Since starting my instagram page @splintuplooksharp I have seen more posts than I ever have related to CIDP/neurological conditions/injuries resulting in disabilities and wheelchair/walking aid use. In this post I have 2 points I want to cover:
1. What you see on IG, and
2. Impact of an early in life diagnosis
On point 1, I am in no way surprised at my explore page polar opposites but wanted to just touch on it as a statement. I’ve had my own personal page on instagram for a number of years now and only through my own insecurities I have never really posted about having a ‘disability’.
You may have seen now, either from my blog, personal IG or blog ‘side hoe’ IG page that when I turned 27 this year I really wanted to put my absolutely unreal life experiences to use in promoting that what you inherently have mapped out for you, doesn’t always need to be the path you follow.
A side note – I originally made a new blog page instead of using my main page, basically in fear of people not wanting to hear what I have to say so by making a new page from scratch it let people choose to follow it if they wanted. In hindsight, I wish I had have kept everything on my own page and if anyone didn’t wana hear it then – U N F O L L O W M E
Nevertheless, since starting my blog insta, due to the nature of the posts, my explore page and the people I’ve connected with have some amazing stories and tales to tell. I totally understand IG is all a huge algorithm – like everything else in life there’s some high level ‘response’ to please/pacify the consumer.
Now, on my personal page, I follow who I follow and am mainly a story watcher. I try to limit myself on the explore page to avoid time consuming rabbit holes. When I do venture though, the explore page can be as random as cake baking, proposals, animal videos, new homes, celebs, cars, gossip, surprises, make up, hair, food, recipes, OOTD – but how often is there a disabled person doing any of these things? Whereas on the blog insta explore, there is a large mix of disabled and abled people doing the SAME things.
On the algorithm and engagement side of things I’d get it if I had never searched for anything to do with baking, and therefore didn’t see anyone baking cakes, ovens, icing, sprinkles, piping etc, you get me. But sticking with baking, why on one page is there not one disabled person with a cake and on the other page there are disabled and non-disabled people making their fruit loaves. Why does it seem like disability is a search generated inclusion where other varieties of humanity are all present. Race, age, sex, skin colour, hair colour, height, weight, etc.
I have learned a lot about really how oppressed the disabled community is muted within society and even in some attempts at inclusivity it’s just to keep up appearances. What I mean by this, take a highstreet shop using a mannequin in a wheelchair but also still having a step to get into their store.
Having had a diagnosis since before I can remember, I feel has played a huge part in the narrative of my life. It’s all I have ever known and as I’ve mentioned a number of times, I have been extremely lucky for the most part in my inclusion, social surroundings and health care provision. I’ve seen so many stories where people are struggling to get a diagnosis and their voices are lost in a battle for help, support and services someone with a diagnosis can (maybe not easily) access.
It’s a huge part of my identity and the ups and downs related to that have made me who I am today. I have stepped massively out of my comfort zone this year and while continuing through 2020 I also want to explore more opportunities where I can lend my voice to places where it’s needed, to those without, and to things that need to be heard louder. I want to help others learn what I have, and allow people to learn from interactions with me. I have so much more to learn too, about people, about standing for equality, promoting inclusivity, learn how to love, trust again.
Let’s break down even more barriers this coming decade. Personally, publically, physically and emotionally. We got dis ❤
SPLINT UP, LOOK SHARP 