So I have been disabled all of my life. I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at a young age, an anxiety disorder, tachycardia, a blood clotting disorder, a sleep disorder, Bipolar disorder with psychosis, urinary issues [require a catheter sometimes], a speech impediment, arthritis, nerve damage, chronic ear pain, gastrointestinal issues, have had seizures before, etc. I have been in a hospital maybe 30 times by now? I had one surgery in June, will be having another one tomorrow and then another one in November. I have had at least one surgery every year since 2020. I take a minimum of 7 medications a day, more when my illnesses get worse. I go through phases where my issues are bearable and I can work, and sometimes I can’t work. I am 27 so “old enough” to not qualify for any help. However, my health issues get progressively worse as I age, and eventually I probably won’t be able to work, so I will need to get on SSDI.

The issue is I have no support system, I have no parents, family or friends that I can live with. I have been homeless a lot as a teenager and then later as an adult when my health was bad so I couldn’t afford rent. Where am I supposed to go once I can’t work and can’t afford rent? I am tired of being homeless and don’t want to go through that again. Also, medical expenses are killing me, but I make “too much” for medi-cal.

For those of you that were in foster care and are disabled, how do you survive? Where do you live?