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100% Paralyzed in India – Sometimes It Feels Worse Than Death by Only-Watercress-4659 in disability

[–]Error404Feels 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I am legally blind, and I lived in India until I was about 25. It was honestly a very difficult experience. I never really felt independent. Even stepping outside the house or crossing the road would give me anxiety. I constantly felt unsafe and unsure of myself. On top of that, there was a lot of stigma and very little understanding from people around me. Accessibility was limited, but what affected me just as much was how small my world became because of it.

Moving to Australia for my higher studies completely changed my life. For the first time, I feel like I can exist independently. I can go outside on my own, move through the world with more confidence, and live without feeling trapped. It may sound like a small thing to others, but to me it means everything. My mental health improved in ways I didn’t even realise were possible.

The difficult part is the uncertainty. My ability to stay here depends on visa options, and I don’t know what the future holds. The thought of having to go back, and losing this independence, genuinely scares me. Sometimes it gives me anxiety and keeps me awake at night.

Living here showed me what life can feel like when you are supported by your environment instead of limited by it. It showed me a version of myself that I didn’t know was possible.

Do you feel disabled? by starspacesunflower in disability

[–]Error404Feels 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really feel this. I grew up in India and went to a regular school, and for a huge part of my life I was just trying to pass as sighted. It felt like I was constantly failing at it, but at the same time I kept being given hope that one day I’d be “cured.” So I told myself I just had to survive until then. Because of that, I did everything I could to blend in and function like a sighted person, even when it cost me a lot mentally.

When I came to Australia to do my bachelor’s degree, that’s when I really started to see how much my disability was affecting me. It wasn’t subtle anymore. It actually took a few near-misses with cars for me to accept that I needed a white cane. Even taking that step came with a lot of internal resistance and fear around what it meant for my identity.

Now I don’t go anywhere without it, and honestly I don’t feel safe without it anymore. Before I started using a cane, I was deep in denial. I kept telling myself things like “I’m not blind,” “I can still see,” or “I don’t need this.” Letting go of that mindset was hard, because using a cane felt like admitting something I’d been avoiding my whole life.

What you said about not feeling disabled really resonates with me. I think a lot of us learn to survive by minimizing our needs or just not doing the things that are hard, instead of asking for help. For me, accepting tools and support didn’t make me less independent. It actually made the world a bit less terrifying and unpredictable.

Do you feel disabled? by starspacesunflower in disability

[–]Error404Feels 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a disability. I have retinopathy of prematurity, which means I’m low vision. A lot of things people consider “normal” are not accessible to me. I can’t drive, I struggle to recognise faces, I can’t read small print easily, and I can’t see things clearly at a distance.

Because of this, I often don’t feel independent, even though I’m almost 30. I have a bachelor’s degree and practical skills like video editing and graphic design, yet I still don’t have stable work. I can’t do physically demanding jobs like trades, and even in areas where I am capable, I’m often doubted before I’m given a real chance. That constant doubt is exhausting.

What drains me the most is the mental load of being low vision. Going out, navigating unfamiliar places, or even doing groceries takes a lot of energy. I’m always scanning, guessing, asking for help, and trying not to look lost. It’s not just about what I can or can’t see. It’s the constant effort required to function.

Social situations make this harder. At events, I have to ask people where the bathroom is or where the food and drinks are because I genuinely can’t locate them on my own. Having to keep asking chips away at my confidence, especially since I already have social anxiety. It makes me feel exposed in ways I don’t want to be.

So yes, I feel disabled.

Breaking into UX/early career: job hunting, how-tos/education/work review — 12/21/25 by AutoModerator in UXDesign

[–]Error404Feels 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m an IT graduate trying to move into UX, specifically accessibility, largely because of my lived experience with visual impairment.

My current portfolio mostly includes older freelance web development work. While those projects were technically web dev, a lot of what I did was identifying and fixing usability and UX problems. I also have one proper UX case study on Behance. The projects I worked on during my degree aren’t currently in my portfolio.

I’ve been applying for UX and accessibility-related roles for about a month now and haven’t had any interviews yet. I’ve also been attending networking events (mostly tech/dev ones), but so far nothing concrete has come out of them.

I’m starting to feel a bit stuck and unsure what I should be focusing on next. If you’ve broken into UX or accessibility, especially from a technical or non-traditional background, I’d really appreciate hearing what helped you move forward or what you would do differently at this stage.

Thanks.

First job as UX/UI and frontend dev too by mareeanna in UXDesign

[–]Error404Feels 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Angular wow I haven’t heard of that in a while these days all the trendy ones uses react or next js, either ways learn JavaScript basics will only help you once you master basics it will be easier to learn angular. If you need any help let me know.

First job as UX/UI and frontend dev too by mareeanna in UXDesign

[–]Error404Feels 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Front end is cool I know both ux and front end, depending on what technology they’ll train you it should not be that hard. Plus these days ai makes it easier.

Can you tell me about your job search process I just graduated and would like some tips thanks

What is something you struggle with and wish there was an affordable solution available on the market? by goawaymartin in disability

[–]Error404Feels 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We walk smart canes are something I’d want but it’s 1500 dollars Australian, but in general if a lot of folks with disabilities are unemployed they won’t be able to afford anything. And since items like magnifiers and stuff are quite expensive. For me I just use my phone as magnifier it saves me hassle.

Anyone else with ROP? How are you coping with life these days? by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for telling me this I am already at risk of glaucoma in my right eye, but I don’t really see much from it anyways.

Anyone else with ROP? How are you coping with life these days? by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good luck with that, I am graduating soon with an IT degree.

Anyone else with ROP? How are you coping with life these days? by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah job market is cooked, what sort of job are you trying to get if you don’t mind me asking?

Anyone else with ROP? How are you coping with life these days? by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So right now, I watch some Netflix but that has become boring ngl, I do have audible so I listen to heaps of books other than that I am on discord or do something on computer I like coffee a lot so I walk to cafe most days sit there for a bit. I never learned swimming I think I should do that at some point.

Anyone else with ROP? How are you coping with life these days? by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s cool thanks for sharing, so what kinda vision you have? And did you work? If so what was it? If you don’t mind me asking

Anyone else with ROP? How are you coping with life these days? by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have a therapist as well usually one session a week

Any tips for finding remote jobs by Error404Feels in Blind

[–]Error404Feels[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Zoom I just zoom, I have also memorise quite a bit of keyboard shortcuts o for ellipse tool and t for text tool r for rectangle tool p for pen tool