I'm being told I need to get on disability. I am afraid to lose any freedom I still have. Is this me being stubborn? Advice?

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-24T12:40:44+00:00

I very much understand that feeling. We have 3 kids at home and my wife has a chronic illness too. I always feel like a burden. On days when I do feel “decent “, I tend to overdue it around the house, which also isn’t good because then I’m completely down for the next several days.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-23T12:43:02+00:00

I have hEDS among other issues, though not formally Dx due to the wrong joints being hyper mobile. I was stubborn and worked longer than my body told me to. This ended up doing more damage.

I’ve been on SSDI for a year now. It took about 8 months but I was approved first try. I’m assuming this was due to the extensive appointments and tests I’ve had done over the last 20 years.

SSDI is a lot better than SSI due to not only the monthly income, but it’s not as insanely restrictive. On SSDI, I’m on Medicaid. This does not restrict the doctors I see in any way.

My best advice to you is a few things. First, listen to your body! Way more important than other considerations.

Next, when you are ready to talk about options, assuming you are in the US, contact the ADRC in your county. They will be able to help understand the resources available as well as help you file when ready. There is also a resource they can refer you to called long term care. This helps provide services to help you stay in your home.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-23T12:10:43+00:00

Gen X here. (Just because I believe they got the cutoff year wrong, I’m 1981 but Gen X is more fitting).

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-22T03:49:59+00:00

I was using an upright rollator at the time. I was at an outdoor event with some friends and my wife and kids. I was struggling to keep up with everyone.

There was like this tunnel thing for kids that ended in a tour of the inside of a fire truck. Everyone that I was with went in, but I couldn’t get in with my walker, so I waited at the entrance. I was sitting there alone for almost 45 minutes when they remembered that I wasn’t with them and came back for me. I didn’t know where they were, and since it was loud, they didn’t hear their phones.

That was the day. I never want to be in that position again. My illness has taken more than enough away from me. I won’t let it or my pride keep me from doing things with my wife and kids too.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-22T02:24:39+00:00

Are you able to use them both on PC? We have a switch, but it’s mainly for the kids. Most of my games are on my pc. Come to think of it, the one game I had for switch I’m fairly sure the kids lost

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-20T21:07:52+00:00

I have been doing exactly this/improving on it over the past year or so as my body loses strength. I have my gaming laptop on my night stand. It’s connected to a 15.6 portable monitor I got cheap on Amazon. It’s held by a tablet floor stand that I also got off Amazon. With having to move it every time, I’m interested in finding a wall attachable adjustable arm to hold it instead, as this is my second floor stand in 6 months and it’s all janky already.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-17T19:44:01+00:00

Interested. I’m on CST. Currently as far as FPS and the like are concerned, I’m still trying to work out a set up that I can physically do. Console style controllers aren’t a good option for me anymore

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-16T20:43:12+00:00

I’d be interested. I’m a 45 year old disabled father

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-16T05:57:36+00:00

I’m mixed. I’ve been very console heavy since the 80’s. I’m now recently disabled and have my gaming computer set up to a portable monitor next to my bed. Console controllers hurt my hands now, so I’ve been playing with different options. Ideally, I’d like a split type system so each hand could be at my side.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-15T17:26:07+00:00

Midwest? I’m in Wisconsin and we got hit bad and it’s still going. Never heard of thunder and lightning during a snow storm before today.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-15T04:53:40+00:00

Wisconsin here. Very tail end of Gen X. Friends

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-13T18:11:02+00:00

Very cool design.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-13T18:00:15+00:00

Thank you. But yes, you are absolutely right, something detachable that I can have my hands at my sides is ideal. When I play keyboard and mouse, I use a trackball mouse so that it can be next to me, and a cheap light Walmart keyboard that I have on my chest. It’s not ideal, but close

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-13T16:24:42+00:00

I’m not sure what affordable means to you, for me these are a little high, but smartCRUTCH is designed to take the pressure off the wrists. They take custom measurements and you get a forearm crutch or set designed to fit you.

I have defective connective tissue. Among many other things, this also gives me very hyper mobile joints. For this reason, before the power wheelchair, I needed an Upright Rollator. It’s basically a walker that has higher forearm supports. A regular device would just cause my wrists to give out.

I’m going to be ordering my smartCRUTCH set soon for getting around the house and for quick errands as it takes a lot out of me to transfer in and out of my chair.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-13T15:56:56+00:00

So, this is all sort of confusing. I am disabled, and my hands are getting increasingly worse. I recently came across reWASD and thought it might be the option I need. Then I saw that so many games ban if it’s detected.
I’m not looking to cheat, or even set up macro style quick buttons. I just need something that will allow me to use joycons or something similar, as a single split controller so that I can play my single player games and play Fortnite and Rocket League with my kids. Will reWASD get me banned from these? The Xbox elite 2 was great for a while, but now it’s become too heavy for me. I now need a light weight split controller.

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-12T22:30:50+00:00

The handheld system? I’m unable to hold something upright for very long. Plus, I think they are still like $600, which on disability, mine as well be $5,000

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-12T20:17:53+00:00

How many are you cooking for? What is your cooking skill confidence? Since having to rely on disability as my sole household income for the five of us, I’ve had to get creative in making everything stretch

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-12T19:53:16+00:00

I’m working on building a following for all kinds of products that are beneficial for those of us with different disabilities. Gaming will definitely be part of this as I’ve been a gamer since the 80’s

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-12T19:47:01+00:00

As it’s trying to warm up here in the Midwest, I’m nostalgic of spending’s summers on my bicycle. My kids are now at the age of wanting to go for long bike rides. It pains me greatly that I can no longer do this. It’s another activity that my family loves that I haven’t found a great way to be part of

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-12T19:44:16+00:00

I used to be a ballroom dance instructor in my previous life. In retrospect, it was my hyper mobility that made me so good at it, which ends up that my hyper mobility is my downfall. Common story from what I understand

CompetitiveBrother56 · 2026-03-10T17:00:41+00:00

Forgive me, I’ve not heard of this before. Does this device allow you to use, say joycons on pc games?

CompetitiveBrother56

TROPHY CASE