My journey to identifying as someone with a disabling chronic illness was fraught with internalized ableism. When my symptoms first became too bad to ignore, I beat myself up for not being able to live a “normal” life.
Don’t get me wrong, I still do this sometimes, especially when it comes to the amount of hours I am able to work. I also feel shame when others witness how my health affects me or during a flare-up when I have to let down my students.
Microaggressions This internalized ableism has only been compounded by the reactions, comments, and microaggressions proffered by those around me throughout the last decade.
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