering disabled people face everyday. But know this, in telling our stories, we don’t owe you comfort.

Change. Do better.

— Crutches&Spice♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) March 17, 2019

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