My Disability Journey Pt. 1

I wanted to talk a little bit about my experience with disability. This is something I will be bringing up more often in my blogs, as it influences every part of my life. For starters, I’ll begin by putting my cards on the table and explaining what my diagnoses are and what symptoms I’m still working on identifying.

Here is a list of definitive diagnoses that I have been tested for or assessed for by a qualified medical professional:

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III
Chronic Migraine with Aura
Generalized Anxiety Disoder
Childhood Onset Schizophrenia
Panic Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Social Phobia
Chronic Insomnia

Here are the tentative diagnoses that I’m still exploring to figure out whether or not these neurotypes impact me and how they do so:

Autism
ADHD
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Here are some symptoms that I have that are not adequately explained by my diagnoses:

Fainting/dizziness/lightheadedness
Excessive yawning

How Am I Impacted By Disability?

As a disabled person, one of the hardest things to do is find a job that has appropriate accommodations. I require a rollator or a cane when walking (I can walk without them, but I run the risk of falling, which can be quite dangerous, as most people know.) This means that my job has to be accessible for someone who cannot walk or stand for long periods of time. Since 2015, I’ve been writing freelance for different websites. However, the generative AI boom in 2023 and 2024 resulted in me being laid off earlier this year. Since then, I have picked up a new client, but finding a job in an oversaturated market that is being impacted by technology that aims to replace the human workers is stressful and difficult. That said, I continue to persevere and the new client I have picked up is very promising.

Though working has been very difficult for me, I have made my way and have built a career that I am proud of (which is explorable through my About page!) I don’t intend to give up on writing and I plan to work hard with this new client to make it a successful partnership, regardless of my disability status.

Luxia Le