Title: Request for an Interview About Disability Culture for a Counseling Class

[u/Beautiful_Jury_1489]

Hi everyone! I'm a graduate student working on a class presentation about disability culture and how mental health professionals can better support people with disabilities.

I'm looking for volunteers who personally identify as disabled and would be comfortable answering a few questions about their experiences. This is for a class assignment, not a formal research study, and participation is completely voluntary.

My presentation is due tomorrow, so I would be very grateful for responses by tomorrow afternoon, October 15. I know this is short notice, and I appreciate anyone willing to share their perspective.

Interview questions:

1. How do you identify?
2. What are your positive experiences, and what are some of the negatives?
3. What discriminations do you face in our society?
4. What do you want mental health professionals to know about your culture?
5. What are some common misconceptions about people with disabilities that you wish more people understood?
6. How has being part of the disability community influenced your sense of identity or belonging?
7. What could counselors or other mental health professionals do to make their services more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities?

You can answer as many questions as you feel comfortable with. You do not need to share your diagnosis, real name, or any other identifying information. I plan to leave out usernames and identifying details in my class presentation and use responses only for this assignment.

Thank you for considering sharing your perspective. I really appreciate the opportunity to learn from the community directly!

[u/SubstantialHorse6732]

Hi! My name is Jay and I’m very tired right now so I apologise if I misinterpret or answer some of the questions weirdly.
1. I identify as physically and mentally disabled, I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2, ADHD, OCD, autism and GERD and am in the process of getting a diagnosis for MCAS.
2. Some positive experiences: I have found communities to relate to and friends who understand and take care of me when needed. My current doctor is amazing and listens to me to try and find solutions rather than gaslighting me or making me feel stupid. Some bad experiences: My immediate family doesn’t understand or want to understand at all, they have the mentality that I will grow out of some of my symptoms, while it’s actually getting worse. My previous doctors didn’t listen to me or help me when I really needed them to.
3. I am often seen as “too young” (I am 20) to be using mobility aids or be sick and am often seen as faking due to the fact that I am an ambulatory cane user and don’t need it in some situations. I spent years trying to find a doctor that would listen to me and not write me off as someone overdramatising my pain and symptoms and finally found a good one once I got to university, but it took a long time.
7. (Sorry I’m skipping so many questions, it’s late here 😭) Listen to people’s experiences and understand that not all of them are the same, even in people with the same disabilities. Make accomodations for people with different limitations eg. space for people to sit comfortably with a wheelchair in the room they’re in, taking time to listen when people trail off due to brain fog, cognitive dysfunction etc. Ask people what they might need during each appointment/meeting and ask what they might need when they’re in a bad flare or mental health episode.

I hope this helped!