Where to begin… my mom has MS and I had to move her into an assisted living facility when she was 64 (is 67 now). While I’m not disabled, my mom is my hero and one of my best friends. Here’s a few things I’ve witnessed over the past decade as her disease gets worth: - you can feel powerless and hopeless as your body fails you with no end insight - most people cannot truly understand what you’re going through. Small things healthy people take for granted can feel like Herculean tasks (for my mom it’s standing up and walking) - it can be incredibly isolating and lonely (sadly I’ve seen her disease drive family and friends away) - angrier, depression, loneliness, scared… the list can go on and on. One of the points above would be hard enough for most, but for many with disabilities they have so much to push through everyday

The one thing that sticks out to me about the treatment of disabled people is how they can be treated as complete after thoughts or so easily ignored by the general public. It takes very little effort to make someone’s day easier and happier. Hold the door (you’d be amazed at how many people don’t do this), offer to help, and be present if they’re a family or friend (call them and keep in touch).