My non-visual struggles

I smile because I have survived everything the world has thrown at me. I smile because when I was knocked down, I got back up. Had you asked me only two years ago I wouldn’t have even been able to tell you what gaslighting was, nor that I had been a victim. That’s the thing about gaslighting, it can sneak into your life unknowingly and before you know it, it can lead you to a breaking point where you are doubting your sanity and your life is spiralling out of control. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse, where an uneven power dynamic is created by an abuser, leading their victim to doubt their reality. Gaslighting is insidious in that it can begin subtly, then, as the victim’s confidence is chipped away, can lead to further forms of abuse, where the victim is coerced into submission of the wants of the abuser. But often we think of gaslighting as something that only really happens in romantic relationships. The truth is,  it can happen in any relationship - in friendships, fa

  Officially declared in 2015 by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to honour the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July “is used to promote visibility and mainstream awareness of the positive pride felt by people with disabilities.” Disability Pride parades, however, have been held as early as 1990  🤐🤫😝 — with the first one being in Boston. It does not matter whether you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community; you could participate in rainbow month activities.  LGBTQIA+ events welcome allies from outside to be educated. One way of doing so is by contributing to Pride Month by sharing. Gender and sexuality are so fluid. It is OK to change your mind a million times and figure out what works for you. It is OK to take your time. Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it is a good place to start. Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out? Our society needs to recognise the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civ